The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-06-05

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crowd who give him respectful attention.
The assemblage gives way and the young
man leads his companions to- Wilson's Hall.
where the meetings of the Army are held.
and we pass on our way not without notic-
ing the difference between the plain garb
and quiet demeanor of the soldiers" at
Millville and the tawdry uniform and out
landish behavior of those we have seen at
other places.
Here We are. in front of the Institute. a
noble looking building of brick with white
marble trimmings, two stories in height on
the front, standing ON the edge of a high
bluff directly at the head Of High street,
and i'll the rea overlooking the meadows
which border on the Maurice river. Pass
ing into the broad entrance we find on the
first floor a large room, 40x50 feet in size
with a IA foot ceiling. On one side a hand
some fireplace and chimney -piece of
pressed brick, suggestive of cosy comfort
oil a winter evening. Through the room are
scattered tables with books and newspa-
pers. Comfortable seats are all around.
At the Office, directly at the entrance, can
be procured the outfits for a variety of
games. A well stocked cigar counter
tempts the users of the weed. This is the
conversation room, where members are
privileged to come and spend their even
ings reading. smoking, playing games or
what they will, without let or hindrance.
Young men and boys were there reading.
playing and conversing. At a table were
seated two of the prominent citizens Of the
place engaged in a game of chess. The
whole apartment had an air of comfort and
enjoyment which vas most attractive.
Re-entering the vestibule we pass out into
another room on the same floor. 20xJ0 feet
in size, filled with capacious bookcases
and reading tables. This is the library
and reading room, supplied with about
:, 1000 volumes of choice works including
eyclopedias and works of reference and a
goodly list of magazines and periodicals.
Books are loaned for a weekly fee of
five cents and all persons are privileged
to use the room without charge. That the
privilege is appreciated was shown by the
number of persons of both sexes and all
ages IL were present.
Descending into the basement we find a
fitted up for use as a barber shop.
but not now occupied, and opening into it
a number of bath rooms, each fitted with a
bath tub, hot and cold water and all con-
veniences for bathing, and all warmed in
cold weather by steam fixtures, with which
the whole building is heated. the boiler
house being in the rear of the main build
ing. In the basement is also a large room,
40x50 feet in size, with a ceiling 10 feet IN
height. Here are gymnastic appliances
OF all kinds. on which young men We're ex-
ercising with contortions and monkey
shines innumerable. Here also were two
billiard tables and a pool table in full
blast. On this floor is also a kitchen. with
stove and sink, and communicating with
the third story by a dumb-waiter. We as
cend to the top floor and find it to be a
veritable jewel of an opera house, with a
stage 4 feet high and 20xf0 feet in size.
supplied with a handsome drop curtain and
- sets of scenery. The audience room is
40 feet square seated with chairs and will
hold an audience of 800 comfortably. A
gallery runs around two sides of the room.
Tonight the seats are removed, for the
Temperance Cadets are holding their an
nual festival, coupled with an entertain
ment on the stage. The room is crowded
and the usual hustle of a festival is going
on, when suddenly all is hushed. the cur
tain rises, a recitation is given in good
style by n pretty little miss. She finishes.
the audience applaud, the curtain falls and
the festival business proceeds until the
next number of the programme is rendered,
when all is quiet again. We cannot re-
main, however, to hear the close. Our
companion informs us that 4 course of pop
ular lectures and entertainments, to which
the admission fee is but ten cents. has been
given in the hall. and that X. ]. Burdette
was expected to lecture in the course on
the following Wednesday night.
This Institute building and its arrange
ments is worth a day journey to see. The
cost of the property and building was SCI
900, the furnishing cost 50, 800 more. 1t
is open every evening except Sunday from
Z to 10 O'Clock, and the w~orkingmen of
Millville are entitled to all its privileges for
the annual membership fee of S1.00. In
addition to the other advantages there are
classes in bookkeeping, ~penmanship, free
hand drawing, French and elocution, for
which only a slight charge is made.
Surely MillviIle has discovered the secret
of providing for the moral improvement
and rational recreation of its citizens.
While the dram shop is taken away some
thing is provided in its place. 1t is the
social instinct in most eases that leads men
to the bar-room-here this desire is provid-
ed for and the social attraction is furnished
without the debasing surroundings and
temptations of the saloon. And of the
DldCbIIdl SOou ltSuitS VI lb-litCiiSt pu INT
one hand and this rational provision for
human needs on the other, we heard album
dant evidence from those in a position to
observe and know.
AS we leave the Institute the streets are
thronged with young and old. The stores
are brilliantly lighted and attractive.
There is no disorder, no confusion, though
it is Saturday night and a holiday.
The walk home is short. the route to bed
is shorter. and before we know it the morn
ing sun arouses MS for a Cumberland coun-
ty Sunday. About an hour before church
time we accept an invitation from Mr..
flee. popularity known as the Brick a
handsome structure OF ole story with a
large audience room comfortably and uni
forrnly seated, with galleries o three sides
and a pipe organ, to the accompaniment of
which IA large choir leads the congrega-
tional singing. The building has q seat
ing capacity of about 1000. and is a model
of beautiful simplicity, All seats are free
and the congregations are large. The
Society intends erecting Il chapel in the
rear Of the church building for sunday
school and prayer meeting uses, there be-
ing ample ground for the purpose and the
lot fronting on two streets. Rev. j. X.
Westwood is the pastor. Before the con-
gregation begins to assemble we return
home and find friend SomerS getting ont
the wheels for a run to Mauricetown and
other points on the River below Melville.
Soon We are off and over a fine road drive
the willing wheels southwark along the
riUht bank Of the river. Who>e waters spar