The Dickinson press., 1889-02-09
THE "PEOPLE'S PALACE.n
WALTER BEsANT'S IDEAL HAS TtKEN
ON AcTuALITY.

\ isis; i;ui!din. Erected for the BENEFIT
of ic Weary Workers of L.ondo,-Li-
hrarN. .i,n~usc.nents. Schools and Mem
b'rSl'ir- Other Features.
Those who have read Mr.. Walter Bcsant's
novel, "All Sorts and Conditions of Men,
VIII remember the authors description of tho
i'lcal "Pcop!c's Palace erected for the ben
Cit of the weary workers of the east end. of
London. 1t has been given to Mr.. Bcsant to
"Hlo' the rare delight OF seeing his ideal take
Oh arinality, and Il genuine "I'coplc's Palacc,'
founded for the very purposes described in
his story. And in The North American Re-
view My. Besant tells lis of the palace that he
loves. its appearance, its work, its resources,
and its prospects. 1t is an interesting. story:
Tho palace, rs it stands at present. consists
only of the temporary sheds and the central
hall. Externally, the hail is hidcous; but
then it is the core of the whole palace, and
lis ~oNtei'ior will be invisible when tho whole
Is built. This hall, which is capable of hold
i'is b.OOo people at Il pinch. is we'll proper.
'ioiled ana lofty: at one end stands an organ
and a platform for the use of tho singers and
performers at concerts; Il spacious gallery is
hi 1t ont OIL either side: q statue of the queen
stands over tho entrance; the sides are
adorned w.thStatucs Of queens and princes5as
OF Great Britain and ireland: under the cal
lcly are temporary booEshelvcs, for the hall
Is hi present the library as well: the body of
III" room is provided with tables and seats
lu!' readers and hundreds of papers from all
parts OF the world; at the upper end under
the platform isthe table where the librarians
two ladics-s!t TO advise the readers, to re-
cove and give out the books. Tho place is
always well filled. On Sundays, especially,
when the librarians work is done by volun-
te"rs, it is c.animlcd with orderly and quiet
readers, who find here II place for rest and
reading. The opening Of the place on Sum
day has proved an unmixed blessing and
boui 10 the people.
AT lie back Of the hall tho library is
rapidly rising. 1t is AN octagonal doflea
room, with book accommodations for ..5o,-
sd volumes. At present the library con-
t,ins no more than 5000 volumes. but is rap
lilly growing. The antc-rooms Of the library
WI be given over entirely for the use of The
t,.:!S wiio form tho lady members. They
VIII then lave all To themselves, under TIE
government of their own coYmiitseH, tl,cir
""1! music room, tea room, reading and
"~ii'i:':s room and conversation ron.l.
Nj Inc blcl; OF the library a.a;!,,: II lan.
''No storicd hunllirs. TAi; va; formerly tie
af42i:n"y of the school and ;lmsiip.:>e5
Nli-''l u I'd To occupy th" site. Fortunately
.4,:' li"'!; was not pll!iyl Gow!, and it is
h"i., rndillg the completion of tiio huiliia'r,
rsci for clas; CONS. The .ltliles are
:! .2i!..', corrugated iron structure u cdfogt!.o
oSi:!i,it IONS: an iron li!illing. which co..
tain " gymnasium perfectly i!t:el NJ with
all tho modern appliances; a hill.;.:at rp9iri
!Hr.lt he'd WITH half Il dozen billiard aiHl
AN! ll~atellc tables in it end Il ra'rv-4.3a..i
!'oa@a. Ti!ere are also TO acr:eia".. : a. isa:,
y s:i.Il "ladies'" room iit:elu u, for t., glris.
;.i Tho Palace Journal ot:ica.
""ilen the whole buil iin, isca,r .cet,
.: temporary buildings viii q. ar.
'~l'alace will contain in iascli "v,..riA.:ne.
y: Social rooms. clab rooms, |l,i!li.Yl
.ls, lecture rooms, reading roo!,!s. Il @ri
,!ain the queen $ half class roC:.!s, c~a,,t!j." q.
accommodating an iiataonge niAlhpr OF
s.,.(!eN'S: chemical and physi"allaho@"tu! ics,
=" ! ali .a machinery OF q great teela.@ai
college, and palace OF delight.
Tho boys school, which is ~cs:r:ctl Oh
during the day, is an attempt 10 Ass1a.c-
tl:ins tor the boys who have rc.c!icl tie iifth
or sixth standard in the n schools, i. C..
who have Il good rudimeil. education and
have shown Intelligence, and whose parents
"a'inot afford to apprentice them To any
trade. We take them for Year. on !ilotr
aud in the principles which u,lderlia ;}l tech
anything ornamental or supcriilous. There
are classes in carpentry, dcsisa. @cou:etry,
drawing and chemistry, but nonc IL sle., ID
pcG.iuitics as spelling OF Fre"cll. iii ro:re
1T the age of Is or II, and they are tos.ay
fer two years. after which they will leave
the school to enter upon their trade.
1.-The technical schools are rarr.cl on III
the evening: they MAY h. attvt,.e,l ~ tier
VINO are not members; in iact. sore ot TIE
members do not attend an; OF t.e c,.saos.
They comprise practical TRADE Glass; NJ
present nine trades are taught: 'tce!.!ivai
classes which include thirteen branches of
work; science ~classcs,' art a.:l design
classes 'mlsica! classes ~'classas for wo-
men, including all sortsof dress making. and
general classes, which include the |rcut.irc-
ments for the examinations of the civil str
vice, shorthand, French and German, book
keeping, and so forth. Only those engaged
in the particular trade to which tho class re-
fers can join the practical or technical
classes. All these classes are full TO over
Gowing.'
In tho way of recreations the palace offers
two concerts Il week. an organ recital OH
Sunday, Il library and reading room-opon
on Sunday from 2 to 10 p. MT billiard
room and a whole host OF clwba--cleSs,
cycling, cricket, ctr.-organizel By the mci;i-
hers at pleasure. Flower shows and ex!libi-
tin.ls of various kinds a:e held at Intervals,
and four balls lavealrcady been given. which
Mr.. Besant assures us were NEST enjoyable
affairs. No intoxisants OF any kind arc sold
witll.i the limits OF the palace.
y Curious feature of the palace economy is
the fact tli;;s o.!ly young persons are admitted
to membership. The palace las at present
about three thousand members, all it can us
yet uclo.t.iodatc WHEN the buildings are
completed it will have Us many rs ten thou
sand. The Standard.
Land Held by Aliens.