The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-20
THIRD EDITION.
ooIsNEn STONE LAYING.

Hti Cptlitl htNit ia lifb west Isil0
Re ding Room on DUPONT below Four
tecl.tn street was laid with Interesting
.eefeAoi.irs on saturday evening by
Hon. leonard y. Wales, Judge OF the
United States District Court of Della
ware. The foundation walls are COM
pleted aud the first iloor OF luists put
In place, Planks were thrown over
these joists at the corner where tho
stone was laid and seats were placsd
on the pluiilIs for those taking part in
the GER mony, wLi!a others sat In s,'at5
Or Stood ON the pavement in front.
Tho building is 4CS67 feet and two
stories high. to DO built OF brick and
trimmed with stone.
The corner stone was gray Indiana
block lsxli and Is inches long. In
tin box lu- an aIerature In the stone
We're nlacod by Judge Wales copy OF
the Hell Bible copies OF the Whining
ton daily papers, copies of the West
End Record. "A copy OF Temperance
lessons magazine, copy of the march.
Ing songs OF The W, Z. 4. U. and u
copy OF Observation-Disclosures to- the build
Ing. Judge Wales called the meeting to
ORDER, When lev. Mr.. Hannum OF
Greenhill Presbyterian Church read
seleclions of scripture. kev. NJ.
Henih of the Baptist Mission work of
the city led in prayer. Judge Wales
then, with the aid OF Joseph Dunlap,
tho contractor for laying tho brick,
and his workmen put the mortar in
pIRce lifted tho store into It's bed
and plumbcd aud leveiled it. -
Aey. W. L. kIcfswan. pastor OF Rod
meg street Presbyterian Church, then
delivered tho following address:
You have been invited this afternoon
to witness the laying OF the corner
Stone In he new building. OF tho West
End Reading Rooms. We know OF
course that the uses OF a corner stone
havs changed with the style of build
Ing OF thu present day, and that the
stone which we now lay in its promi-
neltt resting place, in no exclusivcnnss
deserves the name of supporting the
building more than many of its hum
BILE fellows.
The special use of this stone to-day
Hes In the fact that 1t Is representa-
tive OF the sentiments, the hopos, the
purposes, for which the building is
erected. We build the material struc-
ture, which though it is IA useful, is yet
the least important part OF our build
= ing, in the same spirit, and on the
snfne foundation upon which we trust
10 carry on all the work connected
with the institution.
Feeling tho great need of providing
for the iuany boys AMI young men OF
this section OF the city place for In
nocent amusement and social and in-
tellecttal Improvement and realizing
the powerful attractions in places
questionable II not evil. some of us
undertook. in February, 1889, to carry
on this work in Il very humble way A
small one story building ON Scott
street was rented, whose furniture
consisted OF few second hand chairs
and tnbles, hOme-m made book case,
and piano bought ON the instalment
plan. The puihetically poor quarters,
the lack OF Interested workers. the
spirit OF mischief, and sometimes OF
rebellion and anarchy which dwelt In
the boys who came, matte the first
years work more pleasant as matter
OF history than II was as a present ex-
perience.
In spite Of many obstacles and dis.
eoulagements however, the work pros,
pered, and the need of larger quarters
became unm.stHkeabl1 and imperative
Not without Hesitation and careful de
liberation, because OF the increased OK
pense and the difficulty of securing
more workers, We moved into larger
building. Many Of tho annoyances OF
The previous year Disappeared.
The boys began 10 take persona
pride ant interest in improving The
plan and helping to maintain order.
With the assistance of tho BOYS who
worked willingly with their hands, out
OF rough boards we constructed u & gin'
nasiusn, which has been Of inyaluabl,
assistance. For two winters we have
beeil In our present location, doing
such work IA We were able to Introduce
Various classes OF instruction have
been carried on aud some OF Tho boy.
arc making good progress in music
and drawing. A penny saving bank
mas been OF some use and II llourishing
temperance school meets weekly.
No s.uall amount of the good dom
has been In the mere attendance OF Tia,
the boys, right after night and weel
after week, playing ut the inpoeen
games provided. The best work O
such an Institution cun never 10 ex
pressed by statistics nor measured II
words. We who liavo been with III,
boys through weeks and years have
better ways VI measuring tie result!
OF the influences which go out from
the Institution on the changed face,
which are expressive Of tho change,
lives and tho higher tone of characte
expressed lu the words and deeds o
tho members. We have been prevent
ed from Undertaking new work anC
crippled IN carrying on work alreadl
begun with our limited means and In
adequate buildings. Burdened witt
tho responsibility of the work and see
ing to some extent the possibilities o
Its usefulness, we undertook the grea
task last summer Of securing enoug
money To erect building suitable t
the work.
For 5000 we purchased the lot o
which we stand, 6jxlI5, where beside
the building we may have grounds 70
croquet games and tennis courts. Tn
building is to cost $4,000 three-fourth
OF which and more have been alread
raised. Through the kindness OF r.
Rioe, architect, WA have plans for
large, handsome building. which wi
be on ornament to the neighborhooC
Tho building will contain readin
rooms, clnss rooms, gymnasium an
bath rooms, work shops and COMM
tee rooms. We hope to better carr
on all that Is begun, and undertak
various new enterprlses-a workin
girls club. kitchen garden, klndergal
ten for the children OF the nelghbo
hood, classes in short hand and tyr
writing, and many other practical an
useful branches. We believe 1t will |
apower for good In tho communit
and the centre from which will 10
out every kind of uplifting influence
20 all who need our help. And 1t
not prophecy without solid exper
ence to rest on, to foretell that Il
West End Reading Room shall yet [
one OF the most useful Institutions
the city OF Wilmington.
Within thu Gtrna tsht ,b lal