The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-31

rooms, ntty-One courses or pubic leC- lures, three committees for alleviating poverty, eleven committees for securing work for the unemployed, twenty sing ling schools, thirty-two sick funds, and one of each of the following: Cheche, building fund, school for marble carv- ing, school for basket making, school for domestic service, trade school, school for wood carving, normal school, directory for nurses, industrial muse um, school for English, nautical school, pension fund, school for adults and drawing school for adults-in all 1,01 distinct lines of work, primarily for the working classes. It is quite impossible to estimate the amount of good thus accomplished in a country where the total population is only about 4,SOOOO0.
 This is a very remarkable summary of the work done by the Dutch society. The detailed information presented by MT. Gore shows how the work Is car ried on, and the wonderful influence 1t is exerting on the Dutch people. In many instances, he says. the depart ment takes on the functions of peo ple's club and it's weekly meeting is an occasion when the members families meet in social intercourse. The mem bership being more or less mixed these gatherings afford an opportunity for the meeting of the different classes. Often there is a pre- arranged program, consisting of short speeches, recita- tions and music, with cup of coffee at 1 the close of the evening. These enter tainments perform an important func- ton in a country where the winters are so long and so cold as to restrict the amusements of all except the rich. Then, too, the departments frequently conduct art exhibits, flower shows and expositions of agricultural products and hand work. In such exhibitions prizes are offered, and great stimulus is thus given to entire communities. Long ago, at the suggestion of the cen
 tral committee, there was put in opera ton the plan of giving out, each spring, small plants which were to be cared for and returned on a given date, so that awards might be made to those who showed the greatest skill and care in handling the growing flowers.
 One of the greatest things accom- plished by the society is the develop ment of habits of thrift and economy among the people. II appears that largely as a result of its efforts one half of the people of Holland are now members of some kind of an insurance association. Some years ago the socie- ty published for gratuitous distribution a popular treatise on political economy, one on hygiene and one on domestic economy, having the unique title, Where does the money go?" In this last named are given, in addition to many valuable suggestions regarding economy in general, the specific amounts which a workingman receiv- ing a given wage should expend for the various articles of food and clothing in order to attain the best possible re- suits. It also shows how household ac- counts should be kept and in many ways illustrates how the wife can be made a helpmeet in fact as well as in name As a further help toward in creasing the efficiency of the wage earner, the society has prosecuted a IluHlDtI Ol lltNeSliSdL llIlo tiit Iu- tritive properties of foods, the evils re- sulting from the use of impure food in gradients, and the methods for detect- ing some of the common adulterations. The result of the publication of the popular pamphlet on this subject has been greater care on the part of deal CTS to procure for their customers more wholesome supplies and the cores bonding higher regard for healthful diet. Some pamphlets which were written for the society, published by 1t. and sold at the rate of one cent each, or given away when necessary, are as follows: "Our clothing, why and how we ought to dress" Individual houses or collective houses?" "The art of be- coming rich" Your house and your home" "The education and care of children during their early years" Manual training as an educational agency" Precautions against conta- gious diseases Water from hygieu- ic point of view,' How the pennies may be expended" Labor laws" "Su- perstition and how to suppress it. "The state and vaccination, "The in fiuence of alcoholic drinks upon the human system" "Idleness as a phe- nomenon in society" Forestry" "The trade relations of middle Europe" "The art of housekeeping, "The love of truthfulness etc These small trea- . tises have done an immense amount of good. They are written in a simple style and freed as far as possible from confusing technicalities; they are not only readable, but interesting, and coming as they do into the hands of those who would otherwise be deprived of the opportunity of learning in schools or colleges the lessons which they wish to impart, Mir. Gore says that these little tracts have been veri- table missionaries.
 Interesting facts are given concern ing the work of the society in furnish ing work for the unemployed and in doing away with idleness. The subject of old age pensions is now under con sidera ton. MT. Gore says:
 The society has laid before its mem bers the question, What is the duty of the more fortunate toward those less fortunate?" and in it's attempt to an swer emphasis Is laid upon unselfish T T., ,tcr1, S,fl l;,-g,,