its few hundred
inhabitants, to the present city of 25,000, 13,000 of whom are engaged
in industrial pursuits, its 70 schools, its 600 manufacturing
establishments, embracing the greatest variety of industries.

But Pawtucket is only one of many thriving manufacturing communities.

Waltham, Mass., the adoptive parent of the American Watch Co., which had
in 1865 a population of but 7,000, now numbers over 16,000, with not
less than 7,000 employes, 2,500 of whom alone are employed by the
American Watch Co.

Lowell, Mass., according to the census of 1883, had a population of
66,000, one third of whom were employed in its 300 manufactories.

Manchester, N.H., with a population of 40,000, employs 15,000 persons in
its 102 manufactories.

And so I might go on enumerating special statistics, but these are
simply representative communities. It is sufficient for my purpose to
say that there are in the United States about 254,000 manufacturing
establishments, employing nearly 3,000,000 persons, at an average wage
of $1.15 per working day.

It is to this great class that we look for much of the prosperity of
our country; for we find that the value of the product of the
manufactures of the United States for the last ten years was
$5,400,000,000.

It is also an important factor in our government, for the pride and
principle of our country is "Vox populi, vox Dei."

In these days when skilled labor is at a premium, when issues are
constantly arising requiring the best legislative ability, and the
demand for both is far greater than the supply, how are we to meet it?
The reply comes from far and near, "Educate the people." Yes, educate
the people! for they are very ready to be educated, many of them
striving with a self-denial known only to themselves to give to their
children the education that was denied them; our schools of to-day are
showing good work from the sons and daughters of these parents, and its
influence is blessing their homes.

But many are denied that privilege, and cannot afford to spare their
children's wages for even the three months covering the compulsory law
of education.

At the average wage a private library though small is unattainable; a
newspaper may be a luxury indulged in. Where, then, is the royal road to
learning? We do not hesitate to say the free public library is that
long-sought highway. Then open wide the doors; let us stock our shelves
with the best mechanical and scientific works; se