ng such an institution. If managed strictly
with a view to the real wants and ideas of the people, and not in
accordance with any preconceived principles of so-called
instruction, it would be certain to succeed. The labouring poor
dislike instruction being forced down their throats quite as much,
or more, than the upper classes. The very worst way to induce a man
to learn is to begin by telling him he is ignorant, and thereby
insulting his self-esteem. A village reading-room should be open to
all, and not to subscribers only. From six till nine in the evening
would be long enough for it to be open, and the key could be kept by
some adjacent cottager. With every respect for the schoolmaster, let
the schoolmaster be kept away from it. If there is a night-school,
keep it distinct from the reading-room; let the reading-room be a
voluntary affair, without the slightest suspicion of _drill_
attaching to it. It should be a place where a working man could come
in, and sit down and _spell_ over a book, without the consciousness
that someone was watching him, ready to snap him up at a mistake.
Exclude all 'goody' books; there are sects in villages as well as
towns, and the presence of an obnoxious work may do much harm. To
the Bible itself, in clear print, no sect will object; but let it be
the Bible only. A collection of amusing literature can easily be
made. For L5 enough books could be bought on an old bookstall in
London to stock a village library; such as travels, tales--not
despising Robinson Crusoe--and a few popular expositions of science.
There should be one daily paper. It could be brought by one of the
milk-carts from the nearest railway-station. This daily paper would
form a very strong counteraction to the ale-house. Of course, the
ale-house would start a daily in opposition; but at the reading-room
the labourer would soon learn that he need not purchase a glass of
beer in order to pay for his news. The daily paper would be a most
important feature, for such papers are rare in villages. Very few
farmers even take them. The rent of a room for this purpose in a
village would be almost nominal. A small room would be sufficient,
for only a few would be present at a time. Cricket clubs may be left
to establish themselves.

The next suggestion the writer is about to make will be thought a
very bold one; but is it not rational enough when the first novelty
of the idea has subsided? It is, that an annual excursion should be