which was necessary to youth and inexperience, and to make great demands upon the public?

We need much more room, more furniture, more books,

and, above all, more money. Increased labor requires us to engage more salaried officers, and to give larger salaries. And we say to the public, Give us of your abundance; for our work is your work, and in helping us you are helping the world.

REPORT OF TREASURER.

Report of the Committee on Social Affairs.

THE report of the Committee on Social Affairs, which has the general supervision of the Reading-room and all that pertains to the social life of the Union, comprises the reports of several branch committees.

The rooms have been kept open from 9 A.M. until 7.30 P.M. from June to November, and to 9 P.M. the remainder of the year. And, under the superintendence of Miss Davis, the work has been conducted in a very satisfactory manner. She has been relieved in her duties by the Reception Committee, seventeen in number, some member of which, as in former years, has usually been at the desk from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.; and they have done most excellent work. The Chairman, Mrs. Goodrich, reports: "The average number of daily visitors to the rooms, exclusive of those who come to the various departments, is forty-two, a much larger number than last year. About one-third of these come to read, and the others to wait or meet friends or seek information. And it is hoped that all have realized what many say, "that the rooms are a source of pleasure as well as benefit to women."

After the Sunday meetings closed, the Social Committee took charge of the Sunday afternoons, and secured a committee of ladies, one of whom was present every Sunday afternoon, so that the rooms were kept open from one to six . o'clock throughout the summer, without infringing upon the

hours of the superintendent, excepting in August. The average attendance for these afternoons was thirteen. The Reading-room has been supplied with three daily and fourteen weekly papers and ten monthlies. The Transcript, the Congregationalist, the Signs of the Times, the Atlantic, Harper's, and the Popular Science Monthly were presented respectively by Mrs. D. P. Kimball, Miss F. J. Dyer, Mrs. S. E. Kingsley, Mr. Garrison, Mrs. John W. Jones, and "a friend." The rest were given by the publishers, to all of whom we would here take occasion to extend our thanks. After three months' use, the papers and magazines that are not reserved for binding are given in charge of the Committee for Visiting the Sick, to be distributed as they think best, to individuals or institutions.

Mrs. Goodrich, chairman of the Library Committee, reports: "We have received for the library, during the year, fifty bound volumes, thirty periodical numbers of illustrated Shakspere, and twenty-four numbers of Punch. For these gifts, we are indebted to Miss Margaret Greene, Mrs. A. M. Diaz, Mrs. S. F. Zahm, Miss E. Lombard, Miss F. M. Shaw, Dr. Mary J. Safford, Mr. Geo. H. Ellis, Mrs. J. T. Fields, Rev. Dr. Gordon, Dr. J. F. Humphreys, Miss Annie Bickford, Miss Louisa Alcott, and Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney. Also, to Sampson, Davenport & Co., for a copy of this year's Directory.' The library now contains three hundred and fifty-six bound volumes and about one hundred and seventy unbound pamphlets; but it is greatly in need of more standard works, both prose and poetry, and particularly of an encyclopædia. Therefore, we would suggest to those whose libraries are replete, or who have duplicate copies of desirable books, to remember the Union."

Miss Davis, chairman of the Committee on Agency of Direction, reports that "it has added to its store of informa-•

tion in regard to Boston and all its interests, boarding and lodging-houses, schools, teachers, causes for mental improvement or industrial education, hospitals, and other institutions, and that the number of those who come to the rooms for various kinds of directions is constantly increasing."

She also reports for the Committee for Visiting the Sick that "during the year forty-one visits have been made, fourteen bundles of weeklies and magazines distributed, and Christmas presents of many useful articles, Christmas cards, preserves, home-made cake, and fruit given."

The first Wednesday evening in November was the opening of the social gatherings. Mrs. D. N. Richards, Chairman of the Entertainment Committee, reports that twentysix entertainments have been given on successive Wednesday evenings, ending April 26, as follows:

Nov. 9. Social gathering. Recitations and music by Miss. Rosa Remick. Reading from William Henry Letters by Mrs. Diaz.

Nov. 16. General gathering of the members and friends of the Union. Vocal and instrumental music and speeches. Nov. 23. Social gathering. Recitations by Mrs. Heald. Vocal and instrumental music by Mrs. Baxter.

Nov. 30. Entertainment. Recitations by Misses Goodwin and Murch. Singing by Miss Nettie Van Buren. Crystal Chimes by Miss Gertie Murch.

Dec. 7. Social gathering. Singing by Miss Marquéze. Piano music by the Misses Russell.

Dec. 14.

Entertainment. Domestic symphony and col

lege songs by Miss Eustis and friends.

Dec. 21. Social gathering. Reading by Miss Lillian Mun

roe. Singing by Mrs. Cora M. Lund.

Reiley.

Piano music by Miss

Dec. 28. Lecture by Mrs. A. M. Diaz, on "Women's Work for the Millennium."