Tae last report of the Temperance Society gave a flourishing account of ita position, and showed that it had expanded into a considerable undertaking. An income of $16,000, and a'stock of furniture which has cost $6,500; implies a considerable business—something quite different from what a stranger would infer from the name of the Society. And, as' a matter of fact, the undertaking does seem to have developed into something very much larger than, if not different from, the origi project, No doubt it does good in its way. The question is whether, in this expansion, the original object has not: been somewhat lost sight of. Public sympathy, and subscriptions, if we remember rightly, wore first invited on the plea that some place of resort was badly wanted for Sailors. These men had literally nothing to do when' they came ashore, nor anywhere to go except to low grogshops; and much drunkenness was the natural result, The Temperance Society wished to remedy this. It'wished to offer them a place to books and newspapers to read, and harmless liquor instead of: the poisonous stuff on which they' were invited to get drunk elsewhere. © The iden was a good one, and found much: sympathy and support. Has the pio-gramme been realised? Is the Tenperance Hall freely availed of by the' Sailors visiting the port? We huve' visited the various rooms, and' been struck by the neatness and order which are everywhere apparent; but we noticed, and have heard the same remark from others, that the m of persons present are not sailors, Those people who do go to the Hall, no doubt appreciate very much the comforts provided for them. People board there more cheaply than: they can do anywhere else in Shanghai; rooms can be hired for Clabs or entertainments, at seemingly impossible rates, The Marine Bugineers have' what is practically a Club within ite precincts. But these are scarcely objects to be at tained by appeals for public support. Those who have seemed to us to form a great proportion of the audience, have no doubt greatly enjoyed the entertain ments periodically given; but they are not the class whom it was understood to be a special object of the Society to attract, nor who require the cheap amusements offered. With the exception of a few men-of-war's mon, it has seemed to us that the "Jacks" among the audience were comparatively fow.
It seems to us, then, that the Temperance Society has more or less failed in one especial object which it set before itself; and we cannot but think that this is in 2 measure owing to the great expansion of the project. The"
He likes a place which is "clean and tidy like," where he can drop in and smoke his yarn with' his mates; bat''he' si present establishment a altogath
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.