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The Maryport Advertiser - Friday, July 21, 1882

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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PROPOSED WORKING MEN'S READING ROOM.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE ADVERTISER:

SIR, - It has been felt by many that for such a large town as Maryport there are not sufficient placesof resort where the working man in his leisure hour can pass a comfortable and profitable time; and that principally on this account our streets are crowded in an evening with so many people who apparently have nothing to do, and do not know where to go to do it.

To try and remedy this, a committee has been formed to start a reading-room exclusively for the working men, which room is to be made in every way comfortable and suitable to their tastes and habits, and at the same time be a place for healthy mental recreation. It is to be provided with as many of the leading daily and weekly papers, local papers, and periodicals, as the funds will allow.

Those who wish to become members of the reading-room will have to subscribe a penny a week, and as this is a very small sum, a great number of subscribers will be required to keep the place in an efficient state. The committee, therefore - anxious to be assured of the good-will of the working men - appeal to them to come forward to the support of this undertaking by enroling themselves as members, and by donations.

It is not intended to carry on the reading-room dependent always on the charity of the public, as the committee consider that this would be a reproach to the independence and position of the working classes, who are well able to maintain such a place themselves. They will, therefore, consider that they have done their duty when they have set it going on a proper working basis, and secured for it a sufficient sum to carry it on for one year, after which they will look exclusively to the support of its members for its future success. All sums received in connection with the reading-room will be spent on it.

The committee wish it to be clearly understood that in starting this reading-room, they are actuated by the simple desire to benefit that large class of working men who are not members of any other institution of the same kind.

In your next issue the committee hope to be able to state what place they have secured for the reading-room; and where, when, and by whom, subscriptions and donations will be received.

Please to accept the thanks of the committee for kindly promising to insert this letter in your paper, and they trust that you will give them your support in the future - Believe me, sir, yours faithfully,

WILLIAM P. SCHAFFTER,
On behalf of the "Maryport Working Men's Reading Room" Committee.

July 20th.
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