Chapter XXIV
Reading edition
REFORM AMONG THE ROWDIES—FREE READING-ROOMS.
They Require Peculiar Management to be Successful—The Eleventh-ward Reading-room—Its Failure—A Reformed Pugilist—"Awful Gardner"-His Career—The Death of His Son—His Reform—His Words to His Old Associates—The Effect of Christianity—The Drunkard's Club in the Fourth Ward—Mr. Beecher's Address—Gardner's Speech—His Influence over the Rowdies—His Theory of Reform—Great Numbers Rescued from Drunkenness—Failure of his Health—Genuineness of his Reform—Mr. Macy's Reading-room—The First-ward Room—Mr. J. Couper Lord—Mr. Hawley's Exertions—The Free Reading-room a Recognized Means of Moral Improvement………………………………………….pp. 286-297