and a liberal construction of the rule regarding works of fiction, had a
favorable effect.

A Young Men's Association was organized in 1865, with a library,
reading-room, collection of curiosities, and provision for amusement and
exercise. It had a very successful career for about eight years.
Meanwhile the Library Association, its name having been changed to the
Berkshire Athenæum, was put on a better footing by the liberality and
efforts of Thomas F. Plunkett, who afterwards, together with Calvin
Martin and Thomas Allen, was instrumental in forming it into a free
library. In 1874, by means of a bequest from Phinehas Allen, and the
gift of its present building from Thomas Allen, the Berkshire Athenæum
was placed upon a firm foundation. For the past eleven years it has been
under the efficient management of Mr. E.C. Hubbel, Curator and
Librarian. To-day it contains 16,000 volumes, and with an average annual
circulation of 50,000; less than ten volumes have been lost.

The history of the public schools is in no important respect different
from that in hundreds of other towns. They were first carefully graded
in 1874, and have enjoyed an excellent reputation. By far the greater
proportion of the young folks in town attend them. The system of free
text books was early adopted. The High School, under the care of an able
scholar, Mr. Edward H. Rice, has been steadily growing in favor during
the past few years. Graduates yearly enter the various colleges, and
from neighboring towns a considerable number of its pupils come and pay
the tuition required by law.

For the higher education of young women the Pittsfield Female Academy
was incorporated in 1806, with Miss Hinsdale as principal. It has
continued ever since, usually with a lady at the head, and for the last