women. An interesting recent development is that of the classes of women of mature years, having home responsibilities, who yet can spare a certain amount of time in the morning. In East Boston, a class of this kind, numbering 115 members, and in South Boston a class numbering 59 members, have been formed, and great interest has been taken by the members in the class work.

Of the smaller gymnasia the one in Ward 9 was opened in October last, the one in Ward 19 in January, and the one in Ward 7 in May. The Ward 9 gymnasium has had successful classes, with the exception of the class for young women. It is confidently hoped that this class will grow in numbers and interest with the opening of another season. In general, however, the gymnasium has been largely attended, and much appreciated. In Ward 19 the gymnasium has been open only about half of the season, but a satisfactory beginning has been made with its work.

The Ward 7 gymnasium has made a very satisfactory beginning as a City institution.

An interesting aspect of the educational work of the gymnasiums is that they accomplish the training of young men who are ambitious to enter the City's service as policemen and firemen. The City gymnasia have been the means of raising by ten or fifteen points the standard for appointment to positions in these Departments. For some suggestive facts with regard to such training, as well as for striking evidence of the physical and moral value of the work of the gymnasia, we call attention to the special reports appended to this statement.

As to the future growth of the indoor gymnasium system throughout the City, the Commission would strongly urge the importance of constructing large gymnasia, designed to meet the needs of an entire district, rather than small ones for each ward. The small gymnasia now in existence were provided through arrangements and appropriations as to which the Commission was given no satisfactory alternative. A gymnasium needs to have a large floor space, about 125 by 60 feet, ample air space, and large dimensions such as to allow of a running track. It is better, also, not to have a City gymnasium too closely identified with a single neighborhood, but to make it a sort of public centre, to which people will come from many different streets. A very important consideration also lies in the fact that it costs practically as much for the wages of attendants and instructors in a small gymnasium as in a large one.

There have been public class exhibitions at the South

Boston Gymnasium during the year. Special contests are not encouraged, as the object is to give a reasonable degree of training to the physical capacities of the average person rather than to bring to the front the expert and prodigy.

For the success of the gymnasia great credit is due to the faithful work of the instructors. The report of Mr. Bowler, who has acted as general superintendent of the class work in the gymnasia, is included in this pamphlet.

There are six physicians, two of them women, who have regular hours at the different gymnasia. The physicians examine every applicant for the privileges of the gymnasia, particularly to see whether he has any weakness for which some special exercise might be enjoined. In all cases the physicians offer valuable advice and counsel to attendants at the gymnasia. Some of the physicians are gathering a valuable body of data through the compilation of exhaustive anthropometric statistics.

NORTH END PLAYGROUND.

The Com mission has entered with interest into the experiment of conducting the playground at the North End Park, adjoining the swimming beach, during the present summer. There would seem to be good reason for having the management of the outdoor playground in the same hands as the indoor gymnasia. The instructor and some of the attendants in the indoor gymnasia during the winter could be told off under the same general supervision to have charge of the outdoor athletics and recreation.

PUBLIC CONVENIENCE Stations.

The underground public convenience station situated on the Common, near Park street, must be recognized as a highly appreciated public improvement. On holidays the number of persons availing themselves of it has been as high as twenty thousand. The Commission would strongly recommend the construction of two or three more such stations in the crowded down-town squares. Such provision must be regarded as absolutely essential to the welfare of a great civilized city.

We would again urgently recommend the replacing of the antiquated urinals to be found in different parts of the City by structures which would be more convenient and less offensive to persons passing by.