Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/471

 THE SAL OON IN CHIC A GO 457

common clay to resist. What, then, will the boy do who comes to work in the factory. Whether or not owners of factories who are of a philanthropic turn of mind could be persuaded to fit up a room in their factory where their men could eat ; whether it would be financially successful to serve from the bar hot coffee and a light lunch ; whether the men would come there or go still to the saloon, are debatable questions. Some society might be allowed to furnish and equip a room for such a purpose. Volunteer girls' societies in Chicago have made a success of this. To compete successfully with the saloon, it must surpass it in cheeriness, be free from irritating restriction, allow smoking, etc. A certain per cent, of the men, and especially the young men, would no doubt be glad to take advantage of it.

The lunch feature is by far the most serious feature of the Chicago saloon problem. Untrammeled by conscience, placing no restrictions upon its customers, so long as absolute violence is not resorted to, the saloon combines with its numerous attrac- tions that of feeding the masses. The almost incredible abun- dance and quality of these lunches is due, as explained above, to competition between the great brewing companies that control the liquor trade in Chicago.

The attempt on the part of individuals to furnish cheap lunches has proved a failure, as an examination of the 5- and lo-cent restaurants demonstrates. Cannot we learn a lesson from the saloon which is enabled to supply food to the masses at a very low rate; from the H. H. Kohlsaat Co., whose "combine" is furnishing food to the middle classes ; and from the Coffee- House Association recently formed in London ? Only by some such large combination, by cooperation, can we hope to com- pete successfully with the saloon. Here, I believe, is a lucrative field for the investment of capital.

READING-ROOMS.

Chicago has six branch reading-rooms of the Public Library. The hours are from 12 M. to 9 p. M. The average daily attend- ance of men is 125. There are nine reading-rooms of the Y. M. C. A., with about the same average attendance. Various