BETTER-OFF ARE FREE TO PLAY GOLF AND TENNIS

What is the position which has been produced by the evolution which this country has undergone during the past one hundred years or so? Very slowly the better-off members of the community have asserted their freedom to play golf, lawn tennis, and even cricket on Sunday. They can afford to hire private grounds, with the result that for them the Sunday has become the day in the week when they seek recreation. With whatever misgivings some may regard this development, it is admitted that nothing can be done to stay its progress. and eminent leaders of the Church have confessed that they welcome it, so long as it does not interfere with attendance at public worship or involve large numbers of persons in a sevenday working week. They look upon it as a necessary and not unhealthy reaction to the sedentary existence led by an increasing proportion of our population in factory, workshop, or office.

We dislike the agitator’s clap-trap about there being one law for the rich and another for the poor; but in this instance, though the law is silent, regulations do exist which have almost the value of legal restrictions on the poorer classes.

What is true of London, with which Mr. WELLESLEY is particularly concerned, applies to most other great cities; the poorer members of the community, who stand, perhaps, most in need of the moral influences of team games, such as football and cricket, and even lawn tennis and bowls, may do any legal act on the Sunday – loaf, drink in public-house or club, while away the hours in other ways – but may not indulge in invigorating and educative recreations.