iBypedmental  Xeatslation

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has  been  made  and  discussed.  The  Lords’
Committee  have  themselves  recommended  “that
legislative  facilities  should  be  afforded  for  the
local  adoption  of  the  Gothenburg  and  of  Mr.
Chamberlain’s  schemes,  or  of  some  modification
of  them.”  And  the  Lords  have  themselves
recognised  the  value  of  social  “experiments”  in
providing  counter-attractions  to  the  public-house.
In  their  final  report,  dated  the  17  th  of  March  last,
they  remark  (p.  xliv.)  :
These  experiments  are  too  recent,  and,  in  spite  of  their
rapid  increase,  too  partial  and  limited  to  enable  the  Committee ­
  to  pronounce  with  confidence  on  their  ultimate
success,  or  on  the  extent  of  the  influence  they  may  exercise  in
diminishing  intemperance  ;  but  they  desire  to  express  their
strong  opinion  that,  if  generally  prosecuted  and  conducted
with  due  regard  for  the  wants  and  comforts  of  a  population
among  whom  education  is  gradually  diffusing  a  taste  for
enjoyment  far  less  coarse  and  gross  than  in  the  past,  they  are
destined  to  have  an  important  influence  for  good.  It  is
obvious  that  the  desire  for  recreation  is  felt  by  all  classes
alike.

What  is  this,  however,  but  an  express  recognition ­
  by  the  House  of  Lords  of  the  need  of
experimentation  as  regards  the  entertainment  and
recreation  of  the  people  ?  I  fail  to  see  how  such
experimentation  either  can  or  ought  to  be  confined
to  philanthropists.  If  we  look  around  and  notice
the  vast  new  restaurants  of  London,  the  innumerable ­
  glittering  railway  bars  in  all  parts  of  the