1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

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230 THE FLOWING BOWL The evil took refuge in the open streets, and, more recently, in so-called social clubs, in which illicit liquors were, and are, sold, and the pander, and the pimp, and the bully met, and meet the drunkard, the dupe, and the greenhorn. What has been the effect of the Anti-gambling Cru sade ? To create working-men bookmakers. This is a fact. In most large warehouses and factories there are employes who will lay "starting prices," in shillings and sixpences, to their mates. There is not a tithe of the amount wagered amongst the upper classes that there was in the fifties and sixties 3 but amongst the horny-handed sons of toil the vice has increased to an enormous extent, mainly owing to repressive legislation. If a man wants to gamble there is only one factor to prevent him—impecuniosity ; and even that factor need not prevent a man from having a drink if he waits in the tap-room long enough on pay-day. Since Sunday closing in Wales, shebeens have arisen by the hundred j and paraffin, for want of a better drink, is still drunk on the Sabbath day, by the miners in the Rhondda Valley. All honour to him who abstains from strong drink for conscience' sake, or in the hope that others may profit by his example. But the lash of scorn for him who because he does not swallow fermented refreshment himself, says to his brother " Thou shalt not drink ! " The Puritans abolished bear-baiting, not on account of the cruelty to the bears, but because the alleged sport gave pleasure to the people j and the Puritans of the day, who forbid cakes and ale,