SPORT: ITS RELATION TO THE STATE 347 



accustomed to spend their half-holidays and evenings 

 in useless philandering become reinvigorated for the 

 toil of the counting-house or the shop. Even em- 

 ployers of labour recognise the benefits of this 

 enthusiasm. One of the largest firms in London, 

 namely the Prudential Assurance Company, were in 

 the habit of annually giving their employees a dinner. 

 The dinner has now been abolished for some years, 

 and the Ibis Club instituted in its place, for which 

 any of the employees are eligible on payment of a 

 nominal subscription. Nor were any of the em- 

 ployees sorry that cheap means of outdoor recreation 

 had been substituted for a rich dinner, generally 

 followed by indigestion. I have only quoted one out 

 of multitudinous instances. Banks, City firms, news- 

 papers, and theatres invariably possess cricket clubs, 

 financially encouraged by their several authorities, 

 and, short as has been the experience, a difference 

 can already be seen in the physiques of the City clerk 

 and the shop assistant. But this difference will be 

 more observable in the next generation, since women 

 follow where men lead. Amongst the wealthier 

 classes our women hunt, follow the guns, fish, scull, 

 play golf and lawn tennis, and are the companions of 

 their husbands and brothers out-of-doors as much as 

 indoors. Half a century ago they were, with few 

 exceptions, treated as hothouse flowers, and nurtured 

 in an artificial atmosphere, which they only quitted 

 for the tame exertions of archery and croquet. The 

 women of the lower middle classes had not even 



