348 CENTURY OF ENGLISH FOX-HUNTING 



these amusements. Their exertions were confined to 

 the dull routine of constitutional walks. Now at 

 least we see them playing lawn tennis in the parks, 

 watching cricket matches, sculling, and cycling. Even 

 amongst the poorer classes the working man will 

 take his young wife or sweetheart to a football match 

 instead of to the public-house. I have mingled with 

 the crowd and heard working men explaining to 

 their female companions the intricacies of sport, to 

 which they listened with rapt attention, proving that 

 if they could not take an active part, they at least 

 took an interest in sport, and from their ability to 

 talk about it would probably increase their domestic 

 happiness. If sport gives our women the robust 

 health resulting from fresh air and physical exercise, 

 which, in accordance with the laws of heredity, they 

 will transmit to their offspring, it must endear itself 

 to the State for producing a generation of healthy 

 citizens. 



Now, if sport promotes sobriety, morality, and 

 health without any financial aid from the State, if it 

 supplies material for our armies, if it encourages 

 horse-breeding and agriculture, if it brings a revenue 

 into the coffers of the State, if it brings prosperity to 

 trades, such as the saddlery trade, if it brings employ- 

 ment to tens of thousands of men, such as keepers, 

 grooms, stable helpers, et hoc omne genus, if, in short, 

 it increases the moral, physical, and financial welfare 

 of the State, with no subsidy from without, then it is 

 at least entitled to the protection of the State against 



