"ST. LUBBOCK'S DAY" 125 



judged, is to rest upon its success, thus far it has proved 

 itself a boon beyond price." x 



The Daily News was no less appreciative 

 on the second birthday of the holiday : 



How much such a day of relaxation was needed, its 

 universal acceptance proves. This is only the second 

 year of its establishment, yet all London has prepared to 

 keep it. Business will stand still in the City to-day. 

 The Banks, warehouses, and offices will all be closed and 

 the shops shut. In the West-end and in the chief 

 thoroughfares the principal shops will follow the example 

 of the banks, and so general is the disposition to make 

 holiday that an enterprising pawnbroker thinks it 

 needful to advertise that his establishment will remain 

 open. It is perhaps difficult for the general public to 

 realise what such a holiday means. There are thousands 

 in this great City who are at work all the year round. 

 The shops and warehouses are kept open by relays of 

 attendants. In many of the larger of them the humbler 

 employes may have — like the postmen — a fortnight's 

 holiday in the year ; but to vast multitudes only a day 

 of closing brings a chance of release. We have given 

 publicity of late to scores of appeals from philanthropic 

 persons for help to give groups of school children " a day 

 in the fresh air." This statute holiday gives a day in 

 the fresh summer air — and let us hope in the bright 

 summer sunshine — to tens of thousands of persons who 

 might otherwise altogether miss the sight of the yellow 

 corn-fields or the summer woods. 2 



" All other popularity," said the Daily Telegraph, 

 " in arms, arts, song, or statesmanship, was as nothing 

 on Monday last compared with that of Sir John Lubbock. 

 If there had been a question that day of electing some 

 one to any office whatsoever, from the Lord High 

 Admiralty of England to the Archbishopric of Canter- 

 bury, and Sir John had only stood for it, the women and 

 children of London, let alone its citizens, would have 

 elected him by acclamation." 3 



1 BelVs Life, August 12, 1871. 



2 Daily News, August 5, 1872. 



3 Daily Telegraph, May 22, 1872. 



