STATISTICS OF BELaiUM. 441 



The spirit of association, whicli is very powerful amongst the Flemings, 

 might be turned to good account in educational matters, and has already done 

 much towards the moral and intellectual improvement of the country. Numerous 

 classes for adults have been established, and in some of the towns of Flanders 

 they are attended by a tenth of the population. These classes, however, do not 

 strictly confine themselves to educational matters. Every inhabitant of a town or 

 liirge village is a member of one or more associations, founded for the pursuit of 

 pleasure, business, science, or politics. These societies no longer wield the power 

 they did during the Middle Ages, when they formed a state within the State, but, 

 on the other hand, they leave their members more unfettered. Musical societies 

 are more especially numerous, and so are gymnastic and pigeon clubs. 



When fêtes or kermesses are in prospective, the workmen and workwomen of the 

 manufacturing towns of Flanders form small clubs of ten or twent}^ couples, whose 

 amusemeiits are directed by a captain, or master of ceremonies. The savings of 

 months, nay, of years, are sometimes expended on such occasions in a single day. 

 Yet clubs of the same kind, and equally numerous, are formed whenever an 

 opportunity arises. In no other country are taverns, dancing saloons, and cafés so 

 much frequented as in Belgium. Brussels alone has nearly 9,000 houses where 

 drink is sold — that is, one to about every forty inhabitants ; and as the innkeepers 

 nearly all have votes, they exercise a very powerful political influence. An 

 average drinker will spend about £7 annually in beer, and if to this we add his 

 outlay for drams and tobacco, he expends about £14 outside his home — a very large 

 amount where w^ages are low. The Belgians are the greatest smokers in Europe, 

 surpassing by far even Germans and Dutchmen.* 



* Annual oonsiimption of tobacco prr head of the population : — Belgium, 5'5 lbs. ; Netherlands 

 4-4 lbs. ; Germany, 2-2 lbs. ; France, 1-8 lbs. ; England, 1-4 lbs. 



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