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XV Village Clubs. By Sir E. C. Kerrison, Bart. 
At the present time we hear much of the increase of intempe- 
rance amongst the labouring classes, and of various plans by 
which this great evil may be diminished. Some are for multi- 
plying public-houses indefinitely, others for lessening their 
number, and a few for the purchase of all such houses by the 
ratepayers, so as more thoroughly to control them. 
Whilst these different political economists are settling the 
course which the House of Commons should pursue, we may 
consider whether we have no means at hand which may in some 
degree lessen the evil of which every one complains. In towns 
much has been done to ameliorate the condition of the people 
in this respect, by providing Public Libraries and Mechanics' 
•Institutes with their lectures and other attractions. Workmen's 
Halls have been erected, and many employers of labour have 
reading-rooms attached to their works. These special places of 
meeting for the working classes are further supplemented by 
billiard-rooms, theatres, music-halls, and other places of amuse- 
ment, where drink is not the sole object. But in country vil- 
lages hitherto little has been done to counteract the evils of the 
beer-house. From every pulpit, at some time in the year, the 
labourers are warned against spending their money in drink ; but 
where is the male portion of the population to go during the 
winter months, except to the public-house, if there is no reading- 
room — no room with a fire in it ? It is easy to preach morality, 
but difficult to practise it, unless some more useful way of spend- 
ing an evening is at the same time pointed out. Is it reasonable 
to ask a large family of grown-up young people, or a man with 
a house full of small children, to remain in their cottages, and 
not, after a hard day's labour, have some amusement ? 
Those who think that a man should be content to remain in 
his cottage and go nowhere else, are the only people who can be 
found to object to Village Clubs. We are raising the standard 
of education daily. Do we desire that, after the elementary 
school, education should cease, and young men be left entirely 
without the means of turning their education to some profitable 
purpose ? 
It is true that many well-intentioned people have failed to 
make a Village Club successful. Reading-rooms have been built, 
and few have attended ; but that was before the labouring popu- 
lation themselves felt the great necessity for education. 
Experience in several villages has proved that there is begin- 
ning to be a great desire amongst the labourers in rural districts 
to read newspapers, and to borrow books. Hitherto the efforts 
VOL. XIII. — s. s. 2d 
