ty of
custom. People speak of the Italians as gamblers, but in Italy gambling
is not nearly so prevalent as in England. In Manchester alone one
sporting journal has a morning and evening edition, and there are daily
papers in most of the large Yorkshire towns. In the North-country I have
often watched the workmen during the breakfast half-hour, and found that
they did not care a rush for anything in the paper save the sporting
news. In London two great journals are published daily, and twice a week
each of them issues a double number. Every line of these papers is
devoted to sport, and each of them is a rich estate to the proprietor.

The mania for betting grows more acute every day, the number of wealthy
bookmakers increases, and the national demoralisation has reached a
depth which would seem inconceivable to anyone who has not lived with
all sorts and conditions of men. A racing man is apt to become incapable
of concentrating his mind on anything except his one pursuit. Hundreds
of thoughtful and cultured people race a little and bet a little by way
of relaxation; but these take no harm. It is the ignorant, ill-balanced
folk, without higher interests, who suffer.

Well-meaning persons spend money on respectable institutes for working
men, but the men do not care for staid, dull proceedings after their
work is over; they want excitement. A moderately heavy bet supplies them
with a topic for conversation; it gives them all the keen pleasures of
anticipation as the day of the race draws near, and when they open the
paper to see the final result they are thrilled just as a gambler is
thrilled when he throws the dice. No wonder that the mild and moral
places of recreation are left empty; no wonder that the public-houses
are well filled. If I were asked to name two things which interest the
English nation to the supreme degree, I should say--first, Sport;
second, Drink. If the strongest Ministry that ever took office attempted
to make betting a criminal offence, they would be turned out in a month.
Betting is now not a casual amusement, but a serious national pursuit.
The perfect honesty with which payments are made by agents is amazing.
A man who bets on commission for others may have L100,000 to lay out on
a race; every farthing is accounted for, and dishonesty among the higher
grades of the betting brotherhood is practically unknown. It is this
rigid observance of the point of honour that tempts people like our gang
in