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REFORMERS WAYS IN OLDEN TIMES. "It appears that the anti-gambling spirit is at work even in India that Is to say, the spirit which under an anti-gambling pretext seeks to suppress sports and pastimes. It is not generally known that our loss hypocritical ancestors did not avail themselves of any such pretext when they set about spoiling a sport. The earliest English legislation against games was passed In the Interests of archery and other manly sports, which were believed to render the lieges more fit for service in war. A statute of Richard II. 13SS directed servants and laborers to have bows and arrows, and to use them on Sundays and holidays and to cease from playing football, quoits, dice, putting the stone, kails, and other such importune games. A more drastic statute was passed in 1409 11 Hen. IV., c. 4, and penalties were even Imposed in 1477 17 Ed. IV., c. 3 on persons allowing unlawful games to be played on their premises. These acts were superseded in 1541 33 Hen. VIII., c. 9 by a statute passed on the petition of the bowyers, fletchers deciders, stringers and arrowhead makers of the realm, which recites that "many and sundry new and crafty games have been invented, by reason whereof archery is sore decayed and daily is like to be more minished. Accordingly penalties are imposed on all persons keeping houses for such games and all persons resorting thereto. It is further provided that no manner of artificer or craftsman, husbandman, apprentice, laborer, servant at husbandry, journeyman or servant of artificer, mariners, fishermen, watermen, or any serving man shall play at tables, tennis, dice, cards, bowls, clash, coytlng, logating, or any other unlawful game out of Christmas, under the pain of XX.s to be forfeit for every time. It will be seen that the guiding purpose of the statute Is the maintenance of archery, while It incidentally seeks to deprive all working men of any attraction which might draw them from work to play. An anti-gambling motive is nowhere suggested: no distinction is made between games of skill and games of chance, and no reference is made to playing for money or moneys worth. Even the Puritans later on did not shelter themselves behind an anti-gambling or anj other pretence. Their openly avowed motive for the suppression of sports and games was. In the first instance, that such diversions interfered with the observance of Sunday. The Book of Sports of James I. 1025. republished by Charles I. HG33, was aimed at encouraging certain sports on Sundays and holidays, but owing to Puritan opposition the royal efforts failed, and the Sunday Observance Act 1025 was strictly enforced. It prohibits the meeting of the people on the Lords Day for any sports or pastimes whatsoever. It was not until much later, viz., in the reign of Charles II. 1005 that any act was directed against gambling as distinct from playing games. The earlier motives were direct, and as regards the archery, commendable, just as we might now wish to see young men and boys amusing themselves In rifle clubs rather than In skittle alleys. The bed-rock motive of the Puritans, too. was plainly avowed, and it remains the same to this day, though they conceal their abiding desire to suppress snort under a variety of false names, calling themselves anti-gamblers, humanitarians or what not. I have thought it well to trace their motive to its historic source for the benefit of my readers." London Sportsman.
