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SUNDAY GAMES FOR THE MASSES Conservative old England has done many won ¬ derful things since August 1914 She jumped out of old ruts clogged with the figurative dust of a century and confounded the Germans The wealthy and the aristocratc came down from their high places rolled up their sleeves and delved in The millions gave up their lives to the nations work All worked or fought for the common good and tl right to live without the menace of the pirate and the assassin assassinThose Those who have done this are not going back to old tunes old ideas old customs where they have found new ones superior for their national and in ¬ dividual health The London Times thus records that the formation of a Sunday Games Association in England in March is a sign of the change of thought which the war lias brought about in respect of sportsThe Sundcy indulgence in sports The new association is to encourage and promote the Sunday playing of cricket football ami all healthy outdoor games to press for the repeal of laws which check on Sundays any form of recrea ¬ tion permissible on other days to secure the Sun ¬ day opening of all municipallyowned recreation and sports grounds and to support any organization formed to provide open spaces especially in popu ¬ lous districts for the playing of organized games Sunday games It is contended will mean less Sun ¬ day gambling and help to prevent other evils Into which the youth of the cities drifts through want of reasonable opportunities for participation in athletic pursuits pursuitsGolf Golf and lawn tennis are already played on Sun ¬ day without any restrictions but there has always been a tendency to look on the Sunday playing of games popular among the masses of the people as something extremely sinful sinfulThe The idea is to raise the whole tone of Sunday gamos played by the people and to have the games properly organized What is wanted is to find something for young men and youths to do on Sun ¬ day in place of gambling and loafing about aboutLarge Large numbers who have been at the front reg ¬ ularly played football and other games on Sunday afternoons Chaplains joined in the games in France and there iis no reasoji why clergymen should not join in Sunday games in the towns an l villages The clergy in fact might do well t recognize the religious force which is often behind organized games If they do they will support the movement
