ABSTRACT
Many persons are inclined to think favourably of the proposals to open innocent places of recreation, instruction, and amusement on Sundays, from a vague hope that such opening would lessen Sunday drinking. In 1868 a Parliamentary Committee was appointed to consider the Bill for closing public-houses on Sundays. Recreations and amusements do not draw the people from drinking; on the contrary, with vast masses of the people a day’s holiday at a place of amusement means a free swill at intervals of the public-house liquors. The principal visitors to the national collections are students, who can and do go on the week-days, persons from the country and foreigners on a visit to London. In London the Zoological Gardens are open on Sundays to the members of the Zoological Society.
