The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-15 00:00:00

TO 11111 IMITOII OP THU ZIIIZIIB.

Silt,—You were right in your leaderof to-day; we
have much to learn from the French in the way of inno-
cent amusement. The Briton takes to pleasure either
sadly or madly. Wby is this ? He is by no means less
educated than his French rival. Hs reads more, thinks
more, and knows more when he is by himself; but bring
him into contact with his fellows, tell him and them that
it is holiday time, and the result is simple lunacy. I have
been up and down the town to-day (Easter Monday) and
have seen more vulgarity and drunkenness than I saw in
France in a twelvemonth. Iv it the result of our insular
h►bits, which keep us not only from the rest of the world,
but from one another' lam inclined to think it is. The
poor Englishman's life is too much a dreary game at
solitaire. He is kept alone until, like a nervous hone, he
shies when he catches sight of a crowd. We are not
used to case another, and when, therefore, for the purposes
of amusement we are at raze intervals thrown together,
we make a end mess of it, as witness the present, and any
number of Easter holidays which have gone before. Ob-
serve how completely the Englishman isolates himself
from every other English man and woman. At church or
chapel he and his family (parte of himself) are boxed up in
pews, constructed upon the principle of • seedemaxes
ehow-
case. In the tavern he sacrifices his seat, in order that
endless subdivisions, compartments, and " corner pins"
may have sufficient wood left for their construction, and
his concealment. He is, it is true, content to see himself
as others see him, from the waist upwards, in a glass
darkly, while taking his whisky warm ; but as for any
open, wanly, leg-showing publicity, be would rather keep
sober for ever than venture upon it. Look upon the
picture of our coffee-houses, and then upon the realities
over the way. Compare the " L"-shaped wooden torture-
ositits with the soft crimson velvet seats of the café
Parisien ; the slipshod wenches and close atmosphere of
the former with the sprightly parrons and flower-perfumed
air of the latter; the darkness with the light; the dame
de comploir with the crone; and you get at once
at the canoe of the difference between a French and an
English holiday. Wherever Nature has intended men and
women to come together and become used to each other
there the timid Briton has thrown up a barrier. We want
more holidays, as you justly remark, but cafes and public
rooms are the stations from which people eau rationally
start to enjoy holidays—let us have some of these. It
seems odd that in a city where a " good " gin-palace will
sell for 20,0001. sufficient capital cannot be got together
for the building and equipment of a few grand evening
people's palaces. I am sure they would answer. Pigs
used to be thought to like filth, but they have proved that
they thrive better when kept clean ; and I have that
faith in my countrymen which induces me to believe that,
given the large, civilised, and comfortable room, with
wholesome refreshments at low prices, you will not find
them cling to their present resorts.
Mr. Whitworth is ready to give a hundred thousand
pounds to be spent in technical education ; let a dozen
rich men combine and invest a similar sum in a grand
place of evening relaxation for the working-classes, with
plenty of room and plenty of light ; with statues, and
flowers, and paintings, ►nd if it does not pay—emigrate !
for England will be neither fit nor able to hold her own
in the day which is dawning for humanity. —I am, Lc.,
H. CONINGSBY,
Writer of the " Society of Arta" Special Report on the
Habits of the French Working-classes.
London, Easter Monday.

MCATEER RIPORT.-(71318 DAY.)

WEDNCEIDAT, Ana 13, • A.ll.