" SOCIETIES " TO MEET EVERY WANT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7417, 31 May 1902, Page 1

" SOCIETIES " TO MEET EVERY WANT.

W&exo Millions of Pounds «o Bv»rr '' • ■ ■ • . Year. ..,■;.• . : (PaH Vail Gazette.) „ It seems' that there is in London ft "Sow ciety ": for every want and every classy They tare all feeling the pinch of the war} which, has sadly cot down their subscriptions. There are societies which keep an eye upon encroaching landlords, and think nothing of breaking down fences whenever they consider the public interest calls for such drastic measures. There. is a society for inquiring into Convents, and one for people whose great desire is to 'be cremated. ' Horses are represented- by the Hackney Horse Society, .the ..Hunters! Improvement Society, the Carfc Horse Parade, and_ the Shire "Horse Society. There is 'a. special body that sees that warrantless shopkeepers do not pat Tip the Royal Arms ; and if the labouring 'classes were really "improved" by all tiie societies that exist for that purpose their lot would indeed be an enviable one. There is an, institute that strives for International Peace. There are also other "strivings," such as those after Brotherhood, Quiet Sundays, and the Improvement of Chrysanthemums. Anti-vivisection, antigambling, anti-vaccination, aaid indeed nearly " anti " everything are represented in fall force. The number of bodies existing for the promotion of this and suppression of that is extraordinary. . Beggars ara " suppressed " by the C.O.S. and the Lonlon Mendicity Society. Stamps, Playing Fields, Spiritualists, East Anglians, Vega-' tarians, Cab-Proprietors, and Public Gardens all have lynx-eyed institutions looking after their well-being. " Two societies defy the casual eye— the "May Feast "and tha Serpent Fund. "Poultry Organisation" must be a tough job, . yet this has a society too. So have Skating, the Care of Historic v Places, the looking after triggers and Native Races, and Personal Rights. Railway pas- ' sengers are "protected," roads are "made, and archery " encouraged." The suppres- ; sion of Btreet nuisances meets with our sym-' pathy, "while the Sunday Society awakens our interest. What sort of a Sunday would they like to give us? "Universal Brotherhood" has the elements of a bore in- it; while no one ewer dreamt that barristers re- f quired a "Benevolent Association." There are societies to help our own people to emigrate, and others for the reltef of Distressed Foreigners in the London streets. There is a Home of Rest for Horses, but apparently none for journalists. The Poor Pious Clergy are looked after, and there is a fund for supporting "Imperial war, which the Government has evidently overlooked. There is a society for providing the 'Poor with Bread and Coals in winter; but why stop at bread and coals? Young, servants are "befriended," and so are tha " feeble-minded." And tlere is also a sor ciety which sees that epileptics get employment. Thrift is " encouraged," and »»• Young Men and Woman Coming up from the Country. _^^. *^ '"Distressed widows who apply wrtnus the first month " can get relief, and sooaw Persecuted Jews. f There are special so? cieties for buying crutches and artincMll limbs for those who can't afford them. If there are many bodies for the education of the young there is at least one Union for the "education of parents." The Jews get plenty of attention. They get bread, meat and coals from one society (why is it that the Christiana get the bread and coal oaly, without the meat?). Th« Gospel is "propagated" among them. Their Indigent Blind are looked after. They are allowed Benevolent Loans. The translating of bumps on your head is represented in the list of. "societies," and so are Folk-Lore*, Japaa, the Microscope, Coins, Pure Literature, the Weather, and British Bees. Royalty has a heavy burden, sucb as Astronomy, Metal Trades, Botany, the Colonies, Photography, and Soldiers' Widows. Ancient buildings, of course, are "protected," and Hellenic studies " promoted." . One society is given up to ghost-hunting. Drunkenness is the separate study of another, while Shakspare ha«. a society "all to himself. There is a society for Holding Religious Services in Theatres; there is also a Midnight Meeting Movement, which sounds dissipated. A special committee looks after Finland, and a League runs, sword in hand, to defend Liberty and 1 Property. Local Parliaments are " promoted," and the liquor traffic is sternly pufc'down. A special association insists upon " free and open churches," and apparently the Church in Wales is in sufficient danger to need a Defence Committee of its own. A bad lot must be the navvies, who require a special mission ; and you will significantly note that Billingsgate requires a " permanent mission house." Christian evidence is " gathered," additional curates "provided," and pastors "insured 1 and retired*"