ENGLISH LIFE AND LEISURE A SOCIAL STUDY BY B. SEEBOHM ROWNTREE AND G R. LAYERS LONGMANS, Life is not a vessel to be drained, but a cup to be filled Ancient Chinese Proverb CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION xi CHAPTER I SECTION I THE CASE HISTORIES OF 200 PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF TWENTY SECTION II THE CASE HISTORIES OF 20 PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY Pages 1-121 CHAPTER II COMMERCIALIZED GAMBLING What constitutes gambling Volume of gambling How many people gamble Illegal street betting Horse racing Greyhound racing Football pools Fun fairs Sweepstakes State Lottery Newspaper competitions Stock Exchange Why do people gamble Is gambling wrong Economic aspect Betting tax Summary Pages 122-158 CHAPTER III DRINK Drunkenness Level of consumption and cost Manpower engaged in the industry Drinking habits Where do people drink Registered Clubs Bars Public houses Place of licensed premises in national life Improved public houses Cultural attractions in public houses Disinterested management Nature and effect of alcohol Advertising Case for public control of the Trade Need for new type of cafes Education about alcohol Taxation of the Trade Suitability of British Licensing Laws Summary Pages 159-198 CHAPTER IV SMOKING Consumption of tobacco Economic aspect Addiction Pages 199-202 vii viii ENGLISH LIFE AND LEISURE CHAPTER V SEXUAL PROMISCUITY Extra-marital associations Effect of bad housing Prostitution Perversion The Armed Forces What harm does it do Aims for the future Pages 203-217 CHAPTER VI HOW HONEST IS BRITAIN Indictable offences Honesty in business Personal integrity Examples of petty dishonesty Shoplifting What is the standard of honesty Why are people dishonest Pages 2 1 8-2 2 7 CHAPTER VII THE CINEMA Frequency of cinema-going The cinema audience Choice of cinema Prices of seats Nature of films shown Main themes of films Censorship Childrens Cinema Clubs Effect of the cinema The news cinema Foreign films Religious films Film societies British Film Institute British Film Academy Summary Pages 228-256 CHAPTER VIII THE STAGE Number of theatres and type of entertainment provided Opera Variety Concert parties Repertory Non-profit-distributing repertory Travelling theatres The amateur stage Influence of the theatre Pages 257-266 CHAPTER IX BROADCASTING What constitutes listening How many listeners What is the general level of the programmes Need for an effective means to safeguard interests of listeners Influence of broadcasting in the home Pages 267-278 CHAPTER X DANCING Who are the dancers Places where people dance Liquor licences at dances Individual opinions about dancing Dancing as a business Folk dancing Pages 279-285 CONTENTS ix CHAPTER XI READING HABITS Illiteracy Newspapers and periodicals Sunday newspapers Daily newspapers Newspaper reading habits Sports news Periodicals for adults Periodicals for young people Erotic magazines Public libraries Reference libraries information service Cultural activities of public libraries Cost of public libraries Libraries run for profit Chain libraries Penguin books Mail order book trade Books as tools Summary Pages 286-314 CHAPTER XII ADULT EDUCATION Aim of adult education Authorities providing facilities for adult education Work of the London County Council Provision by the Local Education Authority in Plymouth Rural areas Village colleges Centres for adult education Long-and short-term residential centres Non-residential centres Workers Educational Association Community Centres and Associations Village Halls Womens Institutes Townswomens Guilds Outward Bound Trust B. B. C...