The ultra-Denominationalists and opponents of educational expenditure in the London
School Board are not beginning their campaign judiciously. In a discussion at the meet- ing of the Board last Wednesday, Canon Gregory, the eccle- siastical " Red " of the School Board, not only supported the monstrous proposal to give the St. Giles's girls and infants an " underground " playground, to save the cost of land in a dear quarter,—but made it as absurd as pos- sible, by throwing in a suggestion of his own "that a playground might be made for the boys on the roof of the building." He said that "to spend thousands of their constitu- ents' money for a playground would be a great piece of waste." Yet to teach the St. Giles's children healthy play is probably the first step to teaching them anything better. Canon Gregory runs a good chance of making his cause utterly ridiculous, with his subterranean playground,. and his playground in the air. Why not also utilise the sides and walls of the school buildings for the same purpose ? A judicious arrangement of fire-escapes would provide a very active and amusing game for the children, who would in that way be enabled to pass easily from the playground in the air to the playground in the area. Ecclesiastics, when they deal with a financial policy, are too apt to imitate the actor who was so determined' to be thorough in playing Othello, that he blacked himself all over, under his clothes as well as on the visible portions of his person.
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