The SweepUtakes—and After SeverUl letterS to the Timei hive eXpreSed
coneern--- 'which' we • shlire—about the effects of the 'Mike' Irish sweepstakes. In the days of Daniel O'Connell the Repealers in..Ireland used to hold what they called " monster meetings " and " mammoth meetings." They were pretty good at cheerful exaggeration, but these sweepstakes are entitled to . be called monsters and mammoths. We cannot pretend to disapprove of a " flutter " which is not beyond the resources of a man's pocket, • but sweepstakes too many and too large may work demoralization. - What we want to condemn now, however, is the pretence that the hospitals are going to be greatly helped. Of course, only a small proportion of the money goes to the hospitals. Nobody has a right to flatter himself that he is properly supporting hospitals because he enjoys buying the chance of winning a pot of money. And what of the future ? The habit of giving voluntarily to hospitals is a unique characteristic of the British people. If sweepstakes should be restricted or even prohibited by law, or if the sweepstake craze should pass away like other crazes, it might be found that the habit of giving had also passed away never to be revived. Our own opinion is that the governors of hospitals who accept money from sweepstakes are very short-sighted.
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