THE LOTTERIES (WAR CHARITIES) BILL.
[To THE Erma or TH1 " SPECTATOR."] Sta,--Lady Poore's letter is, like all that she writes, charming, amusing, and delightful; but is not her persiflage rather illogical and a little immoral? Nature, she says, is " an incorrigible gambler," and she cites a number of examples, more or less rele- rant; but are we not bound oftentimes to put checks upon Nature, and especially on our human nature, or it will be up in arms against us? When she speaks of the matter of "dabbling in stocks and shares," for example, as being harmless, one at once calls to mind how a Cabinet not long ago was nearly overthrown through the momentary indiscretion of some of its members in engaging in a flutter on the Stock Exchange, and how they had to put on the sheet of penance and etepress their regret for Faring yielded to the temptation. And their lapse on that occasion was very likely the cause of their having less power and influence to deal with the strongly vested interests of horse-racing and its concomitant evils, and to allow it to go on for a long time almost unchecked, undoubtedly against the interests of the nation as a whole in this protracted war. We might be allowed, no doubt, to do evil that good might come were there not a more excellent way still, which has been so fully tried and succeeded during all these four years— namely, that of appealing to the charity of men and women to give when and if required without hope of return.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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