BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

294
Despite the enormous popularity accorded the dances, balls, and
excursions offered,
it became increasingly more difficult as time
progressed to sustain levels of attendance, enthusiasm, and the balance
books.
The observations provided by John A. Bridges concerning the
functions sponsored by the Conservative Association in a rural
community, located not far from Birmingham, were particularly apt.
When "smoking concerts" came into fashion we were the
first to take them up. . . . At first almost anything
served to amuse the farm labourers, who were not very
critical. ... We had to keep moving, and perpetually
to improve the character of the entertainment. We even
had to send for a party of glee singers from
Birmingham, our own glees and songs required a rest.
In the course of the evening there was always a speech
on whatever was happening in the political world, and
care was taken not to make it too long, or the room
would speedily have emptied.53
Garstang was especially revealing in this respect.
Because of
the relatively late formation date of the Habitation (1894), the
difficulties associated with maintaining its vitality occurred somewhat
later than in most associations.
Nevertheless, the circumstances
surrounding its decline underscored the plight of many Habitations
struggling to sustain operations amidst falling attendance and
enrollment.54
The financial
difficulties by 1904.
records suggest Garstang began encountering
At an Executive Council meeting held two years
53 Bridges, Reminiscences of A Country Politician, pp. 52-53.
54 This trend was indicated both with respect to the fewer
numbers of Habitations appearing on the 1899 Roll as compared with that
of 1888 and with regard to the performance of Habitations examined in
this chapter. See Chapter Five, pages 204-05; Chapter Seven, pages
308-10.