Steamship and railway companies were very slow to learn the lesson that facilities for travelling should be placed within the reach of any but the rich. Mankind are indebted to Thomas Cook, of world-wide renown, for im pressing upon companies che fact that it is more profitable to carry a large number of persons at a low fare than a small number at a high one. It is now some fifty years ago that Mr Cook con ceived an idea which has revolutionised modern travelling. His first attempt was in connection with a temperance de monstration at Loughborough. In order to enable people from Leicester to attend the gathering, twelve miles distant, be chartered a special train, conveying passengers to Loughborough and back ior a shilling. As 570 per sons availed themselves of the oppor tunity, Mr Cook was induced to make similar expeViments in other parts of England. His genius for organisation soon enabled him to plan trips and excursions of various kinds, and the working classes eagerly availed them selves of the facility offered tor visiting places of interest in their native land, a great part of which had hitherto been to them a mere terra incognita, With increase of means and continued suc cess Mr Cook enlarged his sphere of operations till it spread from England to tbe Continent of Europe, and eventually throughout the habitade world.
