Catholics and the Open Road

Extract

The movement from the town back to the country is typical of to-day, and the call of ‘the open road’ was never so much heeded in England since the days when pilgrimages were a part of our national life. While twenty years ago only a very few enthusiasts went into camp or took to tramping for the duration of their holidays, to-day these pastimes are rapidly becoming universal. In America and on the Continent—especially in Germany—this movement has become an established part of the national life, and here in England it is on the brink of assuming like proportions. For this reason alone it is at least a matter of interest to Catholics.

Even the staid Nonconformist News-Chronicle has become its sponsor, and there are several magazines, including a new monthly, devoted entirely to the joys and advantages of an informal holiday in the open air. In addition, there are many clubs and similar organisations—both local and national—which have for their end the popularisation of the open road. What is more significant is that the first of a chain of youth hostels—where a night’s lodging can be had for a shilling—was opened at Winchester only a few weeks ago.

It is all so natural and at bottom so right; it is part of that revolution—or revulsion—against the drab gloom of the city that has been steadily growing in intensity for the last two or three decades and has produced, among other things, the Garden City Movement and Mr. Chesterton’s Distributism.