The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (12 page)
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Authors: Gavin Fuller
SIR â An exhibition under the patronage of their Majesties the King and Queen, Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, and Her Royal Highness Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, is being arranged at the Royal Academy, which will open at the beginning of January and will take the place of our usual winter exhibition. It will consist of works of painting and sculpture, and in black and white by living artists of the British school. Our object is to form a fund raised from the sale of works exhibited, and the proceeds will be divided equally among the Red Cross and St John Ambulance Society, the Artists' General Benevolent Institution, and the artists whose works are sold. The latter is an essential feature of the exhibition, as artists will then be directly benefited to the third of the sum which they have priced their work. If the artist wishes to waive his claim to his share of the money thus accruing to the fund it will be divided equally between the two institutions above named.
With a view to making this exhibition as generally useful as possible, a committee was formed of the presidents of the principal artistic societies in London, together with five members of the council of the Royal Academy. Each of the presidents was asked to issue an invitation to the members of his society to contribute, and the response has been very complete, and something like 800 works are now being hung in the galleries by a sub-committee of the whole number, and the exhibition promises to be one of very general and varied interest. There will be undoubtedly much distress among artists during the coming year, and we hope for a very generous patronage from picture-buyers and the general public. It should be borne in mind that every artist who sells his picture is contributing at least two-thirds of its value to two most important and deserving organisations of charity and mercy.
Concurrently with the exhibition of British works of art, one or more of our galleries will be given up to the exhibition of works of Belgian painting and sculpture, the whole profits from which will be devoted for the relief of Belgian artists. The precise arrangement for the distribution of the proceeds of this exhibition are not yet settled, and the exhibition will probably open a week or ten days after our own, as there are difficulties in the way of obtaining the works from abroad which may cause some delay. Monsieur Paul Lambotte, Directeur des Beaux Arts at Brussels, has kindly undertaken to assist in the arrangement of the Belgian works.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Edward J. Poynter
Royal Academy of Arts, London W.
27 December 1914
SIR â It is felt here that much misunderstanding exists as to the state of affairs on the Riviera, and also as to the difficulties intending visitors may experience in their journey from England.
Those who may be hesitating about wintering in the delightful weather conditions offered by this climate will be glad to know (a) that the train service from Paris is almost normal, the journey only taking some four hours longer than it usually does; (b) travellers can book through from London with sleeping accommodation,
lits-salon
or
wagon-lits
and restaurant cars.
Things at Mentone are just as usual; food is good and abundant and everything necessary to comfort can be obtained. This beautiful place is as quiet and restful as anyone could wish for. Both the churches are open, the chaplains are here, as are the English doctors, and already there is a considerable colony of English in residence.
As all the men here and throughout France, between eighteen and forty-eight years old, are away with the great French army fighting with us the same battle for freedom, the assistance afforded to many of their families and the population generally by the presence on the Riviera of the habitual English visitors will this winter be especially welcome.
Yours truly,
D. Allison (Hon. Canon of Ripon)
British Chaplain of Christ Church, Mentone
28 December 1914
SIR â The children of this small rural school are very proud and happy to send brave King Albert a little Christmas offering. This small sum (5s 6d) represents some self-denial on the part of the donors. One little orphan lad, who was allowed a halfpenny weekly as pocket money, produced the precious coin with an evident pride and joy most touching.
With hearty congratulations on the splendid response to an appeal which has gone straight to every heart, I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
(Mrs) Eliza Bradbury
Adderley School, Market Drayton
SIR â A short time ago I pointed out the fact that an alien naturalised as a British subject is none the less a subject of the country of his origin unless he formally, and according to the law of his country, relinquishes his own nationality.
I might point out that a further inconsistency is that on being naturalised a British subject, the alien subscribes to an oath of allegiance that he will be âFaithful and bear true allegiance to
his Majesty King George V, his heirs and successors, according to law', and at the same time he still retains his allegiance to the sovereign of his own country.
No man can serve two masters, and it is obvious that his oath is, to say the least, a matter to which he would attach secondary importance.
Yours, etc.,
H.S.A. Foy
4 Walbrook, E.C.
29 December 1914
City Guild Units
SIR â The admirable proposal of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor to form a National Guard should meet with an enthusiastic response. Every man ought to know how to shoot straight, and submit himself to some form of efficient training, so that in the event of invasion he will have a fair chance to fight for his hearth and home. That he will fight is certain, but it is equally certain that every man found bearing arms, unless he belongs to an organised force, will run the risk of being hanged or shot off-hand, his family exterminated, and his home given to the flames. We can
expect no mercy from a ruthless foe. What has happened in Belgium and France may be repeated here with even greater severity.
In view of imminent possibilities, not to say probabilities, every man who, by reason of age or circumstances over which he has no control, is unable to join our Regular forces, should without delay do something for his country, and in this connection it has occurred to me that the members of the Guild of Freemen, a body over 1,000 strong; every one of whom is a Freeman of the City of London (and of which I have the honour to be the Master for 1915), might usefully raise a unit, which could be enrolled in the City of London Corps of the National Guard.
Other associations could very well follow suit, and all together serve their King, their country, and their city.
I am Sir, yours, &c.,
H.S.A. Foy, Member of the Corporation of London
4 Walbrook, London E.C.
31 December 1914
SIR â I have read with pleasure Captain Spender Clay's tribute to our hero soldiers and his unbounded admiration of their heroic conduct in the field.
I should like to record my unbounded admiration of the gallant though modest captain. I know for a fact that he placed his estate at the disposal of the Army, offered his mansion for a hospital, found forty units for the Territorials amongst the workers on his estate, provides for their families' wants whilst the men are on active service, and has risked his own life in the fighting line for âGod, King and country'. Such patriotism deserves the unbounded admiration of his fellow countrymen; England owes its present sense of security to the sacrifices made by such modest heroes. It will be a bad day for the old country when such landlords are taxed out of existence.
Your obedient servant,
E. Courtenay Wells
53 London Road, Croydon
SIR â My letter of the 12th inst., for the publication of which I am indebted to your courtesy, was only meant to invite attention to the direction in which the charitable public might usefully supplement Government efforts to provide acutely needed comforts for the King's Indian soldiers fighting in France. The response it has evoked is, however, so generous that I have gladly undertaken the duty of forwarding to various regiments the gifts that are being sent to me, and
applying the money donations to the purchase of other necessaries for the same purpose. I take this opportunity of thanking all the kind donors for their generosity.
The public desirous of continuing their help to the Indian soldiers, and there is still much scope, may like to know what is now most wanted at the front, in addition to that provided by Government. An officer friend writes to say that âStockings without feet are specially needed by the men to wear under their putties, or they suffer badly from cold legs in the wet trenches.' And the medical officer, from whose letter I had quoted before, in acknowledging the gifts sent to him and answering inquiries as to further wants, suggests that (besides socks, Thermogene wool and Capsicum Vaseline, which we are already sending) the following articles would be most welcome: Chilliline and peroxide of hydrogen âfor dressing bad wounds which threaten tetanus or gas gangrene'; vests and pants; ârough flannel coats which might be slipped on to wounded men instead of shirts, and roughly made loose flannel pyjamas, tying with a string à l'Indien; bed socks and pyjamas for the heavily wounded; felt slippers; and satchels, 18in by 12in, made of any coarse canvas with tapes for tying, for carrying the goods and chattels of the wounded men when they are transferred to the base. At present their boots, putties, turbans, &c., are bundled anyhow into the motor ambulances, and very few find their own things again.'
