The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (19 page)

To these smaller subscribers we will ourselves pay 5 per cent on their subscriptions until the amount of a £5 bond is
reached, and after that will make the 4
1
/
2
per cent interest allowed by the Government up to 5 per cent for a certain period.

As the time for subscribing is now limited to a few days; it is to be hoped that employers generally will make an effort worthy of the cause.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

Jesse Boot

Next month the game shooting season will be inaugurated by the killing of tens of thousands of grouse. Therefore the time remaining for the elaboration of methods is not over long. I suggest two courses for consideration.

First, I think it might be well if the Government itself were to supervise this important matter by actual purchase of a fixed percentage of all game killed, the provision of sufficient cold storage facilities at suitable centres, and means for the carriage of the game, and its most effective distribution. The railways being under state control, everything that would assist to insure the success of the measure is now in the hands of the Government. The prompt despatch of game from any wayside station to the local centre, without waiting for the collection of large consignments, might prevent wastage taking place in the hot weather generally experienced in the first haul of the shooting season.

Another method, alternative to the foregoing, would involve less responsibilities and a narrower scheme of operations. This plan might insure the purchase of a smaller percentage of game, its carriage and cold storage, for the use of our warriors, hale or sick, at home or abroad, ashore or afloat. Doubtless so soon as a proper working scheme were known to be established, many large game proprietors would feel
inclined to offer and to place on rail, free of all cost, considerable quantities of game for distribution in this commendable direction.

I shall be very pleased to expand these ideas, and to assist the Government, or other responsible body, to operate any measures of the sort herein indicated.

Yours, &c.,

Henry Sharp

Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire

There are two young men eligible for service working on the farm next door to me. A young chauffeur drives me from the neighbouring town to the village, a young butcher brings meat from the same town. These four cases have come under my own eyes; there are many others. I taxed one of these young men with not enlisting. His answer was: ‘Plenty of Canadians and Australians; they like it. I haven't been sent for yet.'

As I belong to a family of which not a single male is left in civil occupation, I fail to see the justice of our system.

The last two of my own menfolk to go are a portrait-painter, over forty-five, whose work hung on the walls of the Royal Academy, and who is serving now as an orderly in a hospital; and a nephew, of nineteen, who, the only son of his parents, has come to England to enrol, being under the age limit in Australia.

Surely there is something radically wrong and unjust in the system which works like this. I enclose the name of the village, the neighbouring towns, and my own name in the hope that you can bring this district to the attention of the recruiting agents.

Yours truly,

Officer's Wife

Increasing numbers of women are desirous of entering the profession, and to provide for their adequate educational needs the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women is now practically doubling its laboratory accommodation.

The council of the school has already received £15,000 of the £30,000 required for the additional buildings and their equipment. We would direct your attention to the effort started by a number of representative men and women to help to raise the balance of £15,000 by means of subscriptions of £1 each.

Yours faithfully,

H.H. Asquith

Curzon of Kedleston
Arthur James Balfour

If this is done the question which is the root cause of the present strike, and which if allowed to fester will produce further trouble, would be settled. From profits a fair wage should be paid to men, and a fair interest on their capital to employers.

At the same time the consumer would get his coal at a fair price, while the men would know that their labour and the country's necessity were not being exploited by the employers for their own undue advantage.

Delays have dangerous ends.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Yerburgh

Barwhillanty, Parton, N.B.

I should be very thankful for any subscription towards buying these, and will acknowledge the same. This number of pipes
will only go a small way among the soldiers at present out there.

I am, yours truly,

B.F. Koe

Curragh Camp, Neragh, Co. Tipperary

I am sure it will be of interest to the public to know that definite arrangements have been made for the appearance of the following artists during the season: Miss Carrie Tubb, Miss Dorothy Webster, Miss Lucy Nuttall, Miss Daisy Kennedy, Mr Robert Radford, Mr Fraser Gauge, Moiseiwitsch, Mr Albert Chevalier and Ysaÿe.

Our magnificent sands – the happy hunting-ground for the children – are all open and absolutely as free as ever they have been, and the sea bathing, so popular on account of its safety, is also largely patronised. I am pleased to state that the
many other places of entertainment, including the Jetty Pavilion, are all carrying on as usual. I sometimes hear it reported:

1. That the public are not allowed on the sands.

2. That we are under martial law.