The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (20 page)

3. That all promenades are closed at 6 p.m.

4. That everyone has to be indoors by nine, and all places of amusement closed.

One can only imagine that such statements (entirely false) are made in Germany and no doubt apply there, but certainly not in our own borough, now so well known, and which should be better known, for its wonderful recuperative effects on all those seeking renewed health, with all the well-organised entertainments of a high-class Continental pleasure resort.

Yours faithfully,

Wm. Booth Reeve, Mayor

Mayor's Parlour, Town Hall, Margate

The excuse we are given is that the horses and people cannot be conveyed to race meetings by train, and the only race meetings allowed are those at Newmarket. I am wondering whether the Government have realised that it would be quite possible, if the race committees at the various racing centres such as Stockton, Redcar, Doncaster, York and Newcastle wished it, to hold a race meeting without trains as Mr Ord suggests, and if this plan should not succeed, why should not one race meeting be arranged in the north, where nothing but north country horses might compete, and the same in the south, leaving Newmarket also as a racing centre? The horses have all been entered for their various engagements, and has it crossed the mind of Mr Runciman, &c., that all the men connected with racing, training and breeding establishments are now thrown out of work exactly in the same way as actors, theatre and cinema managers and officials would be should all the theatres, concert rooms and cinemas be closed?

There is another point on this question. Have they considered the depreciation the Government have brought about in thoroughbred stock? No doubt, people such as his Majesty
the King, the Duke of Portland, Lord Rosebery and Messrs Joel can afford to keep their racing establishments in hopes that when the war is over racing may again be resumed; but take the case of the small breeder; take the case of the small owner. I mention two cases. The small breeder, perhaps, has two stallions, and perhaps ten or twelve mares of his own. Probably the stallions' fees for these mares pay for the keep of his mares and the stallions, but he looks for livelihood in the sale of his yearlings at either Newmarket July week or Doncaster. One glance at the newspaper at the prices of the last July sales will show in a moment that the depreciation is enormous at a time when every farthing that can be made will be required to pay for the war.

These are not imaginary cases, but two for which I could give you chapter and verse. The net result is that horse breeders and horse owners are to be ruined while theatre and cinema managers and officials are allowed to make profit. It does seem to me straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel to put an end to racing all over the country (though I base my main argument on the damage to thoroughbred horse breeding and the damage to small breeders and owners), and then to allow every theatre in every place to be crowded night after night when they have nothing to recommend them but absolute amusement.

This attacking of one industry and allowing another is part and parcel of the Government's action in wishing to fix the price of coal at the pit mouth, entirely forgetting the enormous risks and expense of sinking a coal mine, and then allowing butchers, fishmongers and nurserymen to charge exactly what they like for fish, meat and vegetables. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Either perfect liberty should be allowed to everybody to do exactly as they like re trade, or the same restrictions should be placed on every industry and amusement in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

I am, &c.,

North Country

‘Am I making what I can out of the war?'

‘Am I giving up all I can to the common cause?'

The answer to these questions, he says, marks the traitor from the patriot.

The civilised world has been shocked during the last few days by the deplorable exhibition of self-interest amongst a certain section of the community, and one finds comfort in the numberless instances of self-sacrifice and devotion to the Motherland that are being displayed amongst our kinsmen many thousands of miles away. It has required no oratory from a cabinet minister to bring home to these splendid fellows the needs of the Empire; at the slightest hint of danger their patriotism has shamed those few in England who have put their own in the needs of their country. Let me instance one such case which has come before me in the Australian mail received this morning.

A young winegrower, but recently married, offered himself for the war. He came some hundreds of miles from his up-country vineyard for examination at Melbourne, and was declined owing to the fact that he had two protruding toes –
the effect of over-tight boots in his youth. He inquired of the doctor if they would take him were the offending toes removed. The answer was affirmative. This young fellow went straight away to a private hospital, and had the operation performed. Upon again presenting himself he was accepted, and now, as an officer in the Australian contingent, will be in England in a few days. I would like to mention his name, but he is a gentleman, and would resent it. I know the family well.

This country is teeming with men who are placing – or are prepared to place – themselves at the service of England at any self-sacrifice. Men such as these weld our great Empire together.

Born, and bred under its glorious sunshine, our Australian kinsmen may be careless as to discipline, but they have such abundance of life and vigour and energy of brain as to render them amongst the greatest assets of the Empire.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

P.B. Burgoyne

Broadlands, Ascot

The meal, breakfast, 8s 6d, table d'hôte. Six people sitting at the next table. First, a large dish of fish; half sent back, dirty plates being put on the top of the food. Then a dish of ham and eggs, twelve eggs for the six people. Only four of these eggs and a small proportion of the ham was eaten. The remainder served in the same way as the uneaten fish, namely, dirty plates placed on the food to enable the waiter to carry it away more easily.

This happens, as every hotel frequenter knows perfectly well, over and over again daily in every large hotel in England. Why? Because people for 3s 6d are allowed to order whatever they like and far more than they can eat. If they had to pay for each course separately it is possible people would order only what they really required. Possibly in some cases it may be from thoughtlessness, but notices ought to be placed in all hotels calling visitors' attention to it, and all table d'hôte meals stopped.

Yours truly,

M.D.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

Sydney H. Pardon
80 Fleet Street, E C.

P.S. I notice that at the forthcoming Promenade Concerts the Queen's Hall Orchestra will be on the side of generosity and fair play.