10 JULY 1915, Page 16

"THE LAND OF THE BRAVE AND THE FREE." [To TEE

EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In reference to the poem, "The Land of the Brave and the Free," in your issue of June 26th, I put it to you that a possible attitude of mind for one of the "Brave" is the following : "I will force my neighbour to pay for my pension, for the education of my children, for cheap trains, baths, libraries, and anything else I can get, but I will not go to the last cowardly extremity of forcing him to risk his life for me against his will." There were probably many millions who thought this in July, 1914, but the rapid d'ogringolade of the English character that has taken place since then has reduced their numbers to insignificance, I fear, and if con.. scription is not averted a good many men out here will be wondering what exactly they are fighting for.—I am, Sir, &e.,