TOURING PIGEONS [To the Editor of the SitEczszon.]
Sia,—I heartily agree with the article entitled "Touring Pigeons," published in your issue of October 4th. The hotels and inns in England are in ninety-nine eases out of a hundred hopelessly bad. The English public admits the fact that they are bad, and in consequence, whenever possible, spends its holiday on the Continent. There are times, however, when the English people cannot go abroad, and then they suffer in Silence the bad food, worse service, and plumbing worst of all. in my position as Honorary Secretary for Devon of the English-speaking Union, I spend a very considerable time listening to the complaints of our "touring pigeon" members who come to tell me that their shoes were not brushed last night, that no hot water was brought up to their room, and that their breakfast was thrown at them with a bad aim.
The English people are sinners in their non-resistance to the Plucking, • but the Americans are worse. They feel they are the guests of England, and that it would be bad form to corn- Plain to the hotel proprietor of his misdeeds. So they all come round to the club in-search of a sympathetic listener, and make their complaints
When I take these complaints to the hotel-keepers, mostly great friends of mine, they all ask '' Why the devil didn't she tell me herself ! I know my staff is slack, but I can't get any- thing definite against them." If only the " touring pigeons' would give up their ideas of non-co-operation with the hotel- keeper, and make their complaints to him, kicking hard where necessary, be would appreciate it. Then we might get once again the old English hostelries, whose fame was justly corned by excellent service.-1 am, Sir, &e., R. M. K. Bucusxati, RN.
The English-Speaking Union, Bampfylde Muse, Exeter
[We readily admit that a large number of hotels and ' • iii Great Britain leave much to be desired from the Continental standpoint, but our correspondent is too sweeping. The number of comfortable and well-conducted hotels and inns throughout the countryside in Great Britain is steadily increasing.—En. Spectator.]
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