THE BEGINNINGS OF AN AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHARACTER.
(To THE EDITOR OF TUB "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—Though naturally gratified by your very kindly notice in the Spectator of September 6th of my paper on this subject in the current Nifteteenth Century, I cannot help feeling that your summary unintentionally emphasises the defects of Australian qualities; so that my conclusion, "What a ground- work for the building of a noble national type!" has, when it comes, rather the effect of a " Para-pros-dokian." This is largely due to the omission of explanations and modifications, which is, of course, inevitable in a brief summary. But when you describe me as setting down "a certain callousness" as part of the differentia of the Australian character, I should like to be allowed to say that I attributed such callousness only to the "Australian countryman," and, even so, ascribed it to the necessary influence of his surroundings. Remember- ing what a very large proportion of Australians live in the coastal cities (which are to an amazing degree suburbs—to a still more amazing degree rivals—of London), I should be very loth to attribute to the Commonwealth as a whole any indifference to animal suffering.—I am, Sir, &c., PERCY F. BOWIaND.
Stanstead Hall, Hitchant, Suffolk.
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