14 APRIL 1917, Page 12

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

Six,—The writer of the article on Boy-Power in your number for March 31et seems to have heard little or nothing of the ways in which Public School boys have "sacrificed ease in the service of the nation" and "learnt what field labour is really like." Here are some facts. Last summer three schools (probably a great many more than three) sent out boys every afternoon to help with the hay of the neighbouring farmers. From one of them two hundred boys did three and a half hours' work each during July. In the summer holidays five schools sent boys to timber camps to fell, lop, and trim trees for various uses. In one case the school kept the camp going for six weeks with an average of fifty boys working. In these Easter holidays two schools have billeted boys in a district where the farmers need help, and much help is being given individually too. I know of these cases, but there must be many others of which I have not heard. I enclose my card and the names of the schools.-1 am, Sir, stc., A PEBLIC SCHOOL MASTER.