20 JANUARY 1912, Page 16

"A WHISTLING WOMAN."

[To TIM EDITOR Or TEE "SPECTATOR."]

Stn,—In last week's Spectator, in the notice of Mr. Halifax's novel, "A Whistling Woman," reference is made to "weird snatches of song" sung by the " dingy wife," and two lines are quoted. I have a distinct memory of having learnt a song at a Board school thirty years ago beginning : "In the lone dale by the -wild rushing river

There sleeps the warrior with his arrows and quiver," followed by the lines you quote, although, if I recollect rightly, the second ran :

"Born he and died in the depths of the wild wood."

This may be interesting as showing the soiree where the "weird snatches" came from, and proving that Mr. Halifax has really mixed with the people he depicts.—I am, Sir, &c.,