21 DECEMBER 1901, Page 15

HOW TO PROVIDE SOLDIERS.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR:]

Sra,—The letter of "E. R. P." in the Spectator of Decem- ber 14th hardly seems to call for an answer, but I would ask your permission to send a few words of reply to him, or her, as the objection brought forward is an example of that vague and sentimental frame of mind which appears to be growing in England and producing opponents to every practical measure for the good of the country, from the conduct of the war downwards. "E. R. P." apparently represents "thousands who would not stand this sort of thing." I do not know who " we " are, but the basis of the argu- ment is that some sort of disgrace attaches to a military life and military schools. This is an idea which is dying hard, and which I should like to denounce in the strongest terms. I cannot suppose that "E. R. P." has ever seen the boys at the Duke of York's School, or heard of the work done by that institution, or he could hardly have used such an argument. The "price quite out of our power" is a fiction of "E. R. P.'s" brain, as I named no price. "E. R. P." descends to the argumentum ad hominem. I am thankful to say I have had an object in life, but this hardly forms a reasonable objection to my proposaL My great-grandfather sold his commission in the Army to purchase a bookselling business: this was regarded as a social degradation in those days, nearly a hundred and forty years ago. What I desire to see is that the Army should be raised in the public estimation to the position it occupies in the minds of those who are best able to judge,—namely, that of one of the• finest and most honourable professions which a healthy lad [We entirely agree with our correspondent as to the raising of the Army in public estimation, and are glad to think that the present war has done a great deal in that direction. We cannot continue this correspondence.—ED. Spectator.]