THE BRIGHT SIDE.

[TO THE EDITOR OP TM 45 SPECIATOR."] SIR,—At a time when every one is full of the troubles, losses, and horrors of the war, it is a help, and to some extent a consola- tion, to bear in mind some of the benefits that the nation will derive in consequence thereof. The following occur to me at the moment, all of which have, I think, come about, or are likely to come about, as a direct result of the war :-

(1) Civil war in Ireland averted.

(2) Sex war and militant suffragettes' agitation averted.

(3) The drawing togither of the whole Empire.

(4) Daylight saving. • (5) The tackling of venereal disease.

(6) The probable taking over by the State of the liquor traffic,

and thereby great decline in drunkenness, with the result of (a) more work turned out by nation; (b) better wages for work- ing classes; (c) less crime and cost of prisons; (d) less lunacy and cost of lunatic asylums; (e) less infant mortality; (f) better and more self-respecting citizens; (g) leas unemployment and distress; (0) less disease.

(7) Better feeling between Capital and Labour.

(8) Bitter political party feeling modified.

(9) Equipment of works (especially in engineering and metal trades) throughout the country with the finest and most up-to- (late machinery, which will put us in a position to compete as never before in all world markets.

(10 Inculcation of habits of thrift among the working classes.

(11) Inculcation of habits of economy among well-to-do classes.

(12) Better prospect of Labour recognizing the fallacy of the "ea' canny " policy, and the removal of restrictions upon maximum output.

(13) More general employment of women, thus adding greatly to the productivity of the country and to the wealth of the nation.

(14) A more systematic development of foreign trade.

(15) An awakening to the need of science in connexion with trade.

(16) Probable adoption of Universal Service, with consequent improvement in discipline, health, and physique of the men of the nation.

(17) The development of agriculture, with better farming and higher wages for agricultural labourers.

(18), The mingling of all classes in the New Armies, with con- sequent better understanding of one another.

(19) The discernment among the wealthy classes of the advan- tages of a more simple mode of living; and lees ostentation, extravagance, and display.

There are no doubt many other advantages that do not come to my mind at the moment; but were it not for the loss of lifo from which so few households have escaped, the benefits that I have mentioned would far outweigh the loss of wealth we have suffered (enormous though it is), and should lead to such an improvement in the conditions of life of our people, and ultimately to such a time of prosperity, as were before undreamt of by us.—I am,