24 OCTOBER 1914, Page 15

MR. KIPLING, THE SOLDIER, AND SPORT.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR...1

SIR,—May I remind you that in your campaign in support of " day-boy " battalions you have Mr. Kipling for an ally P Some years ago he published a short story called "The Army of a Dream," in which he imagined the armed forces of Britain trained by just such a system as that you advocate. But that was not all. In his dream he linked soldiering with sport. No man might play in county cricket or League foot- ball who was not first a soldier. Is not it a great idea P Perhaps Mr. Kipling is a prophet. Who knows am, Sir, &c., H.