[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
was much interested in your correspondence article on our soldiers' barracks in the Spectator of December 27th, and quite agree that the life of the private soldier ought to be, whenever possible, even at a little extra expense to the country, elevated instead of lowered ; but when you come to the question of going out in mufti, I imagine I see great diffi- culties in store. To give one example. How is a sentry to distinguish between a bond, fidemember of his regiment (perhaps nine hundred strong) and a civilian P There would be some rare fun of a night on some occa- sions, and my sympathy would go out to the poor sentry. Why should not the uniform of a British soldier be acceptable everywhere ? It is certainly a shame to refuse the wearer the right of admittance into any place where his presence would be welcome if in mufti. On the Continent, to insult a soldier in uniform is a. most serious offence, and might bring almost any punishment upon the offender. Why does not a similar love and respect exist here for the cloth, although we are not a nation of soldiers P—I am, [The allowing of mufti in the case of the officer shows no disrespect to the uniform ; why should it in that of the private P—En. Spectator.]
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