LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE VOICE OF AMERICA.
[To me EDITOR OP THE "SrEcTAToR."]
BIR,—I enclose for the perusal of your readers, if you approve, certain extracts from a letter just received from the United States. The writer is an eminent medical man, a Professor in one of the Universities, and so brotherly and warm-hearted
a letter seems to deserve to be read by my fellow-countrymen "These are days when words count for little, but I cannot refrain from writing you a line of cordial goodwill.
You have guessed, I am sure, that the attitude of neutrality adopted by our Government ill expresses the feelings of th immense majority of Americans. But I doubt if you can realize the depth of the love for our dear old country which the events of the hour have awakened in our hearts—love and pride and hope. We of British blood are poor hands at expressing those feelings which are deepest and most sacred, but away deep down in the soul of every American there is a spring which with all of us is overflowing to-day.
One of my friends told me last year a touching story. His wife, an Englishwoman, was on her way from New York to Southampton. As they were passing through the Channel she stood by the rail looking out on the English coast. Near by stood a quiet, middle- aged American woman—a school teacher, perhaps—to whom she made some remark. The woman turned to reply, but her eyes were filled with tears. 'Forgive me,' said she, 'I'm very foolish, but I've been waiting for this day all my life.' That is what England means to us. To thousands of ns England is the home of our spirit, our country as much as yours, and I for one feel almost a sense of shame that our Government has not courageously and openly protested against the infamous acts of the common enemy, and freely offered every assistance in our power to the defenders of liberty and justice and the rights of man. Aside from the higher duty, as I see it, every interest should push us to it, for if by any chance the enemy should succeed, we must follow in England's steps. We can never see Canada attacked without lending a hand, ill-prepared though we be to give the needed aid. We are, alas! as blind in our sense of security as some of you have been in England—and to-day we have far less excuse.
But I wrote only to tell you how earnestly, how sincerely, how wholeheartedly we are with you—no, of you. My wife and I think of nothing, speak of nothing, dream of nothing but of the war. Our women are all knitting throughout the day, and we men shall all give what we can of our earnings.
I rejoice in the thought that England and Franco are fighting side by side. There is a depth and a beauty and a solidity in the French character and aspirations that have been too little recog- nized in the world of late years—a spirit which is only less dear to me than that of my own race.
I mustn't allow myself to go on. I took my pen, dear —, only to say a word of goodwill from Mrs. — and myself to you and —. I was sure that you would blow what our feelings were."
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