" HOME."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE ''SPECTATOR."] SIR, —I have had, and have, many relations and friends in various of our Colonies, and from a general consensus of their opinions I can vouch for the truth of your remark in the Spectator of to-day, in the article entitled "The Value of the Imperial Idea "—" that what makes the Colonies so eager to take part in the present struggle is their desire to show that they realise themselves to be sharers in the burden of empire, and not merely dependencies of Great Britain." There is, I think, another reason, though it be an analogy to yours, which I heard three men who had been many years in the Cape give last year. I can best remember my brother's words who was home on leave last year, after serving nine years in the Cape Mounted Rifles (at present he seeks the nimble ninepence in distressed Johannesburg). We were dis- cussing our whiskies in front of the big hall fire one night, when I made some remark about the patriotism of our Colonies, and how it differed from that of Germany and France. I can remember his answer quite well. " You know, it's not only men who were born in England and drifted abroad in search of employment who call England home.' I've met dozens and dozens of people whose fathers, and perhaps grandfathers, were born in the Colony, and who have probably never been off their huge farms except to buy provisions, &c., in the village,' and yet they call the old country home,' and it always will be ' home,' whether they ever see it or not; and it will be home' I think to their children and children's children. Many who are born in the Colony and intend to die there, save up their money, looking forward, perhaps through many years, to the time when they have enough to pay a visit home.'" Mr. Editor, I think so long as there are Colonists who love unseen England because it is "home," the land of their ancestors, certain blighted souls in the Liberal party may disapprove as much as they like, but it will not prevent the children of the Einpire offering help in money and men to " home."—I am, Sir, &c., H. A. DEVEREUX CAPELL. Great .Easton Rectory, Dunmow, October 7th.
[Does our correspondent remember Mr. Kipling's heart- searching line in one of his greatest poems, " The Native Born,"—" We learned from our wistful mothers to call old England home "P—ED. Spectator.]
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