18 DECEMBER 1942, Page 12

Sta,—After all, there is something in it. The quality of

our life work is more in proportion to our bodily health than in proportion to any other factor: and the only period when bodily health can be established is during the years of bodily growth. The mind gets many second chances; but the only chance the body gets has come very near to its end by age twenty. Yet we in England, when we are feeling rich enough to do anything for age fifteen plus or minus, keep him indoors swotting algebra, or chemistry, or irregular verbs, occupations more suitable for age fifty; and we put up with any amount of regimentation and "County Badge" stuff in rewarding and classifying these young slaves of the .lamp. Would not cows and poultry and motor bicycles and motor boats, yes and even hauling logs and hoeing turnips, be a better prescription? Admiration of bodily excellence is our strongest feeling, yet we are ashamed of it, as if it were some unpleasant kind of artistic or sensual abnormality. Also the Germans have done a very bad turn to the next two or three genera- dons, by exhibiting care for bodily health in alliance with bullying and murderous behaviour. Nevertheless health is our principal source of pleasure, and of arts, and of material benefits.—! am, Sir, yours faith-