CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN ENGLAND.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sat,—May I try to interest your readers in an " Open Air Club " that we hope to start at Bramshott, Hindhead, for the twenty thousand Canadians who are in camp al around ? Tho need for it is very urgent, for, though there aro some excellent recreation huts, there are not nearly enough of them. Also, when the warmer weather comes, out-of- door recreations will be necessary. There are cowboys, miners, men from the Wild West. For these there are two unfailing attractions- duink and vice. Surely we English must offer them brothers of ours something better than public-houses and worse. Their hours of recreation are from five to nine daily, and for these hours counter- attract:ons are urgently necessary. These fine Canadians have left home and country to help us in our hour of need. Many of them are homesick, and specially bored while waiting to go to the front. Let us English people make it our business to see that no Canadian heaves us with a worse opinion of England than he had when ho arrived. Our idea is to cater for these men, body, soul, and mind—especially the last. We shall put up several tents ; but much will be done in the open under the pine-trees. Twelve acres of pine forest are available. Part of this has been generously lent ; the rest we are renting. There will be a " Silence " Tent, admission one penny, where the men may read books and newspapers in peace; there will also be a Lecture Tent, to which no one need come who does not feel inclined ; others will be "dry" canteen, music tent, stalls for presents for borne, a tent for teaching hobbies, &c. We need men and women workers who care about such things to lecture on religious, social, moral, scientific, and other topics of the day. Debates will be held. We shall welcome the best lecturers and preachers that England can give us. We need people who will come for a week or two, who can put up at the Workers' Hostel, and give a course of lectures ; also ladies (not too young) to help in the canteen, others who can bring and play any musical instrument, to join the orchestra. Lady photographers will be needed to take the men's photographs, others to teach hobbies—basket-making, painting, wood- carving, &c. Will any reader who is interested kindly hunt out twelve suitable books, and send them off at once, carriage paid, to Miss May Crommelin, Librarian, Chasemoor, Hindhcad, Surrey ? The Club is under the patronage of the Chaplain-General, Bishop Taylor Smith, Brigadier-General Lord Brooke, Sir Lauder Brunton, J. St. Leo Strachey, Esq., and others. All offers of service and donations to defray cost of hire of tents, crockery, chairs, &e., to be sent at once to me at 9 Grafton Street (I.W.F. Club), Piccadilly, W.—I am, Sir, &e., E. MABEL HANKIN.
[We wish all possible success to Miss Hankin's admirable scheme. The pine-wood " dry " canteen is an' inspiration, and will be greatly helped by the Daylight Saving Act.—En. Spectator.]
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