POINTS FROM LETTERS

HUNT BALLS AND THE MINERS

After- reading long lists of Hunt Ball fixtures, I am wondering if it would be possible for the Masters of the Hunt, and their members, to cancel their Balls arranged to take place early next year, and throw in their lot with those who are endeavouring to curtail any kind of entertaining for mere pleasure, in order to support, as adequately as possible, the funds so urgently needed for relief in the coalfields. If Masters and members could combine to make this gesture it would be enormously valued, and appreciated by these Suffering men and women, most of whom are proving them- selves to be " sportsmen " in more than one sense of that word. In order that local tradesmen in the various districts should not suffer, orders for food and clothing, &c., might be given to them, and parcels sent to one of the depots for distribution.—" HAMPSTEAD."

SEA GRASS.

The Spectator of October 27th, published a most interesting extinct of a letter. Your correspondent points out that the sea grass Zosteria Marina, when dried, has the extraordinary quality of killing sound, as. well as being an effective insulator against heat and cold. We are told that architects have discovered the value of the material and are using it in house construction. So valuable a raw product surely ought to have'a great future. In India its manifold qualities will make it- especially precious. Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, the Cities of the Punjab and so on, cannot, of course, be rebuilt at once to utilize the wonderful discovery, but Zosteria Marina tattles might in the meanwhile he found useful as window blinds. Then, as regards sound, we are told of its efficacy as a " sound-deadener. Imagine, therefore, what this means for India. Our Hindu-Moslem difficulty will be immediately solved. The trouble now, we are told, is simply " Music before Mosques." The tamashis and the drams of our Hindu brethren will no longer disturb the " Faithful ' at prayer, for as your correspondent puts it, " the sound disappears in- stantly as if turned off by a tap."--J. D. JENKINS, Poona,

India.' THE IRISH COINAGE.

Are not the English a difficult nation to please ? When Ireland: accepted the contract of a German firm to harneis the Slitinnori, we _heard much about the anti-English bias of that country. Now, because it chooses the design 'of an Englishman for its coinage, we are amused because lie is SAFEGUARDING.

The advocates of " Safeguarding "which has superseded " Tariff Reform " as a subterfuge for plain Protectionism— prate continually about " unfair competition " from low wage countries, but they persistently ignore the fact that several of the, present high duties are levied on American manufactures, products of the highest wages in the world. — F. R. WETTEST La Salle du Roc, Bourne (Loire et Cher).

May I as a subscriber to your paper for twenty-five years ask two questions through your columns : (1) Why do Protectionists and Safeguarders always refer to imports as losses and exports as profits ? Surely the opposite is the truth. (2) What is wrong with Cobden's dictum : Encourage your imports and the exports will take care of themselves ? --R. R. M.

THE DEPREDATIONS OF THE GREY SQUIRREL.

The grey squirrel abounds in this district and seems to be increasing. Last year a neighbour of mine gathered a fine crop of pears from two old trees. This year, too, the trees were covered with fruit, but the squirrels got every one. A local gardener informs me that they stripped the fruit off a peach tree in this neighbourhood. They are credited with stealing eggs and food from poultry runs. Beasts that pillage our orchards and reduce the number of birds that destroy garden pests are a serious menace to the countryside; and the Ministry of Agriculture should take up the question of their extermination.—BERTRAM HILL, The Bourne, Bracknell, Berks.

MORE MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES.

Golf is regarded in Scotland as a game for the poor as well as for the rich, the reason being obvious, that it is not only a traditional pastime, but that there is more ground available. Municipal courses could only be provided here by the exclusion of other recreations, such as walking, cricket, football, lawn tennis, etc. Where the golfer takes his stand there is no room for anybody but him. Towns, certainly, cannot be expected to supply, or purchase, acres upon acres for the benefit of the comparatively few who could use them for golf.—Y.

THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

Your correspondent " Widower" might perhaps find interest in a tiny volume published in 1908, by. George Bell and Sons, York House, Portugal Street, W.C. called " Thysia : an Elegy." In an article in the Nineteenth Century, November; 1908, entitled " An Unknown Poet," Frederick Harrison, speaking of the exquisite quality of these sonnets, says : -- And as being the consecration of married love in rare form I judge them to have a truly unique origin. To my ear their language has a melody and purity such as no living poet can surpass. They may bring comfort, but the great Healer, apart from Holy Writ is—Wordsworth.—B. B.

GoorifE.

May I be allowed to thank through your columns those readers who replied to my query about a quotation from Goethe.—A. E. ORAM, 31 Hollycroft Avenue, Hampstead, N.W. 3.

UNEMPLOYED WOMEN AND DOMESTIC SERVANTS.

In your issue of November 17th, you state the 1,374,000 unemployed included 224,000 women, and yet every daily paper is filled with advertisements from people wanting all kinds of domestic servants ! I know of a lady quite close to me here, who bought a charming house, and then found it so impossible to get a cook, she had to go for her dinner each day to the local inn !—WM. TOWER TOWNSHENP, Bodiam Manor, Sussex.