LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
'ENGLAND'S EFFORT."
ITO THZ EDITOR OF TEl " S1'EOFATO7t.")
Sm,—When I began to read your review of Mrs. Humphry Ward's most useful endeavour to show Americans and other neutrals what our Empire has done, I as an Englishman hoped you would have pointed out what Mrs. Ward obviously overlooked—viz., that the title of her book, unintentionally of course, seems to claim the whole effort as being "England's effort." But your reviewer, of course also unintentionally, adopts the same view, and says Mrs. Ward could not have helped better to show neutrals "the immense effort England is making in the war." I am English, and should be indeed proud if this unparallekd national effort were all England's I But where would England's effort have been without the splendid work of the men and women of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, and all the rest of the Empire ? Mrs. Ward may say: "Do you seriously suggest any one will object ? Surely they know that by England I mean, as my book shows, all the rest of the Empire / " My experience is—and I have visited many parts of our British Isles including Ireland—that beneath the surface the feeling of nationality is as strong as ever, and I am convinced that we English do not attach the Importance we should do to this fact. If we did, we should not so often thoughtlessly give °flow°. Prussia is the acknowledged leader among the States of the German Empire, yet the Saxon or Bavarian or Wart- temberger resents being called a Prussian. We can understand his attitude and yet feel a sort of aggrieved wonder if any protest is made against English assumption of honours not ours alone. If Mrs. Ward does not believe that this feeling exists, let her go into the districts whence the Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and Canadian regiments had their being—she will very soon find that it is not for love of the English they are fighting. Who cannot see that fine young officer of the Black Watch at his club in Edinburgh taking up England's Effort and then, finding it is the Empire's effort, dashing it down on the table with "Dom it, mon ; did ye ever see the likes o' that ? " And his friend probably repli "What d'ye expect ? " in a tone which implies they do not expect justice or fairness from the Sassenach. English authors, publishers, and journalists should beware of giving needless offence in this matter. If you ask a Welshman or a Scotchrnan or a Canadian what they think about it, probably the reply will not be in words—just a significant shrug of the shoulders, which speaks volumes.—I am, Sir, dce.,
Surrey Lodge, Denmark Hill, S.E. R. B. MARSTON. [We deal with the subject of Mr. Marston's letter in our leading columns —En. Spectator.]
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