POINTS FROM LETTERS

THE TASK OF THE SESSION.

In your article on " The Task of the Session " in your issue of November 10th, you speak of the Poor Law Guardians as having " voluntarily devoted a large part of their time to making the inquiries that are indispensable if Poor Law money is to be used economically, and so as to help recipients to help themselves." I am not familiar with the practice in rural Unions, but in London and the industrial areas these inquiries are invariably made by the relieving officers, on whom the duty of investigation is laid by the regulations of the Ministry of Health, and who have been specially trained for the task. It would seem, therefore, that some better reason must be found for retaining the services of the Guardians in a reformed administration.—R. Sauxonasox, 27 Ladbroke Square, W. 11.

REPORT OF THE STREET OFFENCES COMMITTEE. POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETING.

May I ask the hospitality of your columns to give notice that, owing to the unexpected delay in the presentation of this Report to Parrmment, the Public Meeting arranged by the Association for Moral and Social Hygiene, to take place on Monday night, November 26th, in the Caxton Hall, will be postponed. Judging by the Home Secretary's reply to a question on November 14th, it appears unlikely the Report will be available in time for a study of its recommendations before the date of the meeting. A further announcement will be made after the Report is issued.—Bar-Form OF BURLEIGH, Chairman of the postponed meeting, 31 Bedford Gardens, Kensington.

A ROBIN INCIDENT.

One night recently we heard a tapping, and a rustling sound, at our dining-room window. On going to see what was causing the noise we found a robin there, and thinking he might be hungry we put out some biscuit crumbs and then closed the window. He did not take the food, however, but continued his tapping at the window, so we opened it again and left it open, immediately he flew inside and finally settled on the curtain pole, where we left him for the night, having provided some butter and crumbs. In the morning he was still perched on the pole but when the window was opened began to fly about, and after a few minutes went out of the window. I wonder if any of your readers could give an explanation of this visit of the robin. The night was not a stormy one.—H. E. CROOK, St. Helens, Howth, Co. Dublin.

TESTED MILK AND PUBLIC Saloom.

With reference to this subject in your issue of November 3rd (p. 640), it may interest you to know that at least one, if not more, of the principal public schools in Ulster use this milk. Campbell College, Belfast, use Grade " A " T.T. milk at 6d. per quart.—S. H. HALL-Tnomesou, Lindsay Thompson and Co., Belfast.

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES AND HUMANE METHODS.

As secretary of our local W.I., I am very much interested In your correspondent's suggestion that we should take up the above subject. Perhaps she would kindly give me the names and addresses of suitable speakers on the question of rabbit snaring and kindred points of rural interest, so that I may be ready with the necessary information when the time comes to arrange the programme for the next half year.— ALICE M. MACLEOD, Hon. Sec. Westend Women's Institute, Langstaff House, Bitterne, Southampton.

[We are delighted to get this letter and hope it Is the precursor of many others from Women's Institutes. We arc placing the writer in touch with those who can supply the desired information.—En. Spectator.]

THE FUTURE OF THE ROADS.

Referring to the article by Lord Montagu on " The Future of the Reads, where he states that he can foresee a time When there will be fully illuminated through roads for traffic, I have often wondered if it would be feasible to convert the banks each side of the railways into such roads, with loops outside tunnels and bridges. A fairly high bank would have to be -built between the roads and rails for safety. Another area

improvement to alleviate congestion would be loop roads to avoid large towns.—ELEarion B. GAUNT, 77 Manor House Road, Glastonbury.

AUTUMN FOLIAGE.

It may be that a short list, in no way exhaustive, of common . shrubs which are of outstanding beauty in the autumn for - foliage or berries or both would be of interest to some of your readers :—Berberis Aquifolitim (on poor soils), Berberis < Prattii; Berberis Thunbergii, Berberis Wilsonii, Cotoneaster Rotundifolia, Cotoneaster Shnniondsii, Pernettya, Rhus Cotinus, Spiraea Prunifolia florepleno. All these can be bought for a few pence each and make an autumn garden a beautiful place.—W. H. McCoNNEL, 77 Onslow Square, S.W.7.

TOMMY ATKINS.

Your correspondent dealing with the interesting subject of " Names that Live On is not correct in suggesting that " Tommy Atkins " perhaps originated from any actual individual. The original of the name is as follows : When the present Pay Book, Army, Privates—for the use of— was instituted, on the first page was shown 'an example of how the matter was to be dealt with. The specimen Pay book sheet was filled in completely for a mythical individual, who was given the name of " Thomas Atkins."—E. H. L.

WILL " R " BE HEARD FIFTY YEARS HENCE ?

The words " liar " and " lyre " are often pronounst alike ; so are " mare " and " mayor." It is becoming a custom to omit the sound of " " and to make no distinction

between short " a," hard " all,", and " In the tours of fifty years " r," as a final consonantal sound, will hav become obsolete in the relm of orthoepy, partly thru ignorance; laziness and defectiv teaching of English sounds ; unleSs a wider appreciation of the English language is cultivated; the use of " r " wil be limited, les herd—if not unknown. A person is a markt individual if he or she is abed in innovations of dres, but the same person may clothe his or her tho'ts in objectionable English without a word of disapproval ! Cannot a finer sense of correct and musical English be. cultivated ?—H.. Dat.,-mmorm, Rydal Mount, Hetton-le-Hole.