CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN ENGLAND.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] Fatt,—As a Canadian, and a Western Canadian at that, I cannot take too strong exception to certain portions of a letter published in your edition of May 20th, under the caption " Canadian Soldiers in England," and written by E. Mabel Rankin. This lady says that the two prime attractions for people from the Wild West are drink and vice. Having delivered this statement, she goes on to say that she desires that no Canadian shall leave England with a worse opinion of it than he had on arrival. To take the latter statement, surely, Mr. Editor, if you publicly stigmatize us as vicious and drunken, you cannot expect us to feel kindly toward the English. These are epithets more reserved fax the Huns than for the citizens of the Dominion of Canada and sub- ieets of His Majesty King George V., who have come forward to help tLe Mother Country in their time of stress. As regards the former statement, incidentally our country does not possess a wild and woolly West, nor are its inhabitants the roues Miss Hankin would make them out to be. The average Westerner is what we call a " white man," who objects to having odious epithets showered upon him. He is not, as this lady appears to think, a wild beast.—I am, Sir, &c., A WESTERN CANADIAN. [Of course the Canadian, West or East, North or South, is not a wild beast. He is, however, often a very young as well as a very gallant man of nobly build and abounding physical energy. To pretend that there are not temptations many and great to which lads of that mettle are exposed, be they English of the Homeland or of the overseas Dominions, is absurd. It is most unfair, as we feel sure our corre- spondent will realize on reflection, to twist Miss Hankin's words into an accusation of viciousness against Canadians. What father or mother here would not be thankful to know (as would doubtless be the case), if our young men were camped, say, in British Columbia, that there were Canadian ladies doing their best to keep their sons from coming to harm when removed from home influences and exposed to the dangers, excitements, and temptations of new surroundings ? They would thank Heaven daily for such kindly help.—ED. Spectator.]
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