POINTS FROM LETTERS
FORTY DAYS.
The recent period of heavy rainfall lasted in North Devon for forty days and forty nights, from November 5th to December 14th, with but very brief intervals. This is, of course, the period during which " the rain was upon the earth " on the occasion of the flood recorded in Genesis. I fancy, too, that the translation of St. Swithin at Winchester was delayed by persistent rain for that precise number of days. Are there other instances ?—A. LEIGII BARKER, Spreaeombe Manor, Braunton, N. Devon.
FISCAL POLICY.
It is surprising that no public notice has been taken of the announcement that the President of the Board of Trade is trying to arrange an agreement binding the contracting countries not to raise their tariffs. It is difficult to see what substantial benefit this country would gain from such an agreement, and an explanation is much to be desired. Granting that our present Free Trade system is the best in present circumstances, it does not seem judicious to sign an agreement which would prevent us, whatever may happen in future, even making an enquiry into the question.—R. M.
HELL FIRE.
I notice that in your review on the subject of " Hell Fire " your critic assumes the probability that the phrase attributed to our Lord—" Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched "—is probably an addition by an ardent disciple of later date. This passage, however, is in reality a quotation by Christ from Isaiah lxvi. 24, where reference is made to the valley of Hinnom, where it was customary to throw out the bones and refuse of Jerusalem to be burnt and other- wise destroyed periodically. Is it reasonable on such a tremendous topic that an extended value should be imparted to a passage which the Old Testament prophet could not have entertained ?—HENRY CARTER, Normanhurst, Falmouth.
Trim Fox.
May I congratulate you on your efforts to create a more truly sportsmanlike spirit in your readers ? The parable under the heading " The Fox," in your issue of November 16th, surely should result in awakening the real sporting instinct unless it has succumbed. I read it to the end without looking to the last line. I did truly anticipate a different ending, but I was disappointed when " gentlemen " killed the fox. It was a shock, and has the flavour of shooting our prisoners. Education is a slow process.—J. H. THOMAS, The Rectory, Chambly-Canton, P. Que., Canada.
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