CANON BARNETT AND CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS.
[To TER EDITOR 07 TER " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Canon Barnett has passed away and left England the poorer.
"For that is not a common chance That takes away a noble mind."
One who could rouse us to high endeavour, who could make the pettiness in men- and women wither away, has gone from us—a great man, a God-like man. His last request was in keeping with his sublime simplicity. "I wish," he writes, "that my funeral be as simple and cheap as possible" : that "the service be in St. Jude's Church and not in the Abbey, and that it be as much as possible such as used to be common in that church," and he adds, " I do not wish that flowers should spend themselves on my dead body, but in giving joy and comfort to living people." In what better way can those who loved and revered him carry out his wish than by letting the living flowers, which used to give him joy, delight the poor children for whom be cared ? And bow do that better than by sending as many of them as possible to play in the meadows, lie under the trees, breathe the fresh, sweet air, and pluck the wild roses, the ox-eyed daisies, and the honeysuckle? It was Canon and Mrs. Barnett who started the Children's Country Holidays Fund thirty years ago. The Canon was its president at the time of his death, and every year you have given the hospitality of your columns to an eloquent appeal from him on behalf of the Fund. This year others have been obliged to take up the pen for him, and, as usual, it has not been in vain. But over and above those donations we would ask all those who would have liked to send some floral tribute for Canon Barnett's funeral to give such assistance to the Fund as will enable more children to go to the country and learn lessons from the flowers. Subscriptions may be sent to Mrs. Harold Spender, 47 Campden House Court, Gloucester Walk, W.—We are, Sir, &c., A. F. LONDIN. Enema,.
W. F. D. SMITH. THCHAS BARLOW.
ERNEST SCHUSTER.
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