WHY COME TO BRITAIN?
[To the Editor of the ScEcrxroa]
SIR,—We have a saying in the North of England that "no one cries stinking fish." That there are exceptions to every rule is borne out by " Scadavay's " article in last week's issue. It is very difficult to know what the writer had in mind in recounting such an experience of England, or you, Sir, in publishing it. Are we to believe that what he tells us is "a summer" and not "a swallow " ? Does he suggest that some American reader of the Spectator will think that as he is likely to be offered New Zealand mutton and "border- land" ham, and to be stopped at frequent intervals by the police at cross-roads, he must decide not to " come to Britain " ? The Spectator seems to have lost entirely its old and general sense of proportion in publishing such an article, for it would be outrageous to suppose that " Scadavay's " experience was anything but most unusual. It so happened that I had just laid down this month's " Overseas " magazine when I read the article, "Why Come to Britain ? " and I felt that you ought to ask the writer to tell us what the chances were that the crowds of our overseas visitors would be asked to appreciate such "a joke" as his guest met with.
That we home-dwellers as well as visitors from abroad should be offered American tinned apricots in a hotel in Worcestershire is disappointing, though it would have some appeal to an American, but to suggest that to visit England is to be treated as " Scadavay " writes, is surely not only nonsense but unworthy of a lover of our lovely land.
We do not think much of the loyalty of the spirit of "Scadavay," when it is breathed into politics or economics or religion. At any rate, several whom I know who have read the article, are ashamed.—! am, Sir, &c.,
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