[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sta,—Writing as one of those whom your Oriel College cor- respondent would doubtless regard as " non-religious," if not entirely irreligious, I feel constrained to comment, not on his classification of University students, but on the supposed lack of boldness in many of the generation under thirty.
Your own writer mentions Gino Watkins—a man worthy of his job if ever there has been one; but what I would like to stress is the comparative rarity of real opportunity for ordinary youths to get away " out back," or to Polar regions or steaming jungles. Expeditions are costly and specialists must needs have pride of place. Whether it be acknowledged or not, it is the monotony, dullness and drabness characteristic of western urban life, that damps down the ardour of youth. When it is added that the majority of us are, or will be, economically bound to this treadmill, the explanation of boredom and cynicism comes a step nearer.
On the other hand, as in all past civilisations, someone has got to do " the dirty Work," carry on the hard grind of society. Perhaps some of the restless dissatisfaction may be explained by the spread of literacy among the many and various folk who perform these functions. Scepticism in religious matters is also widely prevalent. It would be interesting to learn from the lady who writes of " acciclie," what her views are on, for example, Buddhism. I mention this because, personally, I consider it is the function of the East, through the influence of its several dominant faiths, to supply to the West the where- withal to cool and calm its worst spiritual ferment.—I am, Sir,
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