VILLAGE BOYS IN LONDON.
[To THE EDTTOR or THE "SPECTATOlt."] Siu,—One constantly hears of little white pinched faces being sent out into the country for a breath of fresh air. In this case matters were reversed, and six robust village boys visited London for the day. The donor of the treat stipulated that the six places should be shot for on the range with the minia- ture Service rifle. The Tower, Westminster, Gamage's, St. Paul's, and the Mansion House (by kind invitation) were all visited for the first time by these little country cousins. As the leader of those young visitors I learnt one great lesson, i.e., that London's old historical monuments are not worth quite so much in the eyes of village boys as a big, modern fancy emporium. This fact has set me thinking. Would the shareholders of Harrod's, the Army and Navy Stores, and the hosts of large retail businesses in London object if once or twice during the year—winter for preference—these firms offered to entertain, under conditions, a certain number of village boys P What a magnificent impetus to rifle shooting if, perchance, the Army and Navy Stores offered to entertain for a day, annually, the best twenty shots in the National Schools of such and such a village. Pardon, Sir, if I say that annual treats of this kind are worth more to our dear old land than all the gold and silver cups ever presented to the youngsters of this country. After all said and done, we villagers open our gates, our fields, to your London boys and girls during the summer months ; won't you reciprocate and occasionally open the doors of your big toy shops and give a few village boys a dinner nnder certain conditions P One condition has been quoted above.—I am, Sir, &o.,
E. J. F. GARNET MAN. Standen, Benenden (late of Wye).
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