SCHOLARSHIPS AND VOLITNT FIRMING FOR THE ARMY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SFECTATOR."1 SIR,—I should like to draw your attention to the case of boys who have lately obtained scholarships at one of the Univer- sities. I know a boy, aged nearly nineteen, who has just done so, and he has been informed that if he volunteers his scholar- ship cannot, in all probability, be kept open for him on his return. He is hoping to compete later for the Civil Service, but nothing has so far been heard of any extension of the age- limit to meet the case of those who have volunteered. It seems to me that some arrangement ought to be come to between the War Office and the University and Civil Service authorities on the matter. If the War Office does not particu- larly desire winners of scholarships to enter the Army, let it say so ; if it wishes them to join, let the University and Civil Service authorities make arrangements accordingly. The present system is most unfair. The patriotic scholar joins the Army, loses his scholarship and his chances of entering the Civil Service, while the less patriotic scholar remains to hold his scholarship and probably enter the Civil Service later on. It is well known, of course, that in the case of the great majority of those who obtain scholarships their parents would be unable to send them later to the Universities with- out the assistance of a scholarship.—I am, Sir, &c.,
INQUIRER.
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