LIFE MEMBERSHIP OF THE " SPECTATOR."

WE are now able to set forth our proposals for Life Membership, and to state that we have already had acceptances from some forty or fifty persons who desire to become Life Members.

Before, however, we deal with the actual terms, it may interest our readers to know how we obtained these first acceptances. To begin with, a considerable number of readers of the Spectator wrote to us in the ordinary way, informing us that they wished to become Life Members. The majority of these letters were received as the result of the article in our issue of March 10th, in which we sketched the. terms which we thought it was probable we should be able to offer, without unduly hampering the paper by too wide conditions of mem- bership.

In addition to these responses, we have received a large number of other communications, which were obtained in the following way. We sent out a series of questions in regard to the Spectator, not only dealing with the question of Life Membership, but also inviting general criticisms—not, of course, of the political views of the Spectator, but of the way in which those views were put before the readers—and suggestions as to the existing features which were most liked, and also as to what new features should be introduced, provided that space could be found. And here we may interpolate that we should have greatly liked to send our Questionnaire not only to every purchaser of the Spectator, but to every reader. Unfortunately, however, that was im- possible. We did not know their names and addresses. All the same, there is a paper of question's awaiting any reader of the Spectator who cares to send a postcard asking that it should be sent to him. The answers already received are numerous, and we shall not be surprised if we get many more when our letter has reached the distant parts of the British Empire and of the United States, for the greater number of our direct subscribers are to be found Overseas. Most readers in this country very naturally prefer to get their paper through the usual channels, that is, through the bookstalls and newsagents.

It is no easy task to tabulate and digest the answers —often given in detail—to our sixteen questions. We intend, however, when the full tale has come in, to give a summary of the results. On the present occasion we will only say that the answers have proved in an over- whelming degree the value of a scheme of Life Member- ship—of a scheme, that is, which endows us with the right to consult our readers, and affords our readers the opportunity of telling us kindly but candidly what they think of us. The Life Member for papers like the Spectator has, we are convinced, come to stay. He has not come to control or to impair Journalism's prime asset of independence, but to confer and to consult, and when necessary to act the part of " Strike, but hear me."

The answers also show that while our readers were much interested in, and fully realized the value of the :Life Membership scheme, what they most value and .desire to preserve in the Spectator are :- 1. Its complete independence and freedom from external or hidden influences.

2. The maintenance of its present position. 8. The opportunity for free comment and free expres- sion of opinion provided by our correspondence columns, and, above all, the Spectator's custom of opening its columns to a hearing of the other side. They realize that in " Letters to the Editor " preferential treatment is considered the right of the Spectator's opponents.

Direct subscriber after direct subscriber emphasizes this last point, not because they themselves differ from our view, but because they have no desire to be kept in the dark about the existence of the other side and its -precise nature. They know that publicity will help a good cause and. confound an evil one. The hearing of the other, side is only dreaded by those who arc not sure of their own arguments. It is only physical considerations, often imperative, alas ! which should censor or closure newspaper debate.

There were also very valuable criticisms in regard to our Literary and Theatrical criticisms, and as to our Naterialiteiiews. Here we may say that a criticism often made was exactly that of the Editor and his Staff. The name for this feature is a very bad one. The " feature '' itself is excellent. Who will give us a better name ?

The last item of the Questionnaire ran as follows : " Have you any suggestions as to how we might increas the Spectator's influence and circulation ? Or any other remarks ? " Here the answers came in many cases as a most pleasant surprise. But the nature of that surprise we have not the hardihood to disclose. Suffice it to say that for the first time we have got in real touch with " simple readers " and find that, at any rate, we have achieved what we have tried to do. We have gained their full confidence by the very obvious and simple device of selling them honest opinions,* by acting, that is, not as their slaves, but as honourable servants— persons willing and eager to do them service wherever such service can be rendered without shame and dis- honour. We have not aimed at being dictators, or schoolmasters, or lecturers, or any other specimen of " the blessed Glendovir " family, but rather at being persons who earn their livings by taking a fee for advice in regard to .the moral and intellectual condition of the body politic. Even our most severe critics, and there were some who were pretty severe in phrase, did not in fact go further than to exhibit their desire to follow the good old English maxim, " Grumble and carry on." While they did the grumbling, they were evidently anxious that we should " carry on " as usual. That is, perhaps, not a very logical conclusion, but a very human one.

In our advertising columns on page 533 arc to be found the text of the application for Life Member- ship and the terms under which such membership can be acquired. All that an intending Life Member will have to do will be to cut out or copy out the very short terms of application, or if he prefers, put the application in his own words, send his cheque, payable to -" The Spectator, Ltd,," crossed " Barclay and Co. (Goslings' Branch), A/c. Payee," and address it to " The Editor, the Spectator Office, 13 York Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C. 2."

As we stated last week, the terms are graded in accord. ance with the age of the intending Life Member. All persons under forty-five years of age can become Life Members for fifteen guineas. Persons over forty-five and under fifty-five will get the privilege for fourteen guineas ; those over fifty-five, but under sixty-five, for eleven guineas ; those over sixty-five, but under seventy-five, for nine guineas. Persons over seventy-five years will pay five guineas. We need hardly say that we require no certificates of age. We are perfectly willing to accept the statement as to age made by the intending Life Member. The direct subscriber to the Spectator who has paid his subscription in advance may deduct from the sum at which he' is entitled to become a Life Member the unex- pended amount of his prepaid subscription. For example, a person with six months' subscription still to run will be entitled to deduct 15s. from the price to be paid for Life MeMbership.

Anyone who is doubtful of the beneficial character of these terms as far as the reader is concerned should compare them with the ordinary terms at which a life annuity for 11 10s. can be obtained. - - It only remains to be said that, not only will a copy of the Spectator be posted weekly, free, to every Life Member during his life, but that Life Members will be invited from time to time to meetings with the Editorial Staff and Directors of the Spectator to confer as to the welfare of the paper and its readers. We have every • No one know better than we do that we have no monopoly here, We are crthr carrying out the practice of the majority of our colleagues kr the British Prem. desire to make these meetings a reality, and we confidently look forward to the support of Life Members in this respect.

Finally, it may be noted that if the published price of the Spectator is at any time increased for ordinary readers, or again if the cost of postage is increased, no charge for this or any other reason will fall upon Life Members. Their right to have the paper posted to them free weekly during their lives is assured.

In conclusion, we desire to say once more that what we chiefly value in the scheme is the fact that it will enable us to get into closer touch with our readers without, however, forfeiting any of our own independence or responsibility. When we speak of consultation we do not mean consultation as to the opinions, political and other, expressed in the Spectator. Such a forfeiture of journalistic independence would, as the answers to our questions clearly show, be as strongly deprecated by the readers as by the Editor and his Staff. At the same time, there is plenty of room for consultation on the presentation of our views and the proportions of space devoted to the various departments of the Spectator.

If our scheme succeeds, as we now feel confident it will, it is likely to be copied, and so may do something, perhaps a good deal, to stabilize the Press, and prevent its newest danger, that of becoming the tool, or even merely the toy, of the very rich.

Those of our readers who do not become Life Members will always be the vast majority. These must not for a moment suppose that the Life Members can ever impose a barrier between them and their paper. The Life Members are " sample readers " from whom we shall get very valuable help ; but they will have, as we pointed nut last week, no power of control over the Spectator. The Spectator will in future, as always, consider itself and prove itself the honourable server and helper of its weekly purchasers and readers.

J. ST. LOE STRACHEY.