[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.”] Sni,—Since reading your
article on " The Falsest of False Economies" I have felt rather despairing as to any chance of reduction in our cruel burden of heavy rates and taxes. Like "A. B. C.," I have seen the elementary teachers revelling in the new luxury made possible by their very high salaries. I have intimate knowledge of the poor clergy and of the ele- mentary teachers. I see clergymen, with £200 a year and four children to educate, now having to pay doubled rates, while school teachers indulge in expensive clothes and jewellery and even an occasional valuable piece of furniture. The latter live in small cottages and receive from £260 a year upwards. I have seen elementary teachers, ignorant of French, staying at a good hotel in France and patronizing expensive tea-shops. This would. be very nice if I did not feel and know that the people with fixed incomes are paying for those extravagances by their doubled rates and 6s. in the pound Income-tax. I write with feeling, as at great self-denial we educated our two children at good schools and university and Froebel college. My daughter has never obtained half the salary of an ele- mentary teacher by private school teaching or teaching in a family. I was quite pleased to read " A. B. C.'s " letter in the Spectator, as it expressed all that I had been feeling. I read the Spectator with interest every week, but the article on "The Falsest of False Economies" roused my indignation and made me despair of any relief.—I am, Sir, &c.,
RECTOR'S WIFE.
Previous page
