THE TERRITORIALS AND " THE BETTER VULGAR."
(To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR"] SIR,—The writing of this letter has been long delayed, for the circumstances which prompted the idea of addressing you occurred in July last. At that time I was under- going annual training with my corps (as a private) with the Territorial Force at Aberystwyth, and I would like to bring to your notice the conduct of my fellow (civilian) Englishmen (or were they Welshmen P) who at that time were presumably spending their holiday at Aberystwyth. I sin a thick-skinned Lancastrian who can stand a great deal, but the way in which one was studiously snubbed by the young "swells " at that watering-place made my blood boiL Why should the young man who shirks his duty (I presume that the type to whom this letter refers shirks his duty; if he did not he would be more tolerant) wish to show his ill-bred contempt for those who, to say the very least, are qualifying themselves for something more than staying at home if and when the time of need comes P For what reason does he almost demand that a uniformed Territorial shall make way for him on the promenade or other place, and submit, without kicking up a row, to being " shouldered" in a bullying fashion? I have yet to learn that the donning of a uniform has a deteriorating effect upon a young man's bear- ing, and sends down to zero whatever qualities he m iy have. Nay, I am rather inclined to believe that the very fact of wearing such a uniform tends to remind him that he is no longer an ordinary citizen, but a unit in a great organisation, the dignity of which it is his duty to endeavour to main- tain. (It is perhaps a good thing that the wearing of uniform has a restraining influence, otherwise I am afraid that some of their insults would have been repaid with a very high rate of interest.) Sir, during my fifteen days' training, studied insults from conceited fops were pretty regular, and it was quite an awakening to find that persona could conduct themselves in such a manner. What I am concerned to know is : Does this openly expressed contempt represent the feelings of the British public towards the Territorial Force ? If it does, before long no self-respecting citizen will be found within the ranks of that force. For myself, I am hardly in a position to judge, living as I do in a city which, if it is nothing else, is decidedly pro-military, and where the majority of its young men belong to one or other branches of the Territorials. It seems to me to be particu- larly bard that a young man should give up his Saturday cricket, his boating, fishing, and other branches of sport, in addition to (and this a terrible wrench !) giving up the major portion of his holiday, and then be the subject of persistent snubs. Happily, I know there is another side to the question, for one day a middle-aged gentleman stopped me in the street at Aberystwyth and inquired what branch of the Service my corps represented and whence we came. He told me how sorry he was that on the Sunday he only saw us as we returned from church ; he had wanted to see us twice. Continuing, he said that the spectacle filled him with pride to think that so many of the nation's young men should give their services volun- tarily, and that he did not remember a prouder moment in his life than when he witnessed that church parade. Sush expressions are some encouragement. I would, however, take this opportunity of reminding those who so far have shirked their responsibility that they would be well advised to adopt a more reasonable attitude, as their own time may be at hand. If it is, and if they find themselves drafted among those for whom previously they had the most supreme contempt, they must not be surprised if we, who in all probability will then be their N.C.O.'s, see to it that they come in for quite their portion of hard work, and if they find we are unable to resist paying
them back in their own coin.—I am, Sir, &c., A. S. C.
[These well-dressed hooligans would have been all the better for a roll in the mud, and we wish "A. S. C." and his comrades had given it them. The best cure, however, for such puppies would be training of the kind they get in Switzerland. The idea of men in the national uniform being treated in the streets of, say, Lausanne as " A. S. C." was treated in Aberystwyth is simply inconceivable.—En. Spectator.]
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