HOMECROFTING AND THE MIDDLE CLASSES - [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.] SIB,—TO many. middle class citizens of middle age the illus- trated pages advertising desirable country residences for sale in the periodicals offer a peculiarly attractive and never-failing pleasure. Those addicted to this form of idleness are not limited in their search to a twenty miles radius, nor are they concerned with the question of cost : a castle in Skye, a cottage in Cornwall, or a lordly old mansion embowered in gardens and mighty trees, are enjoyed with equal zest : and even while enjoying their pursuit they are amusedly aware of its absurdity, knowing as they do that their search has no definite connexion with a purpose to buy. Yet the knowledge that Some day they may happen on and purchase the place destined to satisfy the hankering after a country life that lurks somewhere in most of us, is ever present. Particularly, perhaps, is this so in the case of those who, like the writer, are engaged on professional work that, in the main, might be catricd on in the country as easily as in town. Such realization has once or twice appeared to be on .the point of occurring in my own clise, but each time the meditated change has given rise to a sense of unreality : a feeling that, despite intense love of the country, lack of some definite link to give a reason for dwelling there.would_cause me to feel myself still a stranger, an outsider—a city dweller Who had merely changed his address. I. confess that -I feel no intimate sympathy with the growing turnip; and it seems highly improbable that I shall ever develop a throbbing interest in pig-breeding. I recognize that my hankering after country life may in part arise from the fact that at times one gets sick of the complete artificial surface of cities—stone walls and iron grills . towering on every side ; the earth underfoot encased in cement or tar.; and soon, no dbubt, steel. lattice overhead, to shield , the public. from the carelessness' of. message-boys and 'busmen who allciw their 'planes to crash. On the other hand, I have no illusions about the country as a place of -refuge- from the unspirituality of cities. I love it simply because I love the smell of it and the sights and sounds of rural labour ; and therefore I have always sought for some reason or excuse for going there to live. I guessed that probably the required tie need be but a slight one ; but until reading Mr. Norman Angell's delightful article in your issue of last week it -would never have occurred to me to think that the mere purchase of a farm would suffice. Yet, making every-allowance for Mr. Angell's skill in handling an attractive idea with a full sense of its picturesque possibilities, that is what his article has effected in my own case. One inex- perienced in such affairs would require guidance, however, in the form of detailed information on the 'question of the quantities of service and produce that would represent a fair "
rent" for a farm of a given size ; and that is my excuse for troubling you with this letter. Is there any publication which gives such information ; and if not, could Mr. Angell be induced (if the subject is one likely to be of interest to your readers in general) to give such information in a further article ?--I am, Sir, &c.,
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