Books and arts – 9 April 2015
The Spectator
Thursday
Before Dad’s Army
From ‘Our Home Guards’, The Spectator, 10 April 1915: There is nothing of the national picnic; or of playing at soldiers about the Home Guards. Those who enter the corps mean business, and not a good time in the open air under a series of military aliases. Some of the special features of the movement are most interesting. Mr Harris in his letter mentions the example of Bradford. In this city the Volunteer movement has created something like a social and moral revolution. It has given the city a corporate military feeling akin to that which existed in the great Flemish towns in the 14th century.
Wednesday
The Spectator at war: Righting wrong
From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 10 April 1915: With much satisfaction we record that Mrs. Johnson, formerly of Redhill and now of Old Town, Croydon, has been awarded by the Home Office £500 compensation for eighteen months' wrongful imprisonment. This unhappy woman was wrongly convicted in October, 1912, and July, 1913, of writing threatening letters. The letters have since been clearly traced to another person. Her husband and family were compelled to leave their former home, and were reduced almost to destitution. The compensation is none too large after two and a half years of agony, but we congratulate the Home Office warmly upon having done the just thing and done it promptly.
Tuesday
As it happened: Scottish leaders’ debate
Welcome to The Spectator’s live coverage of the Scottish leaders’ debate on STV. We’ll be providing the latest developments and analysis on the programme, starting at 8pm this evening.
The Spectator at war: Three month suspension
From ‘A Possible Compromise’, The Spectator, 10 April 1915: If the Government have not the courage to adopt total prohibition, then we reluctantly suggest the following plan. Let the Cabinet adopt the policy of the suspension of the sale of all intoxicants for three months—say from April 20th till July 20th. Such suspension would cover what, as far as we can see, must be the crisis of the war. It would cover also the period when climatic conditions give less excuse for the use of stimulants, though at the same time they increase the temptation to drink on the purely physical ground of thirst. Speaking generally, people drink more in hot weather, though they have really much less excuse for demanding a "dram" than they have in very cold or very wet weather.
