ENGLAND RE-BORN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3056, 17 April 1917, Page 3

ENGLAND RE-BORN

HOW BARRIERS ARE BEING SWEPT AWAY.

.Mr. Pullen Burry, well known in commercial circles throughout New Zealand, has received a striking letter from his brother, Mr. A. Pullen Burry, of Scrapting, Sussex, probably the 'largest nursery /warehouseman in England, and one who has been patriotically lecturing throughout the Kingdom almost ever since the war began. Mr. Burry writes under date January 13: — "It is most remarkable what a great difference there is in town between people. No one seems off-handed now, all hide their troubles and losses. In fact, for a stranger to see us, he would say—'What a .marvellous nation! Have they no feelings, and the women no hearts? . They have; but they have no time to mourn or worry, and such a nation as England is becoming will be the wonder of the world —all without revolution and riot. Nothing is the same—no.grumbling, fretting, or getting sore in the temper. Sweetness and gentleness between'all men and women has completely won the day. There is no time for jealousy, and the women do not try to back-bite one another. . . The parsons are all cleaning up the mess that a hundred years of dust and decay has accumulated} : Politicians have soraped their party machine completely; professors are completely ignored in political economy, and all seem to be under such a potent spell that I should imagine accompanies settlers in a newly-broken land.. "Farmers give up their land and gardeners their men, and all give up their money; and this without yelling patriotism at the 'street corners. Quiet, order, and respect for authority, such as in this country has never been known is the order of the day. No yolls at defeats,, or bell-ringing at victories, but steady hard work, and intense perseverance. AVomen lose, their sons, say nothing; look their husband's in the eyes, and catch the first train in the morning for the munition works. The leader has been found! Tho people recognise him! ■ The law stands out of -his way, and the brains of the country flock to him to be given work and encouragement, and through' it all be breaks not down or slackens speed, but gathers momentum with every rebuff that buffets .him., I- write you this_ because I think that the inner feeling of the country, which .to my mind is far superior, to the news in importance, may interest you 'more than a lot of family chat. are terrible times for us all; but faith has never been stronger with me and with us all here that the devil's job has nearly run out. I hear on all sides the strongest arguments, and I see on all sides the heaped material and men that, will-at no distant

date bring about the utter confusion of the Central European Powers. It would impress you. indeed to hear, as I do, ias chairman, of the Sussex Tribunal, the willingness 'of all to serve their country as they can. These coil-' scientious objectors—rand I have about thirty of them, not being able to get other forms of, labour for the landeven do what tliey can, and many are real heroes in their own, to my mind, misguided way. They are, indeed, 'despised and rejected of men,' some with sons at the front, others with all their brothers there, and they doing what m ordinary circumstances men in their position in life would scorn to do." v