“NOT UNDERSTOOD.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 40, 22 January 1916, Page 4

“NOT UNDERSTOOD.”

fn our issue of Thursday last there appeared a well-intentioned, kindly and quite proper paragraph, written with the fullest recognition of the gallantry displayed by young New Zealanders (in common with their British, Australian, Canadian and African brethren) and intended wholly and solely ay a possible small help in the great work oi recruiting. There aie many ways of appealing to the sense and reason of those who could do so. hut have not yet offered their services to their country, and in the Empire’s need we desire to make use ol each and all of them. The innocent paragraph referred to merely gives publicity to a sensible suggestion, and reads as follows ; “There are a large number of figures in khaki in Stratford and district at present, men being on leave from Camp and invalided soldiers, and a valuable suggestion lias been thrown out that a route march on Saturday night in the streets of the borough, followed by patriotic speeches from the steps ol ( the Post Office, should be undertaken in the interests of recruiting. The proceedings would certainly be novel and interesting, and it is widely conceded that the sight ol khahi in column swinging along the road has a wholesome patriotic effect upon most of us nowadays. Perhaps the Mayor and “the powers that be” will favorably consider the proposal. The time is short, hut most functions of the kind go off all the better for being impromptu in nature.” It was rather surprising, therefore, yesterday afternoon to he waited upon by five estimable but obviously much misguided young men in military uniform, who, with doubtful modesty, arrogated to themselves the task of speaking on behalf of “the returned soldiers residing in Stratfoid and district.” and requested the publication of a really extraordinary literary effort. Most of our readers will agree that somebody has been “leg-pulling”—a colloquialism that even the dense concoctor of the foolishly feeble communication, which we now append, may understand. .Here is the precious missive ; “The returned soldiers residing in Stratford and district have read with interest the effusion in the “Evening Post” date .lamiary -0, 1916, and desire to comment on same. In the first place we strongly, and we think righteously, object to being classed as “figures.” 1 ho writer of the aforesaid paragraph, wo are sure, classes himself as a man, and, as deeds speak hviuler than words, we think that we are entitled to consider ourselves to he at least equal to him. “Secondly, we should like to suggest that before advertising a route march through the streets of Stratford, it would perhaps he as well to consult us privately, and ascertain as correctly as possible our feelings in the matter. As far as we are concerned, we have no desire to go trouble to exhibit ourselves for the amusement of a few young men whom the author of the ideal aupcars to think need some sort of a stimulant to hasten them to don the khahi. In fact, we have an idea—absurd probably—that if a man’s sense of duly or love for adventure is not sufficiently developed to compel him to join the army, he is just as well out of it; therefore ;i s long as the umn of Stratford do not interfere with us, we have no desire to disturb their consciences, and wo regret to say lliai if “The Powers’” rely on us to carrv the proposal through, it is doomed to failure. Me are not fond of tlie lime-light and we arc not public property.—Returned Soldier: In flu' first place the letter is by no means what u purports to he, 1.c.. the expression of “the returned soldiers' ” righteous indignation, because apart from there being anything to he indignant about, it is on l tin effort of some very uu-mulcrstaudbig and unreasonable - -not to say ignorant and impudent - person, whose crude a:i<] .'hopeles.; handiwork hrs been subscribe;] to hv live thoughtless young soldiers. Let u s hope flic

actual writer is not one of the five; we credit each unit of the quintette with too much ordinary intelligence to suppose either could he- guilty of it, and believe that they have been dragged into such felly as the outcome ot mere thoughtlessness. Xo living person (except the pretendedyv aggrieved originator of the' “desire to comment” on the “Stratford Post” paragraph) could possibly take honest exception lo the use of the word “figure” as it is used and intended to be read. While we presume soldiers on leave may or may .not do something which the authorities think is a good thing to do, as they please, it would certainly he only common decency fop such soldiers to acquiesce with courtesy and willingness to any request made for the benefit of recruiting. and the brilliant wit of the compiler of “returned soldiers’ ” protest ought to sit down and use what lew brains lip possesses in trying to realise that the public of Xew Zealand are doing a very great deal for the fine fellows who are. or have been, or are to go. into the fighting line. True soldiers certainly do not court the Jrme-light: wo should be sorry to think there wore any amongst our hoys who have returned who desire to rival “Bill Adams,” and making every allowance lor the warm weather and the brown beer; accordingly put«down the present outburst of unmitigated foolishness as a result of pure want of knowledge of ordinary everyday King’s English on the part of some easily-bf--lended and particularly thin-skinned person who is probably something of what the boys in camp would chaffing!y dub—a Bush Lawyer!