The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (4 page)

There is very little time in which to make this appeal and collect and despatch any gifts, if immediate benefit is to be derived. Hence those merchants who may generously wish to support this plea (made to me by some of their own profession), in large or small quantities, are kindly requested to acquaint me by telegram or post, addressed only to G. Alexander, 51 Hans Mansions, London S.W., and to forward their gifts in kind immediately, addressed to the Manager, Belgian Relief, c/o Messrs Harrods Ltd, Trevor Square, London S.W. (who have most generously placed a warehouse and a receiver at my disposal), whence I shall personally acknowledge them, and have everything tabulated and arranged ready for immediate shipment. No
kind givers need trouble themselves by making any preliminary inquiries of me as to the necessary kinds and quantities, for I can only say that too much of any sort of foodstuff cannot be sent, or too soon.

The following is what is chiefly wanted:

Flour (very much required)

Oats

Salt (very much required)

Jam

Hams

Condensed milk

Biscuits

Sugar

Chocolate

Arrowroot, and all kinds of farinaceous foods

All kinds of tinned meats

But any other similar gifts will be welcome.

Lalaing, Belgian Minister

Belgian Legation, 15 West Halkin Street, S.W.

This fund, which has been called into being by His Royal Highness to meet the countless cases of misery and hardship which must inevitably follow on the heels of war, makes an instinctive and instantaneous appeal to the generosity of the public, and we, as cricketers, know that there is no public so sportsmanlike and so generous as the cricketing crowd.

As the Prince has truly said, ‘This is a time when we all stand by one another.' All of us as a nation are members of a national team.

We have before us as we write the vision of many a fair English cricket ground packed with eager multitudes.

We have pleasant memories of seas of faces who in happier times have watched us play.

If only at this moment of trial we could gather in the sums which have been paid as gate money at cricket matches, those on whom the war has laid a desolating hand would benefit indeed. The wives and families of our soldiers and sailors would at least be secure from want.

It is this thought which has given arise to this particular appeal. We ask all those who have watched us play, and who have cheerfully paid their half-crowns, shillings and sixpences as gate money, to step forward and contribute over again their half-crowns, shillings and sixpences to the Prince's Fund
out of gratitude for the enjoyment the cricket field has given them in the past.

Let everyone who has followed cricket recall to mind the matches he has witnessed and enjoyed, and let each one contribute according to the pleasantness of his memories. Then we shall have for those whom the war has robbed, not only of happiness, but even of the means of livelihood, a truly royal sum.

Without any undue spirit of self-importance we may perhaps say that we have contributed not a little to the interest the public takes in cricket, and therefore we make this personal appeal from ourselves to all those who love the game to send whatever they can spare to HRH the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace, London S.W.

Yours faithfully,

J.W.H.T. Douglas
F.R. Foster
F.H. Gillingham
W.G. Grace
Harris
T. Hayward
G. Hirst
J.B. Hobbs
G.L. Jessop
W. Rhodes
R.H. Spooner
P.F. Warner
F.E. Woolley

The high military authority's answer was this: ‘You are,' he said, ‘a man of forty, and in very reasonably good condition for your age. You have plenty of pluck, you can shoot straight, and you would probably acquit yourself in the trenches quite as well as most Regulars, with a very little training. But, while you are reasonably sound in wind and limb, it is extremely improbable that you are in a condition to undergo the ardours of a campaign.

‘It is as likely as not that forty-eight hours of it would knock you up, while it is practically a certainty that after a couple of nights out in the rain you would be down with pneumonia or bronchitis, or rheumatism, or a combination of all three. You would have to go into hospital, where you would take up valuable room, and the attention of doctors and nurses who
are badly wanted elsewhere. In fact, you would be a great deal more trouble than you are worth.'

Of the truth of this there can surely be no question whatever. There are thousands of men, between thirty-five and sixty, who ask nothing better than to be allowed to take up arms, and who are constantly galled by such a spectacle as that which I saw today – viz., that of a couple of dozen able-bodied young men, who might be at the front, absorbed in the delightful and engrossing occupation of watching workmen asphalting three square yards of Victoria Street. Let those thousands take to heart the truth that they would be more trouble than they are worth, and that it is entirely their own fault.

There can be few of us who have not, at one time or another, taken up some system of exercise, and have felt all
the better for it. But the exercises became rather a nuisance, the twenty minutes devoted to them was reduced to ten, and the ten to five, till finally we dropped them altogether, always meaning, no doubt, to take them up again, but always too lazy to do so. For it is a curious thing that a man will take infinite care of the works of his motor car, but very little of the works of his body, though the former can be replaced and the latter cannot.

To put the matter in a nutshell, the majority of those who have been bitterly disappointed during the last few weeks at their inability actively to serve their country, whether they be young men or men of middle age, have only their own laziness to thank. As their memories grew longer they have allowed their wind to grow shorter, and their muscles flabbier, till the authorities have no choice but to say, ‘It is very kind of you to offer your services, but you are no use to us.'

I am told by experts in these matters that there is no reason why a man of fifty, or even of fifty-five, should not keep himself quite fit enough to sustain even the ardours of the present campaign, and that, so far has physical culture advanced, a man who is now quite out of condition could develop the muscles that are used in marching without marching a yard, and those that carry a soldier's kit without tramping across the country with a dead weight of many pounds upon his back. It can, they say, all be done at home in a month or two.

The lesson then taught ought never to have been forgotten, but it has been. It was that every man ought to keep himself in good condition in case he should be wanted. We have none of the inconveniences attached to compulsory service, and we are not compelled to tear ourselves away from our businesses for annual training.

As a thank offering for thus, surely the least that we can do is to keep ourselves fit. Had we done so in the past there would have been fewer heart burnings and fewer regrets on the part of those who have lately been rejected at the recruiting offices, while the accepted could probably have been got into trim in less time.

It is no use lamenting over the past, but, with an eye to what the dark and unknown future may bring us, surely the best motto that we can take is ‘Get fit and keep fit.'

One Who Regrets He Hasn't

Sir Herbert Tree has already generously arranged to hand over to a committee of representative actors about to be formed funds accumulating from the performances – crowded, I am glad to say – of
Duke
at His Majesty's Theatre.

The money which I am collecting will be through the same channel employed entirely for the benefit of families dependent for a livelihood upon work in the legitimate theatre.

May I beg of you sufficient space in your valuable paper to call the attention of the public to my appeal for funds.

I need not remind those to whom I appeal that members of the theatrical profession have ever been to the fore in helping the world at large when in need.

Will generous readers of this appeal please send cheques or postal orders to me at the ‘Era' office, 5 Tavistock Street, Strand, London W.C.

Yours,

Alfred Barnard, Hon. Treasurer, ‘Era' War Distress Fund 5 Tavistock Street, Strand, W.C.

In the first three days after the issue of the appeal over 2,000 glasses were received. These glasses are being distributed as rapidly as possible among the non-commissioned officers destined for active service. I should like to take the opportunity of conveying their sincere gratitude to the owners who have given the use of their glasses.