There’s a threat of Prohibition coming to England too, but I hope against it. There is too much of “Thou shalt not” in the world. If people were trusted more, there would probably be less excess and folly. So far as I can gather from those who know America, one effect—and by no means a desirable one—of the dry enactment is to increase trickery and mendacity. The illicit sale of alcoholic beverages still goes on, but as it is illegal it must be done secretly and lies must be told to cover it. Personally I would rather think of a nation too convivially merry than of one systematically deceptive. Omar should be arrayed against Prohibition at once: A blessing, we should use it, should we not? And if a curse, why then Who set it there? —that wants some answering. All the same, there are probably more people who would be better for less drink than those who would be improved by more; but the second class exists. I have met several of them. One of the best commentaries on abstinence by compulsion is that of Walter Raleigh, the Professor of Literature. During the War there was a movement at Oxford to prevent Freshers’ Wines and keep all intoxicants out of the Colleges; and a petition to the Vice-Chancellor to this effect was signed by a large number of persons, chiefly in Holy Orders. Walter Raleigh, however, wouldn’t sign it, and this is part of the letter in which he gave his reasons:— “I cannot think it wise to ask the resident members of the University to adopt rules drafted for them by a body of petitioners the bulk of whom are neither responsible for the discipline of the Colleges nor well acquainted with the life of the undergraduates. “A certain amount of freedom to go wrong is essential in a University, where men are learning, not to obey, but to choose. “Thousands of the men whose habits you censure have already died for their people and country. Virtually all have fought. Why is it, that when the greatest mystery of the Christian religion comes alive again before our eyes, so many of the authorized teachers of Christianity do not see it or understand it, but retire to the timid security of a prohibitive and negative virtue? Your petition is an insult to the men who have saved you and are saving you.” —That’s pretty good, don’t you think? R. H. CVI ANTOINETTE ROSSITER TO HER MOTHER DEAREST MUMMY,—I hope you will come home soon. We are not having much fun, nurse is so stubbern. Topsy brought in a mole yesterday and you never saw such darling little hands as it has. Daddy has promised to have a coat made up for you if we get a thousand of them. I wish you would write to nurse to say that I needn’t have cod liver oil. A telegram would be better and I will pay you back for it out of my money box. Uncle Hugh has sent Cyril a toy theatre and we are going to do Midsummer Night’s Dream which Daddy says was by bacon. He won’t tell us what he means.