War Letters of a Public-School Boy

Name: War Letters of a Public-School Boy
Author: Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring

Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring

World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, British

The style of the book is splendidly oratorical, sometimes too
     much so, but there are passages in it which it would be difficult
     to match even in the splendid realm of English prose--for
     example, his great panegyric on the State. On England, too, he is
     very fine. Many people to-day might do worse than read his
     defence of the British Constitution, though I personally disagree
     with some points in his argument. One sentence from this passage
     might be addressed to our Allies very appropriately
     to-day--"Because half a dozen grasshoppers under a fern make the
     field ring with their importunate chink, whilst thousands of
     great cattle reposing beneath the shadow of the British oak chew
     the cud and are silent, pray do not imagine that those who make
     the noise are the only inhabitants of the field."

     Unfortunately the British people do bear a strong resemblance to
     great cattle, and it requires a Lloyd George to awaken the
     sleeping animals and galvanise them into movement.

     Recently I got hold of a volume of de Musset. There is some
     beautiful verse in it, especially the "Ode to Lamartine," in
     which he has a great tribute to Byron.

     Could you send me out the programme of the coming Promenade
     Concert season? I would give anything to hear Wagner and
     Beethoven once more. My allegiance to these giants, as to
     Shakespeare and Milton, grows stronger every day. The appalling
     tawdry trash that passes for music nowadays, and the degradation
     of art and literature which seems to be the feature of the
     twentieth century, intensify my loyalty to great musicians and
     noble writers. What is the cause of this decadence? There is
     surely enough inspiration for genius in this colossal war, when
     every day the spirit of man is winning new triumphs and deeds of
     extraordinary heroism are being performed.


IN THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD

In August, 1916, Paul Jones was relieved of his uncongenial duties
with the Supply Column and appointed to command an ammunition
working-party located at an advanced railhead in the terrain of the
Somme battles.

                                             _August 21st, 1916._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

War Letters of a Public-School BoyJones, Henry Paul Mainwaring

History

War Letters of a Public-School Boy

Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring

World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, British

The style of the book is splendidly oratorical, sometimes too
     much so, but there are passages in it which it would be difficult
     to match even in the splendid realm of English prose--for
     example, his great panegyric on the State. On England, too, he is
     very fine. Many people to-day might do worse than read his
     defence of the British Constitution, though I personally disagree
     with some points in his argument. One sentence from this passage
     might be addressed to our Allies very appropriately
     to-day--"Because half a dozen grasshoppers under a fern make the
     field ring with their importunate chink, whilst thousands of
     great cattle reposing beneath the shadow of the British oak chew
     the cud and are silent, pray do not imagine that those who make
     the noise are the only inhabitants of the field."

     Unfortunately the British people do bear a strong resemblance to
     great cattle, and it requires a Lloyd George to awaken the
     sleeping animals and galvanise them into movement.

     Recently I got hold of a volume of de Musset. There is some
     beautiful verse in it, especially the "Ode to Lamartine," in
     which he has a great tribute to Byron.

     Could you send me out the programme of the coming Promenade
     Concert season? I would give anything to hear Wagner and
     Beethoven once more. My allegiance to these giants, as to
     Shakespeare and Milton, grows stronger every day. The appalling
     tawdry trash that passes for music nowadays, and the degradation
     of art and literature which seems to be the feature of the
     twentieth century, intensify my loyalty to great musicians and
     noble writers. What is the cause of this decadence? There is
     surely enough inspiration for genius in this colossal war, when
     every day the spirit of man is winning new triumphs and deeds of
     extraordinary heroism are being performed.


IN THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD

In August, 1916, Paul Jones was relieved of his uncongenial duties
with the Supply Column and appointed to command an ammunition
working-party located at an advanced railhead in the terrain of the
Somme battles.

                                             _August 21st, 1916._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

War Letters of a Public-School Boy

War Letters of a Public-School Boy

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