WCP3224

[1]

The Cottage,

Rabeny,

Co. Dublin.

July 14 [1904?]¹

Dear Dr. Wallace,

Thank you very much indeed for so kindly sending me your Clarion article² on war, which should make all the enemies of that huge evil feel grateful and hopeful. I am of their number, as I believe that the only justifiable form of war is Rebellion. Sometimes I almost doubt whether or no to wish for one, and a great one, terrible though it would be. But there can be [2] no doubt that the remedy lies in what you point out: the diversion, not the suppressing of our pugnacious instincts. Surely non-sentient nature would provide abundant antagonists, and ample scope for heroism. I heartily join in your wish for the advent of a powerful organiser of industrial armies; whenever he does arrive, he will owe a large debt to your writings. Some very remarkable poems in Rudyard Kipling's "Seven Seas"³ volume make one think that such an army might find its systems in him, were he less infatuated about military imperialism and the like. Perhaps music is an even more important ancillary than poetry. There is some truth in an old hymn, which was popular over here in Queen Ann's, after the ruin of our [3] wool-trade: -

'was she (the Queen) not a fool,

when she took of our wool

to leave us so much of the leather, the leather?

It ne’er entered her pate

That a sheep-skin well beat

would draw a whole nation together, together.

So I hope that the industrial army will not neglect its bands.

We are looking forward with great interest to your paper in the forthcoming proceedings of the S.P.R.

Please excuse this ill-written letter. I have been troubled lately with acute inflammation of the eyes, and though they are now nearly well, my sight is still rather defective.

Believe me | yours very sincerely | Jane Barlow⁴ [signature]