PLAIN PEOPLE: England Is an Island

Every British soldier in Italy who asks permission to marry an Italian girl gets a form letter from his Senior Chaplain, the Rev. Douglas Hamilton Priest. Excerpts:

"I hear you are thinking of getting married to one of the local girls near where you are stationed. When I say thinking I am half afraid that may be just the thing you have not done. ... In the first place, the girl up till a very short while ago was one of our enemies. ... I know that we ought not to bear grudges . . . but you may find yourself living [in England] next door to someone whose husband or son was killed in Italy. . . .

"In the second place, I am wondering whether you realize how your feelings may change in time. . . . What I mean is that a glass of vino at a local farm is better than nothing, but it isn't better than a pint of beer at the Old Red Cow, is it? Has anybody told you how quickly these Mediterranean women get ugly and old-looking? Maybe you are feeling that I think you are going to do something for which you will be sorry later on. You're right, son, I do."

Last fortnight the London Daily Mail raised a furor at home by printing the letter. Last week the Rev. Mr. Priest, an Anglican clergyman from Colchester, took a dim view of all international marriages, including those of U.S. soldiers and English girls. "For example," he mused, "Americans have some funny ideas about cooking."