Aug.11, 1914.

John L. Scatcherd, Esq.,
C/o Tookes & Company,
St. Henry,
Montreal, Quebec.

My dear John:-

Referring to my letter to you of yesterday, there is one point which I purposely left out, as I wanted the other points mentioned in my letter to go home and deep, before taking up this additional point with you, that is, the question of your mother.

You say in your telegram, that you have considered the question fo enlisting from every stand point of view, and you would never cease to regret it if you let this opportunity slip by.

Have you given the proper thought to the conditions in London?

You are old enough to appreciate the fact, that your mother went through an exceedingly serious operation just about a year ago, and she is anything but a well and strong woman today, and the chances are, it will be quite a long time before she is herself again.

Have you stopped to consider what this mean to her; the worry that it will cause her, the nights she will lie awake not knowing what this means, and the constant dread that she will live through for fear of something happening to you.

Personally, I should thin your duty, under the present conditions, should be infinitely more clearly defined to you, that it consists in protecting your own more than by enlisting at the present time.

I don't know whether Dick Croyn is with you or not, but if her is, he has probably enlisted; this should not effect your position in the slightest. Dick had got a father and brother to take care of his mother if anything should happen; you have got nothing but a younger brother; not only that, Dick had got a good, strong healthy mother, you have got a mother, who is more or less of an invalid, and will be probably for some time to come.

I am bringing up this matter to you, as I cannot believe that you have given this the proper thought that you should.

If any man says anything to you about not enlisting you have got absolutely the best excuse there is; further that that, you have got that excuse, that you do not think it is the proper time.

I have said about all I can say in this matter to you; you are nineteen years of age; you have been brought up to think for yourself, and you have got to a great extent decide this question for yourself.

My idea in writing you as I have is simply to bring these various matters to your attention.

I am looking at this from the stand point of view of a man more than twice your age, who is just as loyal to his native land as you have ever thought of being, but who is not carried away by the burst of enthusiasm, and the march of military men through the streets.

I wish I could have you read a book called. The Future of War, written by the authority of a Polish Jew Banker, whose work has been accepted by practically every Peace Conference and every military man in Europe; it would put such a light on this subject, that I do not believe you would be as enthusiastic to get into it, as you are at the present time.

If this was the question of the defense of Canada, I think that in duty bound, if for no other reason that for the protection of your mother, that you would be called upon to enlist, but I think under the present conditions it is an exceedingly selfish stand for you to take.

I want you to think over all these matters, and so not be hasty in jumping at conclusions. You have got lots of time, go slow at it.

Very sincerely yours,

R.C.S.