The Spectator at war: How to keep husbands sweet

From The Spectator, 22 August 1914:

SIR,—The article on this subject in your last issue has prompted me to write down some of the things said to me about the war by the women in my district. Our rector wished me to ask at each house whether any one from it was serving with the forces. The usual answer was: “No one from here, I’m glad to say. I shouldn’t like any of mine to go.” One mother said: “There’s no one here could go but Eddie, and I’ve told him he needn’t offer. If they want him they’ll take him.” This idea is general. One woman had heard that “they” had “taken” twenty men from B— (a neighbouring village). Eddie’s grandmother had not been sleeping at nights for the fear that they would take him- ” he’s such a big, strong, likely fellow.”