Sie,-I was very interested in the article, "I SCII THE CATHOLIC HERALD 011 London Streets."
In February of this year two friends and myself decided to make a start with the paper selling. We bought three dozen CATHOLIC HERALDS and, standing at three different pitches, took one and a half hours to sell them. The first reaction of the people (especially Catholics) was astonishment-the phrase "Amazement was depicted on every countenance," was true in our case! A few more people volunteered to help us, and here we must say that a letter published in THE CATHOLIC HERALD asking for support, brought in quite a few new recruits.
By August we were selling over 200 papers and had nine regular sellers. These numbers are being maintained throughout the winter months.
We agree that people buy Catholic papers other than for spiritual reasons. e.g., "to learn your Clfurch's point of view," and a few months ago it was fairly obvious that many
women bought THE CATHOLIC HERALD because there was a charming picture on the front page!
Catholics mostly buy the papersbut judging from the people who have no idea of the price--we feel that they are being bought by many who have hitherto not been in the habit of reading Catholic papers. Foreign Catholics, too, buy some of our papers. One French woman said, "The first Catholic paper I have seen since coming to England." NonCatholics occasionally buy the papers, but except when they tell us
that they are not Catholics we have no means of knowing.
In the course of our "street apostotate" we have had very little open hostility. The occasional person will shout when passing. "Who wants to be a Catholic anyway?" but for every one of these embittered remarks, 20 people will congratulate us and say, "Carry on with the good work."
Our greatest fight, 'perhaps, is against the apathy of the Manchester Catholics, many hundreds of whom pass us week after week, wearing Sacred Heart and Sodality badges, and never dreaming of buying a paper. Perhaps they already buy a paper, but so much good is done by example.
Lastly, and by no means unimportant, is our battle against the elements! We have sold in hail, rain and snow. It is an amazing thing that though the week may be perfectly fine, it invariably rains on a Friday!
(Miss) G. C.
Corporal Punishment
Ste,-As one possessing an intimate knowledge of the excellent schools conducted by the De La Salle Brothers in this country, may I be permitted to challenge one of the statements made by the Rev. W. J. Battersby concerning c or p oral punishment?
Although this mode of punishment has long since been abolished by law in the brothers' land of origin. it still holds a real place amongst the disciplinary sanctions in the schools they conduct in the British Isles. Needless to state, it is invariably exercised with great moderation and with extreme discretion. But its value in certain cases is so well proven that the good Brothers (in company, with the majority of their fellow-teachers in this country) apparently have no desire to see it abolished.
A Priest Who Knows.