The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-20
The War Lord Dresses.
~ EMORY >. HAYNES.

ny EMORY J. HAYNES.
We will picture gentleman putting on his shoes.
In the process of dressing he has to his shoes
He has several pairs and decide which pair for
today. He has valet maybe, or he may prefer to
dress himself as Napoleon preferred to shave him
self. Let US picture the man serving himself. He
selects the buttoned pair lifting the laced pair and
studying them and finally tossing the acers under the
sofa. He proceeds to button the accepted pair.
He puts both shod feet to the carpet, rests his
elbows his knees and studies his shoes, and is
satisfied Then he proceeds to decide on neclctie
We could follow him further, could depict how he
draws his suspeuders over his shoulders perhaps
uses belt All the world knows all the process. But
would you believe it, that this has the power,
after breakfast of deciding whether all Europe shall
igo to war? He and few other men, emperors, war
lords, cabinet ministers, mere handful will today
hobnob and telegraph and mobilize" 100000 fight
ing men.
In these hands are the fate of the villagers who
were expecting to be married next week All the
happiness of homes of fatherhood motherhood child
hood on a wide area of the habitabe globe. These
the precious things of millions millions of other
men that these few have somehow got into their
own hands and to dispose of they wish. Other
men who also shoes and neckties. Other men
just like themselves What will 1.-THE rulers" the
diplomats, and prime ministers decide?
How shocking is the situation into which human
life has-not drifted for it has always been So But
here are, and all fate hangs the hands of
mere score of men vino are just now drying said
hands towel preparatory to going down to break
fast
Would you like the job? Would you, could you,
bring yourself to managing the creatures of Gods
creating and perhaps setting back the hand of progress
Il ~ r.
ness, but other peoples business Not your own hap
pness and welfare but other peoples happiness and
welfare
Who you, whose breath is in his nostris, that
you dispose of the fate of centuries yet to be? Do
you trembe and walk softly? Do you pray?
Perhaps we have taken a wrong snapshot. Perhaps
high above the gables of the mansion where the
is putting his shoes far of the mountain
windows of his chamber, sits the ruler of the whole
earth. must will believe it So My life, the lives
of my children and their futures by any
in this mans hands. His poor trembling hands that
can scarce hold steady slice of bread while he
spreads the butter, l watch him. this little coffee
drinker The ages in his power? No, no. God is
within the shadow, keeping watch above us all. He
who cause the wrath of man to praise Him and
who asks council of of US, He is always on the
throne
If only the cabinets would not take themselves so
seriously, if they OF different flesh and blood
from the of u.s. or perhaps take themselves more
seriously the stewards of power for a day only
There must be rulers. To reverence them is truly
religious duty. But we may wish that they realized
more deeply that it u.s. after all their will that is
done in the earth.
We feel certain that the rulers and lawmakers
often interfere with the One Rulers plans 1t is these
impertinences OF human rulers that Justify the
Supreme Ruler in the stumbling failures of human
progress. Man interferes He will not be devout
He treats human lives as pawns in a political game
What appalling spectacle is this. Ten millions of
fighting men taking sight over their gunsl But
the 100000 soldiers weights ABOUT the neck of
industry almost shocking. If man has no gun
he is less insolent is he not The rulers are conscious
of their big armies all the while and so get angry
easily. However one cannot get so very angry-but-
tonng his shoes.
No, they not so very fierce fellows these war
lords eating their breakfasts they do not intend them
selves to fight. To them it is mere game, down at
the department, an hour after breakfast More's
the pity They not even mad. Their pride of
country is hardly skin deep.
They have electric fans. 1t is the poor chap who
blsters and pants the long dusty march and who
on the battlefield, gasps for drink of water as his
wounds throb-he is the fellow whose love of coun-
try is very sacred very holy He proves it by paying
the last price.
The flag means much to him. What pity that
his sublime qualities should be the makeweights OF
politicians.
But then the Ruler of the whole earth can ask the
war lords questions day that will bring the
blood to their cheeks