The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-29

France for SvD 49,

What shall we say OF England and of her
place in the history of war? In the Morse
mythology 1t was the Mitgard Serpent which
reached around the world. swallowed its own
TAIL and held the world together England has
ocen this Mitsard Serpent She has held the
earth together She has made this British
world. Her young mon have gone to all re-
Slohs where free men can live. They have
built up free institutions which rest on co.
operation and compromise. She has carried
the British peace to all barbarous lands and she
mas made 1t possible for civilized men in Sc
curity TO trade and pray the world over What
does he know OF England who only England
Knows. For the activities OF Englishmen have
been manifold, greater without than within the
little island from which Engshmcn set forth
to inherit the earth.
What has all this cost: 1t could NOT be done
unless it was paid for and We must not wonder
II such strenuous effort, such sacrifice Of life
and force. has left her with a certain degree
of exhaustion. II may have been worth the
cost. This We are not questioning. But 1t is
we'll to realize that the cost has been tremend.
Gus.
There's widow in Sleepy Chester,
Who mourns for her only son.
There's grave by the Prabang River,
y grave which the Burmans shun"
IF we would know why Chester is sleepy. VS.
nave only 10 turn TO her great cathedral The
long north side Of her red sandstone walls tells
OF her dead. the world over, and always the
same story Tablets to the memory Of young
men, Gehtlemens sons from Elton and Rugby
ana winchester and Harrow scholars from
OAiord ana Cambridge. from Manchester and
birmingham and Liverpool. who have given up
'her IlVes in some petty war in some farofr
hot " bod
land, on the Gold Coast, the Transvaal. in
England only are they remembered, men who
should have been the makers OF Empire.
These names are recorded In every ca thedral.
In every parish church, and the churches of
England numbered by the thousand.
The foreign service Of England for hun
drcd years has furnished careers for the sons
of the squire and the gentleman For CEN
tury Great Britain has sent her strongest and
most forcefu sons. "Send forth the best va
breed" and the nation breeds from the second
best
And in this loss OF fair and strong, "the un-
returning brave" we may find an answer to
some Of Englands most desperate problems
why is 1T that three or four. or may be ten
millions Of Englishmen are unable to earn p
decent living, or any living at all, In England
today? Why is 1t that these same unempoyed
are found unemployed in Canada in Australia.
or wherever they may go? Why Is 1t that the
tendency In all average physical standards is
downward while the standards Of the best are
growing always higher. The answer lies In the
reversed selection Of war. It's effects are found
III England and everywhere else where strength
and courage have been rewarded by glory and
extinction. England has exchanged her country
squlres for the memorial tablet More than for
all who have fallen in battle or were wasted
in the camps England should mourn ''the fair
women and brave men" that should have been
descendants of her strong and manly men, If
we may personify the spirit OF the nation, Eng
land should most grieve not over her unre
turning brave but over those who might have
been but never were. those who so long as
history lasts can never be.
THE best we breed!" is wars Unsuitable CALL
Send your best. your fttest, your most cour-
agcous, your youths Of patriotism and your
men Of loyal worth, send them all and ,lreed
your next generation from wars unfit re.
Inalnder. Do that. as Scotland has done IT. and
what says your biology? Like father like son.
Like seed, like harvest. You cannot breed a
Clydesdale from a cayuse neither can the
Wcaklng remnant Of @ war nation breed a new
generation Of heroes for new generation,s
wars.
FSsf