Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-02-02


in all l would say that we are here
feeling very little discomfort because
of the war, and only finding a moder-
ate rise in prices. Apropos of Lloyd
Georges lapse in favor was it not
Oscar Wilde who said, "He who
would lead the people, must follow
the mob.' But Lloyd George will
not follow the mob away from JUS
tice and fairplay.
Sir Oliver Lodge said a rtmark-
able thing at the University of Lon
don, the other day. He was speak
ing of Britain's neglect of intellectual
things and consequent contempt for
investigation and expert knowledge,
Ia contempt that was likely to cost
them dear in this war;
He said, What has become ap-
parent is the ignorance of the gov
erning classes the ignorance of all
classes. The fact that education has
not led to wisely diffused knowledge,
was not designed to lead there, and
that it failed to stimulate any heal
jority, has now at length glared at
us too prominently, to be overlook
ed. We have been learning from our
enemies. One thing after another We
have picked up from them. In initia-
tive we have been behind. The cour-
age and the personal character of
our men-our men Of all classes, and
our women, too. have saved us; but
w have been saved as by fire."
The English have been wonderful
ly ready to acknowledge any gal
lantry Or superiority in their enem-
les. The Captain of the "Emden"
for example was quite lionized, be-
cause he was what the English like
best, a real sport, and square. They
have acknowledged quite freely the
wondrous organization and discipline
of the German fighting machine,
probably the greatest army Of his
tory.
Also the other day was interest
ed in reading what Canon Masterman
had to say concerning this enemy
of theirs, in speech in Guild Hall.
''The Germans are a docile people,
eager for knowledge, capable of close
application to intellectual interests.
It is surely one of the supreme
tragedies of history that such a peo-
pie should be nodded by the ruth
less ambition of an INSCRIPTIONS oil
garchy into an instrument of evil to
the world Also he said, 1T was
fear, not ambition, that had led even
pacifist Germans to support the war;
The Britons are skeptical to say
the least, about any feeling America
may manifest when a boat goes down
sinking a feW-5Ame ericanss,~x even pal if
one be an American Consul.
After the sinking Of the PERSIA"
and the sending of another note, we
Americans abroad began to feel that
we had been deceiving ourselves as
to the value of our lives to society,
and to our homeland in particular
However, must confess just here,
that it was with mixed feelings that
we have found since coming to Lon
don this time that we are both Brit
ish subjects, not Americans at all.
By British law which was only re-
pealed about 1870, and does not af-
feet those born prior to 1870, all
whose fathers or grandfathers were
born in England are held by the
British Government to be British
subjects. So as my husbands father
was born in England, my husband is
considered a British subject, and
because l am his wife, my lot is the
same. We were telling a friend of
ours over here about this. Eyes, he
said, that is perfectly correct"
But" said my husband, Il have vot-
ed in America ''No matter" he re-
sponded. "All you did was to vote il
legally, and I don't suppose you are
the first one who has done that
there"
But to return to the sinking of the
PERSIA Naturally a wave of in
tense indignation swept over this
country. Our morning "Express''
came out with a pungent editorial, en-
titled, America and the En- emy."
1t began-"An statements that Amer
ica is stirred as the result CT this
weeks outrage On the high seas
leaves US unmoved. If a man lies in
bed till eleven o'clock in the morn
ing, his wife, if she is wise, will ex-
pect him downstairs when she sees
him" In the same editorial they also
said, 1--WE have always recognized
that Americas position is extremely
difficult. A man who under no
will punch anybodys
head, is not likely to be a conspicu-
ous success in keeping ORDER But
on the whole We do not see much
acrimonious criticism of America
over here. Except that they think
everyone in America is getting fear
fully rich at their expense these days.
So the days pass over here, bringing
each day nearer to that fateful day
IF defeat, or Victory?
EDITH F. NORTON.