The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-15
HOUSE ON FIRE!
Incendiary Kaiser Applied the
Torch to Civilizations House.
Whose House? Whose Duty To
ExtinguiSh Flames?
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON.

Civilization may be likened to d
house where a family live in comfort
and ease and the enjoyment of the
privileges and security that repre-
sent thousands of years of labor.
When house is on fire it becomes
the instant duty of the neighbors and
of the government Immediately re-
sponsible for the protection of the
house holder to render aid-not to-
day or tomorrow, but the moment the
flames become visible and it is known
that the home and it's inmates are
threatened.
House on fret We hear the cries in
the street, the rattle and jar of the
engines and hose carts as they hurry
TO the scene of conDagration. The
fire is spreading; not one, but hun
bred home are threatened
When the kaiser began his war for
world domination he applied torch
5. % that House of Civilization have
Visualized as a home, the repository OF
Of every good and perfect gift that
has been won for humanity, the very
freedom that is its foundation and
the peace that is it's corner stone.
The kaiser is a mad incendiary. He
stole upon the House of Civilization IN
the night and tossed a burning brand
through an open window. Like a thief
who applies a match to the rear of a
house to stampede while he plumbers,
the kaiser expected to satisfy long
pondered scheme of robbery and con-
quest. Civilization slept the sleep of
peace to awake in terror.
Flourished Brand in Belgium.
The kaiser's army. perfected thru
years of stern training to aid the
pyromaniac lord of the Hohenzol-
Terms in his malign purposes, has re-
sorted to every conceivable atroc1ty
to terr1rize civilization-not merely
to destroy it's house but to murder the
inmates or reserve them for a more
hideous fate than death.
When we say that this is war to
make the world a safe place for de-
mocracy, we mean also that it is to
preserve that house of civilization in
which democracy is the altar and
sanctuary.
House on fire. 1t is not for you
and me to stand outside and say that
it is only a neighbours house that is
menaced. The first German soldier
who set foot on Belgium soil threat
ened your home and mine. He -four
ished his brand at the house of civ
ilizatiou in which you and 1 live. He
attacked law, liberty, mercy, Justice
everything thai strengthens and
adorns that proud house in which we
of America have lived in contentment
and peace.
There are things in the humblest
home that the owner would not lose
without a struggle When the house
gets afire the inmates spring to pro-
tect and save those things.
Put Out the Fire.
We of America are in this war to
protect and save the house of civili-
cation and the proud trophies that
represent not only our own struggles
and sacrifices but those we inherited
from sires who shed their blood for
them.
Put out the fret The more quickly
we realize that it is our house that is
burning. the more quickly we shall be
free to CUT away the blackened walls
and make The house habitable and Sc
cure. W6Swant to see the firemen dis
perse, the-police hustle the incendiary
to the lookup, and the adjusters come
in and settle the damages!
The way to hasten this consumma-
ton is by aiding our firemen-our
-rmy and navy-in- every possible
way. If we can't carry water or WELD
the ak on burning timbers. we can
stand back of the men who are doing
the work-our work, yours and mine.
We can pour out our dollars to help
them. We can see that the fire fight