The daily Alaskan., 1918-03-12
GREATEST HOURS IN HISTORY
Thrilling Moments of History Nothing Compared With Epoch-Making
 Events That Are Taking Y Place Today.
By FRANCIS TREVELYAN MILLER,


 to make your life known and heard throughout the world. A year ago we were unimportant even in our own At' tie towns; today the whole world is calling us.
 We, who are living today, are living In the greatest hours of the worlds history. Never before ln the annals Of mankind has the world been thrown wide open for every young man to test his yalor and prove his worth.
 As a youth, louged for the days when great events were in the making I wanted to live when new civiliza- lions were being born; when soul-stir- ring heroes were treading the earth ] when men were gods.
 Dream Has Come True.
 And here we are-ln just such an axe. The dream has come true. Ro- nance and chlyalry have returned from the past ages. Today We are all knights setting forth on the grandest crusade in the whole noble adventures of the human race.
 What would you not give to have been a soldier under Alexander the Great in his conquest to destroy Thebes at twenty-one, to conquer Babylon ut twenty-five, and to die master of the world at thirty-three years of age?
 Or of Hannibal on his march across the Alps with his 9O,0O0 foOt-sOldiers, l2OOO horsemen, and 40 elephants.
 Or to have ridden with the helmeted hosts sNof William the Conquror into the battle of Hastings when King Har' old lost his life and his kingdom-and England was born?
 What would you not give to have fol. lowed the heroic Joan of Arc Into the battle of Orleans-to save France?
 Or with the duke of Marlborough in the cavalry charges op the battle ground at BlenheIm?
 Or with Washington and his vtcto' rious army at Yorktown when Corn wallis surrendered-andt the American nation was born-what q glorious mo. ment?
 Or with the duke of Wellington at WaterloO-tO have been one of the soldiers who conquered the mighty Ma poleon; to have stood at attention as he passed down the lines Into exile and death at St. Helena?
 What thrilling moments are these and yet they are nothing compared with the epoch-making events that are taking place today. And to think that you are part of them! That you are an important factor in their out. come! That you can march to victory with the mIghtIest armies In all human history!
 Yesterday, you were unknown and insignificant; there was no opportunity for you to assert yourself; you were destined to live and die an ordinary. incouSequential life. Today-the world is calling you.
 The Trumpet Call.
 I can hear the beat of the drum, And the call of the bugle. Thirty mil. Hon men are on the battle grounds. Over their heads fly the bl0od-Stained standards of the nations of the earth, What a glorious visiOn--the strong men of the earth la battle array to storm the citadels of autOcracy; to free the human race from despottSm; to carry the flag of liberty and democ. racy to all the peoples of the globe.
 I can hear the trumpet call. It Is calllng-me! ...,
 I can hear the cries of women and children trodden down by the brute heel of the invaders: I can hear the kings blaspheme as their thrones totteE and fall.
 I can hear the voice of humanity callIng-calling tO-me!
 Who speaks2 Who tells me to turn a deaf ear? Who tells me l am a coward and fGol? Think you have no manhood within me? Think you l am weaklIng or knave? Think you have neither human heart or soul nor even a glimmer of reason within me?
 Mother of men, I hear you calling me!
 Women and children of Belgium Starving babes of Siberia! Suffering Poland! Weary Russia! Heroic France! ChivalrouS Italy! Noble BritannIaT Bruised ROumania! My heart Is bleeding for you. 1 see your upllfted faces and your outstretched arms.
 Men of the earth, hear the tramp of your marching feet! And am com. ing-comlng to stand beside you, Shoul- der to shoulder; coming, to be with you the greatest moment in the worlds history; coming, to write my name with yours on the pages of immortal ity; coming, to save civilization; to make democracy safe for the peoples of the earth; to be one of Gods nO' blemenI am coming, comrades coming.