The diamond drill., 1922-03-03

pauses Here, and the Awful Gravity
Of the Audience Almost suffoeated
Him.
the audience almost sufrocated him.
well" he concluded. "it don't look
right to me-"
"Four minutes :" the chairman an
nounced, for Ramsey's pauses had
worn away great deal more OF this
terrible interval than had his elo-
quence. Opening statement for the
negative: Miss ID. Yocum. Four min
utes."
Az Dora began 10 speak, Ramsey
experienced a little relief. hut only
little-about the same amount of relief
as that felt by bridegroom when II
is the brides turn to respond" not
really relief at all. but merely the
slight relaxation OF continuing
strain. The audience now looked at
Ramsey no more than people look at a
bridegroom. hut he failed 10 perceive
any substantial mitigation OF his
frlghtful conspicuousness. He had not
in setting forth his case for Germany,
and he knew that II was his duty TO
listen closely 10 Dora, In order 10 be
able Ia refute her argument when his
two-minute closing speech fell due
hut he was conscious of little more
thar his own condition. His legs had
now gone wild beyond all deyilry, and
he had 10 keep shifting his weight from
one To the other In order even TO hope
that their frenzy might escape gen
eral attention.
he realized that Dora was speaking
rapidly and confidently. and that some
where In his lll-assembed parts lurked
a familiar bit OF him that objected 10
her even more than usual but she had
used half of her time. at least, before
he was able 10 gather any coherent
meaning from what she was saying.
Even then he caught only fragment,
here and there. and for the rest-so
far as Ramsey was concerned-she
might as well have been reciting the
Swedish alphabet.
In spite Of the rather startling fee
bleness OF her opponents statement,
Dora went at her task as earnestly as
II II were 10 confute some monster OF
casuistry. "Thus, having demonstrate
ed that all war is wrong" she said, ap-
preaching her conclusion, "it is scarce
ly necessary Ia point out that what
In ntt al ..ff ufe.p % Ia
invasion. and whatever the status Of
the case In international law, or by
reason Of treaty, or the German oath
10 respect the neutrality ~ Belgium
which or course was grossly and dis
honorably yiolated-all this. | say la
dies and gentlemen " the Lumen So
ciety, all this Is beside the point of
morals. Since. as have shown. all
war is wrong. the case may be simpli-
fed as follows: All war IL morally
wrong. Quod erat demonstrandum.
Germany invaded Belgium. Invasion
Is war. Germany, therefore. did moral
wrong. Upon The legal side. "a began
by pointing out. Germany confessed in
the reIchstsg the violation of law.
Therefore. Germany was justified IN
the Invasion neither morally nor legal
~: hut was both morally and legally
wrong and evils Ladies' and gentlemen
OF the Lumen society. | await the
refutatIon of my opponentr
Her opponent appeared to he having
enough trouble with his legs. without
taking any added cares upon himself
In the way ~ refutatlons. But the
marvellous Dora had calculated the
length of her statement with such
nicely that the chairman announced
-Four minutes almost upon the In
slant Of her final syllable and all
faces turned once more 10 the uphold
er of the Affirmative. "Refutatlon and
conclusion by the Affirmative said the
chairman. "Mr. r. MiIholland. Two
minutes"
Herewith, Ramsey coughed as long
as he could cough. and when he felt
that no more should be done IN this
way. he wiped his face-agaln an act
of necessity--and quaveringly began:
"GentIemen and ladies. or ladies and
gentlemen. In making the refutatlon
~ my opponent. feel that feel that
hardly anything more ought 10 he
said"
He paused, looked belplessly NJ his
uncomfortable legs. and resumed: II
am supposed 90 make tine reruta-the
refutatlon ~ my opponent. and feel
that I ought 10 say quite deal more.
In the first place, I feel that the inva-
sion has taken place. am supposed
anyhow I got a postal card that I
am supposed 10 be here tonight. Well.
In talking over this matter with aN,ou-
pie Of seniors. they told me | was sup
posed 10 claim this invasion IVES mor'iy
and lecnllY all rInhf Mell-n Here,