Skip to main content

Full text of "King Albert's book : a tribute to the Belgian king and people from representative men and women throughout the world"

See other formats 


SfTl    '    iS^ 


o  mssiMNn  3Hi  o 


o  io  *»Taaii  3H1 


o    Vav98  7 


o    Of  CAUFOdNIA 


W 


^ 


f^ 


°  io  jkavmn  3H1 


\ 


O     iillSSjAINIl   3Mi 


/ 


o  JO  *i:v>i?ii  3H1  o 


\ 


c 

THE  UNIVERSiTT 

0 

O 

< 

y= 

t 

0 

n 
> 

I 

-^^U-'r--. 

o 

O  SAN^/^  BARBARA  <» 


THE  UBPARY  OF 


m 


— Eir- 


n 


»    WNSOJllVD  iO 


0   THE  iiSPis-'  nr 


o     TMf    jNiVtli 


o   or  i:«ii'oeNi6 


■-Sivq  YIN  i; 


I"E  lIBSAIty  OF 


cy^ 


c^ 


6 

> 

0  viNsojno  *3 


IS 


F) 


\ 


o    OF  CAIIFORMIA 


o 


■>  JO  Aavasii  3HI 


0    iO  ASVOSJI  3IU    ° 


.0     AUSJJAlNn 


^ANIA  &AR&ARA  ' 


O     OF  CAllfOPNI* 


yn 


o    iO  A8V89n  3H. 


^  -    c 

z 
< 


'^'^'^r*-^^  riNv?   r. 


:auTo='Nia    0 


o    The  U^-'VE  =  5ITY 


o    THE  ItftRARV 


C^ 


(^ 


o     VINHOJIIO  iC 


\ 


o     Of   CAllfOBNIA     o 


/ 


ufp  I      li  yis 


o    THt  UBRAIIT  O 


!^g 


KING  ALBERT'S 
BOOK 


Tliis  hook  is  sold 
for  the  benefit  of  the 
Daily  TeleorapJi  Belgian  Fund 


KING  ALBERT'S 

BOOK 

A  TRIBUTE  TO  THE  BELGIAN 
KING  AND  PEOPLE  FROM 
REPRESENTATIVE  MEN  AND 
WOMEN  THROUGHOUT  THE 

WORLD 


THE  DAILY  TELEGRAPH 

IN     CONJUNCTION    WITH 

THE  DAILV  SKETCH    THE   GLASGOW  HERALD 
AND    HODDER      AND     STOUGHTON 


KNIGHTS 


1  HK  COMJ'LE'IK  PRESS 


INTRODUCTION  TO  KING  ALBERT'S  BOOK 
THE  immediate  object  oj  this  Book  is  to  offer,  in  the  names  and  by  the  pens  of 
a  large  group  oj  the  representative  meyi  and  women  of  the  civilised  coinitries, 
a  tribute  of  admiration  to  Belgium,  on  the  heroic  and  ever-fnemorable  share  she 
has  taken  in  the  war  which  now  convulses  Europe,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
invoke  the  world's  sympathy,  its  help  and  its  prayers  for  the  gallant  little  nation 
in  the  vast  sorrozv  of  its  present  condition. 

With  nothing  to  gain  by  taking  up  arms,  zcith  no  territory  to  annex,  no  commerce 
to  capture,  no  injury  to  revenge,  having  neither  part  nor  lot  in  any  European 
quarrel,  desiring  only  to  be  left  alone  that  she  might  pursue  the  arts  of  peace, 
Belgium  found  herself  suddenly  confronted  by  the  choice  of  allozcing  her  soil 
to  be  invaded  by  a  pozcerful  neighbour  on  his  way  to  destroy  his  enemy,  or  of 
protecting  her  independence  as  a  separate  nation  by  the  zvhole  strength  of  her 
armed  resistance. 

Although  one  of  the  smallest  and  least  aggressive  of  the  countries  of  Europe,  the 
daughter  among  the  nations,  Belgium,  true  to  her  lofty  political  idealism,  chose  the 
latter  part,  not  counting  the  cost,  only  realising  that  a  ruthless  crime  zvas  about  to 
be  committed,  and  drazcing  the  szvord,  after  the  sword  had  been  drawn  against  her, 
in  defence  of  her  honour,  her  national  integrity,  her  right  to  be  mistress  iri  her 
own  house,  her  historic  heritage  of  freedom  and  all  the  spiritual  traditiofis  of 
her  race. 

In  doing  this  during  the  past  fateful  months,  Belgiiun  has  fought  not  only  her 
ozvn  battle  but  also  the  battle  of  France,  the  battle  of  Great  Britain  and  the 
battle  of  Freedom.  By  her  brave  stand  against  incalculable  odds  she  has  added 
a  nezc  and  inspiring  chapter  to  the  heroic  annals  of  humanity  and  perhaps  lifted 
to  a  higher  level  the  future  destinies  of  man. 

But  she  has  paid  a  terrible  penalty.  Her  beautiful  country  has  been  laid  waste. 
Her  harvests,  zvhich  were  ripe  for  the  gathering,  have  been  trodden  into  the  earth. 
Her  villages  have  been  given  up  to  the  flames.  Her  cities  have  been  made  to 
resound  zcith  the  screams  of  shell  and  the  cries  of  slaughter.  Her  historic  monu- 
ments, venerable  zcith  the  associations  of  learning  and  piety,  have  been  razed  to 
the  ground.  A?id,  above  all.  Death  has  taken  an  azvful  toll  of  her  manhood  on 
the  field  of  battle,  while  multitudes  of  her  surviving  people,  the  very  young,  the 
very  old,  the  very  zceak,  the  very  poor,  all  innocent  and  all  helpless,  have  been 
driven  forth  on  the  verge  of  winter  from  their  smoking,  blackened  and  outraged 
homes  into  an  exile  in  foreign  lands  from  which  there  can  hardly  be  any  hope 
that  many  of  them  zvill  return. 

A'o  more  zvoeful  and  terrible  spectacle  of  a  country  in  utter  desolation  ever  came 
from  earthquake ,  eruption  or  other  convulsion  of  Nature  in  her  zcrath  than  has 
been  produced  in  Belgium  by  the  hand  of  tnan.  A  complete  nation  is  in  ruin. 
A  whole  country  is  in  ashes.  An  entire  people  are  destitute,  homeless  and  on 
the  roads.  A  little  Kingdom,  dedicated  to  liberty,  has  "  kept  the  pledge  and 
died  for  it.'' 

As  Belgium  has  thus  become  the  martyr  nation  of  the  zvar,  hozcever  great  the 
sacrifices  which  the  other  Allies  have  had  to  make,  it  seems  reasonable  to  expect 

A***  5 


that  in  view  of  her  limitless  and  imdeserved  sufferings,  the  deepest  feelings  of 
human  nature  will  he  stirred  to  an  infinite  pity,  and  that  iti  the  present  dark  hour 
of  her  utmost  need  the  world  will  see  that  it  is  not  more  important  that  the 
material  succour  of  food  and  clothing  should  he  found  for  the  hodies  of  her  stricken 
and  impoverished  people  than  that  comfort  and  solace  should  he  offered  to  their 
souls.  Therefore  this  hook  is  puhlished  as  the  united  voice  of  the  world's  gratitude 
to  Belgium  for  her  unexajnpled  heroism,  and  of  its  sympathy  with  her  in  the 
heavy  price  she  has  to  pay  in  discharging  the  suhlime  duty  which  Destiny  laid 
upon  her  of  fighting  hy  our  side  for  the  liherties  of  all. 

Especially  it  has  heen  intended  that  the  present  volume  should  address  itself,  as 
far  as  possihle,  to  the  King  of  the  Belgians,  who,  from  his  first  moving  appeal 
to  Great  Britain  and  to  France,  to  help  him  to  resist  the  gigantic  and  uncon- 
scionahle  amhition  which  zvas  preparing  to  stalk  over  his  country,  down  to  the 
last  agony  of  his  dauntless  stand  behind  the  fortresses  of  Antwerp,  has  by  his 
matchless  courage  in  Council  and  on  the  battlefield,  ichere  he  makes  common 
cause  zvith  his  soldiers  in  the  trenches,  displayed  some  of  the  noblest  energies  of 
the  human  character,  and  sustained  those  highest  traditions  of  Kingship  which, 
among  free  tiations,  unite  the  people  to  the  throne. 

Such  is  the  aitn  and  character  of  this  hook,  and  if  so  high  an  object  has  been  in 
some  measure  achieved,  it  has  only  been  by  the  ready  and  whole-hearted  co- 
operation of  the  leaders  of  thought,  of  art  and  of  action  zvho  are  prominent 
throughout  the  world  for  their  love  of  justice  and  freedom.  There  are  many 
thousands  of  such  leaders  in  every  country,  fully  capable  of  interpreting,  each  in 
his  or  her  own  way,  the  immense  emotion  which  now  fills  the  heart  of  humanity 
at  the  spectacle  of  Belgium's  sorrows  ;  hut  the  exigencies  of  space  in  a  single 
volume  have  made  it  necessary  to  limit  the  number  of  contributors  whom  it  has 
been  possible  to  invite  to  join  in  this  world's  tribute  to  the  martyr  nation. 
With  the  utmost  care,  and  not  without  many  misgivings  about  illustrious  names 
which  well  merited  inclusion,  a  list  was  compiled  of  pritices,  statesmen,  churchmen, 
authors,  artists,  and  composers  of  all  civilised  countries,  except  the  countries  of 
our  enemies,  in  the  hope  that  each  in  his  own  medium,  whether  of  word  or  picture 
or  song  or  story,  might  he  impelled,  according  as  the  spirit  moved  him,  to  present 
his  view  of  Belgium's  sacrifice  and  of  the  measureless  calamity  which  has 
befallen  her. 

The  result  is  now  offered  to  the  public  in  the  present  volume,  which  it  is  hoped 
to  publish  in  various  editions,  and  as  nearly  as  possible  simultaneously,  in  most 
of  the  countries  of  the  authors,  especially  France,  Russia,  Italy,  and  America, 
thus  making  it  a  work  of  international  interest,  calculated  to  be  a  moral  inspira- 
tion to  posterity  and  to  take  its  place  as  one  of  the  luminous  pages  in  the  world's 
history. 

Never  before,  perhaps,  have  so  many  illustrious  names  been  inscribed  withm 
the  covers  of  a  single  volume,  but  KING  ALBERT'S  BOOK  has  a  significance 
which  even  transcends  its  distinction.  Out  of  the  storm  of  battle  a  great  new 
spirit  of  brotherhood  has  been  horn  into  the  world,  calling  together  the  scattered 
and  divided  parts  of  it,  uniting  them  in  a  single  mind,  a  single  setitiment,  a  single 
6 


purpose,  so  that  here,  in  love  of  justice  and  in  hatred  of  oppression,  speaking;  in 
many  voices  and  many  tongues  but  from  only  otie  soul,  which  enkindles  the  earth 
as  zcith  a  holy  fire,  men  and  women  of  all  civilised  countries  have  drawn  closer 
and  clasped  hands. 

Nor  is  that  everything.  In  sight  and  zvitness  of  this  World-league  of  some  of 
the  spiritual  leaders  of  mankind,  who  labour  for  and  live  by  peace,  and  in  memory 
of  this  Covenant  of  princes,  statesmen,  soldiers,  sailors,  teachers,  preachers,  and 
artists  of  the  great  and  historic  races,  signed  on  the  desecrated  altar  of  a  little 
nation's  liberty,  is  it  too  much  to  hope  that  the  peoples  they  represent  may  never 
again,  from  any  narrower  or  less  noble  aims,  draw  the  sword  against  each  other 
as  long  as  the  zvorld  may  last  ? 
So  be  it.     God  grant  so  may  it  be. 

But  meantime  it  is  perhaps  enough  that  as  sons  and  daughters  of  many  lands, 
sufferers  ourselves  by  a  fratricidal  war,  we  should  bring  to  Belgium,  in  this 
solemn  moment  when  her  heart  is  cruelly  and  almost  inairably  wounded,  the 
expression  of  our  love,  our  sympathy,  and  our  unbounded  admiration,  as  the 
spiritual  message  of  the  civilised  zvorld  to  the  suffering  millions  of  her  people,  in 
the  midst  of  the  ruin  and  desolation  zchich  still  lie  heavy  upon  her  even  at  this 
sacred  Season  when  the  holiest  aspirations  of  humanity  are  towards  peace  on 
earth  and  good-zvill  to  men. 

Belgians,  in  the  per'^on  of  your  heroic  young  Sovereign  zee  salute  you.  The 
statesmanship,  the  learning,  the  zcisdom,  the  genius  of  the  zcorld  lay  their  tribute 
at  your  feet. 

HALL   CAIXE 
Christmas  19 14 


The  Editor  of  KING  ALBERT'S  BOOK  on  his  omi  behalf  and 
on  behalf  of  the  proprietors  of  the  "  Daily  Telegraph  "  and  its 
associate  newspapers,  the  "  Daily  Sketch  "  and  the  "  Glasgow 
Herald,"  makes  grateful  acknouledgment  of  the  services  of  Mr. 
G.  Ralph  Hall  Caine  as  general  organiser,  of  Mr.  Ridgzvell  Cullum 
as  editorial  assistant,  of  Miss  Florence  Simmonds  and  Mrs.  Marie 
Conor  Leighton  as  French  and  Italian  translators,  and  of  Mr. 
Desmond  McAuliffe  as  compiler  of  the  Index. 
He  also  desires  to  thank  Professor  Fitzmaurice -Kelly ,  Dr.  Ha^berg 
Wright,  Mr.  J.  S.  Cotton,  Dr.  Hetiry  Bradley  (Oxford),  and  Mr. 
Edmund  Gosse  for  valuable  help  in  the  translation  of  contributions 
in  the  lesser-known  languages,  as  well  as  The  Complete  Press  for  the 
admirable  craftsmanship  displayed  in  the  engraving,  the  beautiful 
typographical  page,  and  the  printing,  and  also  Mr.  J.  E.  Hodder- 
Williams,  head  of  Messrs.  Hodder  and  Stoughton,  for  his  own 
and  his  firm's  valuable  services  as  general  publishers  of  KING 
ALBERT'S  BOOK. 

The  Editor  feels  that  it  would  be  presumption  on  his  part  to  thank 
the  illustrious  contributors,  the  Belgian  people  and  the  universal 
sentiment  of  the  world  will  assuredly  do  that,  but  he  trusts  he  may 
be  permitted  to  express  his  personal  gratitude  to  his  own  distin- 
guished colleagues,  the  artists,  composers,  and  jnen  and  women  of 
letters  in  many  countries,  whose  spontaneous  and  whole-hearted 
response  to  his  request  have  made  it  possible  for  him  to  produce  this 
memorable  book. 


INDEX    TO    CONTRIBUTORS 


ABBOTT,  Rev.  L\'man.  D.D..  LL.D.,  American 
Divine  :   editor  of  "  The  Outlook  "  168 

AOA  KHAN,  Ac  A  SfLTAN  Mahomed  Suah, 
G.C.I.E..  G.C.S.I..  K.C.I. E..  Hon.  LL.D.  Camb.  ; 
head  of  the  Ismaili  Mahomsdaiis  14 

ALVERSTOXE,  Viscount  (Sir  Richard  E\^erard 
Webster),  G.C.M.G.  ;  for  thirteen  years  Lord 
Chief  Justice  of  England  140 

AMEER  ALL  Rt.  Hon.  (Sved),  Hon.  LL.D. 
Camb.,  M.A.,  CLE.  ;  member  of  the  Judicial 
Committee  of  the  Privy  Council  102 

ANGELL.  NoRiiAX.  author  of  "  The  Great  Illusion "       48 

ANOUTCHIX.  D.,  liussian  scientist  187 

ARCHER.  WiLLi.KM,  British  man  of  letters  112 

ASHLEV.  W.  J..  liritish  Economist,  M.A.,  M.Com., 
Hon.  Ph.D.  Berlin  114 

ASQUITH,  Rt.  Hon.  Herbert  Heksy,  British 
Statesman,  Prime  Minister  and  First  Lord  of  the 
Treasury:  ^[.I'.,  K.C.  13 

ATHERTON,  Gertrude  Franklin,  American 
novelist  104 

BACKER-LUXDE.  Joil.^N,   Norwegian  composer       173 
BADEN-POWELL,        Lt.-Gen.      Sir       Robert 

Stephenson  Smyth,  K.C.B.,  K.C.V.O.  176 

BALFOUR,    Rt.    Hon.    Arthur  James,    F.R.S., 

D.L.  ;  British  Statesman  15 

BALTIMORE.  Cardinai,  Archbishop  of  (James 

Gibbons)  C8 

BAR.\NOVSKI,  ToucANE,  Pussian  Economist  18O 

B.IRCLAY,  Mrs.   Florence  I,.,  English  nove'lst      99 
BARCLAY,  Sir   Thomas,  LL.B.,  Ph.D..   Enjlish 
barrister ;   founder   of  the  International  Brother- 
hood Alliance  GO 
BARR,  Sir  J  AMES,  M.D.,  LL.D.,F.R.C.P.,F.R.S.E. ; 

British  scientist  177 

BARZIXI,   Luici.  Italian  journalist  and  publicist       IZ5 
BAZIN,  Rene  Fraxvois  Nicolas  Marie,  I'rench 
author  ;    Membre  de  I' Academic  Jraiifaise.  Docteur 
rn  Droit  de  I'UniiersiU  de  Pans  1^7 

BELMOXT.    Alva    E.    Smith    (Mrs.    O.    H.    P. 

Belmont).  American  philanthropist  98 

BENCKENDORFF,  Le  Comte  de  (Alexandre 
Constantlnovitcu),  Kussian  Ambassador  m 
London  l6 

IlENXETT.  Enoch  Arnold.  British  author  37 

liENSON,  Arthur  Christoi'iier.  C.V.O.,  English 

author  102 

UERESFORD,  Admiral  Lord  Charles  William 
DE  LA  PoER.  G.C.B  .  G.C.V.O..  M.P.,  Late  Com- 
mander  vf  the  British  Channel  fleet  40 

HERGSOX.  Henri  I,ouis.  Pnfessor  at  the  College  of 
Prance,  Member  of  the  Inslilute,  Officer  cl  the  Legion 
of  Honour,  Officier  de  I' Instruction  Ptibhque  51) 

BERNHARDT,  Sarah.  Prench  actress  iio 

BIRRELr<,  Rt.  Hon.  Auc.ustine,  British  Statesman 
and  author  ;  Chief  Secretary  to  the  Lord- Lieutenant 
of  Ireland:    M.I*.,  K.C.  121 

BISTOLl'I.  LuoNAkiJO,  Italian  sculptor  17O 

BL.VND-SUTTON,   Sir   John,   F.R.C.S..  English 

surgeon  80 

BOJICR.  Jonas.  Swedish  noveliit  170 

JOOTH,  W.  Bramwell.  General  of  the  Salvation 

A  rmy  <)8 


BORDEN.  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Robert  Laird,  K.C. ; 
Premier  of  Canada  24 

BOURGET,  Paul,  French  poet,  critic,  and  novelist : 
Membre  de  V Academic  franfaise  x8o 

BRACCO.  Roberto.  Italian  dramatist  169 

BRADDOX.  M.\rv  Elizabeth  (Mary  Maxwell), 
English  noi'etist  112 

BRANTIXG.  Karl  Hjalmar,  Swedish  journalist  : 
editor  of  the  "  Social  Dcinokrateti  "  154 

BRASSEY,  Earl  (Thomas  Brassey),  G.C.B.  ; 
British  Statesman  ;  Lord  Warden  of  the  Cinque 
Ports  175 

BROCK,  Sir  Thomas,  K.C.B.;  British  sculptor         73-6 

BRL'CKMAN,  W.  L.,  Dutch  artist ;    Knight  of  the 

Orangehaussan  Order  facing       72 

BRYCE,  Viscount.  Rt.  Hon.  Jamf.s,  O.M., 
D.C.L.  ;  British  Statesman  and  author,  formerly 
His  Majesty's  Ambassador  Extraordinary  and 
Plenipotentiary  at  Washington  46 

BURN.VND,  Sir  Francis  Cowley,  British  drama- 
tist:  formerly  editor  of  "  Punch"  116 

BCRXHAM.  Lord,  K.C.V.O. ;  principal  proprietor 
of  the  "  Daily  Telegraph  "  79 

BURT,  Rt.  Hon.  Thomas,  British  Statesman  loi 

CAIXE,  Hall,  English  noielist  188 

CAMEOX,  P.\ul,  G.C.V.O..  D.C.L.,  LL.D.  Oson, 
Cantab..  Edin.  ;  French  Ambassador  to  the  Court 
of  St.  James  16 

CAXTERBURY,  Archbishop  oe  (The  Most  Rev. 
Randall  Thomas  Davidson),  Prelate  cfllic  Order 
of  the  Garter,  G.C.V.O.,  lioyal  Victorian  Chain, 
D.D.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D.  14 

CAXTOX.  WlLLl.\.M,  British  author  152 

CAPUAXA,  Luici,  Italian  novelist  171 

CAPUS,   \"INCENT  Marie  Alired,  French  author 

and  journalist.  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honour  120 

CAULILE,  Rev.  Wilson.  Prebendary  of  SI.  Paul's 
Cathedral,  Founder  and  Hon.  Chief  Secretary  cf 
the  Church  Army  98 

CARXEGIE,  Andrew,  LL.D.,  American  publicist  ; 
formerly  Lord  Hector  of  St.  Andrews  and  Aberdeen 
I'niversities  :    Bursar  of  the  Peace  Price  58 

CARl'EXTER.  Edward,  English  author  109 

CH.VMBERS,  Robert  W.,  American  author  112 

CH.VRTRES,  Annie  Vivanti,  Italian  poetess  103 

CHESTERTON',  Gilbert  Keith,  English  journa- 
list and  author  143 
CHIROL,  Sir  Valentine,  English  journalist  and 

publicist:  formerly  foreign  editor  of  "  The  Times"  64 
CHOATE,  Hon.  Joseph  Hodces.  American  Diplo- 
matist :  formerly  United  States  Ambassador  to 
Great  Britain  :  Ambassador  and  First  Delegate  of 
the  United  States  to  the  International  Peace 
Conference  at  The  Hague  33 

CHOLMOXDELEY,  Mary.  English  noielist  62 

CHRISTEXSSEN.     Jens     Christian,     ex-Prime 

Minister  cf  Denmark  102 

CHRISTY,   Howard  Chandler,  American  artist 

facing       68 
CHURCHILL,  Winston.  American  novelist  142 

CHURCHILL.  Rt.  Hon.  Winston  Leonard 
SiKNCER.  British  Statesman,  First  Lord  of  the 
Admiralty,  Elder  Brother  of  Trtntly  House  28 


INDEX    TO    CONTRIBUTORS 


CLIFFORD.  John,  M.A.,  D.D. ;  English  Noncon- 
formist Minister  70 

CLIFFORD,  Mrs.  W.  K.,  English  novelist  and 
playiDrigkt  153 

COLLIER,  Hon.  John,  English  painter       facing     153 

CORELLI.  Marie,  English  novelist  69 

COUPERUS.  Louis,  Dutch  novelist  1S7 

COURTNEY,  William  Leonard,  M.A.,  LL.D.  ; 
English  author,  editor  of  the  "  Fortnightly  Review"       73 

COWEN,  Sir  Frederick  Hyman,  British  com- 
poser ;  Hon.  Mus.  Doc.  Cambridge  University, 
Edinburgh  University  60 

CRANE,  Walter.  R.W.S.,  English  painter: 
Commendatore  of  the  Royal  Crown  of  Italy  118-9 

CREWE,  Marquess  of  (Robert  Offley  Ash- 
BURTO.V  Crewe-Milnks),  K.G.,  (M.A.,  F.S.A., 
Hon.  LL.D.  Camb.)  ;  British  Statesman  :  Secre- 
tary of  State  for  India  21 

CRICHTON-BROWNE,  Sir  James,  M.D.,  LL.D., 
D.Sc,  F.R.S.,  Lord  Chancellor' s  Visitor,  Treasurer 


R^ 


Institution   of  Great 


and    Vice-President 

Britain 
CROOKES,  Professor  Sir  William,  O.M.,  F.R.S., 

LL.D.  ;    British    Scientist,  Past  President  of  the 

British  Association 
CROOKS,  WILL,  M.P.,  English  Labour  leader 
CURZON    OF     KEDLESTON.    Earl     (Georoe 

N.\tuaniel  Curzon),  G.C.S.I.,   G.C.I.E.,   M.A., 

F.R.S.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D.;   British  Statesman:  late 

Viceroy  of  India 


56 


52 
7<J 


27 


DEBUSSY,  Claude,  French  composer  :   Chevalier 

of  the  Legion  of  Honour  147 

DELAND,  Margaret,  American  novelist  142 

DE  MORGAN,  William  Frend,  English  novelist       113 
DICKSEE,    Francis   Bern.\rd,   English  painter. 

Royal  Academician  facing       32 

DOBSON,  Henry  Austin,  LL.D.,  English  poet  and 

essayist  109 

DONNA Y,  Maurice,  French  dramatist  :  Member  of 

the  French  Academy,  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honour     137 
DULAC,   Edmund,   British  artist    and    illustrator 

facing       So 
EEDEN,  VAN,  Dutch  author  170 

ELGAR,   Sir   Edward.   Kt.,    O.M.,   Mus.    Doo. 

Cantab.,  Hon.  R.A.M.,  Mu:.  Doc.  Dunelin,  Mus. 

Doc.    Oxon,  and  Mus.  Doc.    Yale,  U.S.A.  (hon. 

causa)  :  British  composer  84-89 

ESHER,  Viscount  (Reginald  Baliol  Brett), 

G.C.B.,  G.C.V.O.,  M.A.  ;    permanent  member  of 

the  Committee  of  Imperial  Defence  :  Royal  Trustee, 

British  Museum  28 

FAWCETT,  MILLICENT  Garrett,  LL.D.  (Hon. 
St.  Andrews)  ;  English  publicist ;  President  of  the 
National  Union  of  Women's  Suffrage  Societies  54 

FERRERO,  GugliELMO,  Italian  historian  131 

FILDES,  Sir  Luke,  R.A.,  British  painter  facing  36 
FISHER,  Harrison,  American  artist  and  illus- 
trator facing  I  OS 
FISHER.  Herbert  Albert  Laurens,  British 
scholar:  M.A.,  LL.D..  F.B.A.  ;  Fello;v  of  New 
College,  Oxford,  and  Vice-ChanctUor  of  the 
University  of  Sheffield  141 

10 


FISHER  OF  KELVERSTON.  Lord  (John 
Arbutiixot),  O.M.,  G.C.B.,  G.C.V.O. ;  Admiral 
of  the  British  Fleet.  First  Sea  Lord  48 

FLAGG.  G.  Montgomery,  American  artist  and 
illustrator  facing     1 28 

FRANCE,  Jacques  Anatole  Thibault,  French 
author  ;  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honour,  Metnber 
of  the  French  Academy  lOi 

GALSWORTHY,  JOHN,  English  novelist,  dramatist, 

and  essayist  53 

GARDINER,  A.  G.,  English  journalist  ;  editor  of 
the  "  Daily  News  "  74 

GARVIN,  J.  L.,  English  journalist :  editor  of  the 
"  Pall  Mall  Gazette"  and  the  "  Observer"  74 

GERMAN,  Edward,  English  composer  139 

GIBSON,    Charles    Dana.    American   artist   and 

illustrator  97 

GLADSTONE,  Viscount,  Rt.  Hon.  Herbert 
John,  G.C.M.G.,  British  Statesman,  ex-Governor- 
General  of  South  Africa  48 

GOSSE,  Edmund,  C.B.,  LL.D..  English  author: 
Librarian  to  the  House  of  Lords  57 

GOULD,     Sir     Francis     Carruihers.     British 

caricaturist  172 

GREY.  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Edward,  British  Statesman, 
K.G.,  D.C.L.,  Secretary  of  Stale  for  Foreign  Affairs       20 

H.\GGARD,  Sir  (Henry)  Rider,  English  novelist  112 
HALSBURY',    Earl    of     (Hardinge    Stanley 

Giffard),    British    Statesman  :    F.R.S.,    M.A.  ; 

formerly  Lord  Chancellor  oj  England  22 

HARDINGE  OF  PENSHURST,  Lord  (Cha«les 

Hardinge),  G.C.B  ;  Viceroy  of  India  20 

HARDY,  Thomas,   O.M.,    Litt.D.  (Camb.),  LL.D. 

(Aberdeen)  ;    English  poet  and  novelist  21 

HARRISON,    Frederic,    British    author:     Hon. 

Fellow  of  Wadham  College,  Oxford,  Hon.  D.C.L. 

Oxford,   Hon.  Litt.D.  Cambridge,  Hon.  LL.D. 

Aberdeen  28 

HERTZ,    Very   Rev.   Joseph  Herman,    Ph.D.; 

Chief  Rabbi  of  the  United  Hebrew  Congregations 

of  the  British  Empire  70 

HERVIEU,  Paul  Ernest,  French  author:  Membre 

dc    V Academic   franfaisc  :    Grand   Officier   de    la 

Legion  d'Honneur  47 

HEWLETT,    Maurice    Henry,    English   novelist 

and  poet  55 

HICHENS,   Robert   Smythe,   English  journalist 

and  novelist  105 

HOWELLS,  WlLLl.^M  De.^n,  American  author  112 

IBANEZ,  Vicente  Blasco,  Spanish  novelist  159 

INOUYE,  K.^tsunoske,  Japanese  Ambassador 
Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary,  London  16 

JELLICOE,    Admiral    Sir    John    Rushworth, 
K.C.B.,   K.C.V.O. ;    British  sailor,   Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Home  Fleet  117 
JIMENEZ,  D.  Ramon,  Spanish  poet                            122 
JUSSERAND,   Jean   Adrien   Antoine   Jules, 
French   man   of  letters  ;    French  Ambassador  at 
Washington                                                                          134 
KEY,  Ellen,  Swedish  author                           ^               176 
KIDD,  BENJA.MIN,  English  author  6& 


INDEX    TO    CONTRIBUTORS 


KirLING.  RUDYARD,  British  author;  Nobel 
Prizeman  :  lion.  LL.D.  McGill  University,  Hon. 
D.I.itt.  Durham  and  Oxford  19 

KITCHENER  OF  KHARTOUM.  Earl  (Horatio 
Herbert  Kitchener),  G.C.I.E..G.C.S.I.,G.C.B., 
O.M..  G.C.M.G..  K.P. ;   Secretary  of  SUUe  for  War       ,12 

A.  KOUPRINE,  Russian  author  187 

LANGB-MULLER.  Peter  Erasmus,  Danish  com- 
poser 1 56 

LANKESTER,  Sir  E.  Ray.  British  scientist: 
K.C.B.,  M.A.,  D.Sc.,  F.R.S..  Member  of  the 
Institute  of  France.  Foreign  AssocicUe  of  th» 
Roy  at  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Belgium  144 

LANSDOWNE.  Marquess  oe  (Henry  Charles 
Keith  Petty-I-Itzmaurice),  British  Statesman  : 
K.G.,  G.C.S.I.,  G.C.M.G.  :  formerly  Governor- 
General  of  India  and  Foreign  Secretary  23 

LARMOR,  Sir  Joseph,  English  mathematician  ; 
Fellow  and  formerly  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Society       3<j 

LAt'RIER,  Rt.  Hon.  Sik  Wilkrid,  Canadian 
S'aUsman ;  G.C.M.G.,  LL.D.,  K.C.  :  formerly 
Premier  of  Canada  52 

LAVEDAN.  Henri,  French  author:  Officier  de  la 
Legion  d'Honneur,  Membre  de  I'Academie 
frattfoise  1 1 5 

LA  VERY,  John.  British  painter:  R.S.A.,  R.H.A., 
A.R.A..  H.R.O.L.  :  Cheialter  of  the  Crown  of 
Italy  and  of  Leopold  of  Belgium  facing       20 

LAW,  Rt.  Hon.  Andrew  Bonar.  MP. ;  British 

Statesman  40 

LEE,  Sir  Sidney.  English  author:  LL.D.,  D.Litt., 
F.B.A.  ;  editor  of  the  Dictionary  of  National 
Biography :  Professor  of  English  Language  and 
Literature  in  the  University  of  London  <)2 

LEHM.\NN.    Liza    (Mrs.    Herbert    Bedford). 

English  composer  110 

LLOYD-GEORGE.  The  Rt.  Hon.  Da\id,  British 

Statesman  :    Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  32 

LOCKE.  William  John.  English  novelist:  B.A. 
(Cantab.).  Hon.  A. R.I. B.A.  6S 

LOCKYER.  Sir  (Joseph)  NonitAN.  British 
si:i>«/»il.    K.C.B  .  F.R.S.  I4<' 

LODGE,  Sir  Joseph  Oliver.  British  scientist: 
F.R.S..  DSc.  Ixindon.  Hon.  D.Sc.  Oxford. 
Cambridge,  \ictoria,  and  Liverpool  56 

LONDON,  Bishop  of  (Rt.  Rev.  .Arthur  Foley 
WiNNiNCTON  Ingram).  D.D..  LL.D.  82 

LONDON.  Jack.  American  novelist  122 

LOTI,  Pikhrr  (Louis  Marie  J  ulikn  Viaud).  French 
novelist  :  Membre  de  I'Academie  fraiifaise  30 

LOW.  Sidney,  British  author  and  journalist : 
M.A.   (Oxon)  5' 

LUCAS.  Sir  Charles.  K.C.B. .  K.C.M.G.  52 

LUC.'VS,  Seymour    R.A.  ;   English  painter     facing     120 

LUG.^RD.  Lady.  English  author  and  journalist , 
formerlv  liead  of  the  Colonial  Department  of 
"  The  Times  "  iOm 

LUND,  Bishop  of  (Gottfried  Billing)  127 

MAC  I  EI  R  A.    Antonio,    Portuguese    Minister    of 

JHitice  and  Foreign  Affairs  1 30 

MACKENZIE.  Sir  Alexander  Campbell.  British 
coiiipcitr.  Principal  of  the  Royal  Academy  of  Music       34 


PACE 

MCORMICK,     Arthur     Da^d,     R.I,,     I.O.P., 

F.R.G.S.  :   English  artist  facing     17O 

MAETERLINCK,     Maurice.    Belgian    poet    and 

dramatist  188 

MALAGODI,   Orlindo,    Italian  journalist :  editor 

of"  La  Tribuna,"  Rome  I75 

MARCONI,   (iucLlELMO.   Electrical  engineer  130 

MASCAGNI.  I'lETRO,  Italian  composer  167 

MAXni,  Sir  Hiram  Stevens.  C.E.,  ME. ;  Chevalier 

of  the  Legion  of  Honour  14° 

MEREJKOWSKY,  DiHTRl,  Russian  author  18O 

MESS  AG  ER,   ANDRft.    French  composer  :  Director 

of  the  Grand  Opera,  Paris  4' 

MEYNELL,    MRS.    ALICE,    English    poetess    atui 

essayist  5" 

MONET.  Claude,  French  artist  5'' 

MUSOZ,  Don  Lopez.  ex-Foreign  Secretary  of  Spain     145 
MURRAY.     George      Gilbert     Aimf:,     British 
scholar  :   Regiits  Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Oxford  83 

NANSEN.    Fridtjof,    G.C.V.O.,    D.Sc,    D.C.L., 

PhD.,  F.R.G.S.  ;    Arctic  explorer  32 

NICHOI^ON.  William,  English  painter  facing  182 
NIICLSEN.  Kay,  Danish  artist  facing     104 

NORTHCLII'FE, Lord  (ALFRED Charles  WiLLL\M 

Harmsworth),  English  newspaper  proprietor  78 

NOVELLI,   Ermete.   Italian  actor  and  dramatist : 

Commendatore  of  the  Royal  Crown  of  Italy  155 

NOVES.  Alfred,  English  poet :  Hon.  Litt.D.  Yale 

University  25 

O'CONNOR,  Thomas  Powtr,  M.P.  ;  Irish  Stales- 
man  and  journalist  ,  editor  of  "  T.P.'s  Journal  "        185 

ORC/.V,  The  Baroness  (Mrs.  Montague  Bar- 
stow),  English  playwright  and  novelist  135 

PADEREWSKI,  IGNACE  Jan.  Polish  pianist  and 
composer  :  Commander  of  the  Order  of  the  Crown  of 
Italy  133 

PANKHURST,  Emmeline,  lion.  Treasurer  of  the 

Women's  Social  and  Political  Union  67 

PARIS.  Cardinal  Archbishop  of  (Leon  Adol- 
I'HUS  Amettk)  29 

PARKER,  Sir  GILBERT.  British  author  :  D.C.L., 
Litt.D.,  M.P.  92 

PARRISH,   Ma.xfield.  American  artist        facing     112 

PARTRIDGE,  Bernard,  English  artist  :  cartoonist 
of"  Punch"  facing     164 

PENNELL.  Joseph,  artist  facing     140 

PERIvS,  Ramon  D.,  Spanish  poet  132 

PERI.EY,  Hon.  George  Halsev,  Canadian 
Statesman  151 

PETRIE,  William  Matthew  I'linders,  Egypto- 
logist:  D.C.L.,  Litt.D.,  LL.D.,  PUD.,  F.R.S. . 
F.B  A.  .,2 

I'll  1 1, 1. POTTS.  Eden.  English  novelist  02 

PINICRO.  Sir  Arthur  Wing,  English  dramatist : 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Literature  and 
Member  of  t lie  Academic  Committee  51 

POLLOCK.  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Frederick.  LL.U.. 
DC.].,.  ;  I-'ellow  of  the  British  Academy.  Hon. 
l-'ellow  of  Corpus  Chrisli  College,  Oxford  133 

POVNTICR.  Sir  Edward  John.  Brilnh  painter: 
K.C.y.O.,  President  of  the  Royal  Academy    facing       24 

II 


INDEX    TO    CONTRIBUTORS 


PREVOST,  Marcei,,  French  author  ;  Member  of  the 

French  Academy 
PROTHERO,   George   Walter,   M.A.,    Litt.D., 

Hon.  LL.D.  (Edin.  and  Harvard)  ;  editor  oj  "  The 

Quarterly  Review" 

RACKHAM,  Arthur,  R.W.S.,  British  artist  and 

illustrator  facing 

RAMSAY,  Sir  William,  British  scientist  ;  K.C.B., 

F.R.S.  ;   Nobel  prizeman 
RAVEN-HILL,     Leonard,     British     artist     and 

illustrator;  cartoonist  of  "  Punch  "  facing 

READING,    Lord    (Rt.    Hon.    Rufus    Daniel 

Isaacs),  K.C.V.O.,  K.C.  ;    Lord  Chief  Justice  of 

England 
REDESDALE,  Lord  Redesdale  of  (Algernon 

Bertram    FreEMAn-Mitford),    British    States- 
man ;    G.C.V.O.,  K.C.B.,  D.L. 
REDMOND,  John  Edward,  M.P.,  Irish  Statesman  ; 

Leader  of  the  Irish  Parly  in  the  House  of  Commons 
REID,  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  George  Houston,  K.C.M.G., 

D.C.L.,  K.C.  ;    High  Commissioner  for  Australia 
REIMS,  Cardinal  Archbishop  of  (Louis  Henry 

Lu<;on) 
REINACH,  Salomon,  French  author  ;   Membre  de 

I'Institut  de  France 
RIBOT,  Alexandre  P.,  French  Statesman  ;  Mem- 
ber of  the  French  Senate  ;   Membre  de  I'Academie 

franfaise  et  I' Acade'mie  des  Sciences  Morales  et 

Politiques 
RICHMOND,  Sir  Willlam  Blake,  British  painter  ; 

ILC.B.,  M.A.,  R.A.  facing 

RICHEPIN,  Jean,  French  poet,  romancer,  conferen- 

cier,  dramatist  ;   Officier  de  la  Legion  d'Honneur  ; 

Membre  de  I'Academie  franfaise 
RIVIERE,  Briton,  R.A.,  D.C.L.,  British  painter  : 

Hon.  Fellow  of  Oriel  College,  Oxford  f^'^'"' 

ROBERTS,  E.^rl,  of  K.vndahar,  Pretoria,  and 

Waterford  (Frederick  Sleigh),  British  soldier, 

deceased:    G.C.B.,  G.C.S.I.,  V.C,  K.G.,  D.C.L., 

LL.D.,  O.M.  ;    Field-Marshal 
ROLLAND,  ROM.MN,  French  author  ;    Membre  du 

Conseil  de  direction  de  I'Ecole  des  Haiites  Etudes 

Sociales 
ROMANONES,  CoNDE   de,   ex-Prime  Minister  of 

Spain 
ROSEBERY,     Earl     of     (ARcniB.\LD     Philip 

Primrose),  Bn/isA  Statesman;  K.G.,  K.T.,  Hon. 

LL.D.  Camb.,  F.R.S. 
ROSTAND,  Edmoxd,  French  dramatist  ;    Membre 

de  I'Academie  franfaise 
RUSSELL,   Sir  Edward,   English  journalist  and 

essayist  ;  editor  of  the  "  Liverpool  Daily  Post  and 

Mercury  " 
RYLEY,  M.ujelEine  Lucette,  American  authoress 


D.Litt.  ;     English 


64 

36 
172 

129 


24 
126 

71 
131 

133 
40 

106 

56 


107 
1G8 


15 


"7 
39 


SAINT-SAENS,      CA\nLLE,      French      composer ; 

LL.D.  Camb.,  D.Mus.  Oxford  128 

SALVIXI,  ToMMASO,  Italian  actor  ;  Commendatore 

of  the  Royal  Croivn  of  Italy  1 06 

SARAWAK,  H.H.  The  Ranee  of  52 

SARTORIO,  GlULlO  AriSTIDE,  Italian  artist  and 

sculptor  40 


SEAMAN,    Sir    Owen,    M.A., 

poet  ;   editor  of  "  Punch  " 
SHANNON,    James    Jebusa,    R.A.,    A.R.H.A.  ; 

British  portrait  painter  ;   President  of  the  Society 

of  Portrait  Painters  facing 

SICHEL,  Walter,  M.A.,  English  author  and  barrister 
SIENKIEWICZ,  Henryk,  Polish  novelist  ;   atUhor 

of  "  Quo  Vndis  ?  " 
SINCLAIR,  May,  English  novelist 
SMYTH,  Ethel,  Mus.  Doc,  British  composer 
SOLOMON,  Solomon  Joseph,  R.A. ,  British  painter 

facing 
SOTHERN,  Edward  H.,  American  actor 
SPENDER,     J.     Alfred,     English    journalist; 

editor  of  the  "  Westminster  Gazette" 
.SPIELMANN,  Marion  H.,  F.S.A.,  F.R.S.L.;  British 

writer  on  art  ;    Chevalier  of  the  Order  of  Leopold 
STANFORD,     Sir     Charles     Villiers,     British 

composer ;     M.A..    Mus.    Doc,    D.C.L.,    LL.D., 

Prof,  of  Music,  Camb.  Univ. 
STEEL,  Flora  Annie,  English  novelist 
SUTRO,  Alfred,  English  author  and  dramatist 

TAFT,  Hon.  Wn,LlAM  Howard,  American  States- 
man, ex-President  of  the  United  Slates  of  America 

TREE,  Sir  Herbert  Beerbohm,  English  actor 
and  manager 

TREVES,  Sir  Frederick,  Bt.,  British  surgeon ; 
G.C.V.O.,  C.B.,  LL.D.,  M.D.,  F.R.C.S.  ;  Serjeant 
Surgeon  to  the  King 

\'ALDES,  Armando  Palacio,  Spanish  novelist 
VERHAEREN.  Emile,  Belgium's  national  poet 
VINOGRADOFF,     Professor     Paul,     Rttssian 
scholar;    F.B.A.,  Corpus  Professor  of  Jurispru- 
dence Oxford  University 

WARD,  Sir  Adolphl^s  William,  I.itt.D.,  LL.D., 

F.B.A.  :    Master  of  Pcterhoiise,  Cambridge 
WARD,  Mrs.  Humphrey  (Mary  Augusta),  English 

novelist 
WATERLOW,  Sir  Ernest  .Albert,  Bt..  R.A. ; 

English  landscape  painter  ;   President  of  the  Royal 

Society  of  Painters  in  Water  Colours  facing 

WATSON,  William,  English  poet;    Hon.  LL.D. 

Aberdeen 
WEBB,  Sidney,  LL.B.,  Hon.  Professor  of  Public 

Administration,  University  of  London 
WESTMINSTER,     C.\rdin.\l    Archbishop     of 

(Francis  Bourne) 
WHARTON,  Edith,  American  novelist 
WILCOX,  Ella  Wheeler,  American  poetess 
WING  ATE,  Lieut. -Gen.  Sir  Fr-^ncis  Reginald, 

British    soldier;     G.C.V.O.,    K.C.B.,    K.C.M.G., 

D.S.O.,  D.C.L.  ;    Sirdar  of  the  Egyptian  Army 
WYNDHAM,    Sir    Charles,    English    actor   and 

manager 

YORK.  Archbishop  of  (Most  Rev.  Cosmo 
Gordon  L.^ng),  D.D.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D. 


123 

160 
162 

46 

141 

67 

52 
136 

74 

132 

124 

43 

123 

3<3 
93 

146 

179 
80 


81 
75 

48 

33 
66 

22 
165 

4S 


Z.\NG\VILL,   Israel,    British   author ; 
of  the  Jewish  Territorial  Organisation 


President 


77 
70 

163 


END 


O    F 
12 


T    II    E 


INDEX 


T    O 


CONTRIBUTORS 


10,  Bofaninjg  Strttt, 


/U-,  c,;^   uy*  <>/  </-  ic^:/^  ^*^-^w, .     /?^  ^*^ 


n 


By  THE  ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTERBURY 
CAPABLE  historians,  men  of  insight  and  research,  will  set  themselves, 
long  hence,  in  the  calmer  air  which  distance  lends,  to  tell  afresh,  for  old 
and  young,  the  beginnings  of  this  dark  and  devastating  war.  Then  the 
story  of  Belgium's  steadfastness  to  her  plighted  word  of  honour,  and  her 
tireless  resistance  to  high-handed  wrong — a  resistance  sustained  with  un- 
conquerable courage  in  face  of  ruthless  and  overwhelming  force — will 
become  one  of  the  golden  pages  of  the  world's  story.  And  the  contem- 
porary^ witnesses  of  the  ennobling  fidelity  thus  shown  by  the  people  of  a 
little  land  do  well  to  record  at  the  moment,  as  in  this  book,  their  appreciation 
of  a  valour  which  was  tested  by  a  sterner  strain  than  even  Thermopylae  or 
Sempach  knew,  and  remained  unshaken  and  unsullied  to  the  end.  God 
grant  to  these  men  and  women,  and  to  their  children  yet  unborn,  the  grace 
and  power  to  garner  hereafter,  for  the  common  good,  the  fruits  of  this 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  liberty  and  of  good  faith,  and  of  whatsoever  makes 
life  worthier  of  our  Christian  heritage. 


By  H.  H.  AGA  KHAN 

I  DEEM  it  a  great  privilege  to  be  associated  with  this  tribute  to  King  Albert, 
the  heroic  monarch  of  the  martyr  nation.  The  Moslems  of  India  and  the 
British  Empire,  loo  millions  in  all,  have  watched  with  ever-deepening 
admiration  the  unflinching  stand  of  the  Belgian  King  and  people  against 
the  unprovoked  attack  of  a  terrible  foe.  Had  Belgium  been  guided  by 
considerations  of  material  good  and  immediate  interest  she  would  have 
accepted  the  Kaiser's  promise  not  to  molest  or  injure  if  he  was  allowed  an 
undisputed  passage  to  the  French  frontier  for  his  troops.  But  this  easy  and 
inglorious  course  was  not  contemplated  even  for  a  moment.  Belgium 
unhesitatingly  chose  the  path  of  honour  and  duty  and  made  an  irreparable 
sacrifice  of  material  good  for  moral  glory.  This  undying  record  of  a  great 
refusal  has  appealed  to  the  best  traditions  and  sentiments  of  Moslems  in 
India,  whose  history  affords  many  stirring  examples  of  readiness  to  lose  all, 
even  life  itself,  for  honour  and  duty.  I  can  assure  King  Albert  and  his 
glorious  people  that  the  Moslems  of  the  British  Empire  fall  behind  no  other 
nation  in  their  profound  and  sincere  sympathy  with  them  in  the  count- 
less sorrows  and  sacrifices  which  constitute  the  imperishable  glory  of 
Belgium. 


14 


By  EDMOND   ROSTAND 

Belgtque,  c'est  ton  front  que  VAurore  prefere  f 
Ceux-ld  sont  devolus  aux  tenebres,  qui  nont 
Mis  Vobus  le  plus  grand  dans  le  plus  grand  canon 
Que  pour  mieux  empecher  VAvenir  de  se  jaire  ! 

"  Trahissez  V Ideal  et  traitons  une  affaire," 
Siffle  un  Betlunann-Holhceg  plus  double  que  son  nom. 
"  A'ow  /  "  dit  un  Roi  sublime.    Et,  but  ant  sur  ce  non, 
Le  cheval  d'Attila  tout  d'un  coup  se  deferre. 

"  On  s'en  tire,""  a  dit  le  Bethmann,  "  comme  Von  pent. 
Mais  le  Monde,  admirant  qu'un  pays  soit  en  feu 
Pour  avoir  cru  que  c'est  comme  on  doit  qu'on  s'en  tire, 

Luttera  tant  quun  seul  Barbare  fera  tort, 

A  ton  voile,  Maline,  a  ta  couronne,  Sire, 

D'un  seul  point  de  dentelle  et  d'un  seul  fleuron  d'or  I 


(^^hur^  ^iO^A 


By  THE  Rt.  Hon.  ARTHUR  J.  BALFOUR 
I  AM  asked  to  speak  of  Belgium.  Is  it  of  Belgium  as  she  is,  or  of  Belgium 
as  she  will  one  day  be  ?  If  the  first,  my  theme  would  be  the  greatest  of 
national  tragedies,  but  also  the  noblest.  Nothing  that  can  heighten  our 
sympathy  or  move  our  admiration  is  wanting.  The  weakness  of  the  victim, 
the  justice  of  her  cause,  the  greatness  of  her  sufferings,  and  her  unconquer- 
able soul,  have  moved  the  wonder  and  pity  of  the  world.  And  when  we 
turn  from  the  victim  to  the  oppressor,  the  tragic  horror  deepens.  We  see 
wrong  heaped  on  wrong,  and  treacher}'  on  treachery.  Faithless  in  designing 
his  schemes,  brutal  in  executing  them,  he  has  ruthlessly  trampled  under 
foot  all  laws  but  the  law  of  the  strongest.  He  knows,  it  seems,  no  other. 
But  the  drama  is  not  going  to  end  with  the  triumph  of  evil.  We  are  wit- 
nessing no  irremediable  tragedy.  Happier  days  are  yet  to  come.  Wrongs 
have  indeed  been  done  which  nothing  can  right  ;  sufferings  endured  which 
nothing  can  repay.  Yet  the  time  will  surely  come,  and  come  soon,  when 
Belgium's  wounds  will  heal,  when  morally  and  materially  greater  than 
before,  she  will  pursue  in  peace  her  high  destiny,  strong  in  tlie  memories 
of  an  heroic  past,  and  in  the  affectionate  esteem  of  all  who  love  liberty  and 
admire  valour.  yf  / 

IS 


By  HIS   EXCELLENCY  M.   PAUL   CAMBON 

EN  luttant  avec  heroisme  pour  leur  independance  Rationale  et  en  s'imposant 
noblement  les  plus  douloureux  sacrifices  pour  la  defense  du  droit,  le  peuple 
Beige  et  son  Roi  ont  merite  la  reconnaissance  et  1 'admiration  du  monde 
civilise,  et  ils  se  sont  acquis  une  gloire  imperissable. 


TRANSLATION 

By  their  heroic  struggle  for  national  independence 
and  their  noble  acceptance  of  the  most  terrible  sacrifices 
in  defence  of  Right,  the  Belgian  King  and  people  have 
earned  the  admiration  and  gratitude  of  the  civilised 
world,  and  have  zvon  imperishable  glory. 


^'C*^^  ^- 


By  THE   COUNT  DE   BENCKENDORFF 

SI,  par  riieroisme  deploye  a  la  defense  de  son  independance,  la  Belgique 

s'est  acquise  I'admiration  du  monde,  c'est  de  la  reconnaissance  que  lui 

doivent  tous  les  peuples  auxquels  importe  le  maintien  de  I'ordre  social,  sur 

lequel  repose  la  civilisation. 

Sans  hesiter,  elle  s'est  faite  champion  de  la  condition  premiere  ace  maintien, 

la  saintete  des  conventions  humaines  et  des  traites,  sans  laquelle  le  principe 

de  I'etat  moderne  s'efFondre. 

A  sa  gloire  imperissable,  la  Belgique  est  restee  egalement  fidele  aux  traditions 

les  plus  reculees  de  ses  peuples,  et  aux  devoirs  plus  recents  que  la  loi  des 

nations  lui  impose. 


TRANSLATION 

If,  by  the  heroism  displayed  in  the  defetice  of  her 
independence,  Belgium  has  won  the  admiration  of  the 
zvorld,  all  other  nations  oiue  her  gratitude,  that  is, 
all  nations  which  value  the  maintenance  of  social 
order,  on  which  civilisation  is  based. 
Without  hesitation,  she  has  played  the  part  of  cham- 
pion of  the  first  condition  of  such   tnaintenatice—  the 


sanctity  of  human  obligations  and  of  treaties,  zcithout 

which    the   principle    of    the    modern    State    would 

collapse. 

To    her    everlasting   glory,    Belgium    has    remained 

faithful  to  the  most  ancient  traditions  of  her  people, 

and  to  the  more  modern  duties  that  the  law  of  nations 

has  imposed  upon  her. 


By  HIS  EXCELLENCY  KATSUNOSKE  INOUYE 
THE  indomitable  courage  and  patriotic  ardour  with  which  Belgium  has 
been  exerting  herself  to  defend  her  liberty  and  independence  against  the 
wanton  invasion  of  her  territory  by  a  powerful  enemy  has  created  the 
greatest  admiration  throughout  the  world.  In  Japan,  where  chivalry  and 
patriotism  reigns,  Belgium's  heroic  defence  has  greatly  aroused  the  sym- 
pathy of  her  people,  and  we  join  in  the  hope  that  her  flag,  adorned  anew 
with  glory,  will  in  no  distant  future  be  floating  again  triumphantly  through- 
out her  dominion.  ,_       ^ 

/^■^ 

i6 


By   THE   EARL   OF   ROSEBERY 

IT  is  a  privilege  to  write  about  the  Belgians  and  their  King,  who  have 
proved  once  more  that  Kingship  is  not  dead,  and  that  heroism  still  sur\'ives. 
A  short  time  ago  a  yoimg  prince  ascended  the  throne  of  this  happy  and 
peaceful  kingdom,  the  home  of  industry,  manufacture,  and  commerce,  the 
garden  of  the  Continent,  at  the  gates  of  which  stood  a  guardian  angel  armed 
with  the  sword  of  Europe.  It  might  well  seem  that  a  career  of  secure 
prosperity  lay  before  him  and  his  subjects,  who,  to  use  an  old  Border  phrase, 
were  "  dreading  harm  from  no  man,  but  only  wishing  to  live  in  God's  peace 
and  the  King's."  In  an  instant  all  this  fair  prospect  was  blackened.  Prussia, 
which  had  twice  solemnly  guaranteed  the  independence  of  the  little  kingdom, 
suddenly  poured  her  hosts  into  it,  not  as  might  be  supposed  to  protect,  but 
to  destroy  that  independence.  She  thought,  no  doubt,  that  the  Belgians 
would  bow  to  the  necessity  of  such  overwhelming  odds  and  submit  to  the 
invaders.  She  mistook  her  men.  King  Albert  and  his  people  protested 
with  arms  in  their  hands.  For  the  moment  they  stemmed  the  torrent. 
Liege  successfully  resisted  the  enemy  till  overwhelming  artillery  pounded 
its  forts  to  powder.  Inch  by  inch  the  Belgians,  headed  by  the  King, 
resisted,  but  the  mass  of  invaders  irresistibly  rolled  over  them.  Brussels 
the  capital  and  Antwerp  the  citadel  had  to  be  successively  abandoned.  At 
last,  almost  all  the  kingdom  was  submerged,  the  Government  had  to  retire 
to  France,  the  King  to  his  unbroken  army.  Meanwhile  the  German  legions 
like  a  horde  of  barbarians  had  ravaged,  plundered,  and  destroyed  the  country 
they  had  sworn  to  protect.  The  rage  of  being  baffled  had  apparently 
maddened  them.  For  the  King  and  his  Belgians  at  the  cost  of  all  they 
cherished  had  retarded  the  march  of  the  invaders  and  nullified  their  plans. 
For  the  moment,  Belgium,  all  mapped  out,  as  it  was,  for  Prussian  cannon, 
and  swarming  with  Prussian  spies,  was  the  bulwark  of  Europe  and  ot  public 
law.  Not  the  resistance  at  Thermopylae  to  the  millions  of  Xerxes  was  more 
splendid,  and  Thermopylae  only  involved  the  sacrifice  of  a  handful  of  men, 
while  this  has  cost  a  country  and  a  nation. 

There  have  been  three  Kings  of  the  Belgians.  The  first,  Leopold,  steered 
the  little  kingdom  with  exquisite  skill  through  dangers  from  within  and 
from  without  until  he  was  hailed  as  the  Nestor  of  Europe.  The  second 
energetically  sustained  and  developed  the  commerce  and  manufactures  of 
his  realm  with  extraordinary  success.  But  the  third,  Albert,  has  already 
eclipsed  his  predecessors  and  ranks  with  William  the  Silent,  the  indomitable 
champion  of  the  Low  Countries. 

And  when  the  Belgians  return,  to  what  will  they  return?  The  bare,  ruined 
remains  of  their  smiling  country.  Her  fields  ravaged,  her  villages  burned, 
her  ancient  monuments,  the  glory  of  Europe  as  well  as  of  Belgium,  destroyed. 
For  long  years,  perhaps  for  ever,  Belgium  will  remain  a  monument  of 
infamy.  War  is  a  ruthless  devouring  monster  at  best.  But  there  is  chival- 
rous war  and  there  is  devilish  war,  and  the  devastation  of  innocent  Belgium 
will  long  subsist  as  the  capital  example  of  the  devilish.    She  has  sutlered 

17 


much  in  the  past,  she  has  often  been  the  theatre  of  conflict  she  has  been  the 
Tcene  of  grea^a  ties  under  Marlborough,  she  contains  the  field  of  Waterloo 
But  she  did  not  know  what  were  the  fiendish  possibilities  of  warfare  till 
she  was  invaded  by  a  treacherous  friend.    There  has  been  no  desolation 
?ke  Ttincrthe  Thirty  terrible  Years  which  plunged  Germany  into  rum. 
But  nearly  three  centuries  have  elapsed  since  then    centuries  ot  culture 
espedally  of  German  culture,  in  which  we  hoped  that  we  had  progressed 
far  from  the  possibility  of  the  recurrence  of  such  horrors.    We  were  wrong. 
Germa^  culture  had  taken  a  quick  turn,  and  left  civilisation,  honour    and 
chlX  far  behind.    The  fruits  of  that  culture  are  mines  sown  broadcast 
'n 'he^ocean  to  destroy  indiscriminately  enemy,  neutral,  or  f "end,  and 
bombs  to  fall  on  peaceful  cities  to  kill  women  and  children         By  their 
fruTts  ye  shall  know  them."    The  Prussians  mdeed  have  abandoned  the 
Chiistian  God,  and  substituted  the  worship  of  a  Pagan  deity  which  they 
call  Fo?ce  or  Might;   Might  to  supersede  Right  and  all  other  moral  forces. 
O  this  squaUd  idol  hey  are  fortunate  enough  to  hold  the  permanent  proxy  ; 
before  thi^  Moloch,  if  they  worship  anything,  their  chiefs  bow  , he  knee 
Its  motto  is  Hate.    Its  angels  are  Fury,  Destruction,  and  Rapine,     it  has 
app^entVno  honour,  no  faith,  no  reverence.     In  its  name  they  ravage, 
massacre  and  plunder     Before  its  shrine  they  burn  their  treaties  as  incense. 
SVTts  aid  they  hoped  to  subdue  the  world.    Belgium  was  the  first  victim. 
But  the  ha  rving  and  devastation  of  Belgium  was  only  an  incident.     France 
crushed    Rusia  humbled,  Holland  annexed  were,  it  would  seem,  only  the 
mUestonef  on  a  triumphant  march  to  the  real,  supreme  object  the  humilia- 
S^nlnd  destruction  of  the  British  Empire.    Even  that  might  not  be  the 
uMma^e  air^    for,  with  Europe  prostrate,  the  liberties  and  prosperity  of 
America  would  akrm  the  jealousy  of  the  tyrant  and  call  Moloch  once  more 

ZJTt^cl  and  prosaic  nation  has  earned  this  stealthy  and  marked 
but  determined  hostility'  it  is  not  easy  to  guess.  And  it  is  impossible  to 
believe  that  every  German  participates  and  approves  of  all  that  has  been 
done  in  their  name.    But  in  war  criticism  and  dissent  are  always  criminal. 


and  alwavs  silent. 


¥t  Sat  on  of  Belgium  was,  then,  it  appears,  only  an  incident  in  this 
Ibterranean  policv.    That  consideration  is  but  little  solace  to  a  rmned 
nadonThei?  reward  was  to  have  been  to  become  a  Prussian  province 
with  ail  the  liberty,  independence,  and  happiness  that  that  position  involves  , 
To  be  n  fact  a^^^^^^       Posen  or  Alsace.    But,  as  things  are,  their  only  con- 
solation bleak  for  the  moment,  but  eternal,  can  be  that  they  have  been  the 
raneuard  i^  a  battle  of  emancipation  for  the  human  race    that  they  stood 
foZalone  and  nailed  to  the  flagstaff  the  simple  assertion  of  Right  as  agams 
St   that  they  have  immortalised  themselves  and  will  stand  eternally  as 
heroes      History  wiU  pay  homage  for  all  time,  as  we  now,  to  the  King  and 
^hTnkn  X  sacnfic"all  but  honour  to  preserve  their  own  independence 
and  safeguard  the  liberties  of  Europe.  /^V^/^^^^ 


By   RUDYARD   KIPLING 

The  Outlaws  * 

Through  learned  and  laborious  years 

They  set  themselves  to  find 
Fresh  terrors  and  undreamed-of  fears 

To  heap  upon  mankind. 

All  that  they  drew  from  Heaven  above 

Or  digged  from  earth  beneath, 
They  laid  into  their  treasure-trove 

And  arsenals  of  death, 

While,  for  well-zveighed  advantage  sake, 

Ruler  and  ruled  alike 
Built  up  a  faith  they  meant  to  break 

When  the  fit  hour  should  strike. 

They  traded  zcith  the  careless  earth, 

A?id  good  return  it  gave  ; 
They  plotted  by  their  neighbour's  hearth 

The  means  to  make  him  slave. 

When  all  was  readied  to  their  hand 

They  loosed  their  hidden  szcord 
And  utterly  laid  waste  a  land 

Their  oath  was  pledged  to  guard. 

Coldly  they  went  about  to  raise 

To  life  and  make  more  dread 
Abominatioyis  of  old  days. 

That  men  believed  were  dead. 

They  paid  the  price  to  reach  their  goal 

Across  a  world  in  flame. 
But  their  ozvn  hate  slew  their  own  soul 

Before  that  victory  came.  '^^..nz^c^^^ 

*  Copyright  in  the  United  States  of  America  bv  Rudvard  Kipline,  November  I<)I4. 

^9 


By  THE   Rt.   Hon.   SIR  EDWARD   GREY,   BART. 

THE  wrongs  done  to  Belgium  have  brought  home  to  us  that  we  must 

spare  nothing  and  if  need  be  must  spend  everything  to  secure  justice  for 

her  and  freedom  for  us  all. 

What  had  the  Belgians  done  that  their  country  should  be  invaded  and 

ravaged  ?    What  provocation  had  a  people  given  who  threatened  no  one 

and  wanted  nothing,  but  to  be  let  alone,  to  govern  themselves,  to  cultivate 

their  own  land  and  to  develop  peaceful  commerce  ? 

Love  of  liberty  and  independence  is  not  crushed  by  oppression  and  force, 

but  set  off  by  courage  and  suffering  becomes  an  inspiration  to  its  own 

generation  and  is  exalted  to  an  imperishable  place  in  history. 


lih- 


By  LORD   HARDINGE,  VICEROY   OF   INDIA 
By  Telegraph  jrom  Delhi 

NO  nation  has  regarded  with  greater  abhorrence  than  India  the  series  of 
crimes  committed  by  Germans  against  their  peaceful  Belgian  brothers. 
With  the  deep  sympathy,  felt  for  them  by  the  people  of  India  i  i  this  hour 
of  sorrow,  is  coupled  their  admiration  of  the  gallant  resistance  of  their  army 
against  the  heaviest  odds.  May  they  be  comforted  by  the  thought  that 
their  sacrifice  will  not  have  been  in  vain  when  the  oppressors  of  the  weak 
have  been  finally  overthrown.  India  will  never  rest  till  Belgium's  wrongs 
have  been  avenged. 


By   SIR   REGINALD   WINGATE 

By  Telegraph  Jrom  Khartoum 

ON  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Sudan,  irrespective  of  race  or  creed, 

I  offer  our  respectful  and  united  homage  to  Belgium's  King,  to  the  gallant 

Belgian  people  and  to  Belgium's  dead,  who,  in  a  materialistic  age,  have 

vindicated  the  supremacy  of  an  ideal  and  thereby  have  testified  that  the 

age  of  heroes  is  indeed  not  past. 

I  have  the  honour  of  personally  knowing  His  Majesty  who  came  to   the 

Sudan  shortly  after  his  accession,  stayed  with  us  for  a  few  days,  and  visited 

portions  of  the  districts  south  of  Khartoum. 

In  the  many  talks  I  had  with  him,  I  was  particularly  struck  with  his  high 

ideals  of  Kingship  and  Government— not  only  of  his  own  Belgian  subjects — 

but  of  the  vast  areas  of  the  Congo  Free  State,  in  the  advancement  of  which 

he  takes  a  most  humane  and  absorbing  interest,  and  which,  under  his 

direction,  have  made  such  sensible  strides  in  the  direction  of  true  civilisation 

and  progress. 

20 


By  THOMAS    HARDY 

Sonnet  on  the  Belgian  Expatriation 

/  dreamt  that  people  from  the  Land  of  Chimes 
Arrived  one  autumn  mornijig  with  their  bells. 
To  hoist  them  on  the  towers  and  citadels 
Of  my  ozcn  country,  that  the  musical  rhymes 

Rung  by  them  into  space  at  measured  times 
Amid  the  market's  daily  stir  and  stress, 
And  the  nighfs  empty  starlit  silentness, 
Might  solace  souls  of  this  and  kindred  climes. 

Theji  I  azcoke  :  and  lo,  before  fne  stood 
The  visioned  ones,  but  pale  and  full  of  fear  ; 
From  Bruges  they  came,  and  Antwerp,  and  Ostefid, 

A^o  carillons  in  their  train.     Vicissitude 
Had  left  these  tinkling  to  the  invaders'  ear. 
And  ravaged  street,  and  smouldering  gable-end. 


iS| . 


By  THE   MARQUESS   OF  CREWE 

SALUTIXG  with  deep  respect  the  gallant  Belgians  and  their  noble  Sove- 
reign, we  reflect  that  never  in  the  world's  history  has  any  nation,  with  so 
slender  a  pretence  of  reason,  been  subjected  to  outrage  so  cruel  and  so 
deliberate  as  that  which  has  lately  stirred  the  blood  of  civilised  mankind. 
Those  who  begin  by  tearing  up  a  solemn  engagement  have  not  far  to  descend 
in  the  moral  scale  before  they  lay  an  innocent  countr\'  waste  ;  but  as  an 
English  poet  wrote  when  Lombardy  was  likewise  trampled  by  a  foreign 
oppressor  : 

And  though  the  stranger  stand,  'tis  true, 

By  force  and  fortune's  right  he  stands  ; 

By  fortune,  ■aliich  is  in  God's  hands. 
And  strength,  zc/iich  yet  shall  spring  in  you. 


B*  21 


By   CARDINAL   BOURNE 

IN  all  history-  it  must  be  difficult  to  find  an  attack  more  brutal  or  less  pro- 
voked than  that  made  in  August  of  this  year  upon  the  Belgian  people.  But, 
amid  the  untold  sorrow  of  the  weeks  that  have  passed  since  then,  the  world 
has  been  privileged  to  witness  a  wonderful  outburst  of  courage  and  heroism 
which,  like  the  cause  that  has  so  purposelessly  evoked  it,  is  unparalleled 
in  the  history  of  the  nations.  And  the  bravery  of  the  Belgian  people  has 
been  centred  and  carried  to  its  highest  expression  in  the  person  of  their 
undaunted  sovereign,  Albert  the  First,  King  of  the  Belgians.  No  tribute, 
therefore,  could  be  more  acceptable  to  our  Allies,  who  indeed  have  made 
themselves  at  the  cost  of  immense  suffering  the  very  saviours  of  European 
civilisation,  than  that  which  recognises  in  their  King  the  inspiring  force  of 
a  resistance  to  injustice  which  has  won  the  admiration  of  the  world. 
By  none  is  that  tribute  paid  more  gladly  than  by  the  Catholics  of  England. 
To  them  in  the  sad  days  of  religious  strife  and  persecution  Flanders  gave  a 
generous  hospitality,  which  with  willing  hearts  they  endeavour  to  repay 
to-day.  We  recall  how,  in  1561,  when  the  ancient  Universities  of  our 
country  banished  from  their  halls  those  who  ventured  still  to  maintain  the 
old  allegiance  to  the  Holy  See,  it  was  at  Louvain  that  the  exiles  found  a 
new  home  of  learning,  and  set  up  therein  two  houses,  to  one  of  which  they 
gave  the  name  of  Oxford,  and  the  other  they  called  Cambridge. 
In  more  recent  happier  times  it  is  in  Belgium  that  so  many  of  our  fellow- 
country^-men  have  seen  for  the  first  time  in  action  the  living  practice  of  the 
Catholic  Faith.  It  is  to  Belgium  again  that,  often  first  among  foreign  lands, 
they  have  turned  their  steps,  when  they  have  been  brought  to  understand 
and  to  accept  anew  the  authority  in  spiritual  things  of  the  Apostolic  See 
of  Rome.  Belgium,  too,  has  sent  to  us  successive  generations  of  devoted 
priests  who,  in  town  and  countr}^',  have  laboured  with  us  in  gathering  in 
the  harvest  that  has  been  so  plentiful  since  the  second  spring. 
For  these  reasons,  and  for  many  others  on  which  the  grateful  memories 
of  individuals  may  dwell,  we  join  in  offering  to  His  Majesty  King  Albert 
the  tribute  of  our  thanks  and  praise,  of  our  deepest  sympathy,  and  of  our 
fervent  prayer  that  the  Divine  Ruler  of  us  all  may  soon  restore  peace  to 
the  Belgian  nation,  and  grant  it  renewed  life  and  national  prosperity  far 
exceUing  all  that  the  past  has  known.  ♦      ■    r  j    1   fi 

4!4>        fir     WC*a>.t1<4Cir<, 

By  THE  EARL   OF  HALSBURY 

His  Majesty  the  King  of  the  Belgians 

"HE  has  honour  and  courage — qualities  that  eagle-plume  men's  souls  and 
fit  them  for  the  fiercest  sun  that  ever  melted  the  weak  waxen  minds  that 
flutter  in  the  beams  of  gaudy  power." 


22 


By  THE   MARQUESS   OF   LANSDOWNE 

I  AM  invited  to  add  a  few  words  to  the  tribute  of  admiration  which  the 
compilers  of  this  book  desire  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  the  King  of  the  Belgians, 
On  August  27,  when  both  Houses  of  Parliament  passed  unanimously 
a  resolution  conveying  to  His  Majesty  their  sympathy  and  admiration,  I 
uttered  the  words  which  are  quoted  below.  They  were  but  a  teeble 
expression  of  my  sentiments  and  of  the  sentiments  of  those  who  listened 
to  them,  but  they  were  at  all  events  spontaneous  and  sincere,  and  all  that 
has  happened  during  the  two  months  which  have  since  elapsed  has  only 
ser\'ed  to  intensify  the  feelings  which  prompted  them. 


All  who  are  lovers  oj  liberty,  all  zdw  can  appreciate  the  virtue  of  self-sacrifice, 
all  zc/io  are  able  to  admire  patriotism  and  zvho  entertain  respect  for  treaty 
obligations,  must  feel  that  Belgium  has  rendered  to  the  civilised  world  a  signal 
service  by  zchat  she  has  done.  If  she  had  been  inspired  by  less  glorious  ideals, 
if  her  standard  of  honour  had  bee?i  less  high,  it  nu'ght  have  been  easy  for  her  to 
evade  these  responsibilities  and  to  escape  the  terrible  penalties  ichich  have  fallen 
upon  her  through  her  observance  of  them.  She  might  have  urged  that  this 
dispute  had  arisen  over  a  question  zchich  was  far  removed  from  her  and  her 
interests.  She  might  have  dwelt  upon  her  ozcn  comparative  zveakness  as  com- 
pared with  the  strength  of  the  Great  Powers  who  are  engaged  in  this  colossal 
struggle.  She  might  have  urged  that  events  were  moving  so  rapidly  that  there 
zvas  not  time  for  her  friends  to  range  themselves  at  her  side  zchen  the  struggle 
began.  She  might  have  dwelt  upon  the  ruinous  consequences  to  herself  and  to 
her  people  of  allozving  the  first  act  of  this  drama  to  be  played  upon  Belgian  soil. 
But  she  did  none  of  these  things.  She  never  faltered  in  her  sense  of  zchat  she 
owed  to  her  own  position  as  an  independent  State.  When  the  bribe  zcas  offered 
to  her  she  knew  how  to  thrust  it  on  one  side.  She  advanced  two  simple  pro- 
positions— first,  that  to  accept  the  German  proposal  meant  the  sacrifice  of  her 
honour  as  a  nation  ;  second,  that  she  felt  able,  in  case  her  territory  zvas  violated, 
to  defend  Iter  ozvn  neutrality.  My  Lords,  no  simpler,  no  more  dignified  re- 
joinder could,  I  venture  to  say,  have  been  given  to  the  inducements  which  the 
(jcrman  Govern?nent  did  not  hesitate  to  dangle  before  Belgium  as  the  price  of 
Iter  dishonour. 

We  knozv  how  gallantly  Belgium  did  defend  the  neutrality  of  her  soil.  She  has 
emerged  from  the  struggle  bruised  but  indomitable. 

And  I  venture  to  think  that  she  has  come  out  of  this,  the  first  phase  of  a  great 
war,  with  a  halo  of  reputation  of  zchich  any  mighty  Empire  might  zccll  be  proud. 
If  zee  had  been  merely  disinterested  spectators  of  these  events  the  conduct  of 
Belgium  zvould  have  claimed  our  applause  and  our  admiration.  But  zee  are 
not  mere  spectators.  We  are  the  comrades  in  arms  of  Belgium,  zee  are  her 
allies,  we  are  associated  zcith  her  in  this  vast  enterprise,  in  which  our  country 

23 


has  so  tremendous  a  stake,  and  therefore  it  is  that  we  have  to  offer  to  Belgiutn 
not  merely  our  admiration,  but  our  gratitude,  for  the  great  achievement  which 
she  has  accomplished. 

The  noble  Marquess  dzoelt  in  eloquent  words  upon  the  price  which  the  people 
of  Belgium  have  had  to  pay  for  these  great  achievements.  It  has  indeed  been 
a  terrible  price.  We  can,  at  any  rate,  offer  to  them  the  zchole-hearted  syjnpathy 
of  our  people.  And  I  will  take  upon  myself  to  say  this  :  whatever  else  may 
happen  during  the  course  of  the  war — and  it  is  a  war  in  which  there  will  be  no 
doubt  stirring  episodes  and  great  feats  of  arms— nothing  can  happen  which  will 
more  affect  public  opinion  in  this  country  than  the  conduct  of  Belgium  in  this 
short  period  of  time.  Whatever  else  is  forgotten,  that  episode  will  remain 
graven  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  this  country.  I  believe  there  is  not  a 
man  or  woman  within  it  who  does  not  pray  that  in  the  fullness  of  time  we 
may  be  able  to  give  practical  proof  by  our  deeds  of  the  gratitude,  the  sym- 
pathy, and  the  admiration  which  in  feeble  words  we  are  seeking  to  express 
this  evening. 


By  THE   Rt.   Hon.   SIR   ROBERT   BORDEN 

By  Cable 

FOR  the  crime  of  defending  its  territories  against  unprovoked  invasion  by 

a  Power  pledged  to  hold  them  inviolate,  Belgium  has,  with  supreme  fortitude, 

endured  sufferings  and  sacrifices  almost  surpassing  the  imagination  and 

moving  all  humanity  to  an  infinite  compassion. 

As  long  as  the  Love  of  Liberty  shall  endure,  as  long  as  the  character  and 

greatness  of  a  nation  shall  be  measured  by  its  ideals,  the  valour  and  heroism, 

the  faith  and  devotion  of  the  Belgian  People  and  of  their  King  shall  dwell 

in  the  memory  of  men,  and  shall  be  the  exemplar  and  inspiration,  not  of 

Belgium  alone,  but  of  the  world. 


By  JOHN    REDMOND 

THE  Irish  nation  has  many  strong  and  tender  ties  with  Belgium.  We  owe 
her  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  past,  and  there  is  no  nation  in  the  world 
which  has  been  more  profoundly  touched  than  Ireland  by  the  extraordinary 
gallantry  of  the  Belgian  people  and  their  brave  Sovereign.  We  Irishmen 
are  all  glad  to  know  that  men  of  our  race  have  been  at  the  front  helping 
Belgium  to  defend  her  integrity  and  independence,  and  Ireland  sends  to 
King  Albert  an  expression  of  her  deepest  sympathy  and  admiration. 


24 


f 


,*♦ 


!• 


k 


k 


By  ALFRED   NOYES 
The  Redemption  of  Europe 

.   .  .  donee  templa  refeceris. 

Under  ichich  banner  ?    It  zcas  night  ,  < 

Beyond  all  niglitx  that  ever  were. 
The  Cross  zcas  broken.     Blood-stained  might 

Moved  like  a  tiger  from  its  lair  ; 
And  all  that  heaven  had  died  to  quell  i 

Azcoke,  and  mingled  earth  zvith  hell. 

For  Europe,  if  it  held  a  creed, 

Held  it  through  custom,  not  through  Jaith. 
Chaos  returned,  in  dream  and  deed. 

Right  zcas  a  legend  ;  Love — a  zcraith  ; 
And  That  from  zchich  the  zcorld  began 
Was  less  than  even  the  best  in  man. 

God  in  the  image  oj  a  Snake 

Dethroned  that  dream,  too  fond,  too  blind. 
The  man-shaped  God  zchose  heart  could  break, 

Live,  die,  and  triumph  zcith  mankind. 
A  Super-snake,  a  Juggernaut, 
Dethroned  the  highest  of  human  thought. 

The  lists  zcere  set.     The  eternal  foe. 

Within  us  as  zcithout  grezc  strong. 
By  many  a  super-subtle  blozc 

Blurring  the  lines  of  right  and  zcrong 
In  Art  and  Thought,  till  nought  seemed  true 
But  that  soul-slaughtering  cry  of  New  ! 

Nezv  zcreckage  of  the  shrines  zee  made 

Thro'  centuries  of  forgotten  tears  .  .  . 
We  knezv  not  zchere  their  scorn  had  laid 

Our  Master.     Tzvice  a  thousand  years 
Had  dulled  the  uncapricious  Sun. 
Manifold  zcorlds  obscured  the  One  ; 

25 


Obscured  the  reign  of  Law,  our  stay, 

Our  compass  through  this  darkling  sea, 

The  one  sure  light,  the  one  sure  way. 
The  one  firm  base  of  Liberty  ; 

The  07ie  firm  road  that  fnen  have  trod 

Through  Chaos  to  the  Throne  oj  God. 

Choose  ye,  a  hundred  legions  cried. 
Dishonour  or  the  instant  sword  ! 

Ye  chose.     Ye  met  that  blood-stained  tide. 
A  little  kingdom  kept  its  word  ; 

And,  dying,  cried  across  the  flight. 

Hear  us,  O  earth,  we  chose  the  Right  ! 

Whose  is  the  victory  ?     Though  ye  stood 
Alone  against  the  imtneasured  Joe  ; 

By  all  the  tears,  by  all  the  blood 

That  flowed,  and  have  not  ceased  to  flow  ; 

By  all  the  legio?is  that  ye  hurled 

Back,  thro'  the  thunder-shaken  world  ; 

By  the  old  that  have  not  where  to  rest. 

By  lands  laid  waste  and  hearths  defiled  ; 

By  every  lacerated  breast. 

And  every  mutilated  child. 

Whose  is  the  victory  ?    Answer  ye. 

Who,  dying,  smiled  at  tyranny  : 

Under  the  sky's  triumphal  arch 
The  glories  of  the  dawn  begin. 

Our  dead,  our  shadowy  armies  march 

E'en  now,  in  silence,  through  Berlin  ; 

Dumb  shadows,  tattered  blood-stained  ghosts, 

But  cast  by  what  swift  following  hosts  ? 


And  answer,  England  !    At  thy  side, 

Thro'  seas  of  blood,  thro'  mists  of  tears, 
Thou  that  for  Liberty  hast  died 

And  livest,  to  the  end  of  years  ! — 
And  answer,  Earth  !    Far  off,  I  hear 
The  pceans  oj  a  happier  sphere  : 

The  trumpet  blown  at  Marathon 

Resounded  over  earth  and  sea. 
But  burning  angel  lips  have  blown 

The  trumpets  of  thy  Liberty  ; 
For  who,  beside  thy  dead,  could  deem 
The  faith,  for  which  they  died,  a  dream  ? 

Earth  has  not  been  the  same  since  then. 

Europe  from  thee  received  a  soul, 
Whence  nations  moved  in  law,  like  men, 

As  members  of  a  mightier  whole, 
Till  wars  were  ended.   .  .  .  In  that  day^ 
So  shall  our  children  s  children  say.  A  J ^L     /   'Ti 

/  ^ 

By   EARL  CURZON  OF  KEDLESTON 

WHATEVER  the  future  may  have  in  store  for  Belgium,  her  name  and  that 
of  her  heroic  Sovereign,  King  Albert,  will  for  ever  shine  out  in  histor\^  for 
the  noble  stand  which  they  have  made  on  behalf  of  her  own  independence, 
of  international  honour,  and  of  the  liberties  of  mankind. 
For  her  fortitude  she  has  paid  the  penalty  of  a  suffering  unequalled  in  modern 
histor\',  inflicted  by  an  enemy,  to  whose  cruelty  ancient  histor}'  scarcely 
affords  a  parallel. 

Nevertheless  Belgium  by  her  conduct,  and  still  more  by  her  example,  has 
rendered  a  priceless  service  to  humanity,  for  she  has  once  more  taught  the 
world  the  sublime  truth  that  national  honour  is  preferable  to  national 
securitv,  and  that,  though  the  body  may  be  destroyed  the  spirit  is  immortal. 
For  the  moment  a  crown  of  thorns  has  been  pressed  down  upon  her  temples, 
but  Europe,  nay,  the  civilised  world,  will  see  to  it  that  she  is  healed  ot  her 
grievous  wounds  ;  and  some  day,  let  us  hope  before  long,  she  will  live  again 
in  the  recovered  prosperity  of  her  people,  and  the  admiring  gratitude  of 
mankind.  /7 

27 


By  THE  Rt.  Hon.  WINSTON  S.  CHURCHILL 
AT  this  moment  when  their  cities  are  captive,  their  country  under  the 
yoke,  their  government  and  army  forced  into  exile,  the  Belgian  nation  is 
exerting  an  influence  upon  the  destinies  of  Europe  and  of  mankind  beyond 
that  of  great  States  in  the  fullness  of  prosperity  and  power ;  and  from  the 
abyss  of  present  grief  and  suffering  Belgium  looks  out  with  certainty  to  a 
future  more  brilliant  than  any  which  she  could  ever  have  planned. 

By  FREDERIC   HARRISON 

IT  was  the  chief  glory  of  ancient  Athens,  even  when  it  was  acknowledged 
by  the  civilised  world  to  stand  first  in  poetry,  art,  eloquence,  and  grace, 
that  the  men  of  Athens  had  been  "  the  first  to  withstand  and  defeat  the 
terrible  IVIede  in  battle."  So,  the  men  of  Belgium  have  been  the  first  to 
defy  and  stem  the  torrent  over  France  of  the  German  host  which  thought 
itself  invincible  and  went  forth  to  domineer  in  Europe. 
History  tells  us  that  if  the  millions  of  Xerxes  could  have  crushed  Greece 
the  higher  civilisation  of  mankind  would  have  been  arrested.  Just  so, 
modern  civilisation  would  have  been  set  back  if  the  Kaiser's  millions  had 
been  suffered  to  make  their  procession  along  the  Meuse  in  triumph  and 
could  have  reached  Paris  according  to  the  time-table  of  Potsdam.  France, 
Britain,  Europe  owe  an  imperishable  debt  to  Belgium,  that  her  heroic 
constancy  and  valour  prevented  this  monstrous  catastrophe  even  at  the  cost 
of  their  lives,  their  homes,  and  their  children. 

It  is  the  first  duty  of  the  Allies  to  restore  the  noble  people  who  sacrificed 
themselves  for  us — for  peace — for  freedom — for  humanity. 
In  all  modern  history  there  is  no  example  of  a  martyrdom  by  a  whole 
nation — so  cruel — so  generous — so  valiant.  When  France,  Britain,  Russia 
shall  have  crushed  out  this  conspiracy  against  humanity,  when  militarism 
is  extinct  in  Germany — extinct  for  ever  in  the  world — whatever  may  have 
been  the  victories  and  the  achievements  of  the  Allies — still  for  all  time  the 
heroism  of  the  Belgian  people  who  "  first  bore  the  brunt  of  the  terrible 
Mede  "  (as  the  orators  would  say  at  Athens)  will  stand  highest  in  the  record 


of  valour. 


yjrT*^*'^-" 


fy^c^^.'^      >r:?«'^j>r?;v 


By  VISCOUNT   ESHER 

I  SHOULD  not  have  ventured  to  write  in  King  Albert's  Book  were 
it  not  that  my  father-in-law's  name,  "  Sylvain  Van  de  Weyer,"  stands 
with  that  of  Lord  Palmerston  at  the  head  of  the  "  scrap  of  paper,"  so  con- 
temptuously scorned  by  the  German  Chancellor. 

The  Belgian  patriots  of  1830  who  offered  the  throne  to  King  Leopold 
would  have  gloried  in  the  steadfast  valour  of  his  grandson,  and  in  the 
immortal  sufferings  of  the  nation  they  helped  to  call  into  being. 

28 


By  THE   CARDINAL  ARCHBISHOP  OF  PARIS 

C'EST  de  toute  mon  ame  que  j'offre  mon  hommage  a  la  vaillante  nation 

Beige  et  a  son  magnanime  Souverain,  Sa  Majeste  Albert  P'^ 

Mis  en  demeure  de  fouler  aux  pieds  la  foi  juree  ou  de  subir  une  invasion 

sanglante  et  ruineuse,  le  Roi  des  Beiges  et  son  peuple  ont  repondu  :  "  Plutot 

la  mort  que  la  souillure  !  "     Pour  rcsister  a  la  violence  inique  et  barbare 

dont  ils  sont  victimes,  ils  ont  lutte  et  luttent  encore  avec  un  courage  que 

rien  n'abat,  ils  supportent  sans  defaillance  les  pires  calamites.     Honneur 

a  eux  ! 

Leur  heroisme  est  digne  de  toute  admiration,  et  leurs  souffrances  meritent 

toute  sympathie.     Soldats  tombes  en  grand   nombre  sur  les  champs  de 

bataille,    innocents    massacres,    villes    et    villages    inccndies,    monuments 

detruits,  populations  exilees  :    tous  les  malheurs  font  de  la  Belgique  une 

nation  martyre,  et  excitent  la  compassion  de  tous  les  nobles  coeurs. 

Nulle  part  cette  sympathie  nc  saurait  etre  plus  vive  qu'en  France. 

En  se  sacrifiant  pour  defendre  son  honneur  et  son  independance,  la  Belgique 

a  barre  le  chemin  a  I'envahisseur  qui  voulait  ecraser  la  France.     Par  la  elle 

s'est  acquis  des  droits  imperissables  a  la  reconnaissance  de  tous  les  Fran^ais. 

Ceux-ci  ne  seront  point  ingrats. 

Avec  les  Beiges  et  avec  les  Anglais,  nos  glorieux  allies,  nos  armees  com- 

battront  jusqu'au  bout  pour  chasser  I'envahisseur.     Xous  aurons  a  coeur 

de  venir  largement  en  aide  a  nos  freres  en  detresse.     Enfin  nous  supplierons 

le  Dieu  des  justices  de  prendre  en  mains  la  cause  de  ce  peuple,  si  fidele  au 

Christ  et  a  son  Eglise,  et  de  lui  rendre,  avec  un  territoire  libere  et  un 

patrimoine  de  gloire  agrandi,  la  paix  et  la  prosperite. 


TRAXSLAT/OX  by  Florence  Simmonds 
From  the  depths  of  my  soul  I  offer  my  homage  to  (he 
valiant  Belgian  nation  and  to  her  magnanimous 
Sovereign,  His  Majesty  Albert  I. 
Faced  tcith  the  alternative  of  spuming  their  pledged 
Kord  or  submitting  to  a  bloody  and  ruinous  invasion, 
the  King  of  the  Belgians  and  his  people  rtplitd  : 
"  Death  before  dishonour  !  "  In  their  resistance  to 
the  iniquitous  and  barbarous  violence  of  uhich  they 
are  the  victims,  they  have  struggled  and  arc  still 
struggling  tcith  unconquerable  courage — they  endure 
the  worst  calamities  without  flinching.  All  honour 
to  them  ! 

Their  heroism  is  worthy  of  the  highest  admiration 
and  their  sufferings  claim  the  sympathy  of  the  uhole 
world.  Soldiers  fallen  in  vast  numbers  on  the  field 
of  battle,  innocent  creatures  massacred,  totvns  and 
villages  burnt  to  the  ground,  monuments  destroyed, 
populations  exiled  :   such  are  the  horrors  that  have 


Y^^iA^^^y^,  uuui'  ^y^yy^^M^ 


made  Belgium  the  Martyr  Xation,  and  stirred  the 
compassion  of  all  noble  hearts. 

In  no  country  is  this  sympathy  deeper  than  in  France. 
By  sacrificing  herself  in  defence  of  her  honour  and 
independence,  Belgium  blocked  the  invader's  passage 
zvhen  he  aimed  at  crushing  France.  By  so  doing 
she  has  earned  imperishable  rights  and  the  gratitude 
of  all  French  people. 
They  will  not  be  ungrateful. 

With  the  Belgians  and  the  English,  our  glorious 
.Allies,  our  armies  will  fight  to  the  end  to  drive  out 
the  invader,  ll'c  shall  make  it  a  point  of  honour  to 
come  generously  to  the  assistance  of  our  brothers  in 
distress.  Finally,  we  shall  pray  to  the  God  of  Justice 
to  uphold  the  cause  of  a  people  so  faithful  to  Christ 
and  to  His  Church,  and  to  grant  them  peace  and 
prosperity  in  a  free  land  with  an  increased  patrimony 
of  ghry. 


29 


By   PIERRE   LOTI 

Deux  Pauvres  Petits  Oisillons  de  Belgique 

UN  soir,  dans  une  de  nos  villes  du  sud,  un  train  de  refugies  beiges  venait 
d'entrer  en  gare,  et  les  pauvres  martyrs  un  a  un  descendaient  lentement, 
extenues  et  ahuris,  sur  ce  quai  inconnu,  ou  des  fran^ais  les  attendaient  pour 
les  recueillir.  Trainant  avec  eux  quelques  hardes  prises  au  hasard,  ils 
etaient  montes  dans  ces  voitures  sans  meme  se  demander  oil  elles  les  con- 
duiraient,  ils  etaient  montes  dans  la  hate  de  fuir,  d'eperdument  fuir  devant 
I'horreur  et  la  mort,  devant  le  feu,  devant  les  indicibles  mutilations  et  les 
viols  sadiques,  —  devant  tout  ce  qui  ne  semblait  plus  possible  sur  la  Terre, 
mais  qui  couvait  encore,  parait-il,  au  fond  des  pietistes  cervelles  allemandes, 
et  qui  tout  a  coup  s'etait  deverse,  sur  leur  pays  et  sur  le  notre,  comme  un 
dernier  vomissement  des  barbaries  originelles.  lis  n'avaient  plus  ni  village, 
ni  foyer,  ni  famille,  ceux  qui  arrivaient  la  sans  but,  comme  des  epaves,  et 
la  detresse  effaree  etait  dans  les  yeux  de  tous.  Beaucoup  d'enfants,  de 
petites  filles,  dont  les  parents  s'etaient  perdus  au  milieu  des  incendies  ou 
des  batailles.  Et  aussi  des  aieules,  maintenant  seules  au  monde,  qui  avaient 
fui  sans  trop  savoir  pourquoi,  ne  tenant  plus  a  vivre  mais  poussees  par  un 
obscur  instinct  de  conservation  ;  leur  figure,  a  celles-la,  n'exprimait  plus 
rien,  pas  meme  le  desespoir,  comme  si  vraiment  leur  ame  etait  partie  et 
leur  tete  videe. 

Deux  tout  petits,  perdus  dans  cette  foule  lamentable,  se  tenaient  serres  par 
la  main,  deux  petits  garfons,  visiblement  deux  petits  freres,  I'aine,  qui 
avait  peut-etre  cinq  ans,  protegeant  le  plus  jeune  qui  pouvait  bien  en  avoir 
trois.  Personne  ne  les  reclamait,  personne  ne  les  connaissait.  Comment 
avaient-ils  compris,  trouves  tout  seuls,  qu'il  fallait  monter  dans  ce  train,  eux 
aussi,  pour  ne  pas  mourir  ?  Leurs  vetements  etaient  convenables  et  ils 
portaient  des  petits  bas  de  laine  bien  chauds  ;  on  devinait  qu'ils  devaient 
appartenir  a  des  parents  modestes,  mais  soigneux  ;  sans  doute  etaient-ils 
fils  de  I'un  de  ces  sublimes  soldats  beiges,  tombes  heroiquement  au  champ 
d'honneur,  et  qui  avait  du  avoir  pour  eux,  au  moment  de  la  mort,  une 
supreme  pensee  de  tendresse.  lis  ne  pleuraient  meme  pas,  tant  ils  etaient 
aneantis  par  la  fatigue  et  le  sommeil ;  a  peine  s'ils  tenaient  debout.  lis 
etaient  incapables  de  repondre  quand  on  les  questionnait,  mais  surtout 
ils  ne  voulaient  pas  se  lacher,  non.  Enfin  le  grand  aine,  crispant  toujours 
sa  main  sur  celle  de  I'autre,  dans  la  peur  de  le  perdre,  prit  tout  a  coup 
conscience  de  son  role  de  protecteur  et  trouva  la  force  de  parler  a  la  dame 
a  brassard  penchee  vers  lui  : 

"  Madame,"  dit-il,  d'une  toute  petite  voix  suppliante  et  deja  a  moitie 
endormie,  "  Madame,  est-ce  qu'on  va  nous  coucher  ?  "  Pour  le  moment, 
c'etait  tout  ce  qu'ils  etaient  capables  de  souhaiter  encore,  tout  ce  qu'ils 
attendaient  de  la  pitie  humaine  :  qu'on  vouliit  bien  les  coucher.  Vite  on 
les  coucha,  ensemble  bien  entendu,  et  ils  s'endormirent  aussitot,  se  tenant 
toujours  par  la  main  et  presses  I'un  contre  I'autre,  a  la  meme  minute  plonges 
tous  les  deux  dans  la  tranquille  inconscience  des  sommeils  enfantins.  .  .  . 


Une  fois,  il  y  a  longtemps,  dans  la  mer  de  Chine,  pendant  la  guerre,  deux 
petits  oiseaux  etourdis,  deux  minuscules  petits  oiseaux,  moindres  encore  que 
nos  roitelets,  etaient  arrives  je  ne  sais  comment  a  bord  de  notre  cuirasse, 
dans  I'appartement  de  notre  amiral,  et,  tout  le  jour,  sans  que  personne  du 
reste  cherchat  a  leur  faire  peur,  ils  avaient  volete  la  de  cote  et  d'autre,  se 
perchant  sur  les  corniches  ou  sur  les  plantcs  vertes. 

La  nuit  venue,  je  les  avais  oublies,  quand  I'amiral  me  fit  appeler  chcz  lui. 
C'etait  pour  me  les  montrer,  et  avec  attendrissement,  les  deux  petits  visiteurs, 
qui  etaient  alles  se  coucher  dans  sa  chambre,  poses  d'une  patte  sur  un  frele 
cordon  de  soie  qui  passait  au-dessus  de  son  lit.  Bien  pres,  bien  pres  I'un 
de  I'autre,  devenus  deux  petites  boules  de  plumes  qui  se  touchaient  et  se 
confondaient  presque,  ils  dormaient  sans  la  moindre  crainte,  comme  tres 
surs  de  notre  pitie.  .  .  . 

Et  ces  pauvres  petits  beiges,  endormis  cote  a  cote,  m'ont  fait  penser  aux 
deux  oisillons  perdus  au  milieu  de  la  mcr  de  Chine.  C'etait  bien  la  meme 
confiance  et  le  meme  innocent  sommeil  ;  —  mais  des  sollicitudes  beaucoup 
plus  douces  encore  allaient  veiller  sur  eux.  .  .  .      ^^  ^ 

6    Uc^Uxx—   <^oC:^ 


TRAXSLATIOX  hy  Florence  Simmonds 
Two  Poor  Little  Bel(;ian  Fledglings 
At  evening  in  one  of  our  sou/hern  touns,  a  train  full 
of  Belgian  refugees  ran  into  the  station,  and  the  poor 
martyrs,  exhausted  and  betvildered,  got  out  sloivly, 
one  by  one,  on  the  unfamiliar  platform,  uhere  Fretich 
people  u-ere  uaiting  to  receive  them.  Carrying  a  few 
possessions  caught  up  at  random,  thcv  had  got  into 
the  carriages  tiithout  even  asking  tvhither  they  ucrc 
bound,  urged  by  their  anxiety  to  flee,  to  flee  desperately 
from  horror  and  death,  from  unspeakable  mutilation 
and  Sadie  outrage — from  things  that  seemed  no  longer 
possible  in  the  zvorld,  hut  tvhich,  it  seems,  uere  lying 
dormant  in  pietistic  German  brains,  and  had  suddenly 
belched  forth  upon  their  land  and  ours,  like  a  belated 
manifestation  of  original  barbarism.  They  no  Icnger 
possessed  a  village,  nor  a  heme,  nor  a  family  ;  they 
arrived  like  jetsom  cast  up  by  the  uatcrs,  and  the  eyes 
of  all  were  full  of  terrified  anguish.  Many  children, 
little  girls  whose  parents  had  disappeared  in  the  stress 
of  fire  and  battle  ;  and  aged  women,  now  alone  in  the 
world,  who  had  fied,  hardly  knowing  why,  no  longer 
caring  for  life,  but  moved  by  some  obscure  instinct  of 
self-p  reser  va  lion . 

Two  little  creatures,  lest  in  the  pitiable  throng,  held 
each  other  tightly  by  the  hand,  two  little  boys  obviously 
brothers,  the  elder,  who  may  have  been  five  years 
old,  protecting  the  younger,  of  about  three.  No  one 
claimed  them,  no  one  knew  them.  How  had  they 
been  able  to  understand,  finding  themselves  alone, 
that  they  too  must  get  into  this  train,  to  escape  death  ? 
Their  clothes  were  decent,  and  their  little  stockings  were 
thick  and  warm  ;  clearly  they  belonged  to  humble 
but  careful  parents  ;  they  were,  doubtless,  the  sons  of 
one  of  those  sublime  lielgian  soldiers  who  had  fallen 
heroically  on  the  battle-field,  and  whose  last  thought 
had  perhaps  been  one  of  supreme  tenderness  for  them. 


They  were  not  even  crying,  so  ozercome  were  they  by 
fatigue  and  sleepiness ;  they  could  scarcely  stand. 
They  could  not  answer  when  they  were  questioned, 
but  they  seemed  intent,  above  all,  upon  keeping 
a  tight  hold  of  each  other.  Finally  the  elder, 
clasping  the  little  one's  hand  closely,  as  if  fearing  to 
lose  him,  seemed  to  awake  to  a  sense  of  his  duty  as 
protector,  and,  half  asleep  already,  found  strength  to 
say,  in  a  suppliant  tone,  to  the  Red  Cross  lady  bend- 
ing over  him  :  "  Madame,  are  they  going  to  put  us 
to  bed  soon  ?  "  For  the  moment  this  was  all  they 
were  capable  of  wishing,  all  that  they  hoped  for  from 
human  pity  :    to  be  put  to  bed. 

They  were  put  to  bed  at  once,  together,  of  course, 
still  holding  each  other  tightly  by  the  hand,  and 
nestling  one  against  the  other,  they  fell  at  the  same 
moment  into  the  tranquil  unconsciousness  of  childish 
slumber. 

Once,  long  ago,  in  the  China  Sea,  during  the  war, 
two  little  frightened  birds,  smaller  even  than  our  wrens, 
arrived  I  know  not  how,  on  board  our  iron-clad,  in 
our  admiral's  cabin,  and  all  day  long,  though  no  one 
attempted  to  disturb  them,  they  fluttered  from  side 
to  side,  perching  on  cornices  and  plants. 
At  nightfall,  when  I  had  forgotten  them,  the  admiral 
sent  for  me.  It  was  to  show  me,  not  without  emotion, 
the  two  little  visitors,  who  had  gone  to  roost  in  his 
room,  perched  upon  a  slctuler  silken  cord  above  his 
bed.  They  nestled  closely  together,  two  little  balls  of 
feathers,  touching  and  almost  merged  one  in  the  other, 
and  slept  without  the  slightest  fear,  sure  of  our  pity. 
And  those  little  Belgians  sleeping  side  by  side  made 
me  think  of  the  two  little  birds  lost  in  the  China  Sea. 
There  was  the  same  confidence,  and  the  same  innocent 
slumber  ;  —  but  a  greater  tenderness  was  about  to 
watch  over  them. 

31 


By  THE   Right  Hon.   DAVID   LLOYD   GEORGE 

IT  has  been  the  privilege  of  httle  nations  at  different  periods  in  the  history 
of  the  world  to  render  some  signal  service  to  civilisation.  That  duty  Belgium 
has  now  been  called  upon  to  render  to  European  civilisation,  and  nobly  has 
she  answered  the  call. 

It  is  her  heroism  that  has  forced  Prussian  Junkerdom,  its  character,  and  its 
designs,  into  the  light  of  day.  As  long  as  it  intrigued  against  France,  Russia, 
or  Britain,  it  might  have  continued  to  take  cover  under  some  plausible, 
diplomatic  pretext  ;  but  to  assail  Belgium  it  had  to  come  into  the  open, 
where  its  arrogance,  its  brutality,  and  its  aggressiveness  became  manifest 
to  the  world.  It  was  Belgian  valour  that  exposed  the  sinister  character  of 
Prussian  militarism,  and  when  that  menace  is  finally  overthrown  the  most 
honourable  share  in  the  triumph  will  be  due  to  Belgian  sacrifice. 
This  unfortunate  country  is  now  overwhelmed  by  the  barbarian  flood  ;  but 
when  the  sanguinary  deluge  subsides  Belgium  will  emerge  a  great  and  a 
glorious  land  which  every  lover  of  liberty  will  honour,  and  every  tyrant 
henceforth  shun. 


By  EARL  KITCHENER  OF  KHARTOUM 
I  SINCERELY  hope  that  this  book  may  accomplish  its  twofold  object  of 
bearing  further  testimony  to  our  admiration  of  the  courage  and  devotion 
to  duty  shown  by  King  Albert  and  his  Army,  and  of  securing  material  help 
and  comforts  for  the  Belgians  who  have  suffered  so  terribly  at  the  hands  of 
an  invading  enemy. 


yK: 


By  FRIDTJOF  NANSEN 

IT  is  a  great  privilege  to  have  obtained  such  an  opportunity  as  this  book 

affords  of  expressing  the  deepest  sympathy  of  the  citizen  of  a  small  nation 

for  the  gallant  people  and  the  noble  King  and  Queen  of  Belgium. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  one's  heart  goes  out  to  this  people  whose  fate  is 

the  most  cruel  tragedy  of  modern  history.     But  words  seem  weak  and  of 

little  value  when  one  thinks  of  the  distress  of  a  splendid  people  who  have 

fought  so  nobly  and  sacrificed  so  much  for  their  freedom  and  their  country. 


^ 


32 


By  WILLIAM   WATSON 
To  His  Majesty  King  Albert 

Receive,  from  one  who  hath  not  lavished  praise 
On  many  Princes,  nor  zvas  ever  azved 
By  Empire  such  as  grovelling  slaves  applaud, 

U  ho  cast  their  souls  into  its  altar-blaze, — 

Receive  the  homage  that  a  freeman  pays 

To  Kinghood  fiozcering  out  of  Manhood  broad, 
Kinghood  that  toils  uncovetous  of  laud, 

Loves  zvhom  it  rules,  and  serves  the  realm  it  sways. 

For  when  Your  people,  caught  in  agony's  net, 

Rose  as  one  dauntless  heart,  their  King  was  found 

Worthy  on  such  a  throne  to  have  been  set. 

Worthy  by  such  as  They  to  have  been  crowned  ; 

And  loftier  praise  than  this  did  never  yet 

On  mortal  cars  from  lips  of  mortals  sound. 

DM.- 


By  THE   Hon.  JOSEPH   H.   CHOATE 

UNDER  the  gallant  lead  of  the  heroic  Belgian  King,  his  down-trodden 

and  afflicted  people  have  been   fighting    for  liberty,   and  to  maintain  the 

plighted  faith  of  nations,  which  guaranteed  it  to  them.     Those  who  were 

guilty  of  an  awful  breach  of  faith,  confessed  their  crime  while  in  the  act  of 

committing  it,  and  pleaded  necessity,  to  absolve  them  from  all  law,  a  plea 

which  the  whole  civilised  world  refuses  to  accept. 

For  their  bold  stand  for  right  and  dutv,  the  Belgians,  guiltless  of  all  offence, 

have  been  overwhelmed  by  numbers,  trampled  in  the  dust,  and  reduced  to 

starvation,   their   homes   destroyed,   their   whole   country   devastated   and 

converted  into  a  human  slaughter-house. 

In  this  sad  plight,  thev  have  deserved  and  are  receiving  the  sympathy  and 

the  helping  hand  of  people  of  every  civilised  nation  in  this  hour  of  their  dire 

distress. 

I  am  glad  to  know  that  my  country-men  are  sending  material  relief  to  the 

sufferers,  and  with  it  the  hearts  of  our  people  go  out  to  them  and  their 

brave  King,  in  human  sympathv,  unfeigned  and  unrestrained. 

As  neutrals,  by  international  law  and  by  our  own  law,  our  hands  are  tied 

and  will  remain  so.     But  our  hearts  go  whither  they  list. 


33 


RobertBrowning    "ONE  WIO NEVER  TURNED  HIS  BACK' 

(Irom  Asolando)  i 

^Allegro  (J -69) 


Alexander  C. 
Mackenzie . 


moUo  moderato,  alia  inancuL.im  - 100) 


Wli        l^>^-fe: 


#    -«  One  who  never  turned  his  bade  but  marched  breastforward.         Never  doubtedcloudswould  break 


I 


-r-^ltX  r  1 


m 


nilf  Ta^' 


fc^  KY  g: 


•     • 


■/>-^  ^'^  i  >  ^^ 


^ 


l^^nji^ 


^^ 


Never  dreamed  though  right  were  v/orsted,       wrong       would  triumph. 


^*  « ; J »  __  ♦  •      _sL 


^emp. 


ire 


]^ 


3S 


=^:£^ 


fr< 


^^- 


accelerando 


>    sempre 


-SiA  l> 


/^/!/^^-^^ 


By   SIR  WILLIAM   RAMSAY 

EVERY  scientific  man  who  is  not  a  Teuton  (and  I  hope  and  trust  many 
who  are  of  German  race)  deplores  the  barbarity,  incredible  if  it  were  not 
true,  with  which  Belgium  has  been  treated.  We  had  hoped  that  the  univer- 
sality of  the  spread  of  science,  both  pure,  and  applied  to  industry,  would 
have  made  it  impossible  for  any  nation  to  revert  to  barbarism,  and  to  destroy 
what  it  has  taken  so  many  centuries  to  create.  The  scientific  achievements 
of  the  Belgians  has  always  stood  on  the  highest  plane  ;  to  quote  only  two 
instances,  taken  from  my  own  subject,  the  name  of  Stas,  in  pure  science, 
and  of  Solvay,  in  applied  science,  are  among  the  most  illustrious  in  their 
particular  spheres,  which  the  world  has  ever  produced. 
We  can  only  extend  to  the  Belgians  our  most  heartfelt  sympathy,  and  assure 
them,  in  the  person  of  their  Sovereign,  that  we  shall  spare  no  efl^ort,  when 
the  time  comes,  to  aid  Belgium  to  regain  that  place  among  the  nations 
which  she  has  filled  with  so  much  credit  in  the  past.  Complete  restitution 
of  all  she  has  lost  will  be  impossible  ;  but  much  can,  and  no  doubt  will  be 
done  to  recompense  her  for  having,  alone  and  unaided,  repelled  for  a  time 
successfully  the  invasion  of  barbaric  hordes,  and  enabled  the  progressive 
races  of  Europe  to  repel  the  incursions  of  those  who  would  subject  them 
to  an  era  of  retrogression  in  Arts,  Science,  and  Literature. 

By  THE  Hon.  WILLIAM  H.  TAFT 

THE  heart  of  the  world  should  go  out  to  the  poor  people  of  Belgium. 
Without  being  in  any  respect  a  party  to  the  controversies  of  the  war,  their 
country  has  been  made  the  battle-ground  of  the  greatest,  and  in  some 
respects  the  most  destructive  war  in  history.  Any  movement  to  relieve 
their  distress  has  my  profound  sympathy. 


By   SIR  W.   B.   RICHMOND,   R.A. 

"  The  Crown  of  Peace  " 

Sweet  Peace  rises  out  of  the  flaines  of  War  which  give  tcay  to  her  bejiign 
Beauty  :  she  brings  zcith  Her  an  immortal  croiai  which  she  presents  to  a 
Brave  King  and  People  who  have  saved  Europe  from  Barbarian  hordes 
by  tlieir  sacrifice  and  heroism. 

Dedicated  to  the  Great  King  of  the  Noble  Belgians, 
WHO  have  saved  Europe  from  the  Barbarians. 

In  respect, 

36 


i 


IT  ti 


By  ARNOLD   BENNETT 
The  Return 

TWENTY  years  ago  I  learnt  one  day  by  chance  that  the  first-class  return 
fare  from  London  to  Ostend  by  steamer  was  only  half  a  guinea.  I  had 
always  imagined  that  "the  Continent"  could  only  be  visited  by  rich  people, 
— certainly  not  by  clerks.  For  me  it  was  a  region  beyond  the  borders  of 
my  hopes  for  ages  to  come.  The  fact  that  the  cost  of  reaching  the  Continent 
from  London  was  much  less  than  half  of  the  cost  of  reaching  my  own  home 
in  the  Midlands  struck  me  such  a  blow  in  the  back  as  wakes  up  a  man  dozing 
on  the  high-road  and  sends  him  staggering  forward  on  his  way. 
At  the  earliest  opportunity  I  boarded  the  Ostend  steamer,  somewhere  near 
London  Bridge,  and  saw,  first,  the  marvels  of  the  Port  of  London.  I  had 
lived  in  London  several  years  and  never  realised  that  it  was  a  port — to  say 
nothing  of  being  the  largest  port  in  the  world.  I  next  realised,  tossing  in 
the  small  steamer  at  sea,  that  Great  Britain  really  was  an  island — a  fact  with 
which  I  had  hitherto  been  only  intellectually  familiar,  from  enforced  study 
of  a  school  geography.  These  were  remarkable  experiences,  but  they  were 
naught  in  comparison  with  the  sensation  of  first  seeing  a  foreign  land.  I 
descried  a  lighthouse,  a  long  line  of  pale  hotels,  and  the  grandiose  outlines 
of  the  Kursaal.  I  said  to  myself  with  awe  : 
"  That  is  the  Continent  !  " 

It  seemed  fabulous,  dream-like,  impossible.  The  steamer  touched  the  quay, 
threw  out  ropes,  and  was  moored.  I  stepped  ashore.  I  was  on  Belgian 
soil,  the  first  foreign  soil  my  feet  had  ever  touched.  I  saw  strange  archi- 
tecture, strange  costumes  ;  I  heard  strange  sounds  and  strange  languages. 
Ever^'thing  was  romantic.  Even  the  tramcar  was  inexpressibly  romantic  ; 
the  postmen  with  their  little  horns  were  fantastic,  and  the  cafes  each  a  quaint 
paradise  of  good  cheer.  I  was  so  moved  by  the  sheer  romance  of  the  affair 
that  I  could  not  speak.  I  said  to  myself  : 
"  I  actually  am  on  the  Continent." 

I  could  hardly  believe  it.  It  was  too  good,  and  too  astounding,  too  over- 
whelming, to  be  true. 

Yet  it  was  true.  And  after  a  time  I  grew  somewhat  accustomed,  though 
never  entirely  accustomed,  to  the  feeling— though  since  then  I  have  lived 
on  the  Continent  for  many  years. 

My  emotion  as  I  first  walked  about  in  Ostend  (looking  no  doubt  a  queer 
enough  uncouth  gaping  English  figure)  was  one  of  the  emotions  that  I  could 
not  conceivably  forget,  one  of  the  major  formative  emotions  of  my  whole 
life.  And  therefore,  among  all  the  cities  and  countries  of  the  Continent 
Ostend  and  Belgium  hold  a  unique  position  in  my  souvenirs.  I  have  gone 
to  Belgium  frequently  since  then.  I  have  entered  by  sea  at  Antwerp,  and 
by  train  from  Paris,  and  I  have  sailed  right  into  Bruges  in  my  yacht — and 
each  time  I  have  had  the  same  thrill,  recalling  my  first  visit. 
From  Ostend,  on  that  first  visit,  I  went  to  Bruges,  and  there  understood 
for  the  first  time  what  a  historical  city  of  art  could  be.     Bruges  was  to  me 

C  37 


incredible  in  its  lofty  and  mellow  completeness.  It  was  a  town  in  a  story  ; 
its  inhabitants  were  characters  out  of  unread  novels ;  its  chimes  were  magic 
from  the  skies.  It  had  not  a  street  that  was  not  a  vision.  Even  the  railway- 
station  at  Bruges  had  some  of  the  characteristics  of  a  cathedral.  .  .  Thence 
to  Ghent,  where  the  same  kind  of  wondrous  picturesqueness  was  united  to 
the  spectacle  of  commerce  .  .  .  Thence  to  Brussels — the  capital.  What 
boulevards,  what  parks,  what  palaces,  what  galleries,  what  cafes,  and  above 
all  what  restaurants !  The  symmetry  and  the  elegance  of  the  civic  organism ! 
England  held  nothing  like  it.  I  had  imagined  nothing  like  it.  "A  con- 
tinental capital  !  "  I  felt  as  though  I  could  live  in  Brussels  for  ever.  .  .  . 
Thence  to  Malines,  of  the  unequalled  carillon.  Thence  to  Antwerp,  a  kind 
of  complementar}'  and  utterly  different  sister-capital  to  Brussels.  .  .  . 
Thence  southwards  to  Roulers  with  its  industr}^  and  the  unique  Ypres, 
with  its  cloth-hall  and  its  ramparts.  .  .  .  Thence  to  Namur,  with  the  first 
glimpse  of  the  Meuse  !  .  .  .  .  Thence  to  Dinant,  with  its  cliffs  and  its 
tower,  and  on  to  little  Anseremme,  where  one  could  have  a  bed  and  four 
meals  and  a  bathe  in  the  Meuse  for  four  francs  a  day  !  .  .  .  The  whole 
countr\-  was  a  museum  of  architecture,  art,  and  history.  It  was  full  of  the 
amenities  of  civilisation.  Ever}'where  were  parks  and  miusic.  In  each  town 
was  an  opera,  and  galleries  containing  masterpieces. 

In  twenty-four  days — and  nights — I  saw  it  all,  with  a  most  ridiculous  in- 
expensiveness,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  twenty-fourth  day  I  embarked  at 
Ostend  again.  I  hated  to  leave  Belgium.  The  prospect  of  plain,  unpoetic 
England  was  offensive  to  me.  But  I  had  to  go.  And  when  I  reached 
London,  strange  to  say,  I  began  to  perceive  what  a  wonderful  place  London 
was.  Belgium  has  taught  me  to  appreciate  London.  Moreover  there  was 
a  peculiar  feel  about  London  and  England.  It  was  the  feel  of  the  city  to  its 
own  citizen,  and  of  the  countr}^  to  its  native. 

And  now,  what  I  imagine  is  the  ultimate  return,  by  Ostend,  by  Zeebrugge, 
by  Antwerp,  and  by  the  trains  from  the  south,  of  exiled  Belgians  into 
Belgium  !  Their  thrill  will  far  outdo  the  thrill  of  the  eager  ingenuous 
tourist.  I  imagine  their  gaze  from  the  sea  towards  the  whiteness  of  Ostend, 
and  from  the  Scheldt  towards  the  steeples  of  Antwerp.  They  will  pass 
through  emotions — at  once  tragic  and  triumphant,  terrible  and  exquisite — 
such  as  fate  has  accorded  to  no  other  people  in  the  modern  age.  Confronted 
by  ruin  and  desolation,  appalled  by  the  immense  task  of  reconstruction  that 
lies  before  them,  saddened  by  the  recollection  of  indescribable  woe,  im- 
poverished and  bereaved  but  not  enfeebled,  they  will  be  heartened  by  the 
obstinate  courage  which  through  every  disaster  has  kept  them  a  nation,  and 
by  the  living  splendid  hope  of  the  future.  Not  into  a  museum  will  they 
be  entering,  but  into  a  house  and  an  environment  which  their  ancestors 
and  they  themselves  created,  and  of  which  they  profoundly  compre- 
hend the  secret  significance,  and  which,  however  defaced  and  blackened, 
they  will  slowly  restore  again  to  the  full  expression  of  the  soul  of  a 
nation.  .  .  . 
38 


And  I  seem  to  be  already  present  at  a  great,  unexampled,  sacred  occasion 
of  solemn  rejoicing  in  Brussels,  and  to  stand  amid  silent  crowds  on  the 
pavement  of  the  Boulevard  Anspach,  while  the  young  veterans  of  the  Belgian 
army  go  by,  and  the  cannons,  and  the  flags,  and  then  the  youthful  King, 
with  his  Queen,  a  crowned  monarch  who  has  earned  a  nation's  aff^ection 
perhaps  more  nobly  than  a  nation's  afi^ection  ever  was  earned  before.  And 
there  is  a  vast  deafening  cheer,  that  shakes  the  tears  out  of  the  eyes.  And 
in  ever}'  chastened  and  bursting  heart  lies  like  a  miraculous  solace  the  new- 
proved  conviction  that  righteousness  prevails.  ^  . 


By   SIR  JOSEPH   LARMOR 

THE  Belgian  nation  has  sacrificed  herself  without  measure,  not  only  for  the 
sake  of  her  own  independence,  but  to  assert  the  right  of  the  States  of  Europe 
each  to  pursue  her  own  national  development,  free  from  the  pressure  of  an 
iron  mould  imposed  by  ruthless  foreign  domination.  In  the  Middle  Ages 
Flanders  was  a  centre  of  art  and  learning  and  industr}^  in  a  Renaissance 
which  vied  with  the  revival  in  Italy.  She  has  now  enhanced  her  right  to 
the  possession  of  her  great  monuments  of  the  past  by  a  new  renown.  The 
burning  light  of  her  patriotism,  now  shining  upon  the  world,  has  created  a 
new  and  unwavering  faith  in  the  nobility  of  her  destiny,  which  the  tragedy 
of  her  present  misfortunes  will  keep  ever  bright.  We  can  look  fonvard  with 
confidence  to  a  renewed  and  transfigured  Belgium,  occupying  in  the  future, 
under  her  heroic  dynasty,  an  honoured  place  in  the  family  of  the  free  nations 
of  Europe. 


By   MADELEINE  LUCETTE  RYLEY 

To  THE  Victors  belong  the  Spoils  ! 

The  Victor  true  is  he  uho  conquers  fear. 
Who  knows  no  time  save  now — no  place  but  here. 
Who  counts  no  cost — zcho  only  plays  the  game, 
To  him  shall  go  the  prize — Immortal  Fame  ! 

To  the  Illustrious  Ruler  and  his  Gallant 
Little  Nation,  whose  heroism  and  bravery 
are  surely  unparalleled  in  the  whole  of 
our  World's  History,  I  bozo  my  head  in 
respectful  homage. 


By  THE   Rt.   Hon.  A.   BONAR  LAW 

IN  July  of  this  year  there  was  no  part  of  the  world  more  peaceful  and 
prosperous  than  the  little  country  of  Belgium.  There  the  monuments  of 
ancient  art,  of  learning  and  of  piety  stood  out  in  bold  relief  in  the  midst 
of  an  industrial  development  which  was  scarcely  equalled,  which  was  no- 
where surpassed  in  any  country  in  the  world. 

In  a  moment,  almost  without  warning,  this  smiling  garden  of  industry  was 
turned  into  a  scene  of  bitterest  desolation,  not  by  a  convulsion  of  nature 
but  by  the  cruelty  of  man.  In  a  struggle  which  was  not  sought  by  them, 
which  no  forbearance  or  wisdom  on  the  part  of  their  rulers  could  have 
averted,  the  Belgian  people,  by  what  they  have  done  and  by  what  they  have 
endured,  have  won  for  themselves  immortal  fame. 

But  for  the  unexpected  and  heroic  resistance  of  the  small  Belgian  Army, 
the  German  hosts  would  have  hurled  themselves  against  the  French  Army 
before  it  had  been  mobilised.  Belgium  averted  a  terrible  disaster  to  us  and 
to  our  Allies,  but  at  what  a  cost  to  herself  ?  She  is  for  the  moment  a  nation 
without  a  fatherland  ;  but  the  soul  of  the  nation  is  living  still,  is  living  in 
her  brave  soldiers,  is  living  in  King  Albert,  who  has  shown  to  the  modern 
world  what  can  be  done  by  a  Hero-King. 

As  a  nation  we  long  for  a  successful  end  to  this  terrible  war,  which  is  filUng 
with  mourning  so  many  of  our  homes,  but  it  can  never  end  till  the  wrongs 
of  Belgium  have  been  avenged  and  expiated.         ^  . 


By  ADMIRAL   LORD   CHARLES   BERESFORD 

THE  conscience  of  the  whole  civilised  world  is  shocked  at  the  odious 
barbarities  perpetrated  on  the  gallant  Belgian  nation  by  the  ruthless, 
cowardly,  and  savage  action  of  Germany  in  her  efforts  to  smash  Belgium's 
independence. 

The  Belgians  have  been  fighting  a  battle  for  liberty,  humanity,  and  civilisa- 
tion ;  they  have  also  been  fighting  a  battle  for  the  French  as  well  as  the 
British,  and  though  thousands  of  her  best  have  been  killed  and  wounded, 
and  her  civil  population,  including  women  and  children,  have  been  driven 
from  their  homes  and  martyred  in  the  cause  of  their  country,  her  youth  are 
still  fighting  for  justice  and  freedom. 

When  this  wicked  war  is  over,  the  first  duty  of  the  allies  must  be  to  enforce 
every  compensation  that  is  possible  from  the  brutal  nation  that  has  ravaged 
Belgium. 

Germany  has  scorned  the  laws  of  God  and  man  ;    her  fiendish  savageries 
have  proved  that  German  militarism  is  a  disgrace  to  humanity. 
Sympathy,  respect,  and  admiration  for  Belgium  is  universal  and  international 
in  the  cruel  wrongs  she  has  sufl^ered  for  the  cause  of  liberty  and  the  rights 
of  small  States.  n^  r  ,    ^ 


I' 


Z/' 


ir 


UQMMAGE  DE  RESPECT  ET  DAVMIJIATWX  AU  ROIHEIKJS  S.  M.  ALliEliT  I'l,  Rul  DES  BEIGES. 

POUR    LA   PATRIE 

POEM   BY 

VICTOR    HUGO 

MUSIC   BY 

ANDRE    MESSAGER. 


Chant. 


Piano. 


.   jt       Maestoso,  rum  troppo  Itnto. 


^^e 


V— /— »'-y-' 


i     u  -a"± 


W^ 


Maestoso,  non  troppo  lento,  a  =  '0.  Ceux       qui,  pi-eu  se-ment, 


sont     morts     pour  la  ixv  ■ 


Grave.  ,  , 


u 


^  2  2  _^^ ^ ^ ML 


S31 


33 S- 


H — !f^ 


J  •--j»-» — * 1 — 


r  r    --• 


r 


^ 


m 


'm 


— 4Wv  *     * — 


-^ «— 1    _^iz:rr: 

=g  o  I- 


V 


44^ — 


-NH- 


-4- 


:^i== 


tri      -      -       c       Ont      droit     qu'li  leur       cer  -  cueil 


l;i      fou  -  le  vienne  et    pri     -    j_  e,     Ont 


^  *  J. fe*^^ *— .    I     -;-      !     -g— , *-g*'  -^    *  1--^-      i  ,T  I    '    ^r^  '     J-r 

—  — '  1  -o-  'I  -cr 


i^ 


f 


=f5- 


3ir; 


T-p 


# 


droit    qu'ii  leur      ccr  -   cueil 


i^ 


J. 


^^ 


la       fou   -   le  vienne  ct        pri 


ESt 


@6^di|s^s 


-*-       -#-       -*-       ^*-       *. 


^f2H^3 


■Tjsc- 


3t=*: 


:^^ ^ 


m^^. 


m    d        m- 


■oi  • 


g^ 


=t= 


pciScl 


En  -  tre  les  plus  beaux   noms 


leur     nom 


est      Ic  jiUis    beau. 


I- 


- -•— « 5^ -—J 


I 


^ 


^zl^7f=^^i&3^>^^^5^-^fe|-^iiis^-TE 


Sig 


^ SJ-^ 1 


5fe 


I     I      .-■ 


^-5FJ^^--f^^^, 


fc 


?^: 


=^ 


41 


By   FLORA  ANNIE   STEEL 

Sunrise 

THE  shells  had  been  shrieking  and  screaming  all  day  long  ;  but  now  that 
the  dusk  had  fallen  they  were  silent. 

So  on  this  All  Souls'  night  the  moon  could  rise,  still,  silver}',  serene  over 
the  ruined  village.  And  the  cold,  remote  radiance  softened  the  charred 
glow  of  still  burning  rafters  to  cool  glimmerings,  and  made  the  little  trails 
of  smoke  rising  from  them  show  like  incense  seeking  the  star-strewn  sky. 
Carven  stones  heaped  high  in  weird  shapeless  piles  showed  where  for  count- 
less generations  the  village  church  had  stood  ;  and  high  amongst  these 
rose  the  stone  Crucifixion  let  into  the  wall  behind  the  altar,  which  a 
generation  of  men,  long  since  past  and  gone,  had  hewn  out  of  a  solid  block. 
So  it  stood  still  erect,  a  sorrowful  figure  to  which  those  countless  generations 
of  patient  people  had  brought  their  hopes,  their  fears,  their  sins,  their 
successes,  and  their  failures. 

The  altar  itself  was  shattered,  but  the  steps  remained,  and  on  them — seeking 
the  shelter  of  a  high  piled  heap  of  debris  from  the  tower — lay  three  figures. 
One  was  crumpled  up  face  downwards  almost  as  it  had  first  fallen.  Another 
with  helpless  loose-hanging  arm  sate  limply  on  the  top  step.  The  third 
had  crawled  to  the  very  foot  of  the  Cross  and  lay  restfuUy  its  head  upon 
a  splintered  stone. 

All  was  still  as  the  grave.  Then  suddenly,  waveringly,  came  a  man's  voice  : 
"  It's  a  long,  long  way  to  Tipperary." 

The  chant  ended  in  a  sort  of  sob,  as  the  seated  figure  on  the  top  step  rose 
to  its  feet  unsteadily. 

"  I  seed  'im  move,"  murmured  the  Englishman,  "  an'  I  'oped  he  was  a 
deader."  So  he  stood,  looking  down  on  the  crumpled  figure.  "  IMust  be 
beastly  oneasy,"  he  continued.  "  Lordy  !  ain't  'e  like  the  bumbadeer  arter 
'e  got  one  from  Charpenteer."  Then  he  paused;  so  after  a  space  looked 
back  and  called  out  : 

"  Hi  !  vou  there,  Frenchy  !  Wake  up,  Jacko,  and  give  a  h'arm  with  this 
German  bloke,  there's  a  decent  chap." 

The  man  who  rested  his  head  on  the  splintered  altar-stone  sate  up,  showing 
himself  a  long-limbed,  broad-shouldered  Breton,  kindly  but  uncompre- 
hending. The  gestures  of  the  other,  however,  were  sufficient  added  to  the 
explanation :  "  'E  ain't  comfy,  see  you,  Jacko  !  and  'e  ain't  got  long  t'er  be 
comfortable  ;    so  let's  'eft  'im  up." 

Jean  the  Breton  nodded  at  John  the  Englishman  and  half  crawled,  half 
limped,  down  the  steps  to  lend  an  aid.  Together  the  two  wounded  men 
dragged  the  third  to  more  fitting  rest,  where  on  his  back  he  could  breathe 
easier,  for  he  was  shot  through  the  lungs  ;  but  in  the  process  the  helmet 
he  had  worn  fell  off  and  rolled,  glinting  and  clanking,  into  the  shadows. 
"  'E  mieuox  comm*  9a,"  remarked  Jean  the  Breton  approvingly  in  his 
patois. 
"  Beastly  unbecomin'  things,  'elmets,"  said  John  the  Englishman  in  his. 

43 


But  Johan  the  German  only  opened  his  blue  eyes  on  his  enemies  and  drew 

in  a  long  gasping  breath.     They  none  of  them  understood  each  other's 

speech,   but  something  older  than  the  Tower  of  Babel  had  given  them 

comprehension  and  was  to  give  them  more. 

For  something  else  besides  the  helmet  had  fallen  from  its  place  in  that 

laborious  journey  up  the  altar  steps.     The  wounded  German  had  torn  his 

tunic  open  in  his  first  agonised  fight  for  breath  and  from  it  had  slipped  a 

cheap  locket  attached  to  a  cheap  chain,  and  holding  a  cheap  photograph 

cheaply  coloured — the  photograph  of  a  fair-haired  baby. 

"  By  gum  !    Ain't  it  like  my  kid,"  muttered  John  the  Englishman,  and 

from  his  khaki  tunic  he  drew  another  cheap  locket. 

And  Jean  the  Breton,  not  to  be  outdone,  followed  suit  in  his  blue  coatee. 

So  there  in  the  still,  silvery,  serene  moonlight  showed  three  fair-haired, 

blue-eyed  baby  faces,  framed  in  tawdry  pinchbeck  ;  but  the  faces  were  the 

faces  of  immortality — the  symbol  of  the  race. 

"  jMon  p'tit  fils,"  murmured  Jean  the  Breton  fondly.    "  Mon  p'tit  Jean." 

"  Hello  !    Jacky  my  boy,"  chirruped  John  the  Englishman,  tr^-ing  to  hide 

the  ache  in  his  heart  under  a  smile. 

But  Johan  the  German  only  rolled  his  head  from  side  to  side  and  his  lips 

moved  as  if  he  would  have  said  "  Vater."     Perhaps  he  was  thinking  of  his 

country.     Perhaps  his  dying  ear  had  become  more  acute  to  the  sounds  that 

matter,  and  he  was  forestalling  the  little  wailing  cr}^  which  after  a  space 

rose  fitfully  among  the  ruins,  "  Faster  !  Faster  !  Faster  !  Faster  !  " 

The  cry  of  a  child  ! 

Yes  !  the  wail  of  a  sturdy  little  Flemish  fellow  of  two,  who  came  totteringly 

over  the  scattered  stones  with  his  bare  feet.     He  wore  a  quaint  little  night 

garment ;   so,  in  the  hurry  of  flight,  he  must  have  been  left  behind  asleep. 

But  now,  awake,  his  insistent  "  Faster  !    Faster  !    Faster  !  "  was  like  the 

cr\'  of  a  plover  luring  danger  from  her  nest. 

In  the  next  five  minutes  John  the  Englishman's  wounded  arm  forgot  itself, 

and  Jean  the  Breton's  splintered  knee  and  wrist  secured  solace,  but  Johan 

the  German's  wistful  eyes  were  all  he  could  place  at  the  service  of  the  little 

lad,  until  as  the  pitiful  wailing  v/ould  not  cease,  a  trembling  hand  pointed 

waveringly  to  a  haversack,  and  once  again  the  unwritten  unspoken  word 

brought  comprehension.     The  little  Flamand  munching  away  contentedly 

at  a  concentrated  German  sausage  ration  gave  his  name  shyly  with  a  smile 

as  "  Jan — pi'ou'  Jan." 

"  Mon  p'tit  gars — mon  Jean,"  murmured  the  Breton  ecstatically,  and  fell 

to  dreaming  of  a  cottage  among  apple  orchards. 

"  Kids  is  terrible  similar  !  "  pronounced  the  Englishman  with  awe  in  his 

voice,  and  fell  to  dreaming  of  a  tenement-flat  high  up  among  the  chimneys. 

But  the  German's  dazed  mind  could  not  get  beyond  a  vague  insistent 

dream,  and  his  blood-stained  lips  moved  as  if  he  would  have  said  "  Vater." 

He  was  evidently  going  fast,  and  all  things  worth  having  in  this  life — love 

and  loyalty — were  bound  up  in  that  word. 

44 


Still  with  one  final  effort  he  pointed  to  the  thick  overcoat  which  thev  had 

spread  over  him  and  motioned  they  should  wrap  the  drowsy  child  in  it. 

They  did  not  say  him  nay  ;  he  was  too  far  gone  for  that. 

"  But  I   ain't  agoin'  to  disturb  you,  sonny,"  said  John  the  Englishman 

cheerfully.     "  There's  room  of  a  little  un  beside  you — so  creep  in,  Jackie." 

"  Ses  prieres  ?  "  expostulated  Jean  the  Breton  ;  he  was  a  devout  Catholic. 

"  N'oublies  pas  tes  prieres,  mon  p'tit  Jean." 

And  the  little  fellow  understanding  the  man's  clasped  hands  murmured 

something  sleepily.     No  one  understood  the  w^ords,  but  their  spirit — the 

spirit  of  father  and  son — was  in  the  hearts  of  the  listeners. 

And  one  of  them  saw  further  to  that  spirit  tihan  the  others,  gave  a  long  gasp, 

and  lay  still. 

"  He's  oft",  pore  chap,"  said  John  the  Englishman,  "  but  let  be Creep 

in,  sonny — you'll  both  rest  the  better  mayhap." 

Jean  the  Breton  looked  at  the  dead  face  that  lay  so  close  to  the  child's  and 

crossed  himself  as  he  murmured  the  dimittance  prayer  which  sends  a  soul 

to  find  freedom. 

After  that  the  moon,  still,  silver}^  serene,  shone  on  a  silent  group  about  the 

feet  of  the  Christ  with  its  eternal  message  of  forgiveness,  of  reconciliation, 

of  immortal  fatherhood  and  sonship. 

So  the  silent  night  passed,  till  in  the  east  the  blood-red  glow  of  dawn 

heralded  another  dreadful  day,  and  incarnadined  the  crown  of  thorns  upon 

the  Sorrowful  Brow. 

And  almost  with  the  glow  came  the  shriek,  the  scream   of  the  first  shell 

fired  by  the  advancing  Germans  as  a  precaution  lest  the  village  should  have 

been  reoccupied  during  the  night. 

It  did  not  disturb  the  sleepers.    The  ears  of  one  w'ere  deaf  to  strife  for  ever, 

and  the  child,  in  childhood's  deep  dreamless  sleep,  slept  on.     The  two 

others  lying  either  side,  used  to  long  days  and  nights  of  such  hellish  devilish 

tumult,  only  stirred,  and,  half  conscious,  threw  each  a  protecting  arm  across 

the  dead  man  and  the  child. 

The  switt  crackle  passed,  the  sharp  resounding  explosion  was  over  ere  it 

could  be  realised,  sending  out  a  fierce  rain  of  scattering  shrapnel. 

After  that  there  was  no  sound  save  the  soft  breathing  of  little  Jan  as  he  lay 

secure  beneath  dead  protecting  arms,  his  head  pillowed  on  his  dead  enemy's 

heart. 

And  as  the  child  slept  the  sun  rose  and  turned  the  incarnadined  crown  of 

thorns  upon  the  bowed  head  of  the  Son  of  Man  into  a  crown  of  gold. 


45 


By  VISCOUNT   BRYCE 

ALL  honour  to  the  Belgian  King  and  the  Belgian  People.  No  king  and 
no  nation,  not  even  the  oldest  and  the  strongest  nation,  has  shown  more 
dignity  and  gallantry  than  Belgium,  which  is  among  the  youngest  and  the 
smallest  in  area  of  European  States. 

When  Belgium  was  erected  into  a  kingdom  in  1832,  many  doubted  whether 
a  real  nation  could  be  formed  by  linking  together  the  Flemish  element  and 
the  Walloon  element,  races  that  had  different  characteristics  and  spoke 
different  languages.  But  Belgium  has  grown  to  be  a  truly  united  nation, 
consolidated  by  a  fervent  patriotism.  She  has  produced  many  men  of 
literary  and  artistic  genius,  poets  and  jurists  and  scholars  and  men  of  science, 
painters  who  have  renewed  the  great  traditions  of  Rubens  and  Vandyck. 
The  principles  of  constitutional  liberty  have  taken  root  and  flourished  among 
her  citizens,  and  her  annals  have  been  adorned  by  not  a  few  capable  and  high- 
minded  statesmen.  Her  peasantr}',  laborious  and  resourceful,  have  brought 
her  soil  to  a  wonderful  pitch  of  productiveness,  while  a  skill  and  enterprise 
have  made  some  among  her  manufacturing  industries  second  to  none  in 
Europe.  Peace  and  prosperity  have  reigned  such  as  these  regions  had  not 
seen  since  the  days  of  Duke  Philip  the  Good,  nearly  five  centuries  ago. 
All  this  peace  and  prosperity  have  been  suddenly  and  ruthlessly  torn  from 
her.  Her  fields  have  been  laid  waste,  her  cities  burned.  Treasures  of  Art 
have  been  destroyed  and  the  people  have  been  reduced  to  poverty  or  driven 
forth  as  helpless  refugees.  All  this  Belgium  has  suffered  because  she  refused 
to  forfeit  her  independence  and  betray  the  pledge  of  neutrality  she  had  given, 
a  pledge  which  was  the  very  foundation  of  her  independence.  Confronted 
by  armies  ten  times  their  strength,  her  King  and  people  risked  everything 
for  Honour,  and  everything  save  Honour  they  have  lost.  But  Honour  is 
the  greatest  thing.  It  has  won  for  them  the  admiration  of  the  world.  It 
will  be  a  glorious  memory  to  them  and  their  children  when  freedom  and 
independence,  peace  and  prosperity,  have  been  restored,  as  they  must  be, 
and  we  trust  soon  will  be,  restored. 

We  in  Britain  salute  the  gallant  King  and  the  gallant  Army  which  still  fights 
heroically  on,  reduced  to  less  than  one-third  of  its  strength.  We  sorrow 
at  their  sufferings.  We  will  not  rest  till  those  sufferings  are  ended  and  the 
invader  has  been  expelled.  And  we  thank  them  for  the  example  they  have  set 
to  all  Europe  and  to  the  generations  yet  to  come.  History  records  no  finer 
example  since  Thermopylae  of  untarnished  fidelity  and  undaunted  courage. 


/?^y^ 


By  HENRYK   SIENKIEWICZ 

By  Telegraph 

LES  malheurs  passent,  la  gloire  reste  et  immortalise.     Honneur  a  I'heroique 

nation  et  a  son  heroique  Souverain. 

46 


By   PAUL  HERVIEU 
IL  etait,  une  fois,  un  Roi  et  une  Reine  .  .  . 

Oui,  ce  sera  le  conte  des  fees  le  plus  emouvant  qui  se  puisse  ecrire,  et  le 
plus  edifiant,  que  la  tres  veridique  histoire  de  S.M.  le  Roi  Albert  \"  et  de 
S.M.  la  Reine  Elisabeth  ! 

Cette  noble  quietude  dans  le  devouement  aux  taches  quotidiennes,  cette 
purete  familiale  dans  laquelle  ils  vivaient  .  .  . 

Tout  a  coup,  rinter\ention  du  Diable,  avec  ses  offres  et  ses  menaces  .  .  . 
Les  souverains  et  le  Peuple  de  Belgique  communiant  aussitot  dans  le  senti- 
ment de  I'honneur  et  de  I'heroisme. 

L'invasion  scelerate,  et  I'innombrable  legion  d'esprits  infernaux  qui  crachent 
le  soufre,  deversent  les  trombes  de  fer,  font  pleuvoir  le  feu  ;  et  les  demeures 
des  cites  se  transformant  en  colonnes  tronquees  de  cimetieres  ;  ct  des 
innocents  devcnus  partout  des  supplicies  ;  et  le  Roi  et  la  Reine  qui  n'ont 
plus  pour  royaume  qu'une  dune  sur  le  rivage  et  autour  d'eux  les  restes 
vaillants  de  leur  armee  ; 

Enfin  !  Enfin  !  Ce  revirement  du  sort  que  souhaite  ardemment  toute 
I'humanite  digne  de  ce  nom,  et  que  I'autre  meme  sent  aujourd'hui  s'ap- 
procher  d'une  marche  sure. 

A  cet  endroit  du  conte,  a  ce  passage  de  haute  legende,  oh  !  comme  les  mains 
des  enfants  battront,  dans  leur  amour  inne  de  la  justice !  Et  le  visage  des 
honnetes  parents  rira  d 'approbation  et  de  conscience  satisfaite. 
Et  ceux  qui,  dans  I'avenir,  mettront,  a  contempler  les  Armes  royales,  la 
pieuse  admiration  qui  siera,  y  verront  apparaitre  une  Rose  triomphante, 
accompagnant  le  Lion  de  Belgique,  pour  Timmortelle  union  de  S.M.  la 
Reine  Elisabeth  dans  la  gloire  de  S.M.  le  Roi  Albert  I".  ^ 

TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  A.7h;'  and  a  Queen   .  .  .  Kin^  and  Queen  idth   their  kingdom  reduced  to  a 

Indeed,  it  would  be  the  most  touching  and  edifying  sandhill  on  the  shore,  and  the  remnant  of  their  valiant 

fairy-tale    imaginable,     this    true    story    of    tl.M.  army  round  them. 

Albert  1  and  11. M.  Queen  Elisabeth  !  And  at  last,  at  last  !   That  turn  of  the  tide  uhich  all 

It  uould  tell  of  their  quiet  and  noble  devotion  to  their  humanity   uorlhy  of  the  name  desires  so  ardently, 

daily    tasks,   of  the  purity   of  their  happy  family  and  which  even  the  baser  sort  now  sees  to  be  surely 

life  ...  .  approaching. 

Suddenly,  the  Devil  would  intervene,  with  his  threats  At  this  point  in  the  story,  at  this  page  of  the  legendary 

and  his  offers  .  .  .  tale,  hozv  the  children  would  clap  their  hands,  with 

Then  tee  should  hear  of  the  Sovereigns  and  the  people  all  that  love  of  justice  innate  in  children,  and  Innv  the 

of  Belgium  agreeing  at  once  in  their  sense  of  honour  faces  of  worthy  parents  would  beam  with  the  approi  al 

and  heroism.  of  satisfied  consciences  ! 

Then   the  dastardly  invasion,  and  the  innumerable  And  in  the  future,  those  who  contemplate  the  linval 

host  of  infernal  spirits  breathing  out  sulphur,  belching  Arms  with  the  pious  admiration  due  to  them,  will  see 

torrents   of  iron,   and  raining  fire  ;    city   dwellings  a  blooming  Rose  side  by  side  with  the  Lion  of  Beli^ium, 

transformed  into  the  shattered  columns  of  cemeteries  ;  typifying  the  immortal  share  of  ILM.  Queen  Llisabcth 

innocent  creatures  tortured  and  victimised  ;   and  the  in  the  glory  of  U.M.  Albert  I. 


47 


By  ADMIRAL   LORD    FISHER   OF   KILVERSTONE 

"  THE  Lord  God  of  recompences  shall  surely  requite." 

Jeremiah,  chap.  51,  verse  56. 

"  One  poor  girl  of  nineteen  was  found  stripped,  outraged  and  dead." 

Special  Correspondent  oj  The  Times  {Oct.  25,  1914). 


By  VISCOUNT   GLADSTONE 

THE  best  tribute  to  King  Albert  and  his  gallant  Belgians  from  all  to  whom 
opportunity  falls,  lies  in  personal  effort  and  service  to  relieve  multitudes  of 
men,  women,  and  children  who  are  suffering  because  of  Belgium's  heroic 
sacrifice  for  Liberty  and  International  Justice. 


By  NORMAN  ANGELL 

BELGIUM  has  done  this  great  service  for  all  of  us  :  she  has  shown  how 
great  a  little  country'  may  be  and  how  little  a  great  one  may  become.  She 
has  shown  that  the  real  nobility  of  patriotism  is  not  a  matter  of  wide  territory 
and  political  power  and  does  not  need  to  be  nourished  by  these  things  ; 
while  the  action  of  Germany  towards  Belgium  has  shown  that  power  and 
size  may  well  destroy  all  that  makes  patriotism  worth  while. 


/u^V^Vv^>^  Cir\.Ce<£ 


By  ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX 
Belgium 


Ruined  ?  Destroyed  ?  Ah  no  ;   though  blood  in  rivers  ran 
Dozvti  all  her  ancient  streets  ;   though  treasures  manifold 
Love-zcrought,  titne-^nellowed,  and  beyond  the  price  oJ  gold 

Are  lost,  yet  Belgium's  star  shines  still  in  God's  vast  plan. 

Rarely  have  kings  bee?i  great,  since  kingdoms  first  began  ; 

Rarely  have  great  kings  been  great  men,  when  all  zcas  told. 

But,  by  the  lighted  torch  in  mailed  hands,  behold 
Imtnortal  Belgium's  inunortal  king,  and  man. 


48 


r^^. 


i 


.1 


1 


m^ 


% 


ji 


By  ARISTIDE   SARTORIO 

UNO  scrittore  tedesco  ha  reso  noto,  come  i  soldati  dell'  impero  gcrmanico 
portino  nello  zaino  Faust  e  Zaratustra.  II  bagaglio  e  significativo,  perche 
Mephistofeles  e  il  nonno  di  Zaratustra  e  questi  derivo  dall'  avo  quell'  indole 
filosofica,  sprone  ad  ogni  violenza  e  che,  fatta  scuola  in  Germania,  sappiamo 
rinsaldi  era  cosi  la  disciplina  della  soldatesca  imperiale. 
Evidentemente  i  soldati  non  si  trovano  sui  campi  di  battaglia  per  fare  un 
corso  di  letteratura,  e  si  inspireranno  ai  concetti  morali  dei  "  Vadc  mecum," 
anziche  a  quelle  bellezze  estetiche  che  rendono  immortali  quel  capolavori  e, 
come  lo  provano  duramcnte  oggi  i  belgi,  lo  proveremmo  noi  italiani,  qualora 
gl'  imperi  centrali  uscissero  vittoriosi  dalla  lotta  immane  ;  essi  costringereb- 
bero  ritalia  al  vassallaggio  ed  il  nostro  paese  sarebbe,  con  tutta  probabilita, 
annientato,  derubato,  distrutto.  Liberati  dall'  incubo  dell'  alleanza,  noi 
italiani  abbiamo  assistito  sdegnati  alio  strazio  del  Bclgio,  paese  neutrale, 
paese  d'arte,  di  colturaed'industria,  con  il  quale  fin  dalla  rinascenza  avemmo 
contatti  spirituali,  e  che,  come  noi,  guadagno  la  sua  indipendenza  a  prezzo 
di  enormi  sacrifici. 

Ma  le  ossa  di  Friedrich  Nietzsche,  che  si  corruccio  vendendo  la  Germania 
addormentata  in  un  sogno  pacifista,  dovevano  esultare  nella  tomba,  scavata 
poco  lontano  da  quella  dell'  olimpico  Goethe  ;  arrivo  I'epoca  della  violenza 
conquistatrice  ;  ora  noi  sappiamo  come  la  civilta  tedesca  cammini  oltre  i 
confini  con  Mephistopheles  c  Zaratustra  animatori.  E  cosi,  come  Mephis- 
topheles,  al  soldo  dell'  imperatore  beniamino  di  Dio,  inventava  le  sorpren- 
denti  armi  guerresche,  il  genio  tedesco  appresta  quei  terribili  ordigni  di 
guerra  contro  i  quali  ne  le  fortezze,  ne  le  citta,  ne  i  monumenti,  ne  le  scuole 
resisteranno  piu.  E  cosi,  come  Faust  fattosi  sognatore  umanitario,  attendeva 
I'investitura  delle  terre  guadagnate  con  I'aiuto  diabolico,  94  professori 
tedeschi  proclamano  al  mondo  civile  il  buon  diritto  della  conquista  imperiale, 
sulla  quale  riverserebbero  il  superfluo  della  loro  coltura. 
Mephistopheles,  dice  il  pocma,  brucio  la  casa,  la  chiesa  ed  il  giardino  di  due 
poveri  vccchi,  i  quali  infastidivano  I'cspandersi  del  felice  regno  di  Faust.  I  due 
vecchi,  insicmc  ad  un  ospitc,  morirono  arrostiti,  quali  neutri  di  numcro  tre. 
Ma  sarebbe  desiderabile  sapere  il  giudizio  del  vecchio  buon  Dio  su  qucgli 
aviatori  che,  sorvolando  le  citta,  vi  uccidono  donne,  vecchi  e  fanciulli, 
perche  il  caso  non  fu  contemplato  ne  da  Mephistopheles,  ne  da  Zaratustra. 
Faust  li  deve  vedere  dal  paradiso.  II  dottore,  in  procinto  di  morirc,  si 
pent!  ;  ascese  ai  piedi  del  trono  di  Maria  Vergine,  e  li  trovo  quella  preclara 
intelligenza  di  Gretchen,  che  nel  frattempo  aveva  uccisa  la  madre,  softocato 
il  figlio  deir  amore  ed  era  morta  pentita. 

Esaltati  da  queste  cdificanti  Ictture,  i  soldati  tedeschi  dcvono  considerarsi 
quali  arcangcli,  contro  quelle  Fiandre  cattolichc,  che  elaborarono  la  loro 
morale,  contemplando  la  virtu  nelle  immagini  sante  dell'  arte  latina. 
Ma  sia  benedotto  e  glorificato  il  tuo  sacrificato,  o  Belgio  croico,  ne  spento, 
ne  vinto  !  Ti  sei  levato  contro  I'imperialismo  barbaro  invadente  nel  nome 
della  scienza  e  della  coltura  ;    Salve  tu  nei  secoli  o  Bclgio  croico  ! 

49 


Qualche  cosa  di  bestiale  minaccia  la  gloria  del  mondo  :  Che  il  tuo  sangue 
rinsaldi,  come  un  battesimo,  la  nostro  fede  nella  civilta  latina,  e  ci  sospinga 
contro  il  torpido  ed  oscuro  impero,  che  pare  scaturito  dalle  oscure  caligini 
deir  Asia  primordiale  o  del  medio  evo  europeo  ! 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 
A  German  uriter  has  informed  us  thai  the  soldiers 
of  the  Empire  carry  Faust  and  Zarathustra  in  their 
knapsacks.  These  possessions  are  significant,  for 
Mephistophelcs  was  the  grandfather  of  Zarathustra, 
and  the  latter  inherited  from  his  ancestor  that  philo- 
sophical temper  zchich  incites  to  ertry  kind  of  violence. 
It  has  created  a  school  in  Germany,  and  as  ice  know, 
is  now  a  factor  in  the  disciplifie  of  the  Imperial 
soldieiy. 

It  is  obvious  that  soldiers  do  not  come  to  the  battle- 
field to  take  a  course  of  literature  ;  they  find  in- 
spiration in  the  moral  axioms  of  their  vade  mecum 
rather  than  in  the  asthetic  beauties  that  fnake  these 
masterpieces  immortal.  The  Belgians  have  had  dire 
proof  of  this,  and  zee  Italians  zvould  have  a  like  experi- 
ence, if  the  central  European  Empires  should  issue 
victorious  from  the  ruthless  conflict.  Italy  zeould 
become  their  vassal,  and  in  all  probability  our  country 
would  be  plundered,  ravaged,  and  annihilated.  De- 
livered from  the  inaibus  of  the  alliance,  we  Italians 
have  looked  on  zvith  indignation  at  the  torture  of 
Belgium,  a  neutral  country,  a  land  of  art,  of  culture  and 
of  industry,  with  which  zee  have  had  spiritual  relations 
since  the  period  of  the  Renaissance,  a  latid  zchich  like 
our  own  zvon  her  independence  by  immense  sacrifices. 
But  the  bones  of  Friedrich  Nietzsche,  who  raged  at 
the  sight  of  a  Germany  sunk  in  pacifist  slumber, 
must  exult  in  the  grave  zchere  they  lie  not  far  from 
those  of  the  Olympian  Goethe  ;  the  epoch  of  con- 
quering violence  has  begun  ;  we  knozu  now  that 
German  culture,  inspired  by  Mephistophelcs  and 
Zarathustra,  regards  no  boundaries  ;  thus,  as  Mephis- 
tophelcs, at  the  behest  of  the  Emperor,  that  Benjamin 
of  the  Almighty,  invented  astounding  military  weapons, 
so  the  Teutonic  genius  has  prepared  those  terrible 
engines  of  war  which  neither  fortresses,  cities,  public 
buildings,   nor  schools  can  withstand.      And  just  as 


CLo 


Faust  in  the  guise  of  a  humanitarian  dreamer,  awaited 
the  possession  of  territories  acquired  by  diabolical  aid, 
so  94  German  professors  proclaim  to  the  civilised 
zcorld  the  equity  of  Imperial  conquest,  on  the  victims 
of  zchich  they  propose  to  pour  out  the  superfluity  of 
their  culture. 

Mephistophelcs,  says  the  poem,  burnt  the  church, 
the  house,  and  the  garden  of  two  poor  old  people, 
zchich  obstructed  the  expansion  of  Faust's  happy 
kingdom.  The  two  old  people,  together  with  a  guest, 
zcere  roasted  alive  {three  neutrals  /) 
But  it  would  be  well  to  know  the  judgment  of  the  God 
of  Ages  upon  those  aviators,  who,  flying  over  cities, 
tnurder  zcomen,  old  men,  and  children,  for  such  a  case 
zcas  not  dealt  zcith  either  by  Mephistophelcs  or 
Zarathustra.  Faust  must  behold  them  from  his  place 
in  Paradise.  The  doctor  repented  at  the  approach 
of  death  ;  ascending  to  the  steps  of  the  Virgi?i's 
throne,  he  found  there  the  noble  intelligence  of 
Gretchen,  who  in  the  meantime  had  killed  her  mother, 
strangled  her  child,  and  died  repentant. 
Exalted  by  this  edifying  reading,  what  archangels 
the  German  soldiers  must  consider  themselves  com- 
pared with  those  Catholic  Flemings,  who  have 
elaborated  their  tttorality,  contemplating  virtue  in 
the  sacred  images  of  Latin  art  1  Blessed  and  glorified 
be  thy  sacrifice,  O  heroic  Belgium,  neither  quenched 
nor  vanquished !  Thou  didst  rise  against  Imperial 
barbarism,  invading  thee  in  the  name  of  science  and 
culture.  Hail  to  thee  throughout  the  ages,  heroic 
Belgium  ! 

Brutality  menaces  the  glory  of  the  zcorld.  May  thy 
blood,  like  baptismal  waters,  revive  our  faith  in  Latin 
civilisation,  and  spur  us  on  against  the  dark  and 
heavy  Empire,  that  might  zcell  have  issued  from  the 
gloom  of  primordial  Asia  or  the  mediaval  ages  of 
Europe. 


By  ALICE   MEYNELL 

The  Heroic  Language 

Whe7i  our  nozv  living  languages  are  "  dead," 
Which  in  the  classes  shall  be  treasured  ? 

Which  will  the  masters  teach  ? 
Kepler's,  and  Shakespeare's,  and  thy  word,  thy  phrase, 
Thy  grammar,  thou  heroic,  for  all  days, 

O  little  Flemish  speech  ! 
50 


By   SIDNEY   LOW 

*'  From  the  Body  of  this  Death  " 

She  is  not  dead  !    Although  the  spoiler's  hand. 

Lies  heavy  as  death  upon  her  ;  though  the  smart 
0/  his  accursed  steel  is  at  her  heart. 

And  scarred  upon  her  breast  his  shameful  brand  ; 

Though  yet  the  torches  of  the  Vandal  band, 

Smoke  on  her  ruined  fields,  her  trampled  lanes, 
Her  ravaged  homes  and  desolated  fanes. 

She  is  tiot  dead  but  sleeping,  that  wronged  land. 

O  little  nation,  valorous  and  free. 

Thou  shalt  o'er  live  the  terror  and  the  pain  ; 
Call  back  thy  scattered  children  unto  thee. 

Strong  zvith  the  memory  of  their  brothers  slain, 
And  rise  from  out  thy  charnel-house,  to  be 

Thine  own  immortal,  radiant  Self  again. 


^L.Aa>Aj 


^£xr- 


By  SIR  ARTHUR  PINERO 
To  Albert  the  Brave 

ENGLAND  honours  and  salutes  you,  Sir.  Inspired  by  your  true  patriot- 
ism, your  splendid  courage,  your  heroic  soul.  Little  Belgium  has  become 
for  all  time  Great  Belgium.  Betrayed,  outraged,  exiled,  you  and  your 
people  prove  yourselves  to  be  unconquerable.  Such  a  spirit  cannot  be 
quenched.  Beside  it,  the  flames  lighted  by  your  barbarous  enemy  show  pale 
and  impotent. 

Sir,  the  pangs  of  Belgium's  rebirth  are  terrible  ;  but  the  shrieks  of  travail 
reach  the  ears  of  a  just  Heaven.  The  hour  is  at  hand  when  the  cries  of 
agony  shall  die  down  ;  when  the  rich  meadows  of  your  new-born  kingdom 
shall  respond  to  the  caress  of  the  sun  witii  a  smile  like  the  smile  of  an  infant  ; 
when  you  shall  lead  the  remnant  of  your  indomitable  army  back  in  triumph 
to  witness  the  glorv  of  your  country's  re-creation.  Till  that  moment, 
whatever  her  fortunes  in  other  fields,  England  will  know  no  rest,  no  con- 
tentment, not  one  particle  of  gladness. 


51 


By   SIR  WILLIAM   CROOKES 

ONE'S  sympathy  with  and  admiration  of  the  gallant  Belgian  nation  and 

their  valiant  King  are  only  to  be  paralleled  by  the  horror  and  detestation 

one  feels  for  their  universal  enemy — the  modern  Huns. 

To  express  my  feelings  I  would  go  to  the  Bible  or  to  Shakespeare  for  an 

apt  quotation,  and  I  do  not  think  the  following  words  from  Isaiah  (ch.  14), 

can  be  improved  on  as  a  prophetic  statement  of  the  depth  of  the  modern 

catastrophe  and  of  prospective  comfort  to  the  afflicted  ruler  : 

In  the  day  that  the  Lord  shall  give  thee  rest  from  thy  sorrow,  and  from 
thy  trouble,  and  from  the  hard  bondage  wherein  thou  zvast  made  to  serve, 
thou  shah  take  up  this  parable  against  the  King  of  Babylon,  and  say. 
How  hath  the  oppressor  ceased  !  the  golden  exactress  ceased  I  The  Lord 
hath  broken  the  staff  of  the  wicked,  atid  the  sceptre  of  the  rulers,  He  zcho 
smote  the  peoples  in  wrath  with  a  continual  stroke,  he  that  ruled  the  nations 
in  anger,  is  persecuted  and  none  hinder eth.  /'./>/»  /P        # 

By   SIR   CHARLES   LUCAS 

THE  cause  of  Belgium  is  the  cause  of  all  who  hold  that  nations  have  a  right 
to  live.  Terrible  are  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time,  but  coming  genera- 
tions will  stand  up  and  call  the  land  and  the  people  blessed. 


By  G.  W.  PROTHERO 

"  MY  tongue  hath  sworn  ;   unsworn  remains  my  mind." 

This  is  the  motto  Germany  has  chosen  for  herself  ;    it  is  not  the  motto  of 

Belgium — or  of  England.  ^ 

By  H.H.    THE   RANEE   OF   SARAWAK 

WORDS  cannot  express  the  immense  feeling  of  admiration  and  sympathy 
I  feel  for  the  King  and  his  people  in  this  frightful  calamity  which  has  over- 
taken them — a  feeling  that,  outside  Germany,  must  be  paramount  in  the 
hearts  of  men  and  women  all  over  the  world.  cu 


i^iSMtmf 


By  SIR  WILFRID    LAURIER 

By  Telegraph 

YOUR  own  Introduction  to  King    Albert's    Book  is  a  most  eloquent 

tribute  to  the  heroism  of  the  King  and  people  of  Belgium.    No  other  words 

are  needed  from  me.    My  share  will  be  to  assist  as  far  as  in  my  power  may 

lie  the  diffusion  of  the  book  among  the  Canadian  people. 

52 


JUSTICE 

Bi/  Solomon  J   Solomon,  R.A. 


'i.- 


By  JOHN   GALSWORTHY 
Reveille 

IN  my  dream  I  saw  a  fertile  plain,  rich  with  the  hues  of  autumn.  Tranquil 
it  was,  and  warm.  Men  and  women,  children,  and  the  beasts  worked  and 
played  and  wandered  there  in  peace.  Under  the  blue  sky  and  the  white 
clouds  low-hanging,  great  trees  shaded  the  fields  ;  and  from  all  the  land  there 
rose  a  murmur  as  from  bees  clustering  on  the  rose-coloured  blossoms  of 
tall  clover.  And,  in  my  dream,  I  roamed,  looking  into  even'  face,  the 
faces  of  prosperity,  broad  and  well-favoured — of  people  living  in  a  land  of 
plenty,  of  people  drinking  of  the  joy  of  life,  caring  nothing  for  the  morrow. 
But  I  could  not  see  their  eyes,  that  seemed  ever  cast  down,  gazing  at  the 
ground,  watching  the  progress  of  their  feet  over  the  rich  grass  and  the  golden 
leaves  already  fallen  from  the  trees.  The  longer  I  walked  among  them 
the  more  I  wondered  that  never  was  I  suffered  to  see  the  eyes  of  any,  not 
even  of  the  little  children,  not  even  of  the  beasts.  It  was  as  if  ordinance 
had  gone  forth  that  their  eyes  should  be  banded  with  invisibility. 
While  I  mused  on  this,  the  sky  began  to  darken.  A  muttering  of  distant 
winds  and  waters  came  travelling.  The  children  stopped  their  plav,  the 
beasts  raised  their  heads  ;  men  and  w^omen  halted  and  cried  to  each  other  : 
"  The  River— the  River  is  rising  !  If  it  floods,  we  are  lost  !  Our  beasts 
will  drown  ;  we,  even  we,  shall  drown  !  The  River  !  "  And  women  stood 
like  things  of  stone,  listening  ;  and  men  shook  their  fists  at  the  black  sky, 
and  at  that  travelling  mutter  of  the  winds  and  waters  ;  and  the  beasts  sniffed 
at  the  darkening  air. 

Then,  clear,  I  heard  a  Voice  call :  "  Brothers  !  The  dvke  is  breaking  !  The 
River  comes  !  Link  arms,  brothers ;  with  the  dyke  of  out  bodies  w^e  will 
save  our  home  !  Sisters,  behind  us,  link  arms  !  Close  m  the  crevices, 
children  !  The  River  !  "  And  all  that  multitude,  whom  I  had  seen  treading 
quietly  the  grass  and  fallen  leaves  with  prosperous  feet,  came  hurrying, 
their  eyes  no  longer  fixed  on  the  rich  plain,  but  lifted  in  trouble  and  defiance, 
staring  at  that  rushing  blackness.  And  the  Voice  called  :  "  Hasten,  brothers  ! 
The  dyke  is  broken.  The  River  floods  !  " 
And  they  answered  :   "  Brother,  we  come  !  " 

Thousands  and  thousands  they  pressed,  shoulder  to  shoulder — men,  women, 
and  children,  and  the  beasts  lying  down  behind,  till  the  living  dvke  was 
formed.  And  that  blackness  came  on,  nearer,  nearer,  till,  like  the  whites 
of  glaring  eyes,  the  wave  crests  glinted  in  the  dark  rushing  flood.  And  the 
sound  of  the  raging  waters  was  as  a  roar  from  a  million  harsh  mouths. 
But  the  Voice  called  :  "  Hold,  brothers  !  Hold  !  " 
And  from  the  living  dyke  came  answer  :  "  Brother  !  We  hold  !  " 
Then  the  sky  blackened  to  night.  And  the  terrible  dark  water  broke  on 
that  dyke  of  life  ;  and  from  all  the  thin  living  wall  rose  such  cry  of  struggle 
as  never  was  heard. 

But  above  it  ever  the  Voice  called  :  "  Hold  !     My  brave  ones,  hold  !  " 
And  ever  the  answer  came  from  those  drowning  mouths,  of   men  and 

D*  53 


women,  of  little  children  and  the  very  beasts  :  "  Brother  !  We  hold  !  " 
But  the  black  flood  rolled  over  and  on.  There,  down  in  its  dark  tumult, 
beneath  its  cruel  tumult,  I  saw  men  still  with  arms  linked  ;  women  on  their 
knees,  clinging  to  earth  ;  little  children  drifting — dead,  all  dead  ;  and  the 
beasts  dead.  And  their  eyes  were  still  open  facing  that  death.  And  above 
them  the  savage  water  roared.  But  clear  and  high  I  heard  the  Voice  call  : 
"  Brothers  !  Hold  !  Death  is  not  !  We  Hve  !  "  And,  fronting  the  edge 
of  the  flooding  waters,  I  saw  the  shades  of  those  dead,  with  arms  yet  linked, 
and  heard  them  crying  :  "  Brother  !  We  hold  !  "  .  .  . 
Then  came  oblivion. 

When  once  more  I  dreamed,  it  was  light.  The  plain  was  free  of  darkness, 
free  of  waters.  The  River,  shrunk  and  muddied,  flowed  again  within  its 
banks.  And  Dawn  was  breaking  ;  but  the  stars  were  still  alight. 
At  first  it  seemed  to  me  that  only  trees  stood  on  that  plain  ;  but  then,  in  the 
ground  mist  fast  clearing,  I  saw  the  forms  of  men  and  women,  children, 
beasts  ;  and  I  moved  among  them,  looking  at  their  faces — not  those  broad 
and  prosperous  faces  whose  eyes  were  banded  with  invisibility,  but  grave 
with  suffering,  carved  and  strong.  And  all  their  eyes,  lifted  to  the  sky, 
were  shining. 

While  I  stood  thus  watching,  the  sun  rose,  and  heaven  brightened  to  full 
morning.  And,  amazed,  I  saw  that  the  stars  had  not  gone  in,  but  shone 
there  in  the  blue,  crystals  of  immortality. 

And  above  the  plain,  clad  in  the  hues  of  spring,  I  heard  the  Voice  call  : 
"  Brothers  !     Behold  !     The  Stars  are  lit  for  ever  !  " 

By   MILLICENT  GARRETT  FAWCETT 

THE  Belgian  people  have  given  the  world  an  example  of  heroic  courage 
and  self-devotion  which  will  rank  in  history  with  the  great  deeds  of  all  time. 
Let  no  one  say  that  Belgium,  devastated  and  martyred  as  she  is,  has  ceased 
to  exist.  Her  nationality  is  stronger,  her  vitality  is  more  intense  than  it  has 
ever  been.  Every  Belgian,  man,  woman,  and  child,  bears  himself  proudly 
to-day  because  of  his  nationality. 

Unto  each  man  his  handiwork,  unto  each  his  crown 

The  just  Fate  gives  : 
Whoso  takes  the  world's  lije  on  him,  and  his  ozvn  lays  down 

He,  dying  so,  lives. 

It  should  be  the  very  first  concern  of  the  Allies  at  the  end  of  the  war  to  see 
that  Belgium  remains  a  free  and  independent  nation. 

54 


By  THE   Rt.   Hon.   EARL   ROBERTS   OF   KANDAHAR 

MY  admiration  for  the  part  Belgium  has  played  in  the  war  now  being  waged 
against  aggression,  dishonourable  contempt  of  Treaty  obligations,  falsehood, 
and  injustice,  knows  no  bounds.  I  feel  most  strongly  that  Great  Britain 
owes  Belgium  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  which  it  will  be  difficult  to  repay . 
Inspired  by  the  noble  example  of  their  King,  the  Belgians  arrested  the  first 
onslaught  of  the  Germans,  and  thus  gave  us  time  to  ward  off  the  punishment 
we  so  richly  deserve  for  our  neglect  to  prepare  to  defend  our  own  interests. 
Little  Belgium  has  shown  to  the  great  nations  of  the  earth  that  a  brave  and 
united  people,  daring  everything  and  prepared  to  suffer  anything  in  the 
sacred  cause  of  liberty,  can  resist  successfully  overwhelming  numbers  for 
a  long  time,  and  materially  help  towards  victory  in  the  end.  In  the  terrible 
struggle  still  raging,  to  the  Belgians  must  be  awarded  the  palm  for  freely 
and  fearlessly  offering  themselves  as  the  first  bulwark  against  the  invading 
hordes  of  Germany.  Glorious  has  been  their  stand,  and  priceless  the  time 
and  the  advantage  gained  thereby.  No  acknowledgment  of  their  splendid 
example  can  be  too  liberal.  No  admiration  too  lavish,  no  compensation  for 
the  loss  and  misery  they  have  endured,  too  generous. 

They  have  fought  heroically  for  a  sacred  principle  against  frightful  odds. 
They  have  suffered  up  to  the  limit  of  human  endurance.  God  grant  that 
there  may  be  yet  in  store  for  them  a  bright  and  prosperous  future,  and  a 
permanent  place  in  the  van  of  Civilisation  and  Freedom.         ^ 

By  MAURICE   HEWLETT 
From  England 

O  MEN  of  fnickle  heart  and  little  speech, 
Slow,  stubborn  countrymen  oj  heath  and  plain. 
Now  have  ye  shoicn  these  insolent  again 
That  which  to  Ccesar's  legions  ye  could  teach, 
That  slow-provok'd  is  long-provok'd.    May  each 
Crass  CcEsar  learn  this  oj  the  Keltic  grain, 
Until  at  last  they  reckon  it  in  vain 
To  browbeat  us  who  hold  the  Western  reach. 
For  even  as  you  are,  we  are,  ill  to  rouse. 
Rooted  in  Custom,  Order,  Church,  and  King  ; 
And  as  you  fight  Jar  their  sake,  so  shall  we. 
Doggedly  inch  by  inch,  and  house  by  house  ; 
Seeing  for  us  too  there's  a  dearer  thing 
Than  land  or  blood— and  that  thing  LIBERTY.     /f/tUcCcC^ff    /r 

55 


By   SIR   OLIVER   LODGE 

THE  world  is  the  richer  for  the  experience  of  the  past  few  months,  and 
Belgium  has  inscribed  its  name  on  an  eternal  roll  of  honour — the  roll  of 
those  who  have  died  in  holding  a  pass  against  overwhelming  odds. 
Humanity  blesses  the  heroic  struggle  for  freedom  of  the  Belgian  nation  ; 
for  without  their  aid  the  face  of  Europe  would  have  been  changed  past 
redemption,  and  the  Earth  might  have  been  subject  to  a  brutal  and  intolerable 
dominance.  We  have  witnessed  in  our  own  generation  one  of  the  classical 
contests  of  the  world  ;  and  the  tale  will  go  down  to  remote  posterity — a 
tale  of  deep  infamy  and  lofty  honour — relating  how  at  this  time  the  powers 
of  evil  were  frustrated,  and  how  the  holiest  cause  emerged,  stricken  but 
victorious, — triumphing  as  always  through  grievous  pain. 


Bj  ^CLAUDE  MONET 

TRES  honore  de  I'occasion  qui  m'est  offerte,  de  pouvoir  crier  toute  men 

admiration  a  Theroique  Belgique,  et  d'adresser  tres  respectueusement  la 

meme  admiration  au  noble  et  vaillant  roi  de  la  nation  Beige. 

Vive  la  Belgique  !    Vive  les  Allies  !    Vive  la  France  ! 


TRANSLATION 

I  feel  myself  greatly  honoured  by   the  opportunity 

given   me   to   express   all  my   admiration   of  heroic 

Belgium,  and  to  offer  a  like  admiration  to  the  noble 

and  valiant  Ki?!g  of  the  Belgians. 

Long  live  Belgium  !    Long  live  the  Allies  I     Long 

live  France  ! 


C^a/^cP<    ^Lc;7tf/-^ 


By   SIR  JAMES   CRICHTON-BROWNE 
Belgium 

BELGIUM,  a  stripling  Knight  in  the  shining  armour  of  Truth  and  with 
the  flashing  blade  of  Right,  withstood  the  first  fierce  onslaught  of  the  mon- 
strous and  fire-belching  Dragon  that  has  grown  up  in  Central  Europe  and 
uncoiled  itself  to  devour  the  world.  Scorched,  wounded,  trodden  on,  the 
stripling  has  never  blanched  nor  quailed  but  has  given  pause  to  the  Dragon 
and  time  to  the  strong  men  to  awake  from  slumber  in  which,  but  for  him, 
they  might  have  been  smitten  down.  When,  amidst  the  execrations  of 
mankind,  the  Dragon  is  driven  back  to  his  lair  and  chained  there  for  a 
thousand  years,  then,  for  all  that  time,  will  women,  with  tears  in  their  eyes, 
tell  their  children  of  the  stripling's  agony  and  men  with  stifl^ened  sinews 
recall  his  valiant  deeds. 

Laud  and  homage  to  Belgium  !  bravest  of  the  brave,  lealest  of  the  leal,  and 
loving  care  and  succour  too,  that  healing  and  solace  may  come  to  him. 

56 


By  EDMUND   GOSSE 
The  Belgian  Poets 

ONE  by  one,  like  the  apparitions  that  rose  and  pointed  at  Alacbeth,  the 
arts  and  sciences,  the  amenities  and  the  pieties  of  Belgium  defile  in  a  blood- 
boltered  line,  and  accuse  their  murderer  of  foul  and  treacherous  offences. 
To  a  single  phantom  I  would  speak  to-day.  While  others  call  for  vengeance 
on  Germany  for  other  wickedness,  I  would  speak  in  anger  and  pity  of  a 
murdered  literature.  Incredible  as  it  sounds,  a  literature,  the  articulate 
imagination  of  a  people,  may  be  destroyed.  After  the  battle  of  the  White 
Mountain,  the  flourishing  and  genial  literature  of  Bohemia  was  annihilated 
by  the  Austrians,  and  it  lay  in  ashes  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  Such, 
if  Germany  had  her  brutal  will,  would  be  the  fate  of  poetry  and  prose  in 
the  Low  Countries  to-day,  and  although  the  inevitable  hour  of  reckoning 
and  restitution  cannot  for  ever  be  delayed,  at  the  present  moment  her 
enemies  have  succeeded  in  silencing  the  written  voice  of  Belgium.  If  they 
have  not  silenced  it,  at  least  they  have  dispersed  it  on  the  wings  of  the  wind. 
It  has  no  longer  an  abiding-place  within  its  own  borders  ;  it  sounds,  so  far 
as  it  still  sounds  at  all,  in  the  piteous  murmurs  of  an  exile. 
Modern  literature  in  Belgium  is  a  creation  of  our  own  times.  It  dates  from 
1880,  when  a  generation  of  young  men  started  it  under  the  leadership  of  a 
youth  who  lived  but  nine  years  more  to  witness  the  progress  of  his  work, 
Max  Waller,  whose  name  will  always  demand  the  honour  due  to  precursors. 
Waller  founded  a  review.  La  Jeiine  Belgique,  in  which  his  most  brilliant 
contemporaries,  tired  of  the  nullity  of  the  intellectual  life  of  their  forbears, 
developed  ideas  and  forms  of  expression  which  translated  for  the  first  time 
the  peculiar  emotions  and  graces  of  the  Flem.ish  temperament.  They 
chose  the  French  language  for  their  expression,  and  they  all  were  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  Latin  genius,  although  they  were  careful  never  to  denationa- 
lise themselves,  and  never  to  abandon  the  vehement  or  mystical  attributes 
proper  to  the  country  of  their  birth.  In  less  than  thirty-five  years,  Belgium 
has  placed  herself  in  the  forefront  of  the  creative  literar\'  nations  of  Europe. 
This  is  not  the  place,  nor  mine  the  hand,  to  analyse  or  describe  the  achieve- 
ments of  Belgian  literature.  But  it  is  manifest  to  every  one  that  it  is  in 
poetry  that  its  success  has  been  most  eminent.  In  the  few  words  which  I  am 
privileged  to  say  here,  I  will  attempt  no  more  than  to  bend  in  affection 
and  homage  towards  our  admirable  and  stricken  brethren,  the  poets  of 
Belgium.  Two  of  them,  through  a  merciful  Providence,  have  been  spared 
by  an  early  death  from  drinking  the  bitter  cup.  We  name  in  honour  the 
harbinger  of  the  brilliant  company,  the  ecstatic  Charles  van  Leerberghe, 
whose  pen  was  dipped  in  moonlit  dew,  whose  ethereal  genius  translated 
into  verse  all  that  was  most  delicately  in  harmony  with  the  spirit 
of  the  old  Flemish  illuminators,  whose  pictures  of  Paradise  seem  painted 
by  an  inspired  monk  on  the  vellum  fly-leaves  of  a  missal.  We  name 
Georges  Rodenbach,  in  whom  the  melancholy  of  Flanders,  above  all  the 
grey  beauty  of  Bruges,  found  so  tender  an  interpreter. 

57 


But  chiefly  to  the  living  we  proffer  our  reverent  and  indignant  sympathy. 
Driven  from  their  homes,  their  books  scattered,  their  manuscripts  burned, 
they  are  but  as  beautiful  autumn  leaves  in  the  blast  of  the  Teuton  war-gods. 
We  greet  the  noble  Emile  Verhaeren,  the  first  of  the  living  poets  of  Europe. 
In  him  the  religious  intensity  of  Belgium  has  taken  a  different  expression 
from  that  of  the  mystics.  He  has  not  shrunk,  in  his  abundant  and  various 
yet  eminently  consistent  productive  work,  from  celebrating  many  sides  of 
the  national  character.  He  blows  through  bronze  and  he  breathes  through 
silver,  and  if  we  would  understand  the  life  and  soil  of  Belgium,  toute  la 
Flandre,  we  must  go  to  this  inspired  and  multiform  mind  for  our  instruction. 
Thirty-five  years  ago,  three  young  men  who  were  students  at  the  College 
Sainte-Barbe  at  Ghent,  determined  to  devote  their  lives  to  the  creation  of 
a  poetical  drama  in  Belgium  ;  they  were  Van  Leerberghe,  Le  Roy,  and 
Maeterlinck.  The  whole  world  has  submitted  to  the  fascination  of  Maurice 
Maeterlinck.  A  Parisian  admirer  unwisely  introduced  him  as  "  the 
Belgian  Shakespeare."  He  is,  on  the  contrar}^  the  one  and  only  Belgian 
Maeterlinck.  We  greet  with  emotion  other  names,  less  universally  recog- 
nised. Brussels  is  the  mother  of  Andre  Fontainas,  whose  enchanted 
gardens  are  like  the  backgrounds  of  Rubens'  pictures.  From  Antwerp 
Max  Elskamp  has  brought  his  idylls  of  a  peaceful  Flanders.  Let  me  not 
forget  that  Liege  has  sent  us  the  tender  and  tremulous  Albert  Mockel, 
nor  that  Louyain,  till  the  hour  of  her  desecration,  was  proud  of  the  ac- 
complished talent  of  Albert  Giraud. 

If  I  name  no  more,  it  is  due  to  ignorance  or  lack  of  space.  Our  protest 
is  not  in  favour  of  these  great  names  alone,  but  of  the  whole  intellectual 
civilisation  of  Belgium,  so  flourishing  and  so  vivid  in  the  peace  of  a  month 
or  two  ago,  now  humiliated  and  trampled  like  an  autumn  rose  under  the 
hoof  of  a  bull. 


By  ANDREW  CARNEGIE 

ASSUREDLY  the  people  of  Belgium  have  shown  themselves  worthy 
descendants  of  their  ancestors  whom  Julius  Ceesar  honoured  thus  :  Omnium 
jortissimi  sunt  Belga.  King  Albert  has  proven  himself  possessed  of  courage, 
which  is  one  of  the  essentials  of  high  character,  which  Farquhar  thus 
describes  : 

Courage  the  highest  gift,  zvhich  scorns  to  bend 

To  mean  devices  for  a  sordid  end. 

Courage — an  independent  spark  from  Heaven  s  bright  throne. 

By  which  the  soul  stands  raised,  triumphant ,  high,  alojie. 

58 


By  HENRI   BERGSON 

Le  Daily  Telegraph  veut  bien  me  demander  mon  sentiment  sur  la  Belgique 
et  sur  le  Roi  Albert.  Je  cherche  en  vain,  je  ne  trouve  pas  de  mots  pour 
exprimer  mon  admiration.  Je  m'incline  en  proie  a  une  emotion  profonde 
et  je  salue  respectueusement. 

Un  petit  peuple  s'est  trouve  tout  a  coup  en  presence  d'une  des  plus  for- 
midables  armces  de  la  terre.  On  lui  dcmandait  simplement  la  permission 
de  passer  ;  on  lui  rendrait,  disait-on,  son  territoire  intact  ;  on  respecterait 
son  independance.  L'eut-on  fait  ?  Je  ne  sais,  mais  ce  petit  peuple  etait 
libre  de  le  croire.  Et  s'il  eut  declare  qu'il  cedait  a  la  force,  qu'il  acceptait 
inevitable,  nous  I'aurions  plaint,  nous  n'aurions  pas  ose  le  blamer.  Mais 
non  !  il  a  resiste  a  ce  qui  paraissait  irresistible  ;  il  a  fait  par  avance  le  sacrifice 
de  tout  ce  qu'il  avait  et  de  tout  ce  qu'il  etait  :  ses  villcs  et  ses  villages,  sa 
fortune  et  sa  vie,  il  a  tout  donne  a  une  idee,  a  la  conception  heroique  qu'il 
s'etait  faite  de  I'honneur.  Gloire  a  lui  !  gloire  a  son  roi  ! 
J'ai  dit,  j'ai  enseigne  pendant  longtemps  que  I'histoire  etait  une  ecole 
d'immoralite.  Je  ne  le  dirai  plus,  apres  I'exemple  que  la  Belgique  vient 
de  donner  au  monde.  Un  acte  comme  celui-la  rachete  les  plus  grandes 
vilenies  de  I'humanite.  II  fait  qu'on  se  sent  plus  fier  d'etre  homme. 
Sera-t-il  permis  a  un  professeur  dc  philosophic  d'ajouter  qu'on  se  sentira 
plus  fier,  desormais,  d'etre  philosophe  ?  Le  roi  Albert  s'est  adonne  aux 
etudes  philosophiques.  Leur  doit-il  quelque  chose  de  sa  force  d'ame  et 
de  son  genereux  idealisme  ?  Je  le  voudrais,  car  la  philosophic  recueillirait 
alors  quelque  chose  de  sa  gloire.  Deux  fois,  au  cours  de  I'histoire,  elle  a 
brille  sur  un  trone  ;  et,  les  deux  fois,  elle  aura  ete  associee  a  la  plus  haute 
vertu.  Elle  inspira  jadis  le  stoicisme  de  Marc  Aurele.  Elle  sourit  aujour- 
d'hui  avec  amour  a  I'heroisme  simple  et  sublime  du  Roi  Albert. 

TRANSLATION  by  J.  S.  C. 

The  Daily  Telegraph  has  been  pleased  to  ask  of  me  done  for  honour.     Glory  to  her  !  Glory  to  her  king  ! 

to  say  tiliat  I  feel  about  Belgium  and  King  Albert.    I  I  have  said  and  I  hate  taught  for  long  that  history 

have  searched  in  rain  to  find  Kords  adequate  for  express-  was  a  school  of  immorality.      I  shall  say  so  no  more, 

ing  my  admiration  :  I  can  only  bow  my  head,  a  prey  after  the  example  that  Belgium  has  just  given  to  the 

to  profound  emotion,  and  offer  a  respectful  homage,  world.     .1  deed  like  this  redeems  the  worst  meannesses 

A  small  nation  found  herself  suddenly  confronted  by  of  mankind.     It  makes  one  feci  more  proud  of  being 

one  of  the  most  formidable  armies  in  the  world.     They  a  man. 

asked  of  her.  merely  permission  to  pass  through  ;  they  May  it  be  permitted  to  a  professor  of  philosophy  to 

would   restore    to   her,    so    they    said,    her    territory  add  that  it  makes  one  feel  more  proud  henceforth  of 

untouched ;     they   would   respect    her    independence,  being    a    philosopher  ?     King    Albert    has   followed 

IVould  they  have  done  so  ?     I  know  not,  but  the  small  philosophical   studies.     Is  it   to   them    that   he   owes 

nation  was  free   to  believe   them.     And  if  she  had  something  of  his  strength  of  soul  and  his  noble  idealism? 

declared  that  she  yielded  to  force  and  accepted  the  I  could  wish  so,  for  philosophy  would  then  share  in 

inevitable,  we  might  have  pitied  but  we  should  not  his  glory.     Twice  in  the  course  of  history  has  philo- 

have    dared    to    blame.     Far    othencise  !     She    has  sophy  shone  from  a  throne,  and  on  both  occasions  it 

resisted  what  seemed  irresistible  ;    she  has  sacrificed  will  have   been   associated  with    the   highest   virtue, 

at  once  all  that  she  had,  all  that  she  was  :  her  towns  In  ancient  times  philosophv  inspired  the  stoicism  of 

and  her  villages,  her  wealth  and  her  life,  she  has  Marcus  .-lurelius.     It  smiles  lovingly  to-dav  on  the 

given  all  for  an  idea,  for  the  heroic  belief  that  it  was  simple  and  sublime  heroism  of  King  Albert. 

59 


HAIL! 


A   HYMN   TO    BELGIUM 

POEM  BY 

JOHN    GALSWORTHY 

MUSIC  BY 

FREDERIC   H.  COWEN. 


Voice. 


Moderate  sostenuto. 
-^mj; x. 


W       *" 


3= 


^^^ 


--^ 


1.  Men        of   Bel-giuni!  Hon- cur's  own!       Yc       who  saved  the       Ho  -  ly     Grail,       Yc      who  died   for 
Moderato  sostenuto.  #=62. 

J I I , I I \ , L 


-± 


:f^ 


Piano 

OR 

Organ. 


j^ 


'-=^ 


W^ 


&E 


or         "5: 


t 


^k^'^- 

=1:^: 


mf 


w% 


ir:   *s 


feist 


=*=!■= 


=t^=1= 


-=^- 


zsx: 


^ 


-?^H- 


:K*= 


-^ 


=^= 


"5    ^- 


mf. 


=a= 


^=n 


w^ 


p 


Free- dom's  Crown,  Hail,      ye     brave,     for         ev    -    er :     hail!    2.  Wives      of    Bel-gium!    who     to    Death 

— ^ ^- 


r- 


■?p» — r 
/ 


:^r=ir 


^ 


^•?. 


^^ 


fe^^^ElEE^EFi 


mf 


»=* 


^EEEi 


-J L 


"cr 


=e*: 


^S^ 


-<i| eu — I 


•^*-^^^ 


d=t= 


:d+zit 


S^^^^i^^ 


^^ 


id=:--^r 


it^zr^ 


-^ 


5±;&: 


Paid       the   toll      of        Mo -therms   wail,     Bound    with  wid- owed     sor  -  row's  wreath  The   brows     of    Death,     ye 


S~:^ 


■^-!>- 


1^1^ 


^ 


ri 


_L  _J. 


5--:L-2i-ki 


-iS- 


:^=± 


^^ 


>: 


ee; 


:Hi 


^Z^ 


% 


I^>t 


^Tft:^ 


dear  saints :  hail  '    3.  Maids       of  Bel-gium  !    ye  who  gazed      At  worse  than    sul    -   len  Death,  and  pale  In 


3^5^ 


T^tf: 


^ II 1 1 1 1 1 — I — ' ^- 

-— ^ —         II — »        m~»—m m — \ — m        *— * — » *- 


p^E*Eiti:"*«JEB:=J:::lT*! 


PS^ 


^ 


fl— t 


^rp^=^f=^f=MS: 


sempre  p 


^-r-—-- 


N.B. — If  it  is  desired  to  sing  this  as  a  simrle  Hymn,  the  Melody  of  the  3rd  verse  should  be  omitted  and  the  words  sung  to  the  opening  eight 

bars,  as  in  the  1st  and  '2nd  verses. 


60 


r-irrnac 


-• — Pc 


V    >    ^-^ 


::^»=«= 


erf*. 


mf 


ter-ror. 


yet  with  eyes  un  -  dazed, —        Smiled     on    at   Hope —  ye     sweet- hearts  :     Hail  1 . .        Maids        of 

J 1 ., >- 


^:.:^- 


1  • — # — m — •  — • « « — »   I    »    »    m — * — r    ~    j       pi 


iCe: 


^E^E^: 


'^. 


:?2= 


J 


-H- 


?*^   r    *- 

-I     I   — *- 


;S2i 


^^ 


fjofo  rn/?. 


ia 


I 


^ZE 


Grtindioso. 
a  ttmno. 


■0      m 


^ST- 


Be!  -  gium  !  Sweet-hearts,  Hail ! 


\% 


^*=r 


3^ 


4.  Land       of  Bel  -  gium  !  earth  and   sky       For    ev    -    er  -  more    shall 


A  A    '^   A   /^  ^    Grarulioso.    '^i       '^  A       A       /\  A  A 


::.    I     I 


i^E 


m 


poco  rail. 


/-L. 


ra//. 


»    ^-f-* •-« * • = 5 • —  — I— d  •: •- 


«^^ 


/. 


a  tempo. 


:3^ 


-d-*- 


*l      it  *    i*^ 


S 


-f-n 


^=5±,- 


^-^ir- 


-^±^^     1    i-^ 


-»-it^ 


=^F^ 


Vl/      V    V     V         V 


V 


CI 


lempre  f 


^ 


T*  y 


3t=#= 


dSi=^ 


:t=t 


Hail !  Thou  Sad     Im  -  mor  -  tal :    Hail ! 


tell    thy    tale.      The  morn  -  in^  comes  !  Thou  shalt  not     die! 


A         A 


-?•>-«- 


^^ 


\ 


-X-.        r\     \: 


-x=z^. 


sempre  f 


W'^~t—rT 


j^ 


^^HlEEgEg^gg'^^P^fe 


m 


#'- 


molto  mareato. 

.*A  A 


-Q- 


'^  >  A 

331 


:^ 


i 


Hail:  Thou    Sad      Im    -    mor 
A 


I 


t^i 

A 


Hail ! 


A    A     A A         A  A    «    A     A 


^  molto  mareato. 


vvvv       V        vvvv 


61 


By  EDEN   PHILLPOTTS 
To  Belgium 

Chat?ipion  of  human  honour,  let  us  lave 

Your  feet  and  bind  your  wounds  on  bended  knee. 

Though  coward  hands  have  nailed  you  to  the  tree 
And  sited  your  innocent  blood  and  dug  your  grave , 
Rejoice  arid  live  !    Your  orifiamme  shall  wave 

While  man  has  power  to  perish  and  be  free — 

A  golden  flame  of  holiest  Liberty, 
Proud  as  the  dawn  and  as  the  sunset  brave. 

Belgium,  ivhere  dwelleth  reverence  for  right 

Enthroned  above  all  ideals  ;  zchere  your  fate 
And  your  supernal  patience  and  your  tnight 

Most  sacred  grow  in  human  estimate, 
You  shifie  a  star  above  this  stormy  night, 
Little  no  more,  but  infinitely  great.  ^^"j^L^^  P  lv-££^ -.V'J^ — 


c 


By  MARY  CHOLMONDELEY 

POLYDORE    IN    ENGLAND 

WHEN  Polydore  came  to  stay  with  us  he  did  not  come  alone.  He  was 
accompanied  by  Nestor  Maria  and  Rene  and  Achille  and  poor  Jan,  who  was 
not  a  soldier  at  all,  but  had  been  wounded  while  lending  a  hand  in  the 
trenches. 

But  somehow  the  others  only  formed  a  background  to  Polydore.  Polydore 
invariably  met  the  eye  first,  from  the  moment  when  a  jaded  Red  Cross 
official  handed  him  and  his  companions  over  to  us  at  a  roadside  station. 
It  was  Polydore  who  advanced  to  meet  us,  the  others  making  a  little  bunch 
behind  him.  Polydore,  with  his  dusky  complexion  and  round,  grey,  im- 
passive, unwinking  eyes,  amazed  at  nothing,  at  once  constituted  himself  as 
spokesman  of  the  party,  interpreter  and  expert  on  matters  of  etiquette. 
Possibly  he  may  have  felt  that  this  position  was  his  due  as  he  was  the  only 
one  of  the  contingent  in  full  Belgian  uniform.  Dark  blue  coat,  wide  light 
blue  trousers,  and  peaked  cap.  Nestor  Maria  and  Achille  wore  English 
sweaters  with  their  blue  trousers.  Jan,  of  course,  had  no  uniform,  only  a 
weird  English  cheap  suit  rather  too  tight  in  the  waist.  None  of  them  except 
Polydore  had  a  peaked  cap.  But  all  five  were  wound  up  in  enormous 
woollen  comforters. 

62 


All  five  had  been  seriously  wounded,  and  had  come  to  us  to  recruit  after 

being  discharged  from  the  hospital  at  E .     But  though  Rene  and  Achille 

were  lame  they  were  in  the  best  of  spirits,  as  were  Nestor  Maria  and  Polydore 
himself,  though  still  somewhat  pallid  and  worn-looking.  Only  Jan  never 
smiled  and  hardly  spoke  a  word,  lie  had  no  news  of  his  old  mother,  last 
heard  of  at  Ostend. 

Our  guests  had  brought  no  luggage  with  them,  except  a  packet  of  English 
picture  post  cards  presented  to  Polydore  in  hospital,  and  one  pipe  among 
the  five. 

They  obeyed  Polydore's  directions  implicitly,  why,  I  know  not.  When 
they  retired  to  their  carefully  tucked-up  beds,  he  made  them  all  creep  into 
them  from  the  top,  without  opening  them  at  the  side.  This  cannot  have 
been  quite  easy  for  Rene  and  Achille  with  their  "  bad  "  legs,  but  they 
accomplished  it  nevertheless.  After  two  days,  Polydore  courteously  in- 
quired how  much  longer  they  would  have  to  drink  our  terrible  English 
medicine  with  their  breakfasts.  This  was  the  strong  tea  we  had  given  them. 
Coffee  was  substituted  for  it,  and  smiles  WTcathcd  every  face.  Even  Jan 
said  a  word  or  two  in  Flemish  which  sounded  like  approval. 
The  only  thing  in  our  establishment  which  surprised  even  Polydore  was 
the  mowing  machine  on  the  lawn.  That  amazed  them  all,  and  they  were 
never  tired  of  watching  it.  They  walked  round  the  garden  with  us,  at  least 
Polydore  did,  while  the  others  followed  at  his  heels,  while  Polydore  admired 
the  roses  d'Egvpte  and  the  giieules  de  lion  *  still  flowering  in  the  autumn  beds. 
They  were  all  politeness  itself,  but  I  think  they  might  have  become  rather 
bored  with  English  country  life  if  it  had  not  been  for  Private  Dawkins  of 
the  West  Lowshires.  Dawkins  was  also  just  out  of  hospital  and  was  re- 
cruiting at  his  mother's  cottage  in  the  village,  and  he  walked  up,  erect  and 
soldier-like  in  his  khaki,  to  call  on  his  allies.  A  difference  of  language 
presented  no  difficulties.  Immediate  and  agreeable  intercourse  was  estab- 
lished and  presently  Dawkins  and  Polydore  set  out  together,  of  course 
followed  by  the  others  ;  the  English  soldier  looking  ver}'  slim  in  his  khaki 
puttees  compared  with  the  low,  broad,  sturdy,  blue-trousered  figures  of  his 
companions  in  arms. 

Dawkins  took  his  comrades  to  call  on  every  cottage  in  the  village,  and 
introduced  them  to  the  entire  circle  of  his  acquaintance,  including  his 
mother.  Mrs.  Dawkins,  I  found  afterwards,  was  much  impressed  by 
Polydore's  ignorance. 

"  The  pore  critter,"  she  told  me,  "  actually  thought  the  clothes-line  was  a 
telephone.  But  lor,  mum,  I  soon  made  him  understand.  I  brought  out  a 
kitchen  rubber  and  a  peg,  and  made  him  fasten  it  on  the  wire,  just  to  teach 
him.  He's  sharp  enough,  is  Polly  Dor,  and  such  a  silly  name  for  a  man." 
As  he  grew  to  know  us  better,  Polydore  told  us  many  tales  of  the  fighting 
in  Belgium,  the  others  sitting  round,  and  joining  in  like  a  chorus.  With  a 
perfectly  impassive  face  he  recounted  how  on  one  occasion  when  the  dykes 

•  .Mignonette  and  Snapdragon. 

63 


were  opened,  the  Germans,  after  losing  all  their  guns,  had  been  forced  to 
seek  refuge  in  the  trees,  where  he  and  Rene  had  assisted  in  capturing  whole 
batches  of  them,  sitting  in  strings  in  the  branches  like  enormous  barn-door 
fowls. 

But  he  and  his  comrades  recounted  other  incidents  too  ghastly  to  be  written 
here.  He  had  seen — Nestor  Maria  had  see7i — Achille  had  seen — the  dusky, 
impassive  faces  darkened  suddenly.  Hands  were  clenched,  grey  eyes 
blazed.  We  had  to  draw  them  back  to  less  grievous  topics  and  make 
Polydore  describe  to  us  once  more  the  contemptible  fire  of  the  German 
infantry.  We  were  shown  exactly  how  the  Germans  fired  from  the  hip, 
with  no  effect  at  all.  And  then  Polydore  waved  Rene  forward  and  made 
him  stand  in  front  of  us,  expanding  his  chest,  while  he  laid  his  hand  on  the 
second  button  of  Rene's  tattered  blue  coat,  and  explained  to  us  that  when 
a  Belgian  soldier  fires  at  the  enemy  he  always  hits  him  exactly  there,  on  the 
chest — always. 

Our  Belgian  soldiers  did  not  stay  many  weeks  with  us.  They  thrived 
exceedingly,  and  presently  their  country  called  them.  Dawkins  was  sent 
for  the  same  day.  And  the  last  I  saw  of  Polydore  was  leaning  out  of  a 
third-class  railway  carriage  window  with  Dawkins,  waving  his  peaked  cap 
to  us,  with  the  others  in  a  little  bunch  behind  him.  We  had  made  search- 
ing inquiries  before  they  left,  and  found  that  Jan's  mother  was  safe  at 
Alexandra  Palace,  where  she  had  arrived  clutching  five  colTee-pots  as  her 
entire  luggage. 

So  good-bye  Polydore  and  Nestor  Maria  and  Achille  and  Rene  and  Jan, 
And  may  the  world  go  well  with  you  ! 


By  SIR  VALENTINE  CHIROL 

IT  is  a  privilege  to  join  in  any  tribute  to  King  Albert  and  his  people.  King 
Albert  is  the  only  sovereign  whose  royal  title  is  not  a  territorial  one.  He 
is  styled  King,  not  of  Belgium  but  of  the  Belgians  ;  as  if  it  had  been  pre- 
ordained that  though  a  ruthless  conqueror  might  rob  him  for  a  time  of  his 
kingdom,  none  should  ever  rob  him  of  his  kingship.  Never  perhaps  more 
proudly  than  to-day,  when  his  Government  has  been  compelled  to  seek 
refuge  on  the  hospitable  soil  of  France  and  he  himself,  at  the  head  of  his 
indomitable  army,  is  fighting  close  to  the  French  frontier  for  the  last  inch 
of  Belgian  territory,  has  King  Albert  vindicated  his  right  to  a  splendid 
title :  King  of  the  Belgians,  heroic  head  of  an  heroic  people. 

64 


By   PROFESSOR   PAUL   VINOGRADOFF 
The  Record  of  Belgium 

IN  addressing  the  King  of  an  heroic  nation  it  is  natural  to  recall  to  mind 
some  striking  memories  of  its  past  in  which  its  temper  and  character  have 
been  revealed  in  former  ages.  It  seems  clear  to  us,  outsiders,  that  the  life 
of  the  Belgian  people  has  been  in  many  respects  an  exceptional  manifestation 
of  energy  and  courage.  As  far  as  we  can  look  back  into  dim  antiquity,  we 
find  the  country*  occupied  by  Celtic  tribes  which,  in  the  opinion  of  a  great 
expert,  Caesar,  were  conspicuous  for  their  political  aptitude  and  prowess  in 
war.  The  Roman  Conquest  of  this  region  proved  to  be  more  than  a  military 
accident — it  impressed  a  great  part  of  the  population  with  the  indelible 
stamp  of  Romance  culture  and  contributed  powerfully  to  form  the  Walloon 
racial 'group. 

The  Franks  brought  in  a  fresh  Teutonic  element  :  it  sur\-ives  in  the 
Flemings  and,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Saxons  and  Danes  of  England,  it  widened 
the  outlook  and  the  range  of  action  of  the  nation  without  forcing  the  country 
into  the  narrow  groove  of  purely  Germanic  development. 
In  the  economic  Renaissance  of  Europe  during  the  later  MiddleAges  Flanders 
took  the  lead  with  the  astonishing  outburst  of  industry  in  Ghent,  Ypres, 
and  other  cities — and  the  progressive  movement  was  reflected  not  only  in 
the  output  of  their  w^ares  but  also  in  the  sturdy  spirit  of  the  redoutable 
burgher  arrays.  In  the  Renaissance  of  learning  and  arts  Belgium  has  taken 
its  place  with  the  Van  Eycks  and  Alcmling  far  ahead  of  many  populous 
kingdoms  :  Bruges  shares  with  Florence  and  Nuremberg  the  glory  of 
emulating  Athens  in  the  wealth  of  its  civic  culture. 

In  the  centuries  of  statecraft  and  absolutism  the  valleys  of  the  Scheldt  and 
of  the  Meuse  became  the  battle-ground  of  European  sovereigns,  but  the 
transition  to  a  better  age  is  marked  again  by  a  momentous  act  of  the  Belgian 
people — by  the  rising  against  the  benevolent  despotism  of  Austria. 
The  settlement  of  1830  was  more  than  a  casual  fabrication  of  cunning 
diplomats  :  it  has  brought  together  elements  diverse  in  race  but  united  by 
creed,  by  cultural  aspirations  and  by  a  spirit  of  stubborn  independence. 
King  Albert  is  fortunate  to  stand  at  the  head  of  such  a  people  and  the 
Belgians  can  well  be  proud  of  a  King  who  embodies  in  a  full  measure  the 
best  virtues  of  the  nation. 

In  ages  to  come  travellers  will  look  with  pious  emotion  on  the  sites  of  Liege, 
Louvain,  Antwerp,  the  shores  of  the  Yser,  and  if  at  the  close  of  this  terrible 
war  a  prize  were  to  be  adjudicated  to  the  most  valiant  nation,  as  the  Greeks 
did  in  their  war  of  independence  against  the  Persian  King,  the  prize  would 
surely  fall  by  unanimous  consent  to  Belgium.  If  there  is  justice  in  the 
world  and  a  meaning  in  history,  Belgium  will  arise  out  of  the  ashes,  like 
Phoenix,  in  renewed  vigour  and  splendour. 


By  SIDNEY  WEBB 

HUMANITY  has  found,  after  many  a  wound  and  countless  ineffectual 
struggles,  that  Law  is  the  Mother  of  Liberty.  Now  Belgium  has  been 
tortured  by  ruthless  power.  May  it  be  so  far  not  in  vain  that  all  the  peoples 
of  the  earth  may  learn  that  only  in  the  building  up  of  a  really  effective 
International  Law  can  national  liberty  be  secured. 


^L^\u^U>tJr(r 


By  BENJAMIN  KIDD 

NO  tribute  which  civilisation  is  able  to  make  can  meet  the  debt  which  the 
human  spirit  owes  to  the  Belgian  people  and  to  King  Albert  for  ever. 
When  the  tempter  asked  the  Belgian  people  to  be  his  accomplice  against 
France  and  offered  Belgium  a  price  for  her  soul,  King  Albert,  backed  by 
his  unanimous  people,  instantly  took  the  terrible  decision  and  gave  firmly 
the  answer  by  which  our  common  humanity  has  been  ennobled. 
It  is  an  immortal  story  of  Right  rendered  invincible  through  the  crucifixion 
of  a  People.  ^ 


By   SIR  THOMAS   BARCLAY 

THE  violation  of  Belgium's  neutrality  is  a  collective  crime,  including  every 
crime  that  dishonours  the  individual  :  murder,  robbery,  arson,  perjury, 
false  pretences,  broken  faith,  etc. 

It  is  murder,  not  war,  to  wage  bloodshed  on  those  against  whom  there  is 
no  grievance.  It  is  robbery  to  take  from  the  innocent  as  from  the  guilty, 
and  arson  to  burn  down  their  homes.  It  is  worse  than  perjur}'  without 
provocation  to  break  a  solemn  promise  and  violate  the  trust  of  others. 
The  magnitude  of  Germany's  crime  has  not  yet  been  realised  by  the  German 
national  conscience,  but,  sooner  or  later,  it  will  be  realised  and  then  all 
honest  and  truth-loving  Germans,  at  present  victims  of  deliberate  mis- 
representation, will  feel  the  humiliation  of  having  forfeited  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  mankind.  They  will  see  in  all  its  blackness  a  crime  which 
will  go  down  to  posterity  as  one  of  the  foulest  deeds  of  all  time — a  treacherous 
breach  of  faith  coupled  with  a  ruthless  cruelty  unsurpassed  in  history.  No 
casuistry  will  redeem  the  German  people  from  the  consciousness  of  having 
provoked  and  deserv^ed  the  curse  of  an  unoffending  people  and  the  unqualified 
reprobation  of  the  whole  civilised  world. 

66 


THE  MARCH  OF  THE  WOMEN . 

Ethel  Smyth ,  mus.Doc. 


m 


ii 


^fi 


^ 


J-K..  r^ 


>       >     > 


m 


>  > 


:$ 


^te 


^ 


mum: 


TO  the  Kino  of  the  BeJgiayis  and  his  heroic  people  zvho,  belierino  in  riaht  rather 
than  in  might ,  fought  against  overwhelming  odds  in  dejence  of  their  hojiour  and 
freedotn — even  as  zcomen  in  England  are  fighting  to  zvin  theirs — undying 
gratitude,  and  everlasting  glory  ! 


By  EMMELINE    PANKHURST 

THE  women  of  Great  Britain  will  never  forget  what  Belgium  has  done  for 

all  that  women  hold  most  dear. 

In  the  days  to  come  mothers  will  tell  their  children  how  a  small  but  great- 

souled  nation  fought  to  the  death  against  overwhelming  odds  and  sacrificed 

all  things  to  save  the  world  from  an  intolerable  tvranny. 

The  story  of  the  Belgian  people's  defence  of  Freedom  will  inspire  countless 

generations  yet  unborn. 


-W-^iuyfriiuyp^ 


67 


By  CARDINAL   GIBBONS 

I  GLADLY  subscribe  my  name  to  King  Albert's  Book. 


,;^^^>^         f   «.*-.^.    ^^L-^r-1^rZ^H^ 


By  WILLIAM   J.   LOCKE 
To  His  Heroic  Majesty  the  King  oj  the  Belgians, 
Sire, 

One  Fifth  of  November  more  worthy  to  Hve  in  the  shuddering  memory  of 
man  than  the  anniversary  which  we  EngUsh  celebrate — one  Fifth  of  Novem- 
ber, three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  years  ago,  the  wintr}^  dawn  broke  upon 
Antwerp  burned  and  butchered  by  a  soldiery  "  who,"  as  the  great  American 
historian  says,  "  seemed  to  have  cast  off  even  the  vizard  of  humanity.  Hell," 
he  adds,  "  seemed  emptied  of  its  fiends."  To-day  a  soldiery  as  ruthless 
and  as  bestial  has  entered  the  gates  of  Antwerp  after  spreading  a  desolation 
through  your  fair  land  such  as  Alva  and  his  followers,  supreme  products 
of  a  race  then  braggart  too  of  its  "  culture,"  had  neither  the  wit  to  devise 
nor  the  ferocity  to  execute.  ]\Iore  than  three  hundred  years  ago  your  country 
fought  for  everything  that  man  holds  dear,  ever}'thing  that  man  holds  sacred. 
Against  fearful  odds  she  fought  the  greatest  hght  for  Liberty  that  the  world  till 
then  had  seen.  In  that  stupendous  struggle,  "  women,  old  men,  and  children 
had  all  been  combatants,  and  all  therefore  incurred  the  vengeance  of 
the  conquerors."  To-day,  Sire,  your  foes,  molested  by  naught  but  the 
chivalrous  resistance  of  your  armies,  have  wreaked  a  vengeance  thrice  more 
damnable.  Three  hundred  years  ago  your  country,  with  unparalleled  heroism, 
triumphed  over  the  powers  of  darkness  and  established  herself  in  Europe  as 
one  of  the  centres  of  inspiration  in  all  that  matters  to  the  soul  of  mankind.  She 
now,  once  more,  has  fought  even  a  more  glorious  battle  for  Liberty  than  in 
those  far-off  days.  She  has  struck  an  immortal  chord  that  vibrates  and 
shall  vibrate  through  the  united  heart  of  the  Anglo-Saxon,  Latin,  and  Slav 
races — races  who,  in  that  sublimated  expression  of  Life  to  which  we  give 
the  name  of  Art,  a  term  embracing  all  manifestations  of  spiritual  discovery 
from  a  song  to  a  cathedral,  have  abhorred  Teutonic  ideals.  And  as  in  those 
far-off  days,  your  noble  country,  secure  in  her  own  integrity,  and,  now, 
inspired  by  the  wondering  admiration  of  the  civilised  world,  once  more 
shall  triumph  and  once  more  shall  play  a  prouder  part  than  ever  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth. 

For  yourself,  Sire,  what  more  fitting  tribute  can  a  humble  writer  lay  at  your 
feet  than  the  words  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  historian  regarding  your  predecessor 
and  exemplar,  the  great  saviour  of  your  country  three  hundred  years  ago  : 
He  went  through  life  bearing  the  load  of  a  people's  sorrows  upon  his 
shoulders,  with  a  smiling  face.     He  was  the  guiding  star  of  a  great  nation." 


68 


CMi'i'Cfwiiif.  1 1(1^, 


OKTKkfiHjJ 

> 

By  H.  Chandler  Christy 


By  MARIE  CORELLI 
For  Belgium  !    A71  Invocation 

*'  What  shall  we  do  for  our  Sister  in  the  day  when  she  shall  be  spoken  of  ? 
If  she  be  a  wall,  we  will  build  upon  her  a  palace  of  silver." 

Song  oj  Solomon 

Maker  of  Heaven  and  Earth, 

Thou,  zvho  hast  given  birth 
To  moving  millions  of  pre-destincd  spheres, 

Thou,  whose  resistless  might 

Resolves  the  Wrong  to  Right 
Missing  no  moment  of  the  fneasured  years, — 

Behold,  we  come  to  Thee  ! 
We  lift  our  swords,  unsheath'd,  towards  Thy  throne — 

Look  down  on  us,  and  see 
Our  Sister-Nation,  ruined  and  undone  ! 
Martyred  for  nobleness,  for  truth  and  trust  ; 
Help  us,  O  God,  to  raise  her  froin  the  dust  ! 

Be  Thou  our  zdtness.  Lord  ! 

We  swear  with  one  accord 
Swift  retribution  on  her  treacherous  foe  ! 

Her  bitter  wrong  is  ours. 

And  heaven's  full-armed  pozvers 
Shall  hurl  her  murderer  to  his  overthrow  ! 

Upon  her  broken  wall 
A  silver  palace  of  szveet  peace  shall  rise 

At  that  high  Festival 
When  Victory's  signal  flashes  through  the  skies — 
But — until  then  ! — welcome  the  fiercest  fray  I 
We  fight  for  Freedom  !  God,  give  us  "  The  Day  "  / 


E*  69 


By   THE  ARCHBISHOP   OF  YORK 

THE  King  and  people  of  Belgium  were  the  first  to  meet  the  shock  of  this 
terrible  war  into  which  Europe  has  been  plunged.  They  were  the  first  to 
give  proof  of  the  spirit  of  heroic  self-sacrifice  by  which  alone  it  can  be  carried 
through.  It  was  their  honour  to  lay  down  their  national  life  for  their 
friends.  It  must  be  our  honour  to  restore  that  national  life  to  them,  secured 
from  menace,  enriched  and  ennobled  by  the  splendid  sacrifice  which  it 
has  made.  ^ 

By  THE   Rev.  Dr.  JOHN   CLIFFORD 

The  Belgian  People  and  their  King 

AGAIN  and  again  as  I  have  read  the  story  of  the  unparalleled  exploits  of 
the  Belgians  and  their  King,  the  words  of  the  prophet  Isaiah  have  come  to 
me :  "A  man  shall  be  as  a  hiding-place  from  the  wind  and  a  covert  from 
the  tempest  ;  as  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place  and  as  the  shadow  of  a  great 
rock  in  a  weary  land."  The  outstanding  hero  of  this  stupendous  war  is 
King  Albert.  He  has  been  a  refuge  for  his  people  in  this  day  of  trouble 
and  tragedy.  Never  has  he  hesitated  from  first  to  last.  There  has  been 
no  vacillation.  His  complete  self-abnegation  has  been  matched  by  the 
magnificence  of  his  valour.  He  has  stood  his  ground  all  the  way  through, 
and  is  still  the  strong,  steadfast  soul  in  whom  his  suff"ering  people  trust. 
He  has  led  with  courage  and  wisdom  and  self-sacrifice.  He  is  the  great 
hero  of  a  nation  of  heroes,  the  brave  leader  of  a  brave  and  gallant  people. 
By  the  clearest  right,  he  goes  to  his  place  by  the  side  of  Leonidas  and  WiUiam 
the  Silent,  King  Alfred  and  Oliver  Cromwell,  and  all  the  other  real  kings 
of  men.  His  noble  and  beautiful  character,  chivalrous  spirit  and  whole- 
souled  work  will  enrich  the  human  race  for  ever.  To  him,  and  his  people, 
we  off"er  the  most  glowing  admiration  and  the  sincerest  gratitude,  for  un- 
forgettable service  rendered  to  all  the  generations  of  men,  by  undaunted 
resistance  given  to  an  unscrupulous  and  barbaric  invader. 

By  THE   CHIEF  RABBI 

ONLY  that  nation  can  be  called  cultured  which  adds  to  the  spiritual  assets 

of  humanity  ;    which  by  its  living  and,  if  need  be,  by  its  dying,  vindicates 

the  eternal  values  of  life — conscience,  honour,  liberty.    Judged  by  this  test, 

two  of  the  littlest  of  peoples,  Judaea  in  ancient  times  and  Belgium  to-day, 

and  not  their  mighty  and  ruthless  oppressors,  are  among  the  chief  defenders 

of  culture,  champions  of  the  sacred  heritage  of  man. 

Israel,  that  has  endured  all  things,  sufi^ered  all  things,  and  survived  all  things, 

believes  with  a  perfect  faith  that  Belgium,  fighting  for  the  Spirit,  is  as 

indestructible  as  the  Spirit. 


70 


/y-^^^wy^ 


By  THE   CARDINAL  ARCHBISHOP  OF   REIMS 
JE  m'associe  de  toute  mon  ame  a  I'hommage  d'admiration  et  de  respectueuse 
sympathie  qu'on  a  eu  I'heureuse  pensee  d'offrir  a  Sa  Majeste  le  Roi  Albert, 
a  son  armce  et  a  son  peuple. 

Oui,  honneur  au  Roi  des  Beiges.  Toutes  nos  sympathies  vont  a  ce  souve- 
rain  magnanime,  qui  personnifie  a  I'heure  actuelle  aux  yeux  du  monde  entier 
le  Droit  opprime,  que  la  colere  d'un  puissant  adversaire  n'a  point  intimide, 
et  qui,  malgre  les  revers  de  la  fortune,  persiste  inebranlable  dans  la  defense 
de  I'indcpcndance  de  son  pays. 

Des  qu'il  se  sut  menace,  sa  resolution  fut  prise.  Aux  propositions  tour  a 
tour  insinuantes  et  hautaines  de  laisser  libre  passage  aux  envahisseurs 
qui  s'appretaient  a  se  ruer  sur  une  nation  amie  dc  la  Belgique  et  a  la 
surprendre  par  une  attaquc  brusquee  avant  qu'elle  eut  le  temps  de  concentrer 
ses  troupes,  il  osa  repondre  par  le  refus  formel  que  lui  dictait  sa  conscience. 
Pour  lui  la  neutralite  de  la  Belgique  n'etait  pas  un  vain  mot,  ni  le  traite  qui 
la  stipulait  *'  un  simple  bout  de  papier  "  dont  on  ne  tient  compte  qu'autant 
qu'on  y  a  interet.  Sans  se  laisser  influencer  par  les  menaces  du  solliciteur, 
ni  par  la  crainte  des  consequences  immediates  de  sa  reponse,  il  n'ecouta 
que  la  voix  de  la  justice  et  de  I'honneur.  Sa  resolution  prise,  il  se  mit  en 
mesure  de  la  soutenir  avec  une  admirable  energie  :  "  S'il  faut  resister  a 
I'invasion,  s'ecrie-t-il,  le  devoir  nous  trouvera  armes  et  decides  aux  plus 
grands  sacrifices.  Un  seul  devoir  s'impose  a  nos  volontes  :  une  resistance 
opiniatre  .  .  .  I'etrangcr  trouvera  tous  les  Beiges  groupes  autour  de  leur 
souverain,  qui  ne  trahira  jamais  son  serment  constitutionnel. 
Voila  un  fier  langage  auquel  le  monde  entier  a  justement  applaudi. 
Honneur  a  I'armee  de  la  Belgique  !  Ce  fut  un  cri  d'etonnement  et  d'admira- 
tion lorsqu'on  apprit  que  subitement  jetee  en  guerre  contre  la  nation  la  plus 
fortement  armee  de  I'Europe,  elle  tenait  en  echec  les  legions  de  son  puissant 
ennemi  a  Liege  et  a  Namur,  brisait  son  elan,  faisait  echouer  son  plan 
d'attaque  en  I'empechant  de  prendre  I'avance  sur  laquelle  il  avait  comptee. 
Obligee  cepcndant  dc  cedcr  devant  le  nombre,  elle  se  replia  sur  Anvers,  et 
quand  clle  dut  evacuer  ce  dernier  boulevard  de  sa  resistance,  ce  ne  fut  pas 
pour  rendre  les  armes  ;  elle  vint  prendre  place  entre  I'armee  de  la  France 
et  celle  de  I'Angleterre  pour  partager  avec  elles  les  perils  de  la  guerre  en 
attendant  Theure  de  partager  I'honneur  dc  la  victoire  finale. 
L'armee  Beige  a  ecrit  dans  I'histoire  du  monde  une  des  pages  les  plus 
glorieuses. 

Honneur  au  peuple  Beige!  II  s'est  montre  digne  de  la  confiance  que  son 
Roi  avait  en  son  patriotisme.  II  a  noblement  ratifie  I'attitude  de  son 
souverain  en  acceptant  genereusement  les  sacrifices  dc  la  guerre.  Levee  de 
tous  les  hommes  valides,  siege  et  bombardement  de  ses  forteresses,  de- 
vastation de  ses  villes  et  de  ses  campagnes,  destruction  de  ses  monuments 
et  de  ses  chefs-d'cEuvre,  sevices  de  I'ennemi  furieux  de  sa  resistance,  revers 
prevus,  mais  douloureux  quand  meme,  de  ses  armes,  il  a  tout  supportc  avec 
une  noble  resignation  et  sans  perdre  courage.     Liege,  Namur,  Tournai, 

71 


Gand,  Bruges,  Anvers,  toutes  ses  villes  si  prosperes,  si  pacifiques,  Bruxelles, 
sa  capitale,  sont  tombees  Tune  apres  I'autre  sous  les  coups  de  I'ennemi  dix 
fois  superieur  en  nombre,  sans  que  son  invincible  Constance  soit  ebranlee. 
II  offre  maintenant  au  monde  le  spectacle  poignant  qu'on  n'avait  pas  vu 
depuis  les  invasions  des  Barbares,  d'un  peuple  chasse  de  ses  foyers,  et 
reduit  a  I'emigration  pour  echapper  a  un  joug  qu'il  ne  veut  pas  subir. 
Plein  de  confiance  en  sa  cause  et  en  son  Dieu,  il  attend  que  la  victoire  re- 
vienne  sous  ses  etendards  qui  sont  ceux  memes  de  la  justice  et  de  la  liberie. 
La  guerre  actuelle  a  montre  au  monde  que  dans  ce  petit  pays  de  Belgique 
habite  un  grand  peuple. 

Au  Roi  des  Beiges,  a  son  armee,  a  son  peuple,  nous  ofFrons  respectueusement 
rhommage  de  notre  admiration  et  de  notre  reconnaissance. 
Qu'il  soit  permis  au  Cardinal-Archeveque  de  Reims  d'adresser  aussi  un 
salut  fraternel  au  venerable  et  illustre  Archeveque  de  Malines,  S.E,  le 
Cardinal  Mercier.  Tous  deux  au  retour  du  Conclave,  nous  avons  trouve 
fermee  la  porte  de  nos  dioceses  envahis.  Nous  n'y  sommes  rentres  que 
pour  pleurer  sur  les  ruines,  et  nous  aurions  pu,  sur  nos  dioceses  ravages  et 
sur  nos  cathedrales  incendiees  de  Malines  et  de  Reims,  chanter  les  lamenta- 
tions du  Prophete  sur  les  decimbres  fumants  de  Jerusalem  et  de  son  Temple. 
Associes  dans  la  douleur,  nous  le  sommes  aussi  dans  la  priere  pour  implorer 
la  protection  du  Cicl  en  faveur  de  nos  deux  peuples,  qui,  de  tout  temps 
freres  dans  la  foi  catholique,  le  seront  desormais  dans  le  souvenir  des 
souffrances  partagees  et  par  les  liens  d'une  amitie  infrangible. 


r      ,     „      X" 


TRANSLATION  (abridged) 

I  associate  myself  ivhole-heartedly  with  the  happily  themselves  worthy  of  the  King's  confidence  in  their 

conceived  tribute  of  admiration  and  respectful  sym-  patriotism.     They  nobly  ratified  their  prince's  attitude 

pathy  you  propose  to  offer  to  King  Albert,  his  army,  by  a  generous  acceptance  of  the  sacrifices  of  tear, 

and  his  people.  The  call  to  arms  of  every  able-bodied  man,  the  siege 

Yes,  all  honour  to  the  King  of  the  Belgians  !     All  and  bombardment  of  their  fortresses,  the  devastation 

our  hearts  go  out  to  this  noble  prince,  u-ho  now  per-  of  their    towns   and  lands,   the   destruction   of  their 

sonifies   to   the  whole  world  oppressed  Right,   who,  monuments   and  works  of  art,   the  severities  of  an 

undaunted  by  the  rage  of  a  mighty  adversary,  and  enemy  infuriated  by  their  resistance,  reverses  not  less 

uncrushed  by  reverses,  stands  like  a  rock  to  defend  painful  because  they  had  been  foreseen,  they  bore  all 

the  independence  of  his  country.  with  noble  courage  and  resignation.     Liege,  Namur, 

»               #              #              #              #  Tournai,  Ghent,  Bruges,  Antwerp,  all  their  peaceful 

All  honour   to   the   Belgian   army !     There   was   a  and  prosperous   cities,    and   Brussels,    their   capital, 

universal  cry  of  astonishment  and  admiration  when  have  fallen  one  after  the  other  wider  the  attacks  of 

it  zvas  known  that,  confronted  suddenly  with  the  most  an  enetny  that  outnumbered  them  tenfold,  and  still 

formidable    army    in     Europe,    it   was    holding    the  their  unconquerable  spirit  is  unshaken, 

legions  of  its  mighty  foe  in  check  at  Liege  and  at  They  now  offer  the  poignant  spectacle,  unknown  since 

Namur,  breaking  his  onslaught,  frustrating  his  plan  the  days  of  barbarian  invasion,  of  a  people  driven 

of  attack,  and  preventing  hi?n  from  taking  the  initiative  from  their  homes,  and  obliged  to  emigrate  to  escape  a 

on  which  he  had  reckoned.     Forced  at  last  to  give  domination  they  refuse  to  accept, 

way  before  numbers,  it  fell  back  upon  Antwerp,  and  Confident  in  their  God  and  their  cause,  they  await 

when  it  had  to  evacuate  this  last  bulwark,  it  was  not  the  return  of  victory  to  their  standards,  the  banners 

to  lay  down  its  arms  ;  it  came  to  take  its  place  between  of  justice  and  of  liberty.     This  war  has  shown  Europe 

the  armies  of  France  and  England,  and  share  with  that  little  Belgium  is  the  land  of  a  great  people, 

them  the  perils  of  war,  tohile  awaiting  the  hour  when  To  the  King  of  the  Belgians,  to  his  army,  and  to  his 

it  should  share  with  them  the  honours  of  the  final  people,  we  respectfully  offer  our  tribute  of  admiration 

victory.   .  .  .  and  gratitude. 

All  honour  to  the  Belgian  people  !     They  have  shown  ***** 

72 


By  W.   L.   COURTNEY 
By  the  North  Sea 

Death  and  Sorrow  and  Sleep  : 
Here  where  the  slozv  zcaves  creep, 

This  is  the  chant  I  hear. 
The  chant  oj  the  measureless  deep. 

What  was  Sorrow  to  me 
Then,  when  the  young  life  free 

Thirsted  for  joys  of  earth. 
Far  from  the  desolate  sea  ? 

What  was  Sleep  but  a  rest. 
Giving  to  youth  the  best 

Dreams  from  the  ivory  gate, 
Visions  of  God  manifest  ? 

What  was  Death  but  a  tale 
Told  to  faces  grown  pale. 

Worn  and  zcasted  zvith  years — 
A  meaningless  thitig  to  the  hale  ? 

Death  and  Sorrozv  and  Sleep  : 
Now  their  sad  message  I  keep. 

Tossed  on  the  wet  wind's  breath. 
The  chant  of  the  jneasureless  deep. 


By   SIR  THOMAS   BROCK 

Aid  for  the  Fallen 

I  OFFER  my  picture  as  a  small  tribute  to  the  splendid  courage  and  fortitude 

shown  by  the  Belgian  people  in  upholding  the  honour  and  integrity  of  their 

country,  offering  as  they  do  an  example  to  the  whole  world. 

It  is  our  first  duty  to  relieve  their  sufferings  as  far  as  possible,  and  when  their 

territory  is  once  more  free  from  the  invaders  to  help  them  to  restore  their 

devastated  cities.  ^^-^^^^^^ 


73 


By  J.   L.   GARVIN 

WE  in  England  would  rather  be  blotted  out  of  the  book  of  nations  than 
that  Belgium  should  not  be  lifted  up  from  ruin  and  gloriously  restored. 
To  that  cause  we  have  pledged  our  all,  and  until  our  pledge  is  redeemed  in 
such  sort  that  the  justice  of  an  overruling  God  shall  be  made  manifest 
through  us,  never  can  we  know  soul's  comfort  in  our  own  land  spared  by 
war  nor  cease  our  efforts  to  succour  the  bitter  need  of  a  desolate  people 
and  to  hearten  that  little  indomitable  army  of  freedom  and  honour  under 
its  noble  and  beloved  young  King.  No  words  of  ours  can  be  worthy  of 
them  and  we  can  never  do  enough.  The  resistance  of  Belgium  will  live  as 
one  of  the  great  legends  of  the  world,  and  I  firmly  beUeve  that  its  spiritual 
significance  can  only  deepen  with  centuries.  Nothing  that  we  think  of  as 
heroic,  tragic,  inspiring  in  the  past,  or  as  confirming  our  faith  that  the  best 
shall  conquer  the  worst,  exceeds  what  Flemings  and  Walloons  over  there 
have  dared,  suff^ered,  and  done  in  the  twentieth  century.  They  have  made 
the  name  of  their  country  an  immortal  word  like  Marathon — "  the  trumpet 
of  a  prophecy  "  that  the  reign  of  public  law  and  peace  shall  yet  be  stablished 
upon  the  inviolable  faith  of  treaties  and  that  the  sanctity  of  a  scrap  of  paper 
shall  be  mightier  than  Krupp  guns. 


By  A.   G.   GARDINER 

WHATEVER  the  course  of  the  war,  whatever  the  fate  of  Europe,  it  is  in 

King  Albert  that  the  future  will  see  the  most  human,  the  most  knightly 

figure  of  this  Titanic  struggle. 

Belgium  has  died  for  freedom,  for  our  freedom,  for  the  freedom  of  the 

world.     Let  us  see  that  she  rises  again  triumphant  from  her  tears  and  ashes. 

And  if  righteousness  endures  beneath  the  sun  she  will  rise. 


By  J.  A.   SPENDER 

SYMPATHY  with  Belgium  must  be  mingled  with  envy — envy  of  the  noble 
courage  and  matchless  national  spirit  which,  in  the  hour  of  her  affliction, 
make  her  great  among  the  peoples  of  the  world.  She  has  fought  the 
Thermopylae  of  the  allied  cause  and  it  remains  for  her  brothers-in-arms 
to  see  that  her  sacrifice  is  rewarded  and  her  country  restored.  Our  homage 
to  the  brave  King  who  has  dared  all  for  the  honour  and  liberty  of  the  people 
committed  to  his  charge. 


^  .  /I^  S/u^M^-^ 


74 


By  Mrs.   HUMPHREY  WARD 
All  Saints'  Day,  1914 

I  have  been  wandering  through  the  English  fields,  and  under  the  English 
woods  in  a  last  lingering  blaze  of  summer,  before  the  winter  comes.  All 
day  the  sun  has  been  clear  in  heaven  ;  all  last  night  the  moon  shone  without 
a  cloud.  The  oaks  are  still — the  majority  of  them — defiantly  green  as  though 
they  challenged  a  tyrant  ;  and  where  the  woods  lie  close  and  thick  in  the 
basins  of  the  hills,  they  show  sharp  patterns  of  deep  green  and  flaming  gold, 
patterns  of  Nature's  finest  weaving.  Amethyst  and  gold,  the  beeches  ; 
amethyst,  blue,  and  gold,  the  distances  ;  and  here  and  there  a  yew,  violently 
black,  or  a  hedgerow  elm,  its  rounded  leaf  masses  topped  with  yellow,  or — 
on  the  common — furze-bushes,  alive  with  blossom.  The  children  are  in 
the  park  picking  up  acorns  and  walnuts  ;  a  green  woodpecker  is  paying  his 
autumn  visit  to  the  lawn  before  my  window,  pecking  and  stabbing  for  dear 
life  ;  the  friendly  robins  sing  round  the  house  ;  slowly,  slowly,  the  sun 
sinks  into  the  quiet  mists  that  rise  towards  it  ;  and  the  glorious  day  will 
soon  be  done. 

Thus -goes  All  Saints'  Day  in  this  valley  of  the  Chilterns.  And,  meanwhile, 
how  goes  it  150  miles  away,  where  Belgians,  Frenchmen,  and  Englishmen 
are  fighting  in  the  blood-stained  trenches  of  West  Flanders  ?  No  blood  here, 
no  hint  of  it  ! — save  where  the  sun  strikes  the  deep  carpet  of  fallen  beech 
leaves,  and  the  bright  colour  startles  our  sad  thoughts.  But  there,  men  are 
pouring  out  their  blood  like  water  ;  and  all  that,  in  this  quiet  English  scene, 
we  dare  picture  to  ourselves  of  horror,  of  devilish  pain  and  destruction, 
comes  nowhere  near  the  truth.  Frenchmen  and  Englishmen,  closely  inter- 
linked, from  west  to  east,  from  the  sea  to  the  Vosges,  fronting  the  hideous 
onslaught  of  men,  in  whom  a  world  uprisen  sees  a  branded  race — traitors 
to  civilisation  and  to  humanity  !  And  far  to  the  north-west,  in  land  hardly 
distinguishable  from  the  sea,  which  has  been  won  from  the  sea  by  infinite 
labour,  there  are  thin  lines  of  men  in  the  Belgian  trenches,  "  holding  the 
pass  "  against  the  barbarian,  as  truly  as  any  Greek  did  at  Thermopylae. 
Yet  here  are  no  blue  mountains  looking  on.  Only  flat  grey  land,  and 
featureless  grey  sea,  and  that  grey  advancing  flood,  where  the  Belgians  have 
called  in  the  sea  to  fight  with  them,  and  have  given  him  in  payment  their 
hard-won  fields,  their  dykes,  and  villages,  to  keep  in  trust  for  a  nation  of 
heroes,  till  the  battle  is  won.  "  They  told  us  to  hold  the  trenches  for  24 
hours  ;  we  held  them  ;  then  they  said,  '  Hold  them  48  hours  more,'  and 
we  have  done  it."  So  ran  one  of  the  most  soul-stirring  messages  of  war  ever 
written.  They  have  done  it  !  And  now  the  English  and  French  have  come 
up,  and  the  little  army  which  has  saved  the  left  wing  and  protected  Calais 
may  fall  back  a  while  to  count  its  dead.  One  in  three,  they  say — one  in 
three  !  Shall  we  not  write  over  the  fallen  Belgians  what  was  written  over 
the  Spartan  dead  at  Plataea : 

"  These  men  having  set  a  crown  of  immortal  glory  on  their  own  land,  were 
folded  in  the  dark  cloud  of  death.     Yet  being  dead,  they  have  not  died, 

75 


seeing  their  fame  in  battle  hath  raised  them  up  for  ever  from  Forgetting 
and  the  Grave." 

What  can  we  do,  we  EngHshwomen  at  home  in  our  sheltered  island,  for  this 
heroic  little  nation  that  has  held  the  pass  ?  Day  and  night  the  fleeing  army 
of  women  and  children,  of  old  men  and  boys  passes  northward  to  Holland, 
and  westward  over  the  sea  to  England.  The  other  night,  in  a  London 
social  settlement,  which  has  been  largely  given  over  to  the  refugees,  a  woman 
I  know  watched  the  incoming  stream — peasants  in  their  sabots,  small 
bourgeois,  carrying  with  them  a  few  last  possessions,  children  weary  to  death 
and  wailing  for  food.  But  English  hands  were  proud  to  wait  on  them,  and 
English  brains  to  plan  for  them.  Here  were  a  father  and  mother  and  seven 
children  from  Louvain — who  had  been  tramping  and  hiding  in  the  Flemish 
fields  for  days  and  nights.  The  mother  was  on  the  point  of  maternity. 
There  was  no  accommodation  for  her  in  the  settlement,  where  the  large  hall 
and  the  gymnasium  have  been  turned  into  wards  for  men  and  women 
respectively,  of  the  peasant  class,  and  the  separate  rooms  looking  out  on 
the  garden  have  been  mostly  assigned  to  the  elderly  men  and  women  of  the 
educated  professional  type.  Much  perplexity,  accordingly,  as  to  the  poor 
expectant  mother,  in  the  mind  of  the  kind  Scotch  lady  who  is  the  house- 
keeper of  the  settlement  !  But,  suddenly,  she  remembers  an  address  in 
Kensington  ;  she  flies  to  the  telephone;  she  calls  up  a  house  in  Queen's  Gate» 
and  its  mistress.  "  Did  you  say  the  other  day  you  would  take  in  Belgian 
women  for  their  confinement  ?  "  "  Certainly !  Have  you  got  such  a  case  ?** 
The  note  of  joyful  eagerness  in  the  voice  was  unmistakable  through  the  tube. 
Details  are  given.  "  All  right.  I  will  bring  my  motor  round  directly." 
And  in  an  hour  or  so  from  her  arrival,  the  dazed  and  wearied  woman,  with 
another  Belgian  woman  and  her  little  boy  of  three  to  keep  her  company, 
are  speeding  in  a  luxurious  motor  to  the  house  in  Queen's  Gate.  A  warm 
room,  a  comfortable  bed,  nurse,  clothing,  food — everything  is  ready  !  In 
a  few  days  the  poor  soul's  trouble  is  over,  and  the  pretty  babe  Hes  peacefully 
beside  its  resting  mother.  For  three  days  !  Then  the  soul  of  the  peasant 
woman  who  waits  on  others,  and  is  never  waited  on,  rebelled.  "  I  am  always 
up,  madame,  in  three  days."  "  This  time,  take  five  !  You  were  so  worn 
out  !  "  Most  unwillingly,  the  tired  body  rests  a  few  more  days  ;  and  then 
the  whole  family  goes  to  a  cottage  ready  for  them,  in  an  English  village, 
the  children  go  to  school,  the  whole  village  become  their  protectors  and 
friends,  the  Flemings  learn  a  few  words  of  English,  the  English  a  few  words 
of  Flemish,  kindness  and  gesture  do  the  rest,  till,  occasionally,  an  interpreter 
comes  round  and  promotes  a  more  satisfactory  intercourse. 
But  among  the  incoming  throng  on  this  October  night  there  are  figures  of 
another  type.  A  mother  and  three  daughters — the  widow  and  children  of 
a  Belgian  officer — soft-spoken,  refined  women,  flying  in  terror  from  Antwerp, 
with  a  few  scanty  parcels  of  luggage,  plus  a  grey  parrot  ! — who  is  no  sooner 
set  down  in  the  rooms  allotted  to  them,  than  he  vents  his  opinion  on  the 
discomforts  of  the  journey  in  some  vigorous  cursing  of  "  Guillaume  "  ! 
76 


f 


\ 


The  settlement  shelters  them  all  for  a  week  or  two  and  then  they  become 
the  honoured  guests  of  an  English  country  house,  belonging  to  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  of  English  soldiers,  and  his  wife,  one  of  the  gentlest  of 
English  ladies. 

If  tender  sympathy  can  soothe  the  private  and  public  grief  of  such  exiles, 
theirs  should  indeed  be  soothed  ;  and  mercifully,  three  out  of  this  party 
of  four  are  young,  and  to  the  young  it  is  natural  to  smile,  when  the  faces 
round  them  are  all  kindness,  and  a  tragic  flight  has  become  an  adventure, 
which  would  be  only  delightful — but  for  that  low  coast-line,  and  that  grey 
sea,  those  ruined  towns,  those  wounded  men,  that  are  in  the  minds  of  us  all  ! 
Thus  all  over  England,  and  all  over  hospitable  Holland,  the  fugitives  spread, 
hands  of  welcome  and  pity  are  stretched  out,  and  the  great  exile  goes  on — 
interminablv.  But  the  hours  are  passing,  and  the  hours  of  darkness  are 
slowlv,  slowly,  handing  on  the  torch  to  the  hours  of  hope  and  dawn.  Steadily 
the  Huns  retreat  ;  steadily  the  defenders  of  freedom  and  civilisation  press 
their  way  fonvard  over  the  ruined  and  bloodstained  land.  Surely,  with  the 
spring,  the  Belgian  life-wave  will  turn  homeward  again  !  It  will  flow  back 
into  the  waste  places  and  the  scourged  heroic  land  will  bloom  again  with 
young  life,  and  peaceful  labour,  and  home  joy.  The  dead,  the  dead  will  not 
be  there  ! — save  in  our  hearts  that  mourn.  But  they  rest  in  the  Lord,  and 
their  works  shall  follow  them.  A  little  nation  has  become  for  all  time  a 
song  and  a  stor}',  to  refresh  and  kindle  the  "  holy  spirit  of  man  " — so  that 
when  these  evil  days  are  over,  and  we  count  up  the  score,  we  shall  not  put 
what  has  happened  in  Belgium,  during  these  autumn  months,  among  the 
tragedies  of  history,  but  rather  among  the  imperishable  triumphs  of  the  soul. 


*4i(KTU  ^ '  uTcutf^ 


By  SIR  CHARLES  WYNDHAM 
From  Shelbys  "  Hellas  " 

Let  the  tyrants  rule  the  desert  they  have  made  ; 
Let  the  free  possess  the  Paradise  they  claim  ; 
Be  the  fortune  of  our  fierce  oppressors  weighed 
With  our  ruin,  our  resistance,  and  our  name  ! 

Our  dead  shall  be  the  seed  of  their  decay, 
Our  survivors  be  the  shadow  of  their  pride, 
Our  adversity  a  dream  to  pass  away. 
Their  dishonour  a  remembrance  to  abide  ! 


77 


By  LORD  NORTHCLIFFE 

THE  Christmas  message  we  all  wish  to  send  across  the  North  Sea  is  this  : 
that  we  British  will  fight  to  the  end  and  work  to  the  end  for  the  King  of 
Belgium  and  the  Belgian  people,  because  we  believe  that  for  all  time  in 
the  world  quiet  homes  and  noble  lives  and  surer  peace  will  spring  from 
the  seed  of  their  sacrifice. 

The  noble  king  of  a  true  democracy  has  fought  with  his  people  against 
military  tyranny  and  the  lust  of  power,  as  rarely  king  or  nation  has  fought 
before.  Even  in  the  midst  of  suffering  and  loss  too  great  for  words  Belgium 
may  feel  that  the  fruits  will  surpass  the  sacrifice  and  all  the  world  one  day 
share  in  the  Belgian  victory. 


Jis^^dh 


By  SIR  EDWARD  J.  POYNTER,  BART.,  P.R.A. 

NOT  only  for  myself  but  for  the  body  of  which  I  am  president  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  affirming  that  all  my  colleagues  of  the  Royal  Academy  are 
with  me  in  the  horror  we  feel  at  the  treatment  which  the  unoffending  popu- 
lation of  Belgium  has  received  at  the  hands  of  the  barbarous  hordes  of 
Prussians  who  have  devastated  that  beautiful  and  peaceful  country — 
outrages  of  the  most  savage  kind  inflicted  under  pretences  invented  for  the 
occasion  by  that  race  which  has  proved  itself  so  prolific  of  lies  and  spies. 
But  above  all  this  do  we  admire  the  magnificent  bravery  with  which  the 
Belgians  have  withstood  the  onslaught  of  overwhelming  numbers  :  for  it 
is  to  their  splendid  courage,  under  their  heroic  King,  in  bearing  the  first 
brunt  of  the  treacherous  Prussian  attack  that  the  world  owes  it  that  the 
vast  German  scheme  of  conquest  has  hitherto  failed. 


^JUo^)  (P<ry 


'Kj^yy^ 


By  LORD  REDESDALE 

To  the  King  of  the  Belgians, 

Sire, 
Fighting  on  behalf  of  the  whole  world — a  Hero  at  the  head  of  an  heroic 
people — Your  Majesty  has  made  the  cruellest  sacrifices.    The  world  will 
not  forget. 

Sire,  you  have  lost  much — you  have  won  Immortality. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be. 

Sire, 

Your  Majesty's 

Most  obedient  humble  servant, 

78 


By   LORD   BURNHAM 

THE  position  at  this  moment  is  without  precedent  in  our  histor)-.    A  noble 

and  gallant  little  nation  has  imperilled  its  very  existence,  and  brought  upon 

itself  immeasurable  calamities,  by  resistance  to  the  aggression  of  a  powerful, 

arrogant,  and  heartless  foe.     It  has  done  this  with  a  courage  and  devotion 

that  have  won  universal  admiration. 

The  independence  and  integrity  of  Belgium  are  vital  interests  to  Britain. 

What  she  has  done  and  suffered  constitute,  therefore,  a  claim  on  the  British 

people  that  is  irresistible. 

With  no  assigned  pretext  of  justification,  the  hordes  of  Germany  have 

invaded  and  wasted  her  territory,  and  by  acts  of  war,  and  by  deeds  that  are 

murder  not  warfare,  have  done  to  death  thousands  of  her  people  and  driven 

hundreds  of  thousands  into  exile. 

Countless  homes  desolated,  families  broken  and  scattered,  children  orphaned, 

the  trade  and  means  of  existence  of  the  most  thickly  peopled  and  most 

industrious  country  of  continental  Europe  paralysed,  chaos  and  ruin  where 

there  had  been  peace  and  happiness — these  are  some  of  the  elements  of 

the  tragic  fate  that  has  overwhelmed  this  brave,  unoffending  nation.    Never 

in  our  time  has  a  people   been  so  cruelly  treated. 

The  splendour  of  the  efforts  and  the  magnitude  of  the  self-sacrifice  of  this 

gallant  people,  no  less  than  the  dauntless  heroism  of  the  King  and  his  army 

in  resisting  the  invasion  of  their  country',  defying  terrors  and  undergoing 

outrages  that  are  unknown  in  civilised  warfare,  appeal  to  us  equally  with 

their  appalling  and  indescribable  sorrows. 

The  world's   admiration  has  been  moved,   and  the  world's  compassion 

aroused  by  unsurpassed  bravery  and  unparalleled  suffering. 

May  this  volume  generate  a  world-wide  feeling  that  not  enough  can  possibly 

be  done  to  honour  the  courage  and  assuage  the  grief  of  this  noble-hearted 

and  afflicted  people. 

No  one  can  feel  more  poignantly  than  I  do  this  pressing  necessity.     But  we 

must  not  be  content  to  think  only  of  a  terrible  past — irradiated  though  it 

he  with  magnificent  patriotism  and  valour.     We  must  look  to  the  future. 

As  far  as  human  sympathy  and  help  can  do  it,  we  must  bring  to  Belgium, 

great   in   virtue   of  her   martyrdom,   consolation   and  atonement   for   the 

wrongs  which  she  has  endured.  t^ uAi^-uyi 

By  WILL   CROOKS 

THE  Stor\'  of  the  Ages  does  not  give  us  anything  so  soul-inspiring  as  the 
fighting  martyrdom  of  Belgium,  its  King  and  its  people  in  19 14.  Its  failure 
to  keep  its  homeland  from  bloody  hands  for  awhile  will  prove  its  mighty 
triumph  for  the  whole  world.  Its  sacrifice  will  thrill  generations  yet  to  be, 
who  will  call  Belgium  blessed  both  in  their  memory  and  their  prayers. 


By   EMILE   VERHAEREN 

A  sa  Majeste  Albert  P',  Roi  des  Beiges, 

Sire, 

C'est  peut-etre,  depuis  les  belles  journees  de  Liege,  la  premiere  vraie  joie 

que  Ton   me  permet  d'eprouver  en  me  priant  de  vous  rendre  hommage. 

Vous  etes,  a  cette  heure,  le  seul  roi  du  monde  que  ses  sujets  a  I'unanimite, 

sans  exception  aucune,  aiment  et  admirent  de  toute  la  force  de  leur  ame. 

Ce  sort  unique  est  le  votre,  Sire.     Aucun  conducteur  d'horames  ne  I'eut 

au  meme  point  que  vous,  sur  la  terre. 

Malgre  I'immensite  du  deuil  qui  vous  entoure,  il  me  semble  que  vous  avez 

le  droit  de  vous  en  rejouir.     D'autant  que  votre  compagne,  Sa  Majeste  la 

Reine,  participe  a  votre  rarissime  privilege. 

Sire,  votre  nom  sera  desormais  tres  grand.    Vous  vous  etes  a  tel  point 

confondu  avec  votre  peuple  que  vous  en  demeurez  le  symbole.     Son  courage, 

sa   tenacite,  sa  douleur  tue,  sa  fierte,  sa  grandeur  future,  son  immortalite 

resident  en  vous.     Notre  ame  profonde  est  la  votre.    Vous  etes  nous  tous 

en  etant  vous  seul.     Et  vous  le  resterez. 

Plus  tard,lorsque  vous  rentrerez  dans  votre  Belgique  reconquise  et  infiniment 

glorieuse,  vous  n'aurez  qu'a  parler.  Sire,  pour  que  les  querelles  baissent 

de  ton   et   que   les   antagonismes   s'evanouissent.     Si  bien  qu'apres  avoir 

ete    celui    qui    maintient    et    defend    vous    serez    celui    qui    rapproche    et 

reconcilie. 

Sire,  croyez  a  mon  respect  fervent.  S       n    n      ^ 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 

Sire, 

This  request  to  pay  my  respectful  homage  to  you  has 

given  me  the  first  real  pleasure  I  have  been  permitted 

to  feel  since  the  good  days  of  Liege.     At  this  moment 

you  are  the  one  ki?ig  in  the  world  whose  subjects, 

without  exception,  unite  in  loving  and  admiring  him 

mth  all  the  strength  of  their  souls.     This  unique  fate 

is  yours.  Sire.     No  leader  of  men  on  earth  has  had  it 

in  the  same  degree  as  you. 

In  spite  of  the  im?nensify  of  the  sorrozv  surrounding 

you,  I  think  you  hare  a  right  to  rejoice,  and  the  more 

so  as  your  consort.  Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  shares 

this  rare  privilege  with  you. 

Sire,  your  name  will  be  great  throughout  the  ages  to 


come.     You  are  in  such  perfect  sympaC/iy  with  your 

people  that  \ou  will  always  be  their  symbol.     Their 

courage,  their  tenacity,  their  stifled  grief,  their  pride, 

their  future  greatness,   their  immortality  all  live  in 

you.     Our   hearts   are  yours   to   their   very   depths. 

Being  yourself,  you  are  all  of  us.     And  this  you  will 

remain. 

Later  on,  when  you  return  to  your  recaptured  and 

glorious  Belgium,  you  will  only  have  to  say  the  word. 

Sire,  and  all  disputes  will  lose  their  bitterness  and  alt 

antagonisms  fade   away.     After   being   our   strength 

and  defender,  you  will  become  our  peacemaker  and 

reconciler. 

With  deepest  respect. 


By   SIR    JOHN   BLAND-SUTTON 

"  /  sin  in  envying  his  nobility." 
Could  I  be  anything  I  wished, 
"  /  would  wish  7ne  only  he." 

80 


■v€^ 


By  SIR  ADOLPHUS  WILLIAM  WARD 

Master  of  Peterhouse 

IT  so  happens  that,  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago,  my  father 
was  personally  much  connected  with  the  leaders  of  the  movement  that 
resulted  in  the  recognition  of  Belgian  independence  and  in  the  guarantee 
of  Belgian  neutrality  by  the  European  Great  Powers.  He  remembered 
very  well  how,  not  long  after  the  day  had  been  won  and  King  Albert's 
illustrious  grandfather.  King  Leopold  I,  had  mounted  the  throne  on  which 
he  achieved  so  much  for  the  prosperity  of  his  own  monarchy  and  for  the 
peace  of  Europe  at  large,  the  King  dismissed  him  after  an  audience  with 
the  words  :  "  You  know  I  am  not  without  difficulties  here  ;  but  I  take 
England  as  my  model,  and  try  to  get  on  in  a  constitutional  way."  In  this 
spirit  the  Kings  of  the  Belgians  have  ruled  for  three  generations  over  a 
people  that  loves  liberty,  without  throwing  to  the  winds  respect  for  au- 
thority in  Church  and  State. 

But  between  the  Belgians  and  ourselves  there  is  something  besides  inter- 
national obligations  and  political  sympathy.  These  are  the  glorious  tradi- 
tions of  a  histor\'  which  in  the  course  of  many  centuries  has  established 
between  England  and  the  Bclgic  lands  a  connection  closer  than  that  between 
her  and  any  other  part  of  continental  Europe.  The  measure  in  which  the 
inhabitants  of  this  island  are  kith  and  kin  with  the  neighbours  of  the  Saxons 
and  Frisians  is  a  question  that  has  long  attracted  students,  but  it  is  most 
assuredly  a  question  of  measure  only.  What  is  more  to  the  purpose,  the 
main  industr\'  of  the  great  Flemish  communes  became  in  the  later  Middle 
Ages  the  chief  customer  of  English  pastoral  productivity,  and,  besides 
leading  to  much  immigration  to  these  shores,  became  the  basis  of  a  cordial 
political  alliance.  Times  changed  with  the  decline  of  the  mercantile  and 
the  downfall  of  the  political  greatness  of  the  good  tow'ns  ;  but  the  com- 
mercial relations  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Spanish  (Austrian)  Nether- 
lands remained  of  vital  interest  to  both  countries,  and  formed  an  essential 
clement  in  the  system  of  alliances  and  conditions  of  treaties  from  the  sixteenth 
to  the  eighteenth  centur}\ 

The  debt  owing  to  Belgian  art  and  Belgian  letters — to  the  labours  of  Belgian 
historians,  I  may  venture  to  add,  in  particular — is  one  which  this  country 
shares  with  the  world  at  large.  But  I  cannot  close  without  recalling  how 
to  the  history  of  religion — an  influence  often  united  with  that  of  trade  and 
with  that  of  politics,  but  working  in  more  profound  and  mysterious  fashion 
— and  to  the  history  of  education,  which  is  inseparable  from  it,  Belgium  has 
contributed  in  many  ways,  but  above  all  in  that  of  deepening  these  move- 
ments of  soul  and  mind.  The  beginnings  of  Christian  mystical  thought 
and  of  the  fraternities  from  which  both  Renaissance  and  Regeneration  drew 
some  of  their  truest  spiritual  force  arc  in  no  small  part  traceable  to  the 
saintly  influence  of  Ruysbroek,  whose  Hrthplace  was  not  far  from  the 
modern  Belgian  capital.  And  the  foremost  representative  of  this  learning 
and  this  teaching  was  a  professor  of  the  earliest  and  most  venerable  of  those 

8i 


Belgian  universities  to  which  our  hearts  are  going  out  to-day — the  friend 
of  Erasmus  in  the  chair  of  St.  Peter.  It  may  seem  almost  idle  in  these  days 
of  bloodshed  and  destruction  to  look  back  for  half  a  thousand  years.  But 
with  the  stillness  as  well  as  with  the  profound  earnestness  of  the  noblest 
part  of  Belgian  spiritual  life  from  the  fourteenth  to  the  sixteenth  century 
may  w^ell  be  compared  the  sustained  efforts  for  peace  between  the  nations 
which  long  seemed  one  of  the  most  hopeful  signs  in  the  public  life  of  the 
latter  half  of  the  nineteenth  century  and  in  the  early  years  of  our  own  ; 
and  in  these  efforts  Belgian  statesmen  and  publicists  have  notably  taken 
what  may  be  called  a  leading  part. 

For  the  sake  of  the  long  historical  connection  between  the  two  peoples  ; 
for  the  sake  of  the  deep  compassion  and  the  high  admiration  to  which  the 
Belgians  have  become  entitled  by  what  they  have  suffered  and  what  they 
have  done  in  the  dark  days  of  the  present,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  peace 
which  they  and  we  have  at  heart — we  have  welcomed  among  us  the  subjects 
of  our  King's  kinsman  and  ally,  and  we  pray  for  their  restoration,  in  God's 
good  time,  to  their  own  fair  and  gracious  land. 


^ 


By  THE  Right.  Rev.   BISHOP  OF   LONDON,  D.D.,   LL.D. 

THE  real  difficulty  of  writing  about  Belgium  is  to  find  language  adequate 
to  express  in  the  first  place  the  scandalous  injustice  of  her  treatment. 
Whatever  any  other  State  may  have  done,  or  not  done,  Belgium  had  done 
absolutely  nothing  to  deserve  this  treatment  ;  she  had  maintained  her 
neutrality  with  perfect  impartiality,  and  her  treatment  will  be  considered 
one  of  the  crimes  of  history. 

But,  if  language  is  inadequate  to  describe  the  injustice  of  her  treatment, 
who  can  describe  the  pathos  of  that  fleeing  multitude,  homeless,  ruined, 
and  in  terror  of  their  lives  ?  The  heart  of  the  world  goes  out  to  them  in  pity. 
But,  with  pity  is  mingled  the  deepest  admiration.  Led  by  their  splendid 
King,  they  have  given  an  example  of  sublime  courage  and  unflinching 
valour  which  has  ennobled  the  world.  They  have  shown  that  the  soul  of  a 
people  can  be  unconquerable  while  its  whole  territory  is  ravaged  and  its 
towns  and  villages  are  in  flames.  It  must  be  the  prayer  of  ever}^  lover  of 
justice  in  the  world  that  the  Great  God  in  Heaven  may  avenge  the  wrongs 
and  reward  the  courage  of  the  Belgian  people. 


82 


By   PROFESSOR   GILBERT   MURRAY 

I  SAW  yesterday  a  regiment  of  British  cavalr\'  returning  from  manoeuvres, 
every  man  of  them  wearing  the  colours  of  a  foreign  nation.  That  is  not  a 
common  sight.  Sometimes  the  soldiers  of  a  conquered  people  have  been 
forced  to  wear  foreign  colours,  but  they  would  not  wear  them  with  pride 
as  these  men  did.  Sometimes  the  soldiers  of  a  weak  and  oppressed  people 
have  been  proud  to  wear  the  colours  of  some  great  and  conquering  Power 
which  was  its  ally.  But  these  men  were  wearing  the  colours  of  a  small  and 
unfortunate  nation,  a  nation  in  exile,  whose  lands  are  ravaged,  its  towns 
destroyed,  and  its  territory  in  the  occupation  of  the  enemy.  It  is  not  for 
any  material  or  worldly  reason  that  British  soldiers  arc  proud  to  wear  Belgian 
colours  ;  it  is  because  Belgium  in  a  time  of  terrific  trial  has  done  what  we 
all  should  be  most  proud  to  have  done,  and  has  become  an  emblem  to  all 
the  world  of  freedom  and  heroic  courage. 

The  sufferings  of  Belgium  would  be  enough  in  themselves,  and  more  than 
enough,  to  constitute  a  claim  on  all  the  help  that  we  can  give.  Every  one 
admits  the  claim.  In  the  town  where  I  write  it  is  not  only  well-to-do 
people  who  are  offering  every  kind  of  help  and  hospitality.  Shops  from 
time  to  time  refuse  to  take  money  when  they  hear  that  the  goods  they  have 
supplied  are  for  the  Belgians.  Artisans  and  tradesmen  come  and  offer  to 
work  in  their  spare  hours  without  payment.  In  the  last  few  days  the  town 
workmen  in  one  very  poor  neighbourhood  have  offered  food  and  lodging 
rent  free  for  a  year  ;  the  agricultural  labourers  in  small  villages  have 
clubbed  their  pennies  together  and  rented  and  furnished  cottages.  The 
same  spirit  is  to  be  found  all  over  England. 

Now  it  is  not  mere  sympathy,  not  mere  pity  for  misfortune,  that  has  stirred 
our  whole  nation  like  this.  There  is  that  in  it,  of  course  ;  but  still  more 
there  is  admiration  and  gratitude.  And  we  are  grateful  not  only  because 
Belgium  stood,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  between  us  and  the  first  fur\'  of  the 
German  onslaught,  but  because  Belgium  has  raised  our  ideal  of  human  life 
and  taught  us  to  expect  greater  things  of  the  world. 

We  did  not  know  that  our  comfortable  liberal-minded  western  civilisation 
had  in  it  this  heart  of  heroism.  We  had  read  of  the  heroes  and  martyrs  of 
history,  and  we  felt  with  a  misgiving  that  they  were  perhaps  out  of  date. 
Life  was  no  doubt  easier  now  and  less  cruel  ;  but  it  seemed  looser  in  quality 
and  woven  of  cheaper  material.  We  have  been  shaken  out  of  that  false 
resignation.  We  have  discovered  that  the  days  of  cruelty  are  by  no  means 
past  ;  and,  just  when  the  shock  of  that  discovery  came,  Belgium  rose  and 
showed  us  that  the  days  of  heroism  are  not  past  either.  She  stands  as  an 
example  to  all  nations  who  doubt  whether  national  life  is  a  thing  worth 
suffering  for,  to  all  individuals  who  doubt  their  own  value  as  free  souls  or 
their  capacity  for  facing  danger  or  martyrdom.  Consciously  or  uncon- 
sciously there  has  come  to  each  man's  heart  a  secret  message,  raising  his 
confidence  in  himself  and  bracing  all  his  faculties  :  "  The  Belgians  have 
done  these  things:  why  should  not  I  ?  " 


CARILLON 

(POUR   GRAND   ORCHESTRE)    POUR   ACCOMPAGNER 

"CHANTONS,  BELGES,  CHANTONS!" 


POEME 

D'EMILE   CAMMAERTS 

MUSIQUE   PAR 

EDWARD    ELGAR,  o.m., 

ASSOClfi  DE   L'  ACADfiMIE  ROYALE   DE   BELGIQUE. 


i 


IlfTRODtJZIONE. 

i 

Allegro  (d.  =  circa  GO). 


f^*^3^ 


-i i m m— 


Op.  75. 


Piano. 


/ 


^- 


-P- 


~-d-\=i- 


Y 


-g©^-^^^^- 


:-5?-^-^- 


3t±3 


f" 


fTT^Trf 


:^ 


m 


-Xr-^ 


Con  Fed. 


simile. 


-h-±r-i=^- 


-h 


I^S 


^ 


,.r-  N 


=1; 


5^3 


.>-l     -1    N, 


eP: 


iti 


r^ 


?g= 


:g:^ 


=?g^ 


^!^ 


^5 


J L 


J L 


-^ •- 


^^m 


■-rr 


feizii 


:^=a. 


^z 


-M-J- 


-^»*- 


t^ 


=^#— ll 


^F^=s 


5/^ 


T" 


^, 


■ *— ^     *  ti      iJ-**' 


^ 


pi 


'       :J=J=i 


J       "^  sonoramente. 
{Fed.) 


84 


Copyright,  MCMXIV.,  by  Elkin  £  Co.,  Ltd. 
All  Eights  reserved. 


\ 


tz2ntf 


•^        -0- 


4=i^    * 


f 


^^  g Km  I  * — -jZ — 2Etf 


i^ 


>^^-'-     F^ 


"-^V*^^ 


e>  • 


» — #- 


^ 


rr 


Pi  ". 


tr 


tr 


tr 


:ei^ 


=3^ 


^ 


^ 


^ 


^*^ 


^-r^ 


^^?^ 


». 


^s 


^^ 


tJ^i=.,t^=i 


^E¥ 


:J==^&:^ 


33= 


2?#= 


-»•- 


Si 


Z3= 


-t 


-.^J — ^ 


<;    I  Qi — jT-i — 1 1 — ii-* B^- 


:^^ 


^•^ 


-^.       ^ 


-* — r 


1*^ 


:^ — * — r 


m 


J *_ 


* — ir 


I      \ 


4c     i'erf. 


=ib 


I         I 


-I —(3- 

*    Ped. 


=ib^-^ 


J •»_ 


Xrf. 


Ptd. 


Ped. 


noLllnifnU. 


*•       ^     -^1    ■^• 


-i T 


^ 


*— ■— C7- 


_/■  cantabiU. 


MklE='^: 


I  1 


~P~ 


"' — ♦" 


.N^ 


dim 


I         I 


r^ 


-i^  ?0- 


r 


Ped. 


*     Put. 


^ 


^=3= 


^^ 


"CT- 


11^^ 


d^ 


-«-      -ry 


I I 

-• ^ 


I  I 


I  I 


^-=^=J= 


r  T  r  f - 


-g-_-^ 


t r 


ri 


•y: 


--11 — I [- 

r 


.J=Jz 


I       I 


:iO-* 


»S 


r 


Ptd. 


r 

Ped 


W_u2L. 


r^^r — 1~^ — 1 — r 


-t= — P 


P(d. 


m 


8S 


--P& 


A 


i^^Vife^ 


S^fef^ 


-i    ^     J- 

:S       -2        5 


Hi 


iB: 


-§:: 


=0:  = 


:^=8t 


3=*: 


.ll^  grandioso. 


-at^ 4- 


:f 


JL 


8y«.. 


i 


Trojnije. 


3==?^ 


i= 


4-     '     ■: 


It 


=1: 


Chantons,  Beiges,  chantons, 

Meme  si  les  blessures  saignent,  meme  si  la  voix  se  brise, 
Plus  haut  que  la  toui'iuente,  plus  fort  que  les  canons, 

Chantons  I'orgueil  de  nos  defaites, 
Par  ce  beau  soleil  d'automne, 

Et  la  joie  de  rester  honnetes 
Quand  la  lachete  nous  serait  si  bonne. 


^- 


a  tempo. 


An         son  dii  tam 


35 


bour 


=5^^ 


i= 


pp 


ss^ 


^7  ^ 


i- 


i"^ 
j=^ 


I    pp 


ppp 


~=r 


=? 


86 


^f[ 


¥\ 


son     du     cli\i  •   ron,   Sur    les       mi  ■  nes  d'Aer  -  scliot,  de     Di  -  nant,  de     Ter  -  monde, 

• f^i ft  ^1 


->#^- 


^*c 


■^ 


*^t         »       m    \ — !         • • 


T 


^i^ 


I        i        U 1 — -I-     I        I— I — I     _i_       I   '      I        '        '   '    _L       '        I  ^^^ 


Dan  •  sons. 


Bel  -  ges,   dan  -  sons, 


En    chantant    notre    gloire. 
Menie    si    les    veux    brCilent, 
si  la    t^te    s'egare, 


i 


js^s: 


1 r 


-I 1- 


-I r 


PPPP 


4 


5 


r*    5"^*    f5^    *t5 


Fnrmons  la  ronde  ' 


Sva 


Vi^ 


^^--^        1 


^*^ — •—'4-5- 


-*:^?r: 


/)/). 


y  n  tempo. 


nr     "ff  sf  fj'lOCOSO. 


^E?l. 


^^^?ss^ 


'/ 


f^f 


*/ 


^^p 

^^a 


Ptd. 


'f 


w 


».       M 


^-t    ^^^ 


irr^ 


^  -i--  ? 


^^=^? 
_^j-^ 


;=-*=5_  5r -  z 


'/ 


-0-^^t>- 


-^-Jfi- 


^SL 


i^i^iz^-i^=-==fzp(i^--_--,jS-i. 


«/ 


*/ 


•'/ 


TT    ^    .J: 


— ^ — • — #- 
^     4     gr- 


.^   ^ 


rr^   1" 


"4^ 


I       I 


■• — r 


A 
-O- 


b^Bi 


-.^  *   « 


^p3 


ztrJ 


C%».     * 


^J-A 


W^ 


a-ES 


'/ 


ji:-^-!;— g_4= 


-a 1       I 


-^^-j- 


«/ 


^pl^ 


J!^ 


^^ 


i 


=J=i: 


■*— •- 


(55^— 


' ^  .  A 


ar  -  F-*^  » 


* »- 


.-*  -  -^i^ 


ibi.  -•-   r    r 


^= 


,-r-_t: 


nlliirijnnflo. 


f r  '  j^ r     I  p t^-L) ^— '  I  == 

=-  !=-  '^  ^ 


:^ESt 


^. 


-t — '-^- 


87 


:i 


a  tempo. 


\^ 


f 


espress. 


I 


I  1 


I  1 


r 

Fed. 


Fed. 


-p- 
+       Fed. 


$ 


d: 


^1 


3i: 


-<-•- 


~# — ^._ 


1 r 


m 


I    I 


-M 


^= 


Pec^. 


Ped. 


^■t 


^ 


■"=r 


<;* 


:^=5sy= 


=fe 


^£ 


5^^^ 


=f=^ 


— V     1 


^^^^ 


/ 


i4t 


^ 


Peel. 


*     Pet^. 


*    Fed. 


-'ir- 


/Vr   ^ — * J— 

u").,  •y —  • — 

» — 

\ — 

— « — ' 

1 

• 

H P r^ 

r^"^ ' — ^ 

M              1 

1       lO ^ 

— J« i— 

' — ' 1 — 

sf 

— « — 

^^p?=? 

r-'—^—^-i 

1 

1      * 
— f^ 

^  J   ' 

1 

^.  ^-^^ 

1  ^ 

^^ 

he       ^ 

^— 1-1 — 

—^ 

-1 


m 


=|S=^ 


^=t 


cre«.  ed  accel. 


V   ^ 


I      I 


I      I 


v? 


^EB 


C r 


-P- 
coK  Fed.  \ 
1 


~:^         P" 


"6- 
l 


f 


r 


P 


iE3 


¥^E 


^S 


-^-■^r 


a^=^l    g        S 


=^i=<: 


^j— ^s^ ^ 


T    1 


»l/ 


I       1 


m^ 


r 


r-  1.  r 


—  I 


88 


aceel. 


T  •    A. 


I 


-I— .-4iJ=faE£{^^^5l^=y=P^I^^ 


^ 


f 


I        I 


r  r '  r  r^ 


g^ 


ji 


s>i> 


"^= o~ 


J I 


r 


j .  J  j- 


r 


j_i 


.1,1  -'  J 


r  f 


^ 


— <«=-o- 


J   I  J 


w 


cort  Pea. 


m 


?-'?»gz 


cr«i.        .^ -^ a  tempo.  AlUgro  eoTibrio. 

I  ;,>-       ,     J  ''i  ' 


J — -jjj^^ 


:^ 


=S=*? 


»/ 


'         I  1 


I 


V=P^^f=F^^ 


-a- 


J 1 


»f 


hriUanie. 


<^^t=fx: 


m 


r 


==^ 


:?= 


^       ^ 


=f=f 


r      ir 


r 


^3^^ 


-# m- 


4=:p 


F^ 


-1 m 


-? — r 


Sva. 


J 


™p 1,^ — : — ^^^^  - 


iT 


=5=^»==t; 


i  i-  1^ 


A    ■•■ 


tei- 


!fa=£=4 


Sr=T 


-=P= 


3C^. 


1 T 


=S 


:^^ 


tlringendo. 


ffz 


gi 


^ 


-■  »i- 


ri:"^  ^i^-ii^iii-ii^^ 


^ 


^ 


^t 5— 


-*— C 


^    :.  =-- 


Pe</. 


rit. 


i^i  55- 


pin  lento. 


w  —  .m.-. • — ■ 


mf 


-•    -.   »- 


^^ 


■ip-. 


bjfea:--- -H- 


ir       -w    -it    .r       t-.     -m-    Sir 


^^&^ 


t  t   5.  |.  f 


ESg:: 


^t±F 


*    -iT    ^ 


Lento. 


Avec  des  branches  de  hetre,  de  hetre  tiamboyant, 

Au  son  du  tambour, 
Nous  couvrirons  les  tombes  de  nos  enfants. 


i 


Andantino. 


PP 


teneramente. 


^ 


Andantino.    ^ 

-\f     ^  — *- 


PP 


1 r 

tenernmente. 


ij*)'-  ?      rj- 


Nous  cboisirons  un  jour, 
Comme  celui-ci, 

Oil  les  peupliers  treinhlent  duucement 
Dans  le  vent, 

Et  ou  I'udeur  des  feuilles  mortes 
Euibaunie  les  hois, 

Comme  aujourd'hui, 
Afin  qu'ils  emportent 

La  bas 
Le  parfum  du  pays. 


-=-,^ 


'S 


i5:y=r|c 


n T 

espress. 


-a> — I \i 


J=pJ=^ 


-—(31. 


* ^ 


--* -j- 


"*      :*:" 


f        -r     -P-    7m- 


J 


i 


tC= 


w 


-ci~. — 
'  dhn. 


r\t. 


^3=-sr 


"^"  i 


1 


?#- 


I 


Nous   prierons    la    teire    qu'ils  ont  tant    aimee    De    les       bercer      dans      ses      grands      bras,      De      les      re 


-sn 


^. 


m 


chauft'er      sur     sa     vaste     poitrine     Et     de      les     faire      rever       de       nouveaux       combats 


De       la 


w 


=HS-; 


v-B: 


//;/?•= 


'-^ &^ 


90 


prise   de   Brux 

dies,    (le     M.i  - 

lines, 

Dc 

Namur, 

dc       Li 

-  ^ge. 

de       Lou  -  vain, 

^        1         1             ~i 

Et 

> 

~~^ 

1- 

"k-^    ■ 1^-~  L     '      1 

— ;''= 

j 

^ 

1- 

■ r*— 

-J._fl^ 

—fy- 

5f 

; 

• 

'■  1 

=mH=f=t--i-'^^ 

-r  r^ 

r 

-^  ;  J  J  *  --!-, 

• 

[_^v     ,     ^-^ 

— • — 

— 

-r- 

>«                   M 

1                                                                               1 

-r- 

1.      t      ' 

— 

1. 

1 

J 

— 

1. 

1                        1 

1. 

1       1 

3^. 


'/I 


de  leur  entree  trionipliale,  Itt-bas,  A  Berlin 


3= 


«/r 


Tempo  pnmo, 

4      Jr        1 


J.     ±    -rt  -:±    .4-      =f    ~«  .-=:    -•(- 


^^A 


c^- 


*/ 


.  ptsJi-    :-;: 


^?^.s=^§s.=:yi: 


-^i 


t  ^  ^g 

"— »» — r 


'^ 


-G^ 


=g: 


<■  n<.^    i: 


fffatempo. 

J- 


P 


_^_i_ 


=-U=i 


^if-f= 


zr-t 


^rpsr 


r  V 


} 


tarn 


i^-^^ 


r/ 


A 


zJ^ 


-| 


^^- 


I 

a  tempo. 


:^UJ=^J 


zj—y. 


-I — -i-' 


?^ 


Z3Z 


r 


Mntitoio. 

A 


Chantons,  Beiges,  cluintons, 

Muiiie  si  les  blessures  saignent  et  si  la  voix  se  brise. 
Plus  Iiaut  (jue  la  touriuente,  plus  fort  que  Ics  canons. 

Memo  si  les  blessurcs  saigncnt,  nienie  si  le  ca'ur  sc  brise, 
Cliantons  I'esiioir  ct  la  liaine  iuiploeable, 

Par  cc  beau  soloil  d'autumne, 
Et  la  lierte  ile  raster  cliaritables 

<iimnd  la  Vengeance  nous  scrait  si  bonne  1 


^ 


--7Z 


^•' 


^^m 


01 


By  SIR   GILBERT   PARKER 

IT  is  given  to  some  men  and  some  peoples  now  and  again  in  the  world's 
histor}^  to  represent  mankind  at  its  truest,  its  highest  and  best ;  to  offer 
upon  ahars  of  liberty  the  blood  of  sacrifice  for  all  men  in  all  the 
world  ;  and  to  pledge  for  humanity  once  again  devotion  to  eternal  things. 
This  is  what  the  Belgian  King  and  the  Belgian  people  have  done.  A 
monstrous,  destroying  legion  of  terror  and  tyranny  moved  upon  them  out 
of  the  night,  offered  them  gain  and  gold  if  they  would  forswear  their  bond, 
and  give  freedom  to  the  legions  of  an  Emperor  to  whom  the  ink  of  honour 
and  the  pledged  paper  were  no  obstacles  to  the  march  of  ambition.  Belgium, 
its  King  and  people,  preferred  death  to  dishonour.  Their  way  was  the 
ancient  way — to  lose  the  whole  and  gain  their  own  souls.  This  they  did, 
and  while  Time  tells  its  story  the  torch  that  Belgium  Hghted  will  burn,  and 
the  hand  of  the  King  that  held  it  aloft  will  be  honoured  among  men. 

"  O/z,  happy  are  all  free  peoples  too  strong  to  be  dispossessed. 
But  blessed  are  they  afno?ig  natiotis  that  dare  to  be  strong  for  the  rest." 


By  SIR  SIDNEY  LEE 

THE  King  of  the  Belgians  and  his  brave  army  have  set  an  example  which 
lends  humanity  a  new  glory.  Their  heroic  resistance  to  the  wholly  un- 
merited wrongs  which  brute  strength  has  forced  upon  them  has  shed 
fresh  radiance  on  the  history  of  the  civilised  world.  In  spite  of  the  cruel 
suffering  which  the  ruthless  enemy  has  sown  broadcast  through  the  land, 
in  spite  of  all  the  waste  and  desolation  which  German  soldiers  have  inflicted 
without  pity  or  remorse,  Belgium,  its  ruler  and  its  people,  may  find  hope 
and  consolation  in  the  knowledge  that  the  justice  of  their  cause  is 
recognised  wherever  truth  and  right  prevail,  and  that  the  honour  of  all 
honourable  men  is  pledged  to  secure  for  them  due  reparation  of  their 
unconscionable  wrongs.  ^ 

'vex 


By  PROFESSOR  WILLIAM   FLINDERS   PETRIE 

F.R.S.,  F.B.A.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D.,  Ph.D. 

TO  the  Belgian  Nation  and  its  Noble  Leader,  I  present  the  most  sincere 

Homage  to  its  Braver}-, 

Respect  for  its  unflinching  Fortitude, 

Gratitude  for  its  saving  of  England  and  France, 

Wishes  for  its  speedy  resettlement, 

Hopes  that  by  its  sufferings  it  may  be  perfected  in  true  greatness. 


92 


^s^ 


By  SIR   HERBERT  TREE 

The  Ultimatum  :  or,  Every  Man  Has  His  Price. 

Characters  :    The  Ruler  of  a  Great  People  ;  a  Chiropodist  ;  Princes,  Grand 

Dukes,  Ministers  of  State,  Priest,  Professor,  and  Sycophants. 

Scene  :    The  Ruler's  marble  bathroom  in  the  Palace. 

[At  the  rise  of  curtain,  the  Ruler  of  a  Great  People  is 
discovered  seated  in  his  dressing-gotvn  ;    the  Chiropodist 
plies  his  trade ^ 
Chiropodist  :  What  remarkable  corns  your  Majesty  has  ! 
Ruler  :    Yes,    they    are    ancestral — all   my    predecessors  were   noted  for 

them. 
Chiropodist  :  I  have  heard,  your  Majesty,  that  in  the  seventeenth  century 

manv  of  the  Court  wore  tight  shoes  in  order  to  cultivate  the  Royal 

infirmity — [correcting  himself] — prerogative  ! 
Ruler  :  I  daresay.    Take  care — you  hurt  me.    [Chiropodist  takes  from 

his  tray  some  drops  from  a  little  bottle  labelled   "  Poison  "  and  applies 

them  zcith  a  brush  to  the  royal  foot,  and  resumes  his  pedicure.]     You 

may  continue  to  address  us. 
Chiropodist  [after  a  pause,  choosing  his  topic]  :  The  weather,  your  Majesty, 

is  ver}- — ver}'  regrettable. 
Ruler  [zvith  the  divine-right  manner]  :   Yes,  we  are  much  displeased  with 

the  weather  ! 
Chiropodist  :  Yet  the  peasants  have  prayed  for  fine  weather  for  the  occasion 

of  your  Majesty's  name-day. 
Ruler  :  The  prayers  of  peasants  are  not  always  heard.    To-day  is  Friday, 

is  it  not  ?    I  have  a  superstition  against  signing  important  documents 

on  Friday.     To-night  it  is  the  Ultimatum.     [Bored.]     Oh,  this  war  ! 

\\  hat  is  the  feeling  among  the  people  ?    You  have  leave  to  speak  the 

truth. 
Chiropodist  :  Your  Majesty  is  too  gracious.    The  people,  your  Majesty, 

do  not  wish  for  war. 
Ruler  :  The  Minister  of  War  assures  me  they  do. 
Chiropodist  :  The  people,  your  Majesty,  will  regard  the  decision  of  their 

King  as  the  will  of  God.     [Boning  over  the  royal  foot ^ 
Ruler  :  You  are  a  clever  fellow.    You  might  go  far. 
Chiropodist  [zcith  momentary  expansioti]  :  My  hump  has  stood  in  my  light, 

your  Majesty. 
Ruler  :  There  is  a  saying  of  my  great  ancestor,  "It  is  lucky  to  have  a 

hunch-back  near  you." 
Chiropodist  :  Yes,  your  Majesty,  the  common  proverb  says  :    "  A  hump 

is  a  miser}'  to  him  who  hath  it,  but  it  fills  him  of  the  straight  back  with 

contentment." 
Ruler  :  We  all  have  our  compensations. 
Chiropodist  :  Yes,  your  Majesty,  my  mother  always  had  a  premonition 

that  before  I  died  a  great  honour  would  be  conferred  on  me. 

93 


Ruler  :  I  shouldn't  wonder.  By  the  by,  I  should  like  to  keep  you  near 
me  to-night.  Your  hump  may  bring  me  luck.  I  have  to  make  a 
momentous  decision.  Now  listen  to  me.  I  trust  you — you  have  availed 
yourself  of  my  permission  to  be  truthful.  I  do  not  trust  all  my  ser- 
vants. Will  you  look  to  the  wine  to-night  ?  [The  Chiropodist  cringes 
assent?^  The  royal  Dukes  and  my  Ministers  are  to  dine  at  my  table. 
Be  near  me  to-night,  my  little  hunch-back. 

[The  Chiropodist  kisses  the  royal  toes  in  deep  obeisance. 

The  Ruler  of  a  Great  People  exits  to  his  dressing-room. 

The  Chiropodist  rises^ 
Chiropodist  :  It  has  come — the  day,  their  day,  my  day  !  God  of  my  fathers, 
keep  me  from  madness.  Mother,  hold  my  hand  from  out  of  your 
grave  \  You  said  it  should  be  !  My  hunger  can  be  stilled — I  can  almost 
straighten  my  back  with  pride.  \He  crosses  himself  beneath  the  image 
of  the  Virgin.]  Help  me  in  my  hour.  There  are  two  roads — which 
shall  I  take  ?  I  have  learned  to  flatter — it  is  my  profession — I  have 
walked  across  the  plank — I  am  there — my  ambition,  my  Httle  ambition 
can  be  requited.  I  have  blackmailed  the  world — I  am  in  its  palace. 
The  open  road  is  in  front  of  me  at  last.  I  can  move  step  by  step,  as 
others  have  done,  nearer  the  throne — and  then,  who  knows  ?  But 
there  is  another  road — the  road  where  humanity  toils  or  trudges — the 
road  my  father  and  mother  trod  when  I  was  a  little  child.  It  was  the 
revolution — my  mother  was  torn  from  my  father's  arms — before  his 
eyes  she  was  degraded  by  the  soldiery — then  they  shot  him  for  an 
anarchist.  This  hump  of  mine — a  soldier  struck  me  with  his  gun — my 
shoulder  shattered.  In  our  exile  every  night  my  mother  would  stroke 
my  back  while  she  prayed  that  God  would  straighten  me.  She  starved 
that  she  might  sprinkle  my  hump  with  holy  water.  And  here  I  am 
what  I  am.  This  is  my  moment — shall  I  fall  to  ease,  to  comfort,  and 
convenience  ?  I  whose  father  shrieked  for  freedom  as  he  fell.  This 
war — I  can  prevent  it.  I  sec  it  coming  on — I  am  not  blind  as  those  that 
make  war — war  for  the  vanity  of  a  King,  who  made  God  in  his  own 
image.  War  for  greed  of  commerce.  Hundreds,  thousands,  millions 
of  lives  will  be  lost  to  satisfy  the  lust  of  five  men  !  Can  five  hundred 
years  of  happiness  compensate  for  one  year's  spoil  of  a  monarch's  sport  ? 
An  Emperor  of  the  Shambles  declares  war  to  make  a  madman's  holiday. 
I  can  hear  the  yells  of  the  poor  deluded  men  in  the  trenches — they 
call  it  glory !  I  can  see  their  stark  bodies  mangled  and  twisted  in  the 
frozen  mud — they  call  it  glory  !  I  can  smell  the  stench  of  their  decay 
wafting  disease  through  the  land  in  the  spring  that  is  coming — they 
call  it  glory !  I  can  read  the  outpourings  of  their  hireling  professors. 
I  hear  Christ's  priests  chanting  their  blessings  on  the  holocausts — they 
call  it  glory  !  The  moans  of  millions  of  mothers  go  up  to  God,  un- 
heeded by  man.  My  mind  is  a  mirage  of  ruined  cathedrals,  of  de- 
vastated homes,  of  spectres  of  famished  peoples — all  these  I  see — they 

94 


call  it  glon'  !  My  little  hand  can  stay  all  this.  [He  takes  jrom  his  box 
the  little  bottle  labelled  "  Poison.'']  Here  is  my  ally — a  few  drops  of  this 
in  his  liqueur  to-night,  and  it  is  done.  [He  tastes  the  poison.]  Revenge 
is  sweet  !  I  shall  be  the  undying  benefactor  of  mankind.  After  all,  he 
is  only  one  man,  like  myself.  He  who  cuts  the  corns  of  a  monarch 
knows  the  equality  of  man.  Murder — yes.  To  kill  one  man  is  to  be  a 
murderer — to  kill  ten  thousand  is  to  be  a  hero  !  Strange  is  the  logic  of 
the  world  !  What  is  he  then  who  murders  one  to  save  millions  }  [He 
takes  up  his  paraphernalia  and  exits.] 

[The  scene  changes  to  the  private  dining-room  of  the  great 
Ruler.  Seated  round  the  table  are  Princes,  Cabinet 
Ministers,  a  Professor,  and  a  Priest.  It  is  the  end  of 
dinner.  There  are  signs  of  debauchery.  The  Ruler, 
steeped  in  nine,  gazes  before  him  with  pale  eyes.  Papers 
are  in  front  of  him  and  an  ink-stand,  into  which  he  dips  his 
pen  irresolutely.     The  clock  strikes  tzvelve. 

War  Minister  :  At  twelve  the  decision  w-as  to  be  given — it  has  already 
struck. 

A  Prince  :  Octavian,  sign. 

[The  Ruler  hesitates  and  takes  a  liqueur  from  the  hands  of 
the  now  resplendent  Chiropodist.] 

Prime  Minister  :  It  is  time  to  sign,  your  Majesty. 

Ruler  :  I  am  thinking. 

Prime  Minister  :  A  King  should  never  think,  your  Majesty,  when  he  knows 
his  power.  It  is  two  minutes  past  the  hour — history  is  rushing  by. 
You  are  two  minutes  less  powerful  than  you  were  at  midnight. 

War  Minister  :  Might  is  right. 

Ruler  :  Is  Might  always  right  ?  [Turning  to  elderly  Priest.]  Father,  you 
have  often  told  me  that  the  true  divine  right  of  kings  is  peace.  What 
did  you  say  in  your  sermon  during  the  Peace  Conference  ?  If  the  sacred 
head  of  the  State  were  to  pronounce  himself  to  the  world  as  the  leader 
of  Peace — if  he  will  declare  himself — if  he  will  proclaim  that  the  highest 
prerogative  of  kings — that  their  true  Divine  right  is  universal  peace — 
if  in  his  greatness  he  will  carry  this  ideal  into  effect,  then  he  will  go 
down  the  centuries  not  only  as  King  of  his  land,  not  only  as  Emperor 
of  the  globe,  but  as  the  temporal  saviour  of  mankind.  Those  were 
your  words,  father Surely  God  is  good. 

Priest  :  Yes,  your  Majesty,  very  good.  But  now  we  are  talking  war.  The 
needs  of  your  people  sanctify  the  sacrifice  of  your  ideals. 

Ruler  :  I  am  wondering,  at  what  point  a  King  is  justified  for  the  sake  of 
his  country  in  sacrificing  his  ideals.  [He  takes  another  liqueur^ 

Priest  :  His  conscience  must  decide. 

Professor  :  Ideals  are  only  official  ideals  when  they  have  concrete  foun- 
dations. Ideals  must  be  backed  by  cannon,  or  left  alone.  With  all 
submission  to  your  Majesty,  man  is  but  a  brute — we  all  devour  each 

95 


other  if  we  can.  Our  rivals  are  sunk  in  the  sloth  of  what  is  called 
humanitarianism.  The  new  religion  of  so-called  thinkers  and  feelers 
threatens  to  become  a  force  which  may  so  miseducate  the  masses,  that 
the  workmen  of  the  world  may  sweep  away  our  own  Culture  of  in- 
tellectual materialism  by  a  universal  strike  for  peace.  This  new"  move- 
ment, whose  praise  is  being  sung  by  poets  and  seers,  must  be  throttled 
before  its  growth  shall  have  become  a  menace  to  our  fatherland.  Al- 
ready the  people  are  singing  the  hymns  of  the  new  religion  of  humanity 
in  secret  places.  Socialism  is  rife  in  our  land.  Now  is  the  moment 
to  crush  it  for  a  hundred  years  and  so  preserve  the  ancient  dynasty  of 
which  your  Majesty  is  God's  chosen  head,  and  secure  the  supremacy 
of  our  race. 

[Great  cheers  ring  out  from  the  Square  from  many  thousand 
voices.    Here  and  there  ajigry  imprecations  too  are  heard. 
The  cheers  come  nearer  and  nearer  and  the  jingle-jingle  of 
approaching  cavalry  is  heard  below ^ 
Ruler  :  Are  they  cheering  me  ? 

Chorus  of  Ministers  and  Princes  [surrounding  the  Ruler]  :  They  are 
cheering  the  war.    They  are  cheering  the  Prince — he  waves  his  hand 
to  them. 
Ruler  :  Ingrates — is  my  popularity  then  waning  .? 
Prime  Minister  [his  watch  in  hand]  :  You  are  twelve  minutes  and  fifteen 

seconds  less  popular  than  you  were  at  midnight,  your  Majesty. 
Ruler  [twisting  the  quill  pen  in  his  hand]  :  That  is  the  voice  of  the  people  1 
Priest  :  Vox  populi.  Vox  Dei  ! 
War  Minister  :  It  is  the  voice  of  the  Army  ! 

[The  royal  Dukes  and  Ministers,  Priest,  ««^  Professor 

surround  the  Ruler,  cajoling,  flattering,  and  brow-beating 

him  in  turn.    A  military  band  blares  out  the  National  Hymn 

in  which  a  himdred  thousand  voices  join.    Ruler  takes  the 

pen   once  more  ;    nerving  himself  to   the  great   effort,   he 

beckons  to  the  Chiropodist,  who  makes  to  serve  the  liqueur^ 

Chiropodist  :  Now  is  my  moment !  [Taking  from  his  pocket  the  little  bottle 

labelled  "  Poison,''  he  is  about  to  pour  it  into  the  glass  when  a  royal  Duke 

approaches  him  with  something  glittering  in  his  hand.] 

Royal  Duke  [to  Chiropodist)  :  In  recognition  of  your  valuable    services 

His  Majesty  desires  me  to  confer  upon  you  the  order  of  the  Golden 

Lamb,  of  the  second  class.     [Pins  decoration  on  his  breast.] 

Chiropodist  [overco?ne,  mechanically  as  in  a  dream,  he  clasps  the  bauble 

in  his  hand,  then  hesitates,  gasping]  :  O  Mother,  Mother  ! 
Ruler  :  It  is  war  ! 
Chiropodist  :  Let  it  rip  !     [He  spills  the  poison  on  the  floor.] 

[The  Ruler  of  a   Great  People  signs  the   Ultimatum. 
The  Chiropodist  shrugs  his  hump.] 
The  Curtain  falls. 
96 


By  GENERAL  BOOTH 

Sire, 

Have  this  consolation  in  the  supreme  agony  of  your  dynasty  and  of  your 

people,  that  you  have  enthused  with  new  life  and  force  the  great  principle 

that  men  ought  not  only  to  love  their  country,  but  their  kind. 

We  of  the  Salvation  Army  pray  God  that  His  great  Salvation  may  strengthen 

you  ever  to  honour  Him  in  Mercy  and  Righteousness. 

By  PREBENDARY  WILSON   CARLILE 

DAVID  has  fought  Goliath.  The  victory  is  not  yet,  but  it  Is  coming.  The 
God  of  Battles  will  avenge  His  shattered  houses,  the  burned  and  ruined 
homes,  the  trampled  harvest  fields,  the  slaughtered,  outraged,  tormented, 
exiled  people,  for  their  cry  has  reached  Him  in  His  Holy  Place.  Though 
the  time  be  long,  we  shall  most  surely  see  a  new  Belgium  arise  from  the 
ashes  of  war,  purified,  made  more  noble  and  strong,  uplifted  by  the  fiery 
trial.  And  although  so  many  of  her  soldiers,  and  others  of  her  bravest  and 
best,  must  sleep  until  the  Archangel  shall  sound  reveille,  yet  their  blood 
has  not  been  shed  in  vain,  for  their  spirit  lives  for  evermore.  God  give 
strength  to  Belgium's  King,  people,  and  Allies  to  fight  on  in  this  righteous 
cause  until  complete  victory  crowns  the  struggle,  made  holy  by  the  blood 
and  tears  of  so  great  a  multitude,  ^ 

By  ALMA  E.  BELMONT 

IN  expressing  my  sympathy  with  the  Belgian  nation,  I  am  compelled  to 
say  there  can  be  no  being  from  any  realm  calling  itself  human  but  feels  its 
very  life-blood  pulsate  with  grief  and  its  heart  overflow  with  love  for  the 
great  manhood  of  this  stricken  nation.  Words  seem  poor  and  lame.  This 
display  of  courage,  this  will  to  carry  Right  against  Might,  this  defence  of 
country  and  home,  calls  for  action,  imitation. 

What  is  any  nation,  what  are  any  people  doing,  who  stand  idly  aside,  and 
by  their  inertia  and  fear  of  injury  to  themselves,  permit  murder,  pillage, 
and  wilful  destruction  of  a  land  of  peace,  of  honest  industry,  of  a  God- 
fearing race  ?  What  are  we  doing  in  Washington  ?  Where  is  our  boasted 
civilisation  ?  Where  is  Christianity  ?  Is  not  our  brother  being  annihi- 
lated ?  Why  is  not  our  hand  stretched  out  to  shield  him  ?  How  much 
longer  will  the  strong  and  mighty  stand  aside  and  see  the  brave  and  free 
trampled  under  foot  by  a  monster  power  intoxicated  with  arrogance  ?  If 
the  United  States  believes  in  democracy  ;  if  she  stands  for  States'  rights  ; 
if  she  believes  in  the  defence  of  national  honour  and  political  liberty,  the 
crime  committed  against  Belgium  demands  such  action  from  our  great 
Republic  that  this  murderous  carnage  shall  stop. 

98 


By   FLORENCE   L.   BARCLAY 

In  Hoc  Vince 

To  His  Majesty  the  King  of  the  Belgians 

Sire, 

AS  my  contribution  to  the  tribute  of  universal  sympathy  and  admiration 
now  presented  to  Your  Majesty,  I  have  been  asked  to  write  a  short  stor\', 
bearing  upon  the  great  events  of  the  past  months. 

In  humbly  accepting  this  privilege,  I  cannot  but  be  conscious  that  this  is 
not  a  time  for  fiction  ;   therefore  the  stor\'  which  I  now  have  the  honour  of 
offering  to  Your  Majesty  is  fact — true  in  its  main  details — given  as  it  reached 
me,  in  the  sublime  simplicity  of  a  soldier's  letter  from  the  front. 
***** 

During  the  masterly  retreat  of  the  allied  forces  after  the  battle  of  Mons,  a 
young  British  officer  was  ordered  to  round  up  stragglers  in  a  small  town, 
which  had  just  been  evacuated  by  our  troops. 

There  was  no  time  to  lose.  The  enemy,  in  over\vhelming  force,  was  sweep- 
ing down  upon  the  defenceless  place.  Shells  were  falling  on  all  sides. 
The  distant  rumble  of  a  relentless  approach  drew,  ever)'  moment  nearer. 
The  young  officer,  marching  his  little  company  rapidly  along  the  deserted 
streets,  crossed  a  cobbled  square,  and  came  upon  a  municipal  building, 
temporarily  converted  into  a  hospital. 
He  stepped  within. 

"  Any  men  here,  able  to  march  ?  "  he  began — then  paused  abruptly  and 
looked  around  him. 

There  was  no  question  of  stragglers,  here. 

Scores  of  wounded  and  of  dying  lay  helpless  upon  the  floor,  each  where 
he  had  been  hurriedly  placed. 

A  little  party  of  British  Red  Cross  nurses  moved  among  them,  doing  their 
utmost  to  tend,  relieve,  and  comfort. 

While  the  tall  youth  in  khaki  stood  silent  in  the  doorway,  a  shell  shrilled  over 
the  building,  crashed  into  a  house  close  by,  and  burst  with  a  deafening  noise. 
A  moment  of  tense  silence.    Then  a  Tommy  laughed. 
"  It'll  save  the  doctors  trouble,  if  a  few  of  them  things  come  in  here,"  he 
said.    "  Do  our  amputating  for  nothing,  they  will  !  " 

The  Sister  in  charge  of  the  little  band  of  English  nurses  chanced  to  be 
kneeling  near  the  door,  supporting  the  head  of  a  dying  lad.  He  pushed 
away  the  cup  she  was  holding  to  his  lips  and  gazed  into  her  face,  sudden 
terror  in  his  eyes. 

"  They  won't  shoot  on  the  Red  Cross,  will  they,  nurse  ?  "  he  whispered. 
"  Ain't  we  safe  under  the  flag  ?  " 

Her  quiet  smile  was  reassuring.  "  Perfectly  safe,  my  lad.  Don't  you  worr)-. 
Drink  this,  and  lie  still." 

Then,  looking  up,  she  saw  the  young  officer  standing  in  the  doorway. 
He  raised  his  hand  in  salute. 

*'  I  suppose  there  is  nothing  I  can  do,"  he  said.  "  I  am  rounding  up  stragglers 

99 


and  marching  them  out.     But  nobody  here  could  do  any  marching.    Shall 
I  take  a  message  through  for  you  ?     I'll  send  back  help,  if  possible." 
Kneeling  there,  with  the  dying  boy's  head  upon  her  arm,  she  looked  steadily 
at  him,  and  it  struck  him  that  he  had  never  before  met  eyes  so  full  of  a  calm 
and  steadfast  courage. 

"  We  are  all  right,"  she  said,  slipping  a  folded  jacket  beneath  the  head  she 
was  supporting  ;  "  quite  all  right — doing  famously  !  " 
But  the  next  moment  she  was  beside  him  in  the  doorway,  and  had  caught 
him  by  the  arm. 

"  Don't  go  !  "  she  whispered.  "  For  God's  sake,  don't  go  !  I  need  help  ; 
and  you  must  help  me." 

"  Do  you  want  to  get  out  of  this  ?  "  asked  the  young  officer,  speaking 
hurriedly,  and  very  low. 
The  Englishwoman  looked  at  him. 

"  Oh,  I  say,  I  beg  your  pardon  !  Of  course  I  know  you  wouldn't  leave  them. 
Tell  me  how  I  can  help.    What  can  I  do  ?  " 

"  Listen,"  she  said.  "  There  is  not  a  moment  to  lose.  Did  you  notice 
the  roof  of  this  building,  as  you  crossed  the  square  ?  There's  a  flagstaff 
and  cord,  all  complete  ;  but  no  flag.  Do  you  understand  ?  No  Red  Cross 
flag.  And  the  Germans  are  beginning  to  shell  the  town.  You  must  find 
me  a  Red  Cross  flag,  and  hoist  it,  before  you  go." 

The  young  officer  stood  beside  her,  uncertain,  perplexed  ;  dismay  in  his 
honest  eyes. 

"I'm  awfully  sorry,"  he  said.  "  But  I  have  no  Red  Cross  flag  ;  and,  for 
the  life  of  me,  I  don't  know  where  to  get  one." 

"  Then  you  must  make  one,"  she  urged.  "  We  have  over  a  hundred  wounded 
men  under  this  roof."  She  shook  him  by  the  sleeve.  "  Can't  you  contrive 
something  ?  Can't  you  think  of  something  ?  Can't  you  make  me  a  Red 
Cross  flag  ?  " 

The  boy  stood  for  a  moment  in  stern  thought.  All  the  man  in  him  awoke, 
eager  to  meet  this  woman's  desperate  need. 

His  eye  travelled  slowly  round  the  bare,  unfurnished  hall.  At  length  it 
rested  on  the  floor. 

Suddenly  he  started.  She  saw  him  hesitate.  Then  his  face  grew  firm  and 
purposeful. 

"  Give  me  half  a  sheet,"  he  said,  "  and  some  bandages." 
He  helped  her  to  tear  the  sheet  in  two. 

At  sound  of  the  sharp  rending,  many  eyes  turned  their  way. 
He  spread  the  sheet  upon  the  floor,  and  held  out  his  hand  for  the  bandages. 
Give  me  some  pins,"  he  said,  huskily  ;  "  plenty  of  them.     Then  leave 
the  rest  to  me.     This  is  my  job." 

All  at  once  she  knew  what  he  was  going  to  do  ;  and  she,  who  had  times 
without  number  faced  unspeakable  sights  without  flinching,  turned  away 
while,  stooping,  he  dipped  the  bandages  in  the  blood  which  lay  in  pools 
upon  the  floor. 

100 


When  she  looked  again,  he  was  on  his  knees,  carefully  pinning  the  crimson 
strips  across  the  white  sheet. 

Her  hand  flew  to  her  throat,  striving  to  control  an  irrepressible  sob. 
He  had  not  recognised  her,  in  her  nurse's  uniform,  but  at  first  sight  she 
had  known  him,  and  now  vividly  recalled  the  scene  of  their  former  meeting 
— a  sunny  cricket-field  in  England  ;  he,  in  spotless  flannels,  the  hero  of 
the  hour,  winning  a  match  for  his  school  eleven.  She  had  sat  beside  his 
mother  and  watched  her  pride  in  the  gay,  handsome  boy.  All  eyes  had 
been  bent  upon  him,  as  he  hit  out  straight  and  true,  made  the  winning 
stroke,  and  carried  his  bat  for  top  score  in  the  match. 
And  now  ...  As  he  knelt  in  his  stained  khaki,  dying  eyes  watched,  in 
the  quiet  calm  of  a  strange  detachment,  the  making  of  that  Red  Cross  flag. 
Wounded  men  rolled  over,  raised  themselves  on  their  elbows,  and  smiled 
in  grim  approval. 

After  that  one  choking  sob  she  also  smiled  bravely  back  at  them. 
Her  flag  was  ready. 

He  rose  to  his  feet.  "  Now  then  !  Show  me  the  way  to  the  roof,  please. 
No — I  can  carr}^  it.  No  need  for  you  to  touch  it,  Sister.  This  is  my  show." 
She  stood  beside  him  on  the  roof. 

As  he  drew  the  cord  taut  and  fastened  it,  the  breeze  caught  and  unfurled 
the  heavy  folds  of  the  sheet,  and,  slowly  opening  out,  the  Red  Cross  flew, 
clear  and  unmistakable,  in  the  sunshine. 
She  laid  her  hand  once  more  upon  the  khaki  sleeve. 

"  God  bless  you,"  she  said,  a  tremor  of  emotion  in  her  quiet  voice.  "  And, 
when  you  write  home,  don't  forget  to  tell  your  mother  of  this  thing  which 
you  have  done." 

Half  an  hour  later,  as  he  marched  his  men,  under  cover  of  a  wood,  over 
the  crest  of  the  hill,  the  young  officer  stepped  out  for  a  moment  into  a 
clearing  and  looked  back  upon  the  little  town. 

German  shells  were  falling  to  right  and  left  ;  but  above  the  hospital  flew 
the  Red  Cross  flag,  brave  in  the  breeze,  bright  in  the  gold  of  the  sunset  ; 
and  the  wounded  lay  beneath,  sheltered  by  the  crimson  of  their  own  life- 
blood. 


3l<rLtA.^ju<i:d ■  <''^kiAx/£KY 


By  THE   Rt.   Hon.  THOMAS   BURT 

HEARTILY  do  I  associate  myself  with  you  in  expressions  of  appreciation 

of  the  Belgian  people  and  their  heroic  King. 


M^^^M^ 


Q*  lOI 


By  J.   C.   CHRISTENSSEN 

BELGIENS  Strobne  vakker  den  storste  Medfolelse  i  vort  Folk.  Hvis  den 
belgiske  Konge  og  haus  Folk  ikke  foar  Oprejsunig  for  alt,  hvad  de  nu  mon 
lide,  da  synes,  at  Retfordigheden  troedes  ned,  og  at  Talen  om  den  eoropaiske 
Kultur  mon  forstumme.  Vovire  Folelsen  oproves  son  meget  mere,  sorn  vi 
selv  er  et  lille  Folk,  der  altid  mon  appellere  til  Retfordigheds  folelsen  og 
Hojsindet  hos  andre. 

TRANSLATION  by  C.  A.  Bang 

The  fate  of  Belgium  awakes  in  our  nation  the  greatest  talk  about  the  European  Kultur  must  become  mute. 

sympathy.     If  the  Belgian  King  and  his  people  do  Our  feelings  are  roused  so  much  the  more  as  we  our- 

not  get  redress  for  all  they  are  now  suffering,  then  it  selves  are  also  a  small  nation,  who  must  always  appeal 

seems  to  us  that  justice  is  trampled  dozvn  and  that  all  to  the  righteousness  and  highmindedness  of  others. 


By  THE   Rt.   Hon.   SYED   AMEER  ALI 

I  DESIRE  to  express  my  deepest  sympathy  for  the  undeserved  sufferings 
of  the  Belgian  nation.  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  Belgium,  which  had 
wronged  no  one  and  simply  stood  on  her  own  rights,  has  been  cruelly 
treated  by  a  powerful  nation  to  whom  she  might  naturally  have  looked  for 
protection  and  help.  One  searches  in  vain  for  any  justification  for  the 
ruthlessness  with  which  the  armies  of  Germany,  who  claimed  to  stand  in 
the  forefront  of  the  civilised  world,  have  conducted  themselves  in  unhappy 
Belgium.  The  country  devastated,  ancient  seats  of  learning  rendered 
desolate,  the  people  driven  from  their  homes  for  refuge  in  distant  lands 
make  the  heart  throb  with  infinite  sorrow  and  pain. 

The  sorrow  I  feel  for  her  is  shared  by  the  whole  world — no  less  by  Moslems 
than  by  Christians. 


By  ARTHUR  C.  BENSON 

ABOVE  all  we  must  keep  in  the  forefront  of  our  minds  the  immense  debt 
we  owe  to  Belgium  for  her  staunch  fidelity  and  for  the  supreme  heroism 
of  her  army.  Never  has  a  small  and  peaceable  nation  risen  more  nobly  to 
a  great  occasion.  We  must  ease  the  strain  upon  Belgium  by  every  means 
in  our  power,  welcome  and  comfort  her  refugees,  house  them,  feed  them, 
take  them  to  our  hearts  ;  and  we  must  also  resolve  that  when  the  time  comes 
we  must  undergo  any  sacrifice  to  repay  them  for  their  splendid  public  spirit 
and  their  generous  sacrifices.  We  cannot  heal  their  griefs  or  remove  their 
sufferings  ;  but  we  can  do  all  that  human  kindness  and  liberality  can  do 
to  atone  for  the  sickening  wrongs  which  have  been  done  them,  and  show  our 
gratitude  for  the  loyalty  which  has  indeed  been  faithful  unto  death.  God 
bless  and  reward  Belgium  ! 


102 


By  ANNIE  VIVANTI   CHARTRES 

The  Broken  Rose 
To  King  Albert 

Shy,  youthful,  silent — o?id  misunderstood 

In  the  zchite  glare  of  Kinghood  thou  didst  stand. 

The  sceptre  in  thy  hand 

Seaned  but  a  flozcer  the  Fates  had  tossed  to  thee, 

And  thou  wert  called,  perchance  halj-scornJuUy, 

Albert  the  Good. 

To-day  thou  standest  on  a  blackened  grave. 
Thy  broken  szcord  still  lifted  to  the  skies. 
Thy  pure  and  fearless  eyes 
Gaze  into  Death's  grim  visage  unappalled 
And  by  the  storm-swept  nations  thou  art  called 
Albert  the  Brave. 

Tossed  on  a  blood-red  sea  of  rage  and  hate 

The  frenzied  zcorld  rolls  forzcard  to  its  doom. 

But  high  above  the  gloom 

Flashes  the  fulgent  beacon  of  thy  fame. 

The  nations  thou  hast  saved  exalt  thy  7iame — 

Albert  the  Great  ! 

***** 

Albert  the  good,  the  brave,  the  great,  thy  land 

Lies  at  thy  feet,  a  crushed  and  morient  rose 

Trampled  and  desecrated  by  thy  foes. 

One  day  a  greater  Belgium  zvill  be  born. 

But  what  of  this  dead  Belgium  zvracked  and  torn  ? 

What  of  this  rose  flung  out  upofi  the  sand  ?  .  .  . 

Behold  !  Afar  where  sky  and  waters  jneet 

A  white-robed  Figure  zcalketh  on  the  sea. 

(Peace  goes  before  Ilim  and  her  face  is  sweet.) 

As  once  He  trod  the  zvaves  of  Galilee 

He  comes  again — the  tumult  sinks  to  rest, 

The  stormy  zvaters  shine  beneath  His  feet. 

103 


He  sees  the  dead  rose  lying  in  the  sand, 
He  lifts  the  dead  rose  in  His  holy  hand 
And  lays  it  at  His  breast, 

O  broken  rose  oj  Belgium,  thou  art  blest  ! 


By  GERTRUDE  ATHERTON 

WE  have  experienced  so  many  emotions  in  America  in  the  course  of  this 
terrible  war  that  it  would  be  difficult,  had  not  Germany  violated  the  neu- 
traHty  of  Belgium,  to  assert  definitely  what  has  been  our  dominant  sensation. 
But,  as  it  is,  I  think  I  can  safely  speak  for  my  countrymen,  and  state  that 
nothing  has  so  horrified  us  and  aroused  our  indignation  and  sympathies 
as  the  cruel  fate  of  this  valiant  little  country. 

Above  all,  no  chapter  of  the  war,  as  yet  presented  to  us,  has  so  excited  our 
admiration  as  well  as  our  profound  respect.  We  are  the  only  country, 
owing  to  our  geographical  position  as  well  as  to  our  facilities,  that  has  been 
able  to  look  at  all  sides  of  the  European  imbroglio  from  the  beginning  ;  and 
propaganda  has  made  no  impression  whatever  upon  us.  We  have  had  the 
opportunity  to  make  up  our  own  minds,  and,  wholly  out  of  order  as  this 
would  appear  in  certain  quarters,  we  believe  ourselves  to  be  quite  equal  to 
this  feat  without  exterior  assistance.  We  know,  among  many  other  things, 
that  the  magnificent  resistance  at  Liege  upset  all  the  long-matured  plans  of 
the  German  War  Office,  and  that  had  Belgium  proved  either  weak  or 
ignoble,  the  history  of  the  war  would  be  very  different  reading  to-day. 
I  venture  to  say  that  every  town  in  the  United  States,  big  and  little,  has  its 
Belgian  relief  society,  even  if  it  does  not  spread  beyond  the  dimensions  of 
the  weekly  sewing  circle  ;  and  that  the  most  consistent  democrat  in  the 
country  takes  off  his  hat  to  King  Albert  of  Belgium.  The  Americans  are 
always  alert  to  recognise  a  MAN,  and  are  capable  of  being  quite  indifferent 
to  the  niche  presented  to  him  by  destiny.  What  he  does  in  that  niche  is 
the  point.  If  the  result  of  this  upheaval  is  a  great  European  Republic  (I 
refer  of  course  to  the  Continent)  I  feel  positive  that  if  the  people  of  the 
United  States  of  America  were  allowed  to  vote,  the  popular  candidate  would 
be  King  Albert  of  Belgium. 


104 


By   ROBERT   HICHENS 

The  End  of  Little  Belgium 

WHEN  war  began  and  the  German  army  appeared  before  the  forts  of  Liege, 

the  world  said,  "  This  will  be  the  end  of  little  Belgium."    There  was  deep 

pity  in  all  hearts,  but  with  it  was  mingled  a  certain  sense  of  the  impotence 

of  the  tiny  nation  confronted  by  the  brutal  might  of  Germany. 

I  heard  two  men  in  a  London  street  discussing  the  question  of  the  opening 

war  and  the  tragic  situation  of  the  Belgians.     One  of  them,  with  a  twist  of 

his  shoulders,  said,  "  What  on  earth  can  they  do  ?  "     The  other  man  replied, 

"  The  right  thing,  and  that's  what  they're  going  to  do." 

The  little  nation  had  decided.    The  guns  of  Liege  opened  fire.    "  The 

martyrdom  of  Belgium,"  as  it  has  been  called,  began.     Men,  women,  and 

even  children  were  slain.    Villages  and  cities  were  burned.    Thousands 

were  wounded  ;   tens  of  thousands  were  rendered  homeless. 

And  people  said,  "  Unhappy  Belgium  !  " 

Where  has  that  exclamation  not  been  uttered  ?    Even  in  Germany  it  has 

come  from  the  lips  of  Germans,  and  from  time  to  time  the  ruler  of  Germany 

sent  to  the  ruler  of  Belgium  suggestions  of  peace.    "  Haven't  you  had 

enough  of  doing  the  right  thing  ?  "     The  answer  was  "  No."     And  more 

human    beings   were    slain,   and   more   villages   were    burned,    and    more 

families  were  driven  out  homeless  and  starving  to  live  how  and  where  they 

could. 

But  people  said  no  more,  "  Unhappy  Belgium  !  " 

Strangely,  as  the  tragedy  deepened  and  darkened,  the  world  almost  ceased 

from  pitying.    "  Wonderful  Belgium  !  "  we  said.    And  the  days  and  the 

nights  went  by,  and  the  roar  of  battle  drew  nearer  to  our  coasts.     And 

still  the  Belgians  went  on  obstinately  doing  the  right  thing.     Antwerp 

fell. 

The  Belgian  army  avoided  capture  and  retreated.    All  that  "  was  left  of  it  " 

was  said  to  have  passed  into  France,  and  the  English  papers  announced 

that  it  would  "  rest  "  for  awhile  to  recover  spirit  and  strength  after  its 

terrible  trials  and  exertions. 

Not  many  hours  later  the  world  knew  that  it  was  still  in  Belgium,  attacking 

the  German  army  with  fierce  tenacity,  and  giving  splendid  help  to  the  AlUes. 

Its  King  was  with  it,  and  its  Queen  was  not  far  off. 

Since  then  people  speak  of  "  Glorious  Belgium  !  " 

The  pilgrimage  has  been  accomplished  and  the  peaks  have  been  gained. 

How  then  can  we  pity  Belgium  .'' 

I  went  among  the  crowds  of  refugees  at  Folkestone,  and  sat  in  the  midst 

of  sick  Belgian  soldiers.     I  talked  to  old  and  young,  to  non-combatants  and 

fighting  men,  and  I  gathered  from  my  experiences  a  dominant  impression, 

which  was  not  an  impression  of  despair.     Misery  of  the  body  there  was. 

But  the  far  deeper,  the  far  more  terrible  miser)'  of  the  soul  was  so  seldom 

apparent  that  it  could  not  be  said  with  truth,  "  This  is  a  nation  in  despair. 

This  is  s  ruined  nation." 

105 


The  simple  fact  is  that  through  all  this  tragedy  Belgium  has  been  upheld  by 
the  splendid  knowledge  that  "  little  Belgium  "  is  no  more.  When  the  first 
shot  was  fired  from  the  forts  of  Liege  a  little  nation  died,  but  a  nation  that 
is  great  was  born. 


i^^l^ 


By  JEAN   RICHEPIN 

Au  Peuple  Belge  et  a  son  Rot 

EN  place  de  la  fausse  grande  nation,  qui  pretendait  asservir  toutes  les  autres 
et  les  modeler  a  I'image  de  ses  cuistres  matines  de  tortionnaires,  c'est  toi, 
vaillant,  loyal,  genereux  et  sublime  petit  pays,  dont  il  faut  eriger  I'image  en 
exemple  a  tous  les  pays.  Peuple  dont  I'histoire  est  une  incessante  le9on 
de  labeur,  d'independance  et  d'heroisme  ;  peuple  dont  la  terre  est  la  plus 
peuplee  du  monde ;  peuple  oii  fleurissent  a  la  fois  toutes  les  cultures, 
materielles  et  morales,  I'industrie,  le  commerce,  les  arts,  les  lettres  ;  peuple 
des  belles  cathedrales,  des  splendides  hotels  de  ville,  des  musees  incom- 
parables  ;  peuple  comptant  parmi  ses  fils  le  poete  et  philosophe  Maeter- 
linck qui  vient  de  vouer  I'ame  allemande  a  I'extermination,  et  le  noble 
bourgmestre  Max  qui  tint  tete  a  Von  der  Goltz,  et  enfin  le  magnanime  Roi 
Albert,  qui  dort  dans  la  tranchee  apres  y  avoir  fait  le  coup  de  feu  avec  ses 
soldats,  le  Roi  Albert,  parfaite  incarnation  de  I'ame  beige ;  6  peuple  des 
bons  travailleurs,  des  grands  artistes,  des  braves  guerriers,  peuple  de  vrais 
hommes,  c'est  toi  qui  portes,  a  cette  heure  de  I'histoire,  dans  tes  poings  de 
martyr  et  de  heros,  le  palladium  de  I'Humanite. 


_/<I^V 


*^c-K./V/f  <:■ 


AjtIi-I/77:^ 


TRANSLATION 

To  the  Belgian  People  and  to  their  King, 
In  place  of  that  false  great  nation,  uhich  aspired  to 
subjugate  all  others  a?id  mould  them  in  the  image 
of  its  own  ideal — a  combination  of  pedant  and  in- 
quisitor— it  is  thine  image,  O  valiant,  loyal,  generous, 
und  sublime  little  land,  ichich  should  be  set  up  as  an 
example  to  all  other  countries.  People  tvhose  history 
is  a  perpetual  lesson  of  labour,  independence,  and 
heroism  ;  people  zvhose  country  is  the  most  densely 
populated  in  the  zvorld ;  people  among  ■zchom  ererv  kind 
of  culture,  material  and  moral,  flourishes  :  industry, 
commerce,    art,    and   letters ;    people    of  beautiful 


cathedrals,  of  splendid  toKn-halls,  of  incomparable 
museums ;  people  counting  among  your  sons  the 
poet  and  philosopher  Maeterlinck,  zcho  has  condemned 
the  German  spirit  to  extermination  ;  the  noble  Burgo- 
master Max,  who  held  out  against  Von  der  Goltz  ; 
and  lastly,  the  magnanimous  King  Albert,  zcho  sleeps 
in  the  trenches  after  fighting  in  them  with  his  soldiers. 
King  Albert,  the  perfect  incarnation  of  the  Belgian 
soul.  O  people  of  good  zcorkers,  of  great  artists,  of 
brave  warriors,  people  of  true  men,  it  is  vou  who  at 
this  hour  of  history  hear  the  palladium  of  Humanity 
in  your  martyred  and  heroic  hands. 


1 06 


By  ROMAIN   ROLLAND 

LA  Belgique  vient  d'ecrire  un  chant  d'epopee,  dont  les  echos  retentiront 
dans  les  siecles.  Comme  les  trois  cents  Spartiates  la  petite  armee  beige 
tenant  tete,  trois  mois,  au  colosse  germanique — Lcman — Leonidas — les 
Thermopyles  de  Liege — Louvain,  comme  Troie,  brulee — la  geste  du  Roi 
Albert  entoure  de  ses  preux — quelle  ampleur  legendaire  ont  deja  ces  figures 
que  I'histoire  n'a  pas  encore  fini  de  dessiner  !  L'heroi'sme  de  ce  peuple  qui 
s'est,  sans  une  plainte,  sacrifie  tout  entier  pour  sauver  son  honneur,  a  eclate 
comme  un  coup  de  tonnerre  en  im  temps  ou  I'esprit  de  I'Allemagne 
victorieuse  faisait  regner  sur  le  monde  la  conception  d'un  realisme  politique, 
lourdement  appuye  sur  la  force  et  I'interet.  Q'a  ete  une  liberation  de 
I'idealisme  opprime  de  I'Occidcnt.  Et  que  le  signal  ait  ete  donne  par  cette 
petite  nation  a  semble  un  miracle. 

Les  hommes  appellent  miracle  I'apparition  subite  d'une  realite  cachee, 
C'est  le  brusque  danger  qui  fait  le  mieux  connaitre  les  invidus  et  les  peuples. 
Combien  de  decouvertes  cette  guerre  nous  a  fait  faire  parmi  ceux  qui  nous 
entourent,  et  meme  parmi  ceux  qui  nous  touchent  de  plus  pres  !  Que  de 
coeurs  de  heros  et  que  de  betes  feroccs  !  L'ame  profondc  se  revelc — ce 
n'est  pas  une  ame  nouvclle. 

En  cette  heure  redoutable,  la  Belgique  a  vu  soudain  surgir  le  genie  cache 
de  sa  race.  La  valeur  qu'elle  a  montree,  dans  ces  trois  derniers  mois, 
frappe  d'admiration  ;  clle  nc  doit  pas  surprendre  qui  a  senti,  dans  I'histoire, 
couler  a  travers  le  temps  la  seve  abondantc  de  ce  peuple — petit  par  le  nombre 
et  I'espace— I'un  des  plus  grands  d'Europe  par  sa  vitalite  de  fleuve  debordant. 
L'heroi'sme  des  Beiges  d'aujourd'hui  est  le  meme  que  celui  des  Flamands 
de  Courtrai.  Les  hommes  de  cette  terre  n'ont  jamais  craint  d'afl^ronter 
leurs  puissants  voisins,  rois  de  France  ou  d'Espagne — tout  a  tour  heros  et 
victimes,  Arteveldc  et  Egmont.  Ce  sol  qu'a  detrempe  le  sang  de  millions 
de  combattants  est  le  plus  fecond  d'Europe  en  moissons  de  I'esprit.  C'est 
de  lui  qu'est  sorti  I'art  de  la  peinture  moderne,  que  I'ecole  des  Van  Eyck 
ravonna  sur  le  monde,  au  temps  de  la  Renaissance.  C'est  de  lui  qu'est 
sorti  I'art  de  la  musiquc  moderne,  dc  cette  polyphonic  qui  ruissela  sur  la 
France,  TAllemagnc  et  I'ltalie,  pendant  pres  de  deux  siecles.  C'est  de  lui 
qu'est  sortie  cette  superbe  floraison  poetique  d'aujourd'hui  ;  et  les  deux 
ecrivains  qui  represcntcnt  a  present  avec  le  plus  d'cclat  les  lettres  fran^aises 
dans  I'univers,  Maeterlinck  et  Verhaercn,  sont  fils  dc  la  Belgique.  C'est  le 
peuple  qui  a  le  plus  souffert  et  Ic  plus  vaillamment,  le  plus  gaiement  sup- 
porte,  le  peuple  martyr  de  Philippe  II  et  du  Kaiser  Wilhelm  ;  et  c'est  le 
peuple  de  Rubens,  le  peuple  des  Kermesses  et  de  Till  Ulenspiegel. 
Qui  connait  I'ctonnante  epopee,  qu'a  reprise  et  chantee  Charles  de  Coster, 
les  Avctiturcs  licroiqucs,  joyeuses  et  glorieuses  (V Ulenspiegel  et  de  Laimnc 
Goedjak,  ces  deux  gaillards  de  Flandre,  dignes  de  marcher  de  pair  avec 
I'immortel  Don  Quichotte  et  son  Sancho  Pan?a — qui  a  vu  a  I'cEuvre  cet 
indomptable  esprit,  rude  et  facetieux,  revoke  de  nature,  qui  fronde  toutes 
les  puissances,  qui  traverse  toutes  les  epreuves,  et  qui  en  sort   toujours, 

107 


guilleret  et  riant — celui-la  connait  aussi  les  destinees  du  peuple  qui  enfanta 

Ulenspiegel,  et  il  regarde  sans  crainte,  meme  aux  heures  les  plus  sombres, 

I'aurore  prochaine  des  jours  de  richesse  et  de  liesse. 

La  Belgique  pent  etre  envahie.     Le  peuple  beige  ne  sera  jamais  ni  conquis 

ni  soumis.     Le  peuple  beige  ne  peut  mourir. 

A  la  fin  du  recit  de  Till  Ulenspiegel,  alors  qu'on  le  croit  mort  et  qu'on  va 

I'enterrer,  il  se  reveille  : 

"  Est-ce  qu'on  enterre,  dit-il,  Ulenspiegel  V esprit,  Nele  le  cctiir  de  la  mere 
Flandre  ?  Dormir,  soit  ;  mais  mourir,  non  !    Viens,  Nele  !  " 
Et  il  par  tit  avec  elle,  en  chantant  sa  sixieme  chanson.    Mais  nul  ne  sait  oil 
il  chanta  sa  derniere.  i 


^  (/*"  &,\/v^ 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 
Belgium  has  just  written  an  Epic,  the  echoes  of  which 
will  resound  throughout  the  ages.  Like  the  three 
hundred  Spartans,  the  little  Belgian  army  holding  at 
bay  for  three  months  the  gigantic  hosts  of  Germatty  ; 
Leman — ■  Leonidas  ;  the  Thermopyla  of  Liege  ; 
Louvain,  burnt  like  Troy  ;  the  deeds  of  King  Albert 
surrounded  by  his  valiant  men  ;  zchat  legendary 
grandeur  already  encircles  these  figures,  whose 
tale  history  has  not  yet  completed !  The  heroism 
of  this  people  who,  without  a  murmur,  sacrificed 
everything  for  honour,  burst  like  a  thunderclap  upon 
us  at  a  time  when  the  spirit  of  victorious  Germany  zcas 
offering  to  the  world  a  co?iception  of  political  realism, 
resting  stolidly  on  force  and  self-interest .  It  was 
the  liberation  of  the  oppressed  idealism  of  the  West. 
And  it  seemed  a  miracle  that  the  signal  should  have 
been  given  by  this  little  ?iation. 

Men  call  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  hidden  reality 
a  miracle.  The  shock  of  danger  brings  out  the  true 
character  of  individuals  and  nations.  What  reve- 
lations this  war  has  made  in  those  around  us, 
aye,  even  among  those  nearest  and  dearest  to  ns  I 
What  heroic  hearts  and  what  savage  beasts  !  The 
inner  soul  reveals  itself.  It  is  no  7icw  soul. 
In  this  crucial  hour  Belgium  has  seen  the  hidden 
genius  of  her  race  suddenly  emerge.  The  courage 
that  she  has  shozcn  during  the  last  three  months  evokes 
admiration  ;  it  should  not  surprise  any  one  who,  in 
the  pages  of  history,  has  felt  the  vigorous  sap  of  her 
people  flowing  through  the  ages.  Small  in  space  and 
numbers,  she  is  one  of  the  greatest  nations  in  Europe 
in  her  abounding  vitality.  The  heroism  of  the 
Belgians  of  to-day  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Flemings 
of  Courtrai.  The  men  of  that  province  fiever  feared 
to  oppose  their  pozverful  neighbours,  the  Kings  of 
France  or  Spain — now  heroes  and  now  victims, 
Arteveldes  or  Egmonts.  Their  soil,  watered  by  the 
blood  of  millions  of  warriors,  is  the  most  fertile  in 
Europe  in  the  harvests  of  the  soul.     From  it  sprang 


the  art  of  modern  painting,  which  the  school  of  the 
Van  Eycks  spread  throughout  the  world  at  the  time 
of  the  Renaissance,  and  the  art  of  tnodern  music,  of 
that  polyphony  which  thrilled  through  France, 
Germany,  and  Italy  for  nearly  two  centuries.  It  has 
given  tis  the  great  poetic  efflorescence  of  our  times  ; 
and  the  tzoo  writers  who  most  briUiantly  represent 
French  literature  in  the  ivorld,  Maeterlinck  and 
Verhaeren,  are  sons  of  Belgium.  They  are  the 
people  who  have  suffered  most  and  have  borne  their 
sufferings  most  bravely  and  cheerfully  ;  the  Martyr- 
Nation  of  Philip  II  and  of  Kaiser  Wilhelm  ;  and 
they  are  the  people  of  Rubens,  the  people  of  Kermesses 
arid  of  Till  Ulenspiegel. 

He  who  knows  that  amazing  epic  re-told  and  sung  by 
Charles  de  Coster  :  The  heroic,  joyous,  and  glorious 
adventures  of  Ulenspiegel  and  Lamme  Goedjak, 
those  two  Flemish  worthies  who  might  take  their 
places  side  by  side  with  the  immortal  Don  Quixote 
and  his  Sancho  Panza — he  who  has  seen  that 
dauntless  spirit  at  work,  rough  and  facetious,  rebel- 
lious in  grain,  always  in  opposition  to  established 
powers,  accepting  all  hardships  and  emerging  from 
them  gay  and  s?niling — believes  in  the  future  destinies 
of  the  nation  that  gave  birth  to  Ulenspiegel,  and  even 
in  the  darkest  hours  will  fearlessly  await  the  approach- 
ing dawn  of  great  and  happy  days. 
Belgium  may  be  invaded.  The  Belgian  people  mil 
never  be  conquered  nor  crushed.  The  Belgian  people 
cannot  die. 

At  the  end  of  the  story  of  Till  Ulenspiegel,  when  they 
think  he  is  dead,  and  are  going  to  bury  him,  he  wakes 
up: 

"  Are  they  going  to  bury  Ulenspiegel  the  soul, 
Nele,  the  heart  of  Mother  Flanders  ?  Sleep, 
perhaps  ;  but  die,  no  !  Come,  Nele,"  said  he. 
And  he  departed  with  her,  singing  his  sixth 
song.  But  no  one  knows  where  he  saag  iiib 
last. 


1 08 


By  AUSTIN   DOBSON 
To  Belgium 

For  Right  not  Might  you  fought.     The  foe. 
Checked  in  his  zcild  World-over  throw, 

Ravaged,  with  his  remorseless  band. 

Your  ancient  fanes  and  peaceful  land, 
Thinking  to  crush  you  at  a  bloiv  ! 

You  are  not  crushed — as  well  we  hiow. 
If  you  are  trodden,  'tis  to  grow  ; 

Nor  shall  they  fail  at  last  who  stand 
For  Right,  not  Might  ! 

God  speed  you,  Belgium  !     Time  zcill  show 
How  large  a  debt  to  You  we  owe  ; 

To  You,  through  all  reverses  grand — 
Me?i  stretch  to-day  a  grateful  hand  : 
God  speed  you  still — in  weal  and  woe — 

For  Right,  not  Might  !  Z^^^^^^'^^— 


By  EDWARD   CARPENTER 

To  the  Land  and  People  of  Belgium 

AFTER  all,  dear  Land  and  People  of  Belgium,  do  not  be  dismayed  by  all 

this  that  has  come  upon  you,  but  have  good  courage  and  hope  for  the  future. 

Mad  violence  and  monstrous  warfare  may  truly  have  damaged  and  crippled 

your  body  ;   but  they  have  not  destroyed,  and  I  do  not  think  that  they  will 

destroy,  your  soul.     Perhaps  indeed  your  Spirit  will  rise  all  the  clearer  and 

more  commanding  out  of  this  great  fire  of  suffering. 

If  being  small  and  without  material  power  you  have  by  your  devoted 

solidarity  and  democratic  courage  drawn  the  admiration  and  respect  of  all 

the  peoples  of  the  earth,  you  have  already  in  so  doing  inspired  us  with  an 

idea  which   perhaps  neither  the  science  of  Germany  nor  the  wealth   of 

England  nor  the  genius  of  France  nor  the  vast  resources  of  Russia  could 

alone  have  won  for  us — the  belief  that  the  power  which  ultimately  rules  the 

world  proceeds  from  the  generosity  of  a  nation's  heart  rather  than  from 

the  force  of  its  armament. 

It  may  be  that  this  belief,  born  of  your  act  of  devotion  and  heroism,  will 

one  day  become  the  salvation  of  Europe,  and  bring  to  its  distracted  peoples 

— instead  of  endless  violence  and  jealousies — the  gift  of  true  culture  and 

fraternity. 

109 


BY  THE  LAKE 

Poem  by  Ethel  Clifford.  SONG  Music  by  LizaLehmann. 

To  be  sung  by  Madame-Clara  Butt 


Lento 


^ 


^^i5 


mi 


f    7 


^ 


\Ai 


P 


P 


Voic 


My  son  my  little       son 


we  two  will  rest    Beside  the  water  red  in  sunset 


p  tranquillo  e  do 
Pia-TLdi  forte' 


')■%  r  f 


\()Jcrte\ 


^ 


dad 


i^ 


^ 


1^- 


^ 


J- 


i^ 


i 


25^? 


^ 


^ 


2^ 


a 


^^i^ * L^E ^E ^:lt — * '-<t JL   ■     '•         * '•      -g  *  La- ^        'JL     .^ 


^ 


^ 


Andwa^chthe_^eig  fade  .—^  i*  thel^ef-QW j''^.y  jU^uJellsJ-^^^^!!^ 


a»m^^^^ 


love    Andliavingchosen.tilltheendbetrue.         So  shall  one       woman  put  of  all  the  world     Keep  faith    in 


^ 


^ 


^ 


rv.^ 


«^ 


^       v^ 


to 


-J  *1  J 


a  ape  o     tcresc 


esc     I 


T 


3^ 


^cresc     I      , 


T 


TT" 


^ 

il 


5 


^ 


i'J''J|JJjjij  v:i 


poco  accell     rait      rT\        l/"  '"^  1'^  ^^ 


J    .■-|-ry.m,Uj.'i^.')^ 


man 


by     keep  -  ing     faith      in       yovL 


^ 


THe 


world  savsProimse  little    &  tio 


:_j4^1Je^- 


i'  ••  :£ 


r^ 


^ 


? 


*l    '        I 


"ff^T 


^ 


f 


^ 


p]c3^"^i<ji//' 


^fiOf"/ 


co//a  i/oce 


^ 


¥^ 


VrrS^i=^^-^ 


=^ 


■  j-i^r  .-I  >i  >i  'I  c^— ^    >|  •> 

«/ >|  piu  moaao  marcaw  AsMt    crescmolto 


.     ,     ^ «/  >|  piu  moaso  mi 


i 


thought  of  faithunfaithf  ill  holdsyou  from   jour        ""sleep 


So.,  rots  the  world-    So       rots  the  world .  yf^ 

■^piu  mosso  I  1      ,  '^'y 


^  ^  T  ,t.  ^S^t^A^,^  1  fll^ll.g 


mgrendo 


heart Abovevourhead  my  bnxxiingthou^stMll*'*^-""- 


|weave^?     ^'^'^  ■s'^~^>:~,   "^f    dreams. 


^^ 


n 


M 


1*=* 


morendo 


^^  ^^  M 


^^  ^  ^ 


■o- 
a 


Cc\  < 


■^-Z. 


-«_A.-*.-«-«-\ 


By  MISS   BRADDON 

WHAT  can  I  say  of  Albert,  the  King  ?  What  can  I  think  of  him,  except 
what  we  are  all  saying  in  these  dreadful  hours,  except  what  we  are  all  think- 
ing, with  thoughts  too  deep  for  tears  ?  To  whom  can  we  compare  him  ? 
He  has  no  parallel  in  the  story  of  the  nations,  no  parallel  in  Romance  or 
Legend.  He  stands  alone  on  a  hideous  page  of  the  world's  history,  and 
will  so  stand  till  the  last  hour  of  recorded  time,  sublime  and  adorable,  with 
the  halo  of  saints  and  martyrs  round  his  head. 


By  WILLIAM   DEAN   HOWELLS 

THE  proposed  tribute  is  part  of  the  debt  of  honour  and  reverence  which  is 
due  from  the  whole  world  to  that  most  nobly  heroic  people  and  the  Prince 
who  has  shown  himself  worthy  of  them.  The  tragedy  of  their  great  little 
land  is  of  a  pathos  matchless  in  the  history  of  the  past  ;  and  in  the  future 
when,  as  we  all  hope,  the  militar}^  spirit  of  Germany  shall  be  brought  low, 
I  believe  the  Germans  themselves  will  share  our  horror  of  the  ruin  they 
have  wrought  among  its  homes  and  shrines. 

By  SIR  H.   RIDER  HAGGARD 

THE  desolation  of  Belgium  is  perhaps  the  most  appalling  world-crime 
since  the  wrecking  of  the  Netherlands  by  Alva.  That  iniquity  was  followed 
by  the  decay  of  Spain  while,  in  the  end,  Holland  recovered  and  grew  great 
in  freedom.  It  may  well  be  that  the  eternal  laws  of  Justice  shall  work  in 
such  fashion  that  a  like  judgment  will  fall  upon  the  proud  head  of  Germany 
and  that  a  like  triumph  awaits  her  victim.  .^ 

By  WTLLIAM  ARCHER 

The  Big  and  the  Great 

When  they  to  History^ s  judgment-seat  shall  cojne. 

Which  zvill  shine  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  men, 
Huge  Germany  or  heroic  BELGIUM  ? 

Which  will  be  hailed  Great,  Wilhehn  or  ALBERT,  then  ? 


riMxC\rr^    vX\A_yK 


v\ 


By   ROBERT  W.   CHAMBERS 

By  Cable 

GOD  bless  Belgium  and  the  Allies  !  They  fight  for  decency  and  civiHsation. 

112 


By  WILLIAM   DE  MORGAN 

A  Visit  to  Louvain 

FIFTY  years  ago  !    And  I  who  write  this  had  never  been  out  of  England, 

though  I  was  a  quarter  of  a  century  old  ! 

I  decided  to  go,  on  an  impulse.     In  those  days  the  Baron  Osy  went  from 

London  Bridge  to  Antwerp.    Antwerp  was  on  the  Continent  and  would  do 

— so  I  went  on  board  the  Baron  Osy.    I  remember  lying  on  deck  all  night 

looking  up  at  the  sky.     For  it  was  meteor  night  in  August,  and  phenomena 

were  doing  themselves  credit,  astronomically. 

I  fell  asleep  and  woke  in  the  dawn,  to  find  the  banks  of  the  Scheldt  sliding 

past  us,  and  the  river  outstripping  the  banks.    Then,  Antwerp.     I  went 

to  an  inn  on  the  quay.    The  keeper  thereof  w^as  an  Englishman  who  had 

invented  a  saxhorn.    He  had  a  low  opinion  of  the  Continent,  but  gave  me 

very  good  boiled  beef. 

Next  day  I  proceeded  to  sample  Flanders.     I  can't  say  which  town  I  tasted 

first.  But  I  remember  being  in  Bruges,  Ghent,  Oudenarde,  Malines,  Louvain, 

and  Ypres.    I  have  now  the  most  vivid  remembrance  of  Bruges,  Oudenarde, 

and  Louvain. 

Especially  the  last.     For  the  hotel  where  I  stayed  was  close  by  the  old 

Town  Hall,  and  the  carillon  sounded  the  hours  and  quarters  all  through 

the  night.    Every  hour  it  played  through 

Void  le  sabre,  le  sabre,  le  sabre. 
Void  le  sabre,  le  sabre  de  mon  pere, 

and,  at  each  quarter,  took  an  instalment  ;  at  the  rate  of  a  sabre  for  the  first 
quarter,  two  for  the  half-hour,  and  the  whole  line  for  the  three-quarters. 
The  night  was  hot,  and  I  could  not  stand  the  windows  shut — so  I  got  very 
little  sleep. 

Next  day  I  schemed  causerie,  based  on  this,  with  my  delightful  hostess  below. 
It  was  an  opportunity  to  practise  my  French. 

"  Je  ne  poovay  par  dormir  parceque  du  song  des  cloches.  lis  songt  assez 
pour  eveiller  les  morts." 

"  Plait-il  ?  Dites-le-moi  encore  une  fois.  Ze  bell  week  you  up  ?  Ees  that 
ride  ?  " 

I  felt  my  forces  demoralised,  and  merely  answered :  "  We  !  " 
Marie — she  was  Marie — turned  to  a  clean  old  fossil,  like  a  Van  Eyck  portrait, 
and  said  :  "  Eh — grand'mere,  ecoutez-^a  !  M'sieu  n'a  pas  pu  dormir.  II 
entend  toujours  les  cloches  du  carillon."  To  which  the  old  lady,  after 
hearing  it  a  second  time,  louder,  said  :  "  Eh,  mon  Dieu  !  " 
I  adventured  yet  a  little  more  into  French  speech,  saying  :  "  II  me  prendrait 
beaucoup  de  temps  a  m'accoutumer  ..."  and  stuck.  But  Marie  helped 
me  out,  saying  :  "  A  vous  y  accoutumer  ?  Oui  vraiment  !  Mais  ici  on 
entend  la  carillon  des  sa  naissance — ^^jusqu'a  la  mort.  Je  suis  nee  dans  la 
maison,  moi  ;  grand'mere  aussi.     S'il  n'y  avait  plus  carillon,  il  n'y  aurait 

"3 


plus  sommeil,  ni  pour  elle,  ni  pour  moi."  At  least  I  think  that  is  what 
came  through  those  white  teeth,  or  very  near  it,  fifty  years  ago. 
And  Marie  may  be  turned  of  seventy  if  .  .  .  Well ! — if  German  Culture 
has  spared  her.  But  neither  she  nor  any  other  Louvainoise  will  ever 
sleep  the  better  now  for  the  music  of  the  bells,  nor  any  guest  of  hers  be 
kept  awake  an  hour.  For  the  old  hostelry',  I  take  it,  is  a  heap  of  ashes, 
and  the  sound  of  the  carillon  is  ended  for  ever.        . 

By  PROFESSOR  W.  J.  ASHLEY 

BEFORE  this  fateful  year  the  cities  of  Belgium  had  already  done  great 
things  for  humanity.  The  man  who  could  pass  across  the  market-place 
from  the  statue  of  Van  Artevelde,  the  artisans'  hero  of  the  Middle  Ages,  to 
the  home  of  Vooriiit,  that  noble  working-class  undertaking  of  to-day,  without 
a  touch  of  emotion,  must  have  been  of  sluggish  imagination.  No  one, 
again,  who  knew  how  Ypres,  in  the  age  of  the  Renaissance,  taught  the  whole 
western  world  to  reform  its  treatment  of  the  poor,  could  look  without 
profound  respect  at  the  commemorative  fresco  in  its  Cloth  Hall.  Originality 
of  social  insight  is  still  alive  in  the  land  ;  for  it  was  from  Ghent  that  the 
modern  State  learned  in  recent  years  to  think  out  practicable  measures  of 
insurance  against  unemployment. 

It  was  with  thoughts  like  these — fresh,  also,  from  the  reading  of  Quetelet, 
the  organiser  and  inspirer  of  social  statistics — that  I  went  for  my  holiday  in 
Belgium,  a  week  before  the  war.  I  could  not  but  reflect  that  it  is  not  to  the 
great  States  alone,  with  their  vast  scientific  and  administrative  apparatus, 
that  the  student  of  social  conditions  must  look  for  example  and  guidance. 
And  with  me  I  took  one  of  the  volumes  of  Pirenne,  an  historical  scholar  of 
whom  any  country  might  well  be  proud,  and  read  how  Belgium  had  grown 
into  unity  under  the  House  of  Burgundy,  and  how,  through  the  harsh 
experience  of  centuries,  had  been  developed  the  soul  of  a  nation.  I  was 
idly  wondering  whether  indeed  this  was  so,  and  whether  Belgium  would 
ever  have  an  opportunity  to  assert  and  display  its  essential  independence, 
when  the  mobilisation  came.  Eet  me  confess — I  do  it  with  humility — I 
could  not  at  first  take  it  seriously.  I  knew  there  had  for  some  time  been  a 
military  party  in  Germany  which  talked  of  marching  into  France  through 
Belgium  ;  but  I  was  confident  German  statesmanship  would  keep  this 
party  in  check.  Germany  could  never  be  so  unwise,  I  thought,  as  to  put 
itself  in  the  wrong  with  the  world  by  infringing  Belgian  neutrality.  But 
I  was  blinded  by  partiality.  The  little  country  was  only  too  well  justified 
in  arming  itself  against  the  giant.  And  with  tragic  rapidity,  also,  events 
showed  how  entirely  right  Pirenne  had  been  :  that  out  of  different  races, 
Romance  and  Teutonic,  combining  the  characteristics  of  opposing  peoples, 
had  been  created  a  strong  and  self-reliant  individuality  among  the  nations, 
determined  to  be  master  in  its  own  house,  ready  to  risk  everything  to  be 
itself. 
114 


By  HENRI   LAVEDAN 
King  Albert 

LE  Roi  Albert  est  la  plus  grande  figure  du  temps  present.     II  possede 
rimmortalite  sans  avoir  cu  bcsoin  dc  mourir  et  en  y  etant  toujours  pret. 
Devenu  commemoratif  en  un  jour  dc  sainte  revoke,  il  a  conquis,  de  son 
vivant,  la  suprematie  de  la  statue.    Le  marbre  et  le  bronze,  animes,  sont 
en  lui,  et  I'ombre  du  laurier  ne  quitte  pas  son  front. 

Son  nom,  quand  on  le  prononce,  le  place  aussitot  dcbout  sur  un  socle  ou 
I'exhausse  au  sommet  d'une  colonne. 

II  domine.  On  le  voit  de  partout,  de  tous  les  horizons,  parmi  les  embrase- 
ments  de  la  guerre,  et  au-dessus. 

Pur  et  beau  comme  une  idee,  fort  et  doux  comme  une  foi,  calme  et  ardent 
comme  une  volonte,  grave  comme  une  religion,  dignc  comme  un  devoir, 
muet  comme  un  chef,  sachant  sc  taire,  surtout  dans  le  bruit,  et  puis  parler 
pour  dire  les  seuls  mots  decisifs  qui  sont  les  commandements  du  Droit  et 
la  consigne  de  I'Honneur,  personnage  Shakespearicn  d'histoire  et  de  legende, 
de  reve  et  de  realite,  de  flamme  et  de  melancholic,  d'epopee  et  de  poesie, 
prince  errant  et  confiant,  cavalier  dc  la  sublime  Croisade  qui  va,  le  long  des 
dunes  de  I'exil,  sans  meme  chercher  a  deviner  ou  Dieu  le  conduit  par  la 
bride  .  .  .  roi-chevalier,  roi-paladin,  roi  simple-soldat  qui  n'a  plus  que  son 
pcuple  epars  et  son  armee  enlambeaux,roi  sans  royaume  enfin.  .  .  .  Albert 
sans-terre,  Albert  de  Belgique  et  de  France  est  a  cette  heure  cependant  le 
plus  fameux,  le  plus  aime,  le  plus  puissant  des  rois,  car  c'cst  sur  nos  esprits 
et  sur  nos  coeurs  transportes  de  reconnaissance  qu'il  regtie,  d'une  fa^on 
absolue,  et  qu'il  etend  son  magique  pouvoir.  Voila  son  empire,  spirituel 
et  moral,  indestructible  et  sans  Hmites,celui  que  Ton  ne  pent  pas  lui  enlever 
et  qui  lui  restera,  meme  apres  qu'avec  notre  aide  il  aura  regagne  et  agrandi 
— I'autre,  son  terrestre  royaume. 

Qu'a-t-il  a  faire  d'ailleurs,  pour  le  moment,  de  trone  et  de  palais  ?  Partout 
oil  il  passe,  il  est  c/icz  lui,  re^u,  salue  par  I'amour  et  le  respect  des  nations 
civilisees,  fieres  de  I'accueillir.  Tous  ceux  dont  il  a  embrasse  le  premier 
la  cause  commune,  se  regardent  comme  les  fideles  sujets  de  la  IVlajestc, 
deux  fois  sacree, 

II  a  pour  sceptre  son  epee  sans  tache,  il  est  le  Heros  dont  la  tete  nue  et  libre 
dans  la  bataille  depassc  soudain  la  couronne  pour  appartenir  a  retoilc  ! 
Vive  a  jamais  Albert  V\  notre  sauveur,  monarque  admirable  et  douloureux, 
tout  resplendissant  d'ideal  !  ^ 

TR  AX  SLAT  JOS 

King  Albert  is  the  greatest  figure  of  the  time.     lie  The  very  mention  of  his  name  e-cokes  him  standing 

has    achieved    immortality    without    dying,    and   by  on  a  pedestal,  or  exalted  to  the  summit  of  a  cohimn. 

being  aluaxs  readv  to  die.  He  dominates   the  scene.     We  see  him  nrryu-hcre. 

Commemorating  as  he  does  a  day  of  holy  revolt,  he  from  all  horizons,  amidst  and  above  the  smoke  and 

has  Kon  the  supremacy  of  the  statue  while  still  living,  flame  of  war. 

Marble  and  bronze  have   awakened   to  life  in  him.  Pure  and  beautiful  as  an  idea,  strong  and  gentle  as 

and  the  shadow  of  the  laurel  wreath  is  always  on  his  faith,  steadfast  and  ardent  as  xiill,  grave  as  religion, 

brow.  dignified  us  duty,  taciturn  as  a  chieftain,  knowing 


how  to  keep  silence,  especially  in  tumult,  and  then 
hcno  to  speak  the  decisive  words  zchich  are  the  com- 
mands of  Right  and  the  countersign  of  Honour ; 
Shakespearean  figure  of  history  a?id  legend,  dream 
and  reality,  fire  and  melancholy,  epic  and  poem — 
wandering  and  trustful  Prince,  horseman  of  a  sublime 
crusade,  advancing  on  the  dunes  of  exile,  asking  not 
whither  God  is  leading  him  by  the  bridle — knight- 
king,  paladin-king,  plain  soldier-king,  who  possesses 
nothing  but  his  shattered  army,  and  his  flying  people 
— this  King  without  a  kingdom,  Albert  Lackland, 
Albert  of  Belgium  and  of  France,  is  at  present  the 
most  fatuous,  the  best  beloved,  the  most  mighty  of 
kings,  for  he  reigns,  an  absolute  monarch,  and  holds 
magic  sway  over  our  grateful  hearts.  This  is  his 
empire,     spiritual    and   moral,    indestructible    and 


limitless,  a  domain  that  cannot  be  taken  from  him, 
and  that  he  zci/l  hold  even  after  he  has  re- 
gained and  extended  his  terrestrial  kingdom  with  our 
help. 

what  need  has  he  at  the  moment  of  throne  or  palace  ? 
Wherever  he  passes,  he  is  at  home,  received  and 
saluted  by  the  love  and  respect  of  civilised  nations, 
proud  to  greet  him  as  their  guest.  All  those  whose 
common  cause  he  was  the  first  to  defend,  look  upon 
themselves  as  the  faithful  subjects  of  his  twice  sacred 
Majesty. 

His  sceptre  is  his  untarnished  sword  ;  he  is  the  Hero 
whose  free,  bare  head  in  battle  towers  above  the 
crown  and  touches  the  stars. 

Long  live  King  Albert  I,  our  saviour,  admirable  and 
suffering  King,  magnificent  in  his  idealism  J 


By   SARAH   BERNHARDT 

VIVE  le  Roi  Albert  !  Heros  pur  !   Martyr  de  la  foi  juree  !    II  s'est  avance, 

suivi  de  son  tout  petit  peuple— si  grand  !  au  devant  de  la  horde  innombrable 

des  Barbares. 

Refusant  tous  les  dons,  rejetant  toutes  les  promesses,  impassible  a  toutes 

les  menaces  ;  des  jours  et  des  nuits  il  a  tenu  en  echec  les  forbans  allemands. 

Jamais    la  France  ne  pourra  oublier  sa  dette  de  reconnaissance.     Mais 

I'heure  du  triomphe  approche  ;    et  la  Victoire  qui  tient  dans  ses  mains 

glorieuses  la  balance  de  la  Justice  donnera  au  Roi  Albert  et  a  son  vaillant 

peuple  une  large  part  de  territoire  allemand. 

Et  les  peuples  germains  soumis  aux  beiges  apprendront  enfin  ce  que  sont 

I'honneur  et  I'humanite. 

TRANSLATION 

Long  live  Kitig  Albert  !    Spotless  hero  1    Martyr  to 
his  plighted  faith  !  He  went  forth ,  followed  by  all  his 
little   people — the  little  people  that  is  so  great  ! — to 
meet   the  itmumerable  hosts  of  the  Barbarians. 
Refusing  all  gifts,  rejecting  all  promises,  dauntless  in 
the  face  of  threats,  for  days  a?id  nights  he  held  the 
German  freebooters  in  check.     Never  will  France  for- 
get her  debt  of  gratitude  I    But  the  hour  of  triumph 
approaches  ;    and  Victory,  who  holds  the  scales  of 
Justice  in  her  glorious  hands,  will  give  King  Albert 
and   his   valiant  people   a   large   share   of  German 
territory. 

Thus  Germans  under  the  rule  of  Belgium  will  at  last 
learn  something  of  honour  and  huwMtdty. 


j£4   *-^^^^^^<^<— -^ 


By   SIR   F.   C.   BURNAND 

I  AM  deeply  grateful  for  this  opportunity  of  expressing  my  heartfelt  sym^ 
pathy  with  King  Albert,  his  brave  soldiers,  and  his  undaunted  people,  in 
this  time  of  fearful  trial. 


7r<f-  9, 


ii6 


By  ADMIRAL   SIR   JOHN   JELLICOE 

A  Message  from  the  Grand  Fleet 

H.M.S.  Iron  Duke, 
October  29,  19 14 

I  HAVE  much  pleasure  in  sending  a  message  from  the  Grand  Fleet.     It 

is  this  : 

That  even  as  Belgium  has  shown  her  heroism  in  deeds,  zvhile  her  sufferiyigs 
are  too  bitter  to  express  in  zcords,  so  those  of  the  Grand  Fleet  trust  to 
show  their  sympathy  in  deeds,  knozving  that  silence  becomes  them  best  at 
all  times.  ^ 


By   SIR   EDWARD   RUSSELL 

SMALL  countries  have  great  ideals.  Yet  the  grandeur  of  the  Belgian  ideal 
has  been  a  surprise  to  the  world.  It  has  arrested  universal  attention.  It 
has  inspired  universal  admiration. 

The  Belgians  always  enjoyed  the  respect  of  other  peoples.  But  no  nation 
can  absolutely  avert  the  influences  upon  it,  or  avoid  the  diversions  of  its 
course,  which  come  of  associations  imposed  by  dominant  personalities, 
and  by  compelling  events.  So  it  happened  that  Belgium,  though  secure  in 
its  constitutional  liberties  and  zealous  in  the  exercise  of  them,  encountered 
moral  and  political  difficulties  ;  had  to  face  awkward  exigencies  of  ad- 
ministration and  policy  ;  and  did  not  create  for  her  future  expectations  of 
heroism  or  of  higher  excellence  than  commercial  enterprise  and  probity. 
Then,  without  warning,  came  the  temptation,  cynical  and  alluring,  of  the 
Berlin  Satan.  Belgium  rang  true.  She  repelled  the  tempter.  She  scorned 
the  bait.  She  elected  martyrdom — martyrdom  not  merely  for  political 
theor}%  not  at  all  for  any  projects  or  aims  of  material  well-being — martyrdom 
for  national  honour  and  for  international  right.  Thus,  at  the  touch  of  a 
tragic  exigency  wickedly  created,  sprang  into  being  a  magnificent  conscience 
void  of  offence  before  God  and  man,  and  an  enthusiasm  for  heroic  life  and 
struggle  and  sacrifice,  which  glorified  every  Belgian  with  the  noblest  glory  ; 
from  the  harassed  King,  more  than  sharing  the  troubles  of  his  subjects, 
to  the  poorest  peasant,  driven  by  the  villainy  of  unscrupulous  and  oppressive 
hostility  to  the  loss  of  his  all  and  to  the  anxious  miseries  of  impoverished 
and  forlorn  exile. 

A  wonderful  expansion  of  traditional  sympathy  and  appreciation  has  been 
experienced  by  the  British  nation  in  presence  of  this  noble  spectacle. 
Touching  memories  distinguish  with  a  new  and  rare  quality  of  homage  the 
accession  of  faith  in  Belgium  which  Belgian  conduct — finer  than  any  possible 
professions — has  produced  in  our  people. 

Leopold  the  First,  husband  of  a  darling  English  princess,  grandfather  of 
Albert,  King  of  the  Belgians,  who  is  worthy  of  him,  was  the  Nestor  of 
Europe,  the  counsellor  of  Queen  Victoria.     There  were  few  problems  his 

n"  117 


sagacity  could  not  solve — solve  w^ith  honour,  with  dignity.  But  he  never 
had  to  confront  a  problem  such  as  has  been  solved  by  his  grandson  and  like- 
minded  statesmen  and  subjects.  The  solution  has  been  simple  honesty 
and  valour,  rising  from  the  level  of  mere  State  prudence  into  the  empyrean 
of  highest  enthusiasm  and  virtue. 

When  Belgium  was  threatened  once  before,  Mr.  Gladstone,  wielding  as  he 
then  did  almost  absolutely  the  might  of  Britain,  stood  by  her  side  as  an 
honoured  and  honourably  protected  small  State.  But  that  seemed  essen- 
tially an  act  of  British  power  and  rectitude — the  conscious  fulfilment  of  a 
grand  pledge  of  redemption. 

Now,  the  sentiment  of  the  situation  is  different — an  interesting  contrast — 
harmonious  but  in  another  scheme  and  key  of  harmony.  Britain  indeed  has 
been  as  true  as  her  great  statesman  declared  she  would  be  to  the  little 
kingdom  ;  but  the  kingdom,  diminutive  in  size,  has  shown  itself  colossal 
in  strenuous  honour  and  public  virtue. 

Belgium  passes  into  history  a  splendid  paragon  of  ideal  and  agonised 
heroism — heroism  for  world-wide  right  as  well  as  a  heroism  of  patriotism — 
a  heroism  devoted  to  the  purgation  of  power  from  the  curse  and  blight  of 
sinister  aggression,  of  sanguinary  rapine,  of  domineering  usurpation. 


By  WALTER  CRANE 

To  Belgium 

We  measure  not  in  numbers  or  in  land 
The  greatness  of  a  people^  hut  the  test 
Is  in  the  hour  oj  peril,  when  they  breast 
Hard  strokes  oj  fate,  and  dauntlessly  zvithstand 
A  strong  and  ruthless  foe,  whose  annoured  hand. 
Foresworn,  is  stretched  to  smite  and  seize  their  best, 
Spoiling  a  bleeding  country,  sore  distrest. 
Laid  waste  by  ravagers  with  flaming  brand. 

Through  blood  and  tears,  from  noble  cities  razed, 
Shines  Belgium's  najne  nnvanquished,  brave  ana  clear, 
Resplendent  writ  in  Honour's  runes  of  gold. 

Who  stood  for  Faith  and  Freedom  unamazed, 
Defending  Right,  without  reproach  or  fear. 
As  kindred  zvith  the  hero-race  of  old. 

ii8 


By  ALFRED   CAPUS 

ON  prend  une  idee  tres  juste  de  la  valeur  et  de  la  noblesse  d'Albert  F% 

Roi  des  Beiges, si  on  le  compare  a  Guillaume  II.    Le  plus  effroyable  carnage 

des  temps  modernes,  la  bataille  de  I'Yser,  nous  en  fournit  I'occasion. 

L'Empereur  d'Allemagne,  c'est  le  tragedien  sinistre — qiialis  artijex  pereo, 

a  dit  un  de  ses  pairs — qui  de  son  estrade  a  jete  a  ses  soldats  I'ordre  de  mourir 

jusqu'au  dernier,  afin  d'assurer  le  succes  du  dernier  drame  sorti  de  son 

imagination,  La  Prise  de  Calais. 

Le  Kaiser  ne  recule  devant  aucun  massacre  pour  n'etre  pas  siffle  par  son 

peuple.    Mais  nous  avons  I'ardente  conviction  que  tout  ce  sanglant  cabotin- 

age  finira  dans  la  malediction  et  les  huees. 

Quel  contraste  avec  I'autre  rive  de  I'Yser  !    Ici,  pas  de  maitre  donnant  a 

ses  sujets  des  ordres  de  mort.     C'est  un  Roi  a  la  tete  de  son  armee,  un  chef 

de  race. 

L'histoire  les  confrontera  tous  les  deux  :    le  puissant  Kaiser  qui  conduit 

quatre  millions  de  soldats  a  la  curee,  et  le  jeune  Roi  vaincu  a  qui  il  ne  reste 

plus  sur  le  sol  de  son  pays  que  la  place  de  dresser  sa  tente. 

Mais  deja  I'un  et  I'autre  on  pent  les  mesurer,  tant  les  evenements  les  eclairent 

d'une  tragique  lueur.     Le  premier  a  fait  pietiner  par  ses  chevaux  une  fiere 

et  pacifique  nation.     Dans  sa  rage  de  n'avoir  pu  la  dompter,  il  en  arrive  aux 

plus  monstrueux  efforts  et  il  espere  encore  une  fois  faire  trembler  le  monde 

avec  ses  derniers  gestes  de  fureur. 

Rien  que  de  simple,  au  contraire,  d'aise,  d'humain,  chez  le  jeune  Roi  de 

Belgique.    Admirable  et  claire  figure  qui  a  surgi  tout  a  coup  dans  cette  crise 

pathetique  de  la  civilisation  pour  incarner  I'idee  de  patrie,  la  Justice  et  le 

Droit  !  Et  on  dirait  que  le  destin  s'est  plu  a  la  modeler  en  grace  et  en  noblesse 

afin  de  I'opposer  aux  traits  rudes  et  au  rictus  des  barbares. 

TRANSLATION 

A  very  true  idea  of  the  worth  and  nobility  of  Albert  I,  History  will  confront  these  two  :   the  mighty  Kaiser 

King  of  the  Belgians,  may  be  gathered  by  comparing  leading  his  four  million  soldiers  to  slaughter _  and  the 

him   to    William  II.     The  most  frightful  carnage  of  youjig  conquered  King,  who  has  nothing  left  of  his 

modern  times,  the  Battle  of  the   Yser,  gives  us  the  country  save  the  spot  on  zchich  his  tent  is  pitched, 

opportunity.  But  their  measure  may  be  already  taken,  so  clearly 

The  Emperor  of  Germany  is  the  sinister  tragedian —  have  events  shed  their   tragic  light  on   them.     The 

qualis  artifex  pereo,  as  one  of  his  peers  said — who  first  has  trampled  underfoot  a  proud  and  peaceful 

from  his  thrmie  gave  the  order  to  his  soldiers  to  die,  nation.     In  his  rage  at  not  being  able  to  subdue  it 

even  to  the  last  man,  to  ensure  the  success  of  the  latest  he  has  resorted  to  the  most  monstrous  expedients  and 

drama  emanating  from  his  fertile  imagination  :   The  he  still  hopes  to  ?nake  the  world  tremble  at  his  final 

Taking  of  Calais.  deeds  of  fury. 

The  Kaiser  flinches  before  no  massacre  to  avoid  the  In  the  young  Belgian  King,  on  the  other  hand,  we 

derision  of  his  people.     But  it  is  our  firm  conviction  find  perfect    simplicity,   cheerfuhiess,    and   humanity 

that  all  this  bloody  stage-strutting  will  end  in  curses  .  .  .  his  admirable  and  luminous  figure  has  mierged 

and  hisses.  suddenly  in  this  pathetic  crisis  of  civilisation  as  the 

What  a    contrast  is  to  be  found  on  the  other  bank  of  incarnation  of  Patriotism,  of  Justice,  and  of  Equity  I 

the  Yser  !    No  master  here  giving  his  subjects  orders  And  it  may  well  be  thought  that  Destiny  delighted  to 

to  die  !    Here  we  have  a  King  at  the  head  of  his  army,  model  him  with  grace  and  nobility  as  a  contrast  to  the 

a  racial  chieftain.  rude  features  and  sardonic  grimaces  of  the  Barbarians. 


1 20 


A  STUDY 

By  Seymour  Lucas,  R.A. 


By  THE  Rt.  Hon.  AUGUSTINE  BIRRELL 
WHEN  first  asked  to  write  something  for  this  book  it  seemed  a  pitiful  task 
to  sit  down  and  string  together  a  few  phrases  about  a  crime,  so  heinous,  so 
horrifying,  and  perpetrated  under  our  eyes,  as  this  attempted  murder  of 
peaceful  and  prosperous  Belgium.  We  saw  the  crime  committed  and  mean 
to  avenge  it  or  disappear.  To  shed  ink  over  such  an  episode  is  hardly 
apposite — not  pens  but  pikes  is  the  motto  of  to-day.  And  yet  who  would 
not  do  anything  he  could  to  assuage  so  great  a  grief  and  to  compassionate 
so  excruciating  a  sorrow  ? 

The  other  day  in  Ireland  whilst  arranging  for  the  temporary  occupation  of 
Belgian  refugees  of  a  commodious,  sturdily  built,  and  happily  half-empty 
country  house  with  a  spacious  mcdiceval-looking  refector\%  large  and  airy 
dormitories  and  a  private  chapel,  in  a  word,  a  workhouse,  I  noticed,  standing 
by  and  hearkening  to  our  talk,  an  aged  but  still  bright-eyed  pauper  leaning 
over  his  pitch-fork.  Recognising  in  him  the  legitimist  of  the  establishment, 
the  Bourbon  of  the  workhouse,  I  expressed  to  him  the  hope  that  he  would 
extend  a  kindly  welcome  to  these  poor  exiles  for  a  few  days,  whilst  other 
arrangements  were  being  made  for  their  accommodation.  The  old  man 
replied  with  eagerness,  and  with  that  splendid  command  of  the  English 
language  which  belongs  almost  exclusively  to  the  Irish  poor,  that  he  was 
only  waiting  to  rise  to  the  level  of  a  great  opportunity.  It  would  therefore 
seem  as  if  there  were  a  part  for  all  of  us — and  if  it  be  but  a  small  part,  we 
yet  must  do  it,  whilst  deploring  its  littleness. 

Belgium  had  hardly  entered  into  the  fullness  of  her  inheritance  when  this 
great  trouble  befell  her.  In  trade  and  commerce,  in  industrial  life  she  had 
indeed  already  made  for  herself  a  great  name.  She  had  a  Black  Country 
almost  fit  to  compare  with  our  own.  Her  iron  and  flax  had  made  her  feared 
in  Birmingham  and  necessary  to  Belfast,  and  wherever  cheap  contracts, 
honourably  performed,  are  held  in  reverence,  there  the  name  of  Belgium 
stood  high  in  men's  regard.  A  thrifty,  practical  people,  fully  abreast  with 
all  the  troublesome  problems  of  peace  we  knew  them  to  be,  but  in  other 
affairs  appertaining  more  to  the  realm  of  taste  and  spirit,  Belgium  was  also 
fast  forging  ahead,  vying  with  France  and  altogether  eclipsing  Germany. 
Poets,  artists,  novelists,  philosophers,  and  theologians,  as  well  as  scholars 
and  mathematicians,  were  car\ang  for  Belgium  a  foremost  place  among  the 
nations. 

One  cannot  hut  wonder  what  will  be  the  effect  of  this  catastrophe  upon 
the  genius  of  Flanders.  Blood  and  tears  are  powerful  ingredients  in  the 
manufacture  of  manhood,  and  it  mav  well  be  that  in  due  time  those  who 
come  after  this  blood-stained  age  will  be  able  to  see  in  the  masterpieces  of 
the  new  Flemish  art  and  literature  some  traces  of  the  heroic  resolve  and 
fierce  determination  to  bear  cruel  misfortune  we  have  witnessed  with  so 
much  admiration.  ^^ 

121 


^ 


By   JUAN   RAMON   JIMENEZ 

A  Su  Alteza  Real  la  Princesa  Maria 

POR  el  telegrafo  sin  hilos,  te  mando,  tierna  Princesa,  como  regalo  de  Pascua, 

mi   inmenso  corazon  de   hombre  bueno.     Dignate  recibirlo  en  tus  breves 

manecitas  celestes. 

j  Si  te  pudiera  servir  de  algo  !   ^  De  que  te  serviri'a  ?  i  De  bala,  para  hacer 

huir  de  tus  jardines  a  los  terribles  rubios  rapados  de  Prusia  ?  j  Pues  carga 

con  el,  i  con  mucha  polvora  !  ,  un  espantable  obus  del  ...  52  ! 

d  De  globo,  para  espiar  el  descuido  de  los  campamentos  enemigos,  6  las 

secretas  marchas  contra  tu  palacio  fino  ?  j  Pues  embarca  en  el  tu  esperanza, 

y  vete  sobre  el  propio  Berlin,  que  yo  soplare  desde  aquij  obstinadamente, 

a  dos  carrillos  ! 

d  De  insospechado  submarino  .?     Pues  echalo  al  agua  honda,  y  que  sea  el 

asombro  de  las  enormes  ballenas  de  hierro  que  tremolan  cl  negro,  el  bianco 

y  el  rojo  por  el  picado  y  luctuoso  Baltico. 

j  Pero  no  !   Todo  esto  es  malo,  y  poco  grato  a  una  Princesa  de  Belgica  y  a 

un  poeta  de  Espana.     Que  me  corazon  te  sirva  de  semilla  de  amor.     Siem- 

bralo  en  el  campo  de  este  otono,  arado  por  los  canones  ;    y  que,  a  la  mas 

temprana  primavera,  brote  de  su  sangre  el  arbol  puro  de  la  paz, 

TRANSLATION  by  Prof.  Fitsmanrice-Kelly 

To  Her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  Marie,  on  it  to  Berlin  itself,  for  I  shall  blow  it  resolutely 
Gentle  Princess,  as  a  Christmas  gift  I  send  thee  by  from  here,  with  both  cheeks  puffed  out ! 
■wireless  telegraphy  the  ivhole  large  heart  of  a  kindly  An  unsuspected  submarine  ?  ti  ell,  cast  it  in  deep 
man.  Deign  to  take  it  in  thy  small  angel-hands.  waters,  and  may  it  be  the  dread  of  the  huge  iron 
Could  I  but  be  of  use  to  thee  !  What  coidd  I  be  for  whales  from  which  the  black,  white,  and  red  flutter 
thee  ?  A  bullet,  to  drive  from  thy  gardens  the  fear-  on  the  raging,  mournful  Baltic  ! 
some,  blonde  Prussian  plunderers  ?  Well,  load  with  But  no  !  All  this  is  evil,  displeasing  to  a  Belgian 
it — not  sparing  powder  I — a  terrible  52  howitzer  !  Princess  and  to  a  Spanish  poet.  Let  m\  heart  be 
An  air-ball,  to  spy  out  some  oversight  in  the  enemy's  for  thee  the  seed  of  love.  Sow  it  in  the  cannon- 
line^,  or  his  festive  march  on  thy  charming  palace?  ploughed  autumn  fields,  and  in  the  earliest  springtime 
Well,  place  all  thy   hopes  aboard,  and  be  wafted  may  there  rise  from  its  blood  the  virginal  tree  of  peace  / 


By  JACK  LONDON 
By  Cable 

BELGIUM  is  rare,  Belgium  is  unique.  Among  men  arises  on  rare  occasion 
a  great  man,  a  man  of  cosmic  import  ;  among  nations  on  rare  occasion 
arises  a  great  nation,  a  nation  of  cosmic  import.  Such  a  nation  is  Belgium. 
Such  is  the  place  Belgium  attained  in  a  day  by  one  mad,  magnificent,  heroic 
leap  into  the  azure.  As  long  as  the  world  rolls  and  men  live,  that  long  will 
Belgium  be  remembered.  All  the  human  world  owes,  and  will  owe  Belgium 
a  debt  of  gratitude,  such  as  was  never  earned  by  any  nation  in  the  History 
of  Nations.  It  is  a  magnificent  debt,  a  proud  debt  that  all  the  nations  of 
men  will  sacredly  acknowledge. 
122 


By   SIR  OWEN   SEAMAN 
Between  Midnight  and  Morning 

You  that  have  faith  to  look  with  fearless  eyes 
Beyond  the  tragedy  of  a  zcorld  at  strife, 
And  trust  that  out  of  night  and  death  shall  rise 
The  dazcn  of  ampler  life  ; 

Rejoice,  zchatever  anguish  rend  your  heart. 

That  God  has  given  you,  for  a  priceless  dozver, 
To  live  in  these  great  times  and  have  your  part 
In  Freedom's  crowning  hour. 

That  you  may  tell  your  sons  who  see  the  light 

High  in  the  heavens,  their  heritage  to  take :  — 
"  /  saw  the  pozcers  of  darkness  put  to  flight  ! 
I  saw  the  mornins  break  !  " 


'i 


a 


kr^>^ 


By  ALFRED   SUTRO 

I  HAVE  translated  many  books  of  Maeterlinck's— I  have  wandered,  with 
him,  among  the  canals  of  Bruges  and  the  fragrant  gardens  of  Ghent.  I 
have  seen  the  places  where  he  dreamed  of  Pelleas  and  Melisande,  and  the 
hives  of  the  bees  he  loved.  Through  him  I  learned  to  know  Belgium — 
to-day  all  the  world  knows.  Her  cities  are  laid  waste  now,  and  her  people 
scattered — but  her  people  will  return  and  rebuild  the  cities,  and  the  enemy 
will  be  dust.  The  day  will  come  when  the  War  will  be  far  distant,  a  thing 
of  the  past,  remote,  forgotten — but  never,  while  men  endure,  or  heroism 
counts,  will  it  be  forgotten  what  the  Belgians  did  for  Liberty's  sake,  and  for 
the  sake  of  Albert  their  King. 


123 


* 


Allegro  maestoso 


3 


i^ 


Charles  Villjers  Stanford 


»~;^ 


zz 


^ 


-^~Sj  d 


"o 


^=«2 


-6^ 


W 


^"^^*Bul  lo '.There  breaks ayet.  more     glorious      day  The  Saints   triumphant   risie   in    bright  array  ; 


* 


ii 


^ 


IS 


i 


g^qboi 


E 


S 


13: 


i 


22 


^ 


Org 


^ 


32 


40H- 


-^^     ^ 


cresc- 


\ci  Jo' 


iW^*sL 


«  A 


* 


S 


t^e- 


:^ 


o 


^T^^^ 


XT 


* 


J.-^MJo- 


// 


'tf\  ^  » 


22 


-O- 


S 


77~^ 


^ 


^ 


# 


The  King  of     Glo-rj/    passes     on   His     way.      A- 


le lu la  ! 


* 


g    J  O  ^ 


.  From  EarHi's  wide 
Q 


SZ^ 


-o- 


^ 


31 


^i 


tf= 


^ 


^ 


^©- 


:t 


^ 


Xfi 


v~a 


-& 


^ 


Wg 


— g- 


re 


ff=^ 


o- 


tr 


iS: 


Q.*^! 


J:J 


-&■ 


-ft-  ^^ 


B 


# 


4|OJI 


o     jaF 


-e- 


I 


#: 


^ 


S 


^^ 


32 


-&^ 


H 


^-& 


-12. 


^  6 

bounds  from  Ocean's     farthest  coast , 


"cr 


I 


fesi 


Through  Gates  of  Pearl     streams  in   the   Countless      Host 


^ 


^ 


m^=4 


^^=4 


te 


c: 


^ 


(7    O 


€*- 


"cr 


(j);t^  8 


ii 


e 


^ 


2 


? 


fat? 


jj 


^ 


;»« 


T=] -J^ 


^i=i 


I 


? 


S'.j.'^.  I|-cr|| 


^ 


^ 


"27 


«l  [J  .j  ojc^  vn^y-i 


ra//    ^— V     (^ 


Sinking  to       Father,  Son  and     Ho -ly       GKost  AI    le lu 


From  a  poem  hy  Bishop  Walsham  How 


By  LUIGI  BARZINI(ro  represent  the  ''  Com'ere  della  Sera,''  Milan) 
IL  Belgio  c  caduto,  ma  ha  conquistato  il  cuore  del  Mondo. 
La  Causa  bclga  e  cosi  nobile  e  cosi  pura,  che  essa  assume  nella  coscienza 
degli  uomini  una  maesta  trionfale  che  nessuna  sconfitta  diminuisce.  11 
Belgio  atterrato,  calpestato,  disfatto  dal  gigantesco  nemico,  rappresenta  pur 
sempre  qualche  cosa  d'invincibile  :  il  Diritto.  Difendendo  fino  alia  morte 
la  sua  liberta,  il  Belgio  ha  difeso  il  piu  sacro  patrimonio  di  tutti  i  popoli 
civili  ;  si  e  battuto  per  un  principio  che  c  fondamento  di  vita  in  ogni  nasione 
moderna  ;  ha  dato  il  suo  sangue  non  per  un  interesse  suo  ma  per  un  ideale 
che  e  anche  nostro.  La  sconfitta  lo  innalza  e  lo  glorifica  come  il  Martirio 
santifica  e  sublima  la  vittima  et  la  sua  fede. 

II  Belgio  ha  messo  I'lndipendenza  al  di  sopra  dell'  Esistenza.  Non  ha 
contato  i  nemici,  non  ha  calcolato  la  probabilita  :  ha  visto  soltanto  la  gius- 
tizia  e  la  santita  della  sua  causa.  Ha  compiuto  questa  cosa  sublime  : 
combattere  senza  speranza.  Ma,  a  mano  a  mano  che  sotto  al  galoppo  degli 
Ulani  dei  territori  belgi  si  staccavano  dal  corpo  vivo  della  Nazione,  e  che, 
sempre  piu  avanti,  a  ferro  e  a  fuoco,  da  citta  a  citta,  avanzava  incsorabile 
la  pesante  marea  teutonica,  a  mano  a  mano  che  il  Belgio  impiccoliva,  noi 
lo  vedevamo  piu  grande. 

Avanti  al  mondo  ammirato  sorgeva  un  Belgio  nuovo.  Dove  noi  non 
avevamo  visto  che  un  piccolo  paese  pacifico,  inerme,  calcolatore,  industrioso, 
trascurabile  entita  nei  conflitti  delle  nazioni,  abbiamo  sentito  improvisa- 
mente  palpitare  lo  spirito  di  una  grande  razza.  Abbiamo  avuto  la  rive- 
lazione  inaspettata  di  un  popolo  che,  condotto  dal  suo  Re  valoroso,  riusciva 
ad  assumere  delle  proporzioni  dominanti  per  il  suo  eroismo,  per  la  sua 
lealta,  per  la  sua  generosita,  pur  perdendo  lembo  a  lembo  il  dominio  sulla 
sua  terra  insanguinata.  Ai  nostri  occhi  il  Belgio  ingigantiva  sulle  rovine 
stesse  del  Belgio. 

La  grandezza  di  un  popolo  e  nella  sua  anima. 

Noi  consideriamo  il  destino  del  Belgio  con  una  commozione  in  fondo  alia 
quale  vihra  un  senso  di  solidarieta.  Milioni  e  milioni  di  uomini  di  ogni 
nazione  e  di  ogni  stirpe  si  sono  sentiti  ferire  dai  colpi  inferti  spietatamente 
al  popolo  belgo  e  alia  gloria  secolare  della  sua  cultura,  e  dividono  con  lui 
dolori,  passioni  e  speranze.  Si  e  formato  come  un  sentimento  di  citta- 
dinanza  belga  in  ogni  persona  di  cuore.  E  da  tutti  i  Continenti  va  verso  il 
Belgio  un  onda  immensa  di  afFetto  e  di  augurio  come  verso  una  patria  ideale 
devastata  e  dolente. 

TRANSLATION 

Belgium  has  ftil/in,  but  she  has  conquered  the  heart  has  defended  the  sacred  patrimony  of  all  ciz'ilised 

of  the  icholc  uorld.  peoples  ;   she  has  fouf^ht  for  a  principle  tchich  is  the 

The  Delf;ian  Cause  is  so  pure  and  so  noble  that  to  basis  of  life  in  nery  modern  nation  ;    she  has  given 

the  conscience  of  mankind  it  has  assumed  a  victorious  her  blood,  not  for  her  individual  interests,  but  for  an 

majesty    which    no   defeat    can    minimise.     Belgium,  ideal  tchich  is  also  ours.     Defeat  ennobles  and  glorifies 

overthrown,    trampled   upon    and   destroyed   by   her  her,   as  martyrdom  sanctifies  and  c.xalls   the   victim 

gigantic   enemy,   still  represents  a   thing  invincible  :  and  his  faith. 

Right.     Defending  her  liberty  to  the  death,  Belgium  Belgium  has  set  Independence  above  Existence.     She 


did  not  count  her  foes,  nor  calculate  her  chances  ;  proportions  by  zirtue  of  their  heroism,  their  loyalty, 
she  saw  only  the  justice  and  sanctity  of  her  cause,  and  their  generosity,  the  ichile  their  bloodstained 
She  understood  that  sublime  thing  :  to  fight  tviihout  territory  zcas  torn  from  them  strip  by  strip.  We  saw 
hope.  But  as  one  by  one,  Belgian  territories  are  a  colossal  Belgium  rising  from  the  ruins  of  Belgium, 
severed  from  the  living  body  of  the  nation  beneath  The  greatness  of  a  people  is  in  its  soul, 
the  gallop  of  Prussian  Uhlans  ;  as  the  heavy  German  We  watch  the  fate  of  Belgiinn  with  an  emotion  under- 
flood  rolls  on  inexorably,  carrying  fire  atid  sword  laid  by  a  strong  sense  of  solidarity.  Millions  of 
from  city  to  city  ;  as  Belgium  dwindles  from  day  to  men  of  every  nation  and  of  every  race  have  felt 
day,  zoe  behold  her  greater  and  ever  greater.  themselves  wounded  by  the  impious  blows  dealt  at 
A  new  Belgium  burst  upon  the  sight  of  an  admiring  the  Belgian  people  and  at  the  ancient  glories  of  their 
world.  Where  we  had  seen  only  a  little  peaceful  culture  ;  these  millions  share  their  anguish,  their 
country,  calailating,  industrious  and  utiarmed,  a  passion  and  their  hopes.  A  sense  of  Belgian  citizen- 
negligible  quantity  in  the  strife  of  nations,  we  heard  ship  has  gimcn  up  in  every  feeling  heart.  And  from 
the  mighty  stirring  of  the  spirit  of  a  great  race.  We  all  continents  an  immense  wave  of  affection  and  good 
witnessed  the  umxpected  revelation  of  a  people  who,  will  sets  toivards  Belgium  as  to  an  ideal  land,  stricken 
led    by    their    valiant    King,  assumed    commanding  and  devastated. 

By    THE   Rt.   Hon.   SIR   GEORGE   REID 

THE  Parliament  and  Government  of  Australia,  nobly  representing  the 
feelings  and  wishes  of  the  people  of  the  Commonwealth,  have  given  a 
magnificent  proof  of  the  unbounded  admiration  and  sympathy  they  feel 
for  the  people  of  Belgium,  having  authorised  a  grant  of  two  and  a  half 
millions  of  francs  in  aid  of  the  movement  to  lessen  the  sufferings  of  that 
heroic  people.  The  following  Resolution  was  passed  by  the  Australian 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  : 

That  in  the  opinion  of  this  House  a  sum  of  £100,000 from  the  Consolidated 
Revenue  Fund  should  be  made  payable  as  a  grant-in-aid  to  Belgium  in 
grateful  acknoicledgment  of  the  heroic  services  the  citizens  of  that  coimtry 
have  rendered  mankind  in  defence  of  their  national  right  to  live  in  peace  in 
their  ozvn  country  and  that  His  Excellency  the  Governor-General  be  invited 
to  transmit  this  Resolution  to  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies. 

The  Right  Honourable  Andrew  Fisher,  M.P.,  Prime  Minister  and  Treasurer, 
directed  me,  as  High  Commissioner,  to  hand  over  the  above  amount  to  the 
Imperial  Government,  which  I  did,  and  the  following  acknowledgment  was 
addressed  to  me  by  the  head  of  the  Imperial  Government  : 

My  dear  Sir  George, — /  have  to  acknowledge  with  much  gratitude  the 
cheque  for  /^  100 ,000  zchich  you  have  beeti  good  enough  to  hand  to  tne. 
I  esteem  it  a  great  honour  to  be  the  medium  for  transmitting  to  our  gallant 
Belgian  allies,  to  alleviate  the  calamities  zvhich  the  war  has  brought  upon 
their  people,  this  munificent  expression  of  the  good-zcill  and  fellow  feeling 
of  the  Commonzvealth  of  Australia.     Yours  very  sincerely, 

H.  H.  Asquith. 

I  have  never  performed  a  more  agreeable  duty.  They  may  cease  to  be 
allies,  and  regain  their  neutrality  again,  but  the  Belgians  will  remain  in  our 
loving  regard  a  kindred  people  whose  full  rights  and  national  existence  the 
whole  British  Empire  will  always  defend.  rp  ^       -^ 

126 


By   THE   BISHOP  OF   LUND 

MIDT  i  trangseln  af  det  ontsaglige  elande,  som  det  forfiirlige  kriget  vallar, 

skdnjes  dock  nagot,  som  verkar  upplyftandc.     Fran  alia  lander,  som  iiro 

invecklade  i  kriget,  komma  vitnesbord  om  huru  folken  dar  enas,  som  funnes 

hos  dem  cj  skilda  klasser  cUcr  partier  i  en  offervillighet,  som  ej  riiknar  med 

hvad  som  offras  for  ett  alskadt  fosterlands  raddning  och  ara. 

AUtsa  minst  kan  den,  som  star  pa  langt  afstand  fran  krigsskadeplatserna, 

ana,  huru  mycket  lidande,  kriget  redan  har  astadkommit  och  kommar  att  i 

framtidcn  medfora,  da  de  manga  smartans  hvardagar,  den,  ena  efter  den 

andra,   maste   genomlefvas   under   erfarenhct   af   hvad   man   har   forlorat. 

Medlidande  ur  hjartats  djup  maste  man  kanna  med  alia  de  i  kriget  delta- 

gande    folken,    men  val  mest    med    Belgiens,  som,  efter  hvad  man  kan 

forsta,  lidit  mest. 

Och  innerligt  onskar  man  framgang  &t  hvarje  bemodande,  som  afser  att  i 

nagon  man  aftorka  tararna.  ^^"^^ 


TRAXSLATIOX  by  Edmund  Gosse,  LL.D. 
Amidst  the  press  of  incalculable  sorrows,  of  which 
this  terrible  war  is  the  cause,  there  is  yet  one  element 
which  uplifts  the  spirit  as  we  contemplate  it.  From 
every  country  which  is  involved  in  the  war,  there  is 
evidence  that  that  nation  is  united,  that  no  schism  of 
class  or  party  exists,  but  that  all  citizens  are  one  in 
accepting  every  sacrifice  which  may  be  required  for 
the  safely  and  honour  of  the  Fatherland. 
Little  can  he  who  stands  afar  off  from  the  scene  of 
fighting  realise  how  much  suffering  has  already  been 


caused  and  must  continue  to  be  caused  by  this  struggle. 
To  comprehend  the  agony  one  must  live,  day  by 
recurrent  day,  under  the  very  experience  of  anxiety 
and  loss.  But  sympathy  we  give,  from  the  depths  of 
our  heart,  sympathy  to  all  the  nations  who  are  taking 
their  part  in  this  war.  Most  of  all  to  Belgium, 
which,  so  far  as  we  can  understand,  has  suffered 
most. 

And  inwardly  we  yearn  to  see  advance  every  effort 
made  to  stanch  the  flow  of  the  tears. 


By  RENE   BAZIN 

JE  crois  que  le  Roi  Albert  et  la  Belgique,  en  se  sacrifiant,  comme  ils  I'ont 

fait,  pour  le  droit,  ont  sauve  I'Europe. 

Je  crois,  pour  agir  avec  cette  decision,  il  fallait  un  roi,  c'est-a-dire  un  chef 

responsable  de\ant  I'histoire,  de  famille  ancienne  et  preparee. 

Je  crois  qu'il  fallait  aussi  un  peuple  chretien,  capable  de  comprendre, 

d'accepter  et  de  porter  I'epreuve. 

Je  crois  que  les  Allies  devront  d'abord  restaurer  le  royaume  de  Belgique, 

et  que  rcxemple  donne  par  le  Roi  et  par  le  peuple  sera  glorific  dans  tous  les 

pays  de  civilisation,  tant  que  le  monde  lira  I'histoire 


TRA\SLAT10.\  by  Florence  Simmonds 

I  believe  that  King  Albert  and  Belgium,  in  sacrificing 

themselves,  as  they  have  done,  for  Right,  have  saved 

Fur  ope. 

I  believe,  that  in  order  to  act  with  such  decision,  it 

was  essential  to  have  a  King,  that  is  to  say,  a  leader 

responsible  to  history,  of  an  old  and  proven  stock. 

J  believe,  that  for  such  action,  a  Christian  nation 


was  essential,  a  nation  capable  of  understanding,  of 

accepting  and  of  enduring  the  ordeal. 

I  believe,  that  the  first  duly  of  the  Allies  will  be  to 

restore  the  kingdom  of  Belgium,  and  that  the  example 

shown  by  the  King  and  his  people  will  be  exalted  in 

all   civilised  countries   as   long   as   the  world  reads 

History. 

127 


By  CAMILLE   SAINT-SAENS 

A  Personal  Memory  of  King  Albert 

C'EST  chez  un  autre  ami  de  la  France,  chez  un  autre  Albert  P'^,  chez  son 
Altesse  Serenissime  le  Prince  de  Monaco,  que  j'eus  I'honneur  d'etre  pre- 
sents a  Leurs  Altesses  Roy  ales  le  Prince  et  la  Princesse  Albert  de  Belgique, 
futurs  souverains.  Grands  amateurs  de  musique,  ils  me  firent  le  plus 
gracieux  accueil  et  temoignerent  le  desir  de  m'entendre  sur  I'orgue  de  la 
Cathedrale  de  Monaco,  excellent  sans  doute,  mais  de  petite  dimension,  plus 
apte  a  I'accompagnement  des  voix  qu'a  I'execution  proprement  dite.  Je  fis 
de  mon  mieux  et  1 'indulgence  des  auditeurs  fit  le  reste.  Le  Prince  et  la 
Princesse  se  promenaient  sur  la  Cote-d'Azur  dans  une  minuscule  automobile 
a  deux  places,  off  rant  le  tableau  charmant  dii  menage  le  plus  uni  dans  le 
bonheur  le  plus  parfait.  La  Princesse  etait  toujours  vetue  avec  la  plus 
grande  simplicite,  cette  inimitable  simplicite  des  grandes  dames.  Elle 
s'amusait  beaucoup  a  prendre  des  cliches  ;  j'etais  souvent  le  point  de  mire 
de  son  appareil  et  j'eus  meme  le  grand  honneur,  a  sa  demande,  de  former 
un  groupe  avec  son  noble  epoux. 

Tres  grand,  svelte,  elegant,  reserve,  parlant  d'une  voix  douce  avec  lenteur, 
le  Roi  des  Beiges  deconcerte  au  premier  abord  comme  une  enigme  :  a  qui 
ne  le  connait  pas,  il  semble  avoir  mis  sur  son  visage,  sur  toute  sa  personne, 
un  voile  impenetrable.  Or,  il  n'y  a  pas  de  voile,  il  n'y  a  pas  d'enigme. 
C'est  avec  le  meme  aspect  de  froideur  et  d'insensibilite  qu'il  se  revele,  dans 
la  conversation,  causeur  le  plus  affable,  homme  de  premier  ordre  ayant 
tout  etudie,  tout  approfondi,  a  qui  rien  n'est  etranger.  C'est  a  lui,  n'en 
doutez  pas,  qu'est  due  la  superiorite  dont  I'armee  Beige  a  donne  des  preuves 
si  eclatantes  dans  la  lutte  inegale  et  glorieuse  contre  I'Allemagne.  Sans 
rien  perdre  de  sa  tranquillite,  le  jeune  souverain  connu  jusqu'a  present 
comme  un  diplomate,  un  savant,  un  artiste,  s'est  revele  tout  a  coup,  a 
I'etonnement  et  a  I'admiration  du  monde,  un  heros. 

Et  cette  gracieuse  Reine,  d'apparence  si  frele,  si  delicate,  quelle  indomptable 
energie  elle  a  montre  dans  son  triple  role  de  souveraine,  d'epouse  et  de  mere  ! 
Quelle  grande  figure  fera  dans  I'histoire  ce  couple  royal,  qu'illumine  la 
double  aureole  de  la  jeunesse  et  du  martyre  ! 


TRANSLATION  (abridged) 

*****  fiim  the  Belgian  army  owes  the  effidency  of  which  it 

Very    tall,   slender,   elegant,  and  -reserved,  speaking  has  given   such   brilliant  proof  in   its  miequal  and 

slowly  in  a  softly  modulated  voice,  the  King  of  the  glorious    struggle    against    Germany.     Without    any 

Belgians  is  somewhat  disconcerting  and  enigmatical  loss  of  his  habitual  tranquillity ,  the  young  sovereign, 

at  first.     To  those  who  do  not  know  him,  he  seemed  known  hitherto  as  a  diplomatist,  a  scientist,  and  an 

to  have  drawn  an  impenetrable  veil  over  his  face  and  artist,  revealed  himself  suddenly,  to  the  surprise  and 

his  whole  person.     A'ozr,  as  a  fact,  there  is  no  veil  admiration  of  the  world,  as  a  hero  ! 

and  no   mystery.     Under   this  superficial  aspect  of  And  the  graceful  Queen,  so  fragile  and  delicate  in 

coldness  and  insensibility,  he  reveals  himself  in  in-  appearance,  what  indomitable  energy  she  has  shown 

timacy  as  the  tnosf  affable  of  conversationalists,  a  man  in  her  triple  role   of  sovereign,   wife,   and  mother  I 

of  the  highest  abilities,  who  has  studied  much,  gone  What  great  figures  this  royal  couple,  glorified  by  the 

deeply  into  all  rnanner  of  subjects,  and  knozvs  some-  double  aureole  of  youth  and  martyrdom,  will  be  in 

thing  of  evcrvthing.     There  can  be  no  doubt  that  to  the  pages  of  history  I 

128 


,.;    Svh-PaTiti 


SYMPA IH Y 

Bq  J.  Montgomery  Flagg 


By  LORD   READING,   LORD   CHIEF  JUSTICE  OF  ENGLAND 
HONOUR  the  Belgians  and  their  King  for  their  fame  endureth  for  ever  ! 
If  there  existed  in  the  world  a  formal  Court  of  Public  Opinion  it  would 
long  since  have  recorded  its  horror  at  the  cynical  contempt  of  solemn 
obligations  displayed  by  Germany  in  the  name  of  "  Kultur." 
The  judgment  of  the  Court  would  also  have  expressed  its  whole-hearted 
admiration  for  the  courage  and  fortitude  of  Belgium  under  the  most  terrible 
shocks  ever  sustained  by  any  nation.     Germany's  attack  upon  Belgium  is  a 
tragedy  in  the  history  of  human  progress  ;  it  is  a  stab  at  the  heart  of  civilisa- 
tion.    Fortunately  Belgium  has  minimised  the  gravity  of  the  blow  to  the 
human  race  by  the  moral  grandeur  she  has  attained  under  the  leadership 
of  her  King. 

Belgium  was  an  unoffending  "  little  nation."  She  had  no  quarrel  with 
Germany,  her  people  were  industrious,  law-abiding,  and  peace-loving, 
desiring  only  to  be  left  alone  ;  they  sought  no  extension  of  territory,  they 
claimed  no  part  in  the  conflict  of  Great  Nations. 

That  her  treaty  rights  should  be  respected  and  her  neutrality  observ'ed  by 
all  the  signatories  without  discrimination  was  the  whole  sum  and  substance 
of  Belgian  policy.  The  most  microscopic  German  eye  could  not  detect  in  it 
the  least  cause  of  complaint  or  the  faintest  trace  of  offence. 
When  it  appeared  that  the  flagrant  breach  of  faith  was  to  be  committed 
Belgium  stood  in  profound  and  sorrowful  amazement.  She  had  not  yet 
learnt  the  German  doctrine  that  little  nations  have  no  rights.  Indeed,  so 
recently  as  the  year  191 1,  Germany  had  declared  through  Herr  von  Beth- 
mann-HolIweg  that  it  had  no  intention  of  violating  the  neutrality  of  Belgium. 
Again,  two  years  later,  Herr  von  Jagow  stated  that  the  neutrality  of  Belgium 
had  been  determined  upon  by  international  conventions  and  Germany  vvas 
determined  to  respect  those  conventions.  Even  in  the  last  week  of  July 
1914  the  German  Minister  to  Belgium  repeated  the  assurances  of  his 
predecessor  to  a  similar  effect.  In  fact,  Germany  insisted  upon  the  neu- 
trality of  Belgium  until  it  suited  its  purpose  to  violate  it.  The  treaty 
hitherto  regarded  as  a  solemn  and  binding  obligation  then  suddenly  became 
"  a  scrap  of  paper."  There  was  and  could  be  no  justification  for  this 
sudden  change,  the  excuse  was  necessity  in  the  interests  of  Germany.  Now 
that  so  much  has  happened  and  Belgium  is  still  the  battle-ground,  one 
cannot  but  think  that  Germany's  interests,  viewed  apart  from  her  moral 
reputation,  would  have  been  better  served  had  she  adhered  to  her  pledges. 
Belgium,  to  her  eternal  glory  be  it  said,  refused  to  be  cajoled  or  bullied 
into  abandoning  her  sovereignty  and  independence.  She  withstood  both 
blandishments  and  threats  and  resolutely  declined  to  help  (Germany  to  crush 
France  via  Belgium.  King  Albert  in  this  supreme  hour  of  need  turned 
appcalingly  to  us,  and  our  response  was  swift  and  direct — it  was  war 
against  Germany.  Belgium  counted  upon  us,  she  has  not  counted  in 
vain  ;  we  remain  true  to  our  word.  'I'he  righting  of  her  wrongs  has 
become  our  sacred  duty. 

129 


Belgium  then  gave  the  world  its  great  surprise.  Her  little  army,  un- 
expectedly called  to  battle,  withstood  for  many  days  the  most  carefully 
prepared  onslaught  of  as  powerful  and  efficient  a  military  machine  as  had 
ever  been  seen.  Every  day,  indeed  eveiy  hour  and  even  every  minute 
gained,  was  admittedly  of  the  utmost  consequence.  The  immediate  rush 
into  France  was  stopped  for  a  time.  Before  they  had  "  hacked  "  their  way 
through  Liege,  the  apostles  of  the  latter-day  civilisation  had  learnt  that  the 
soul  of  a  nation  is  a  very  effective  fighting  force  and  that  this  elementary 
truth  had  been  omitted  from  the  precise  methodical  calculations  of  the 
German  machine.  They  did  not  forget,  because  apparently  they  did  not 
know,  in  these  days  of  modern  scientific  development  of  warfare  (the  days 
of  Zeppelins,  armoured  cars  and  Krupp  siege  guns)  that  a  small  army  led 
and  inspired  by  great  and  noble  thoughts  could  hold  up  even  the  mighty 
army  of  Germany.  The  sacking  and  burning  of  Louvain,  the  destruction 
of  Malines,  Termonde,  and  the  many  thousand  homes  of  Belgium,  the 
devastation  of  the  whole  country,  the  killing  of  its  inhabitants  and  the 
horrible  atrocities  recorded  in  the  reports  of  the  Belgian  Commission,  all 
in  pursuance  of  the  policy  of  "  f rightfulness,"  have  not  added  laurels  to  the 
brow  of  Germany  ;  they  will  be  found  in  the  records  where  all  men  may 
read.  Not  content  with  defying  the  elementary  basic  principles  of  Inter- 
national Law  by  its  breach  of  faith,  it  has  further  shown  its  contempt  for 
aught  but  might  by  ruthless  outrages  upon  the  laws  and  customs  of  civilised 
warfare.  It  is  in  this  scorn  of  right  and  adoration  of  might  that  the  tragedy 
of  Germany  is  to  be  found.  Even  if  it  could  have  won  the  most  triumphant 
victories  its  name  would  still  be  blackened  for  ever.  But  no  defeats, 
however  decisive,  can  take  from  the  Belgian  people  the  memory  of  their 
high-souled  resistance.  No  suftering,  hov/ever  poignant,  can  deprive  them 
of  the  spiritual  elation  of  their  defiance.  So  long  as  great  deeds  are  sung 
and  noble  purposes  are  extolled,  the  heroism  of  the  Belgians  and  their  King 
will  be  held  up  to  the  wonder  of  the  world. 


By  GUGLIELMO  MARCONI 

ALMOST  does  the  war  lose  part  of  its  horror  and  sorrow  when  the  un- 
exampled heroism,  patience,  and  fortitude  of  the  Belgians  and  their  King 
rise  in  their  efl^ulgent  light  before  the  mind's  eye.  The  material  loss  and 
damage  sustained  by  this  brave  little  nation  may  perhaps  never  be  repaid, 
but  of  her  people  we  might  say  with  Longfellow, 

"  Noble  souls  through  dust  and  heat 
Rise  jrom  disaster  and  defeat 
The  strojjger." 


130 


By   GUGLIELMO    FERRERO 

TERRIBILE  e  la  prova  ;  ma,  dopo  le  dovute  riparazioni,  immensa  sara  la 
gloria  del  Belgio,  e  grandissima  la  autorita  del  suo  Re.  Offrendosi,  martire 
intrepido,  alia  rabbia  teutonica,  il  Belgio  ha  risvegliata  la  coscienza  morale 
del  mondo,  che,  gia  troppo  stordita  dalla  cupidigia,  dalla  sete  dei  piaceri, 
dair  orgoglio  del  sapere  e  della  ricchezza,  avrebbe  altrimenti  corse  il  pericolo 
di  smarrirsi  interamente  tra  le  ferocie  e  i  furori  di  questa  guerra  terribile. 
II  mondo  ha  capito,  vcdcndo  una  forza  ubriaca  d'orgoglio  straziare  a  quel 
modo  un  piccolo  popolo  innocente,  che  il  lavoro,  la  ricchezza,  il  sapere,  il 
coraggio,  la  potenza  non  bastano  :  occorre  ai  popoli,  come  ai  singoli  uomini, 
conoscere  pure  che  cosa  e  onore,  lealta,  giustizia,  fede,  veracita.  Percio 
dopo  la  sicura  vittoria  delle  coalizione,  dopo  la  reintegrazione  solenne  del 
popolo  bclga  nella  sua  terra  e  nel  suo  diritto,  incominciera  una  nuova  gloria 
deir  Europa,  e  una  gloria  piu  bella  ;  la  cui  prima  pagina  sara  stata  scritta, 
con  il  suo  sangue  piii  prezioso,  dal  Belgio.    Eviva  il  Belgio  ! 

TRANSLATION 

Dire  is  the  ordeal,  hit  tchen  due  reparation  has  been  offensive  nation,  it  understood  that  Kork  and  tcealth 

made,  great  will  be  the  glory  of  Belgium,  and  great  and  knowledge  and  courage  and  potccr  are  not  all- 

the   authority  oj  her  King  !     Belgium,   an   intrepid  sufficient  ;    peoples    as    Kelt  as  individuals   need   to 

tnartvr,  offering  herself  to  the  fury  of  the  Teuton,  has  knmo  the  worth  of  honour,  loyalty,  justice,  faith,  and 

awakened   the  moral  conscience   of  the   world— that  truth.     And   therefore,   after   the  certain   victory   oj 

world  which,  dulled  b\  cupidity,  by  thirst  for  pleasure,  the  coalition,  after  the  solemn  restoration  of  Belgian 

by  the  pride  of  tvcalth  and  knowledge,  might  otherwise  territory  and  Belgian  rights,  a  new  and  fairer  glory 

have  been  reduced  to  chaos  in  the  furies  and  ferocities  will  begin  for  Europe  ;   its  first  page,   written   in  its 

of  this  terrible  war.     When  the  world  saw  a  Great  most  precious  blood,  will  tell  the  story  of  Belgium. 

Power  drunk  with  pride,  thus  torturing  a  small,  in-  Long  live  Belgium  I 

By   SALOMON   REINACH 

SI  la  Belgique  devait  etre  un  jour  une  province  allemande,  I'infamie  du 
partage  de  la  Pologne  palirait  dans  I'histoire  a  cote  de  celle  qui  n'aurait  de 
nom  dans  aucunc  langue.  On  a  pu  dire  de  la  Pologne  qu'elle  expiait  ses 
divisions,  ses  complaisances  pour  des  voisins  puissants  et  perfides  ;  que 
peut-on  dire  de  la  Belgique,  sinon  qu'elle  a  souffert  pour  le  droit  et  pour 
i'honneur,  qu'elle  a  fait  de  son  corps  un  rempart  contre  la  barbaric  et  le 
parjure,  qu'elle  s'est  laissee  martyriser  et  broycr  plutot  que  de  sc  salir  ? 
On  dira  tout  ccla,  comme  on  le  dit  a  cette  heure,  mais  a  une  Belgique 
consolee,  vengee  et  infiniment  grande.  Ce  petit  pays  de  plaines  ce  sont  les 
Thermopvlcs  de  I'Europe  !  Et  rhomme  hcro'ique  tjui  a  I'honneur  sans  pareil 
de  combattre  en  roi  pour  la  plus  juste  des  causes,  pour  la  plus  noble  des 
patries,  dites  s'il  n'est  pas  plus  digne  d'admiration  que  Leonidas  1 

TRANSLATION 

Should  Belgium  ever  become  a  province  of  Germany,  preferred  martyrdom  and  ruin  to  a  stain  upon  her 

the    infamy   of  the  partition   of  Poland  would   be  honour  ? 

eclipsed  in  history  by  one  which  no  language  could  All  this  tall  be  said  again,  as  people  are  saying  il  to-day, 

adequately  stigmatise.     It  may  be  not  unjustly  said  but  it  will  be  said  to  a  Belgium  comforted,  a  Belgium 

of  Poland  that  she  atoned  for  her  dissensions,  htr  avenged,  and  injlnitcly  great.      This   little   country 

complaisance  to  false  and  powerful  neighbours  ;  what  of  plains  is  the   Thcrmopyla-  of  Europe  !   And  that 

can  be  said  of  Belgium,  save  that  she  has  suffered  for  heroic  man  who  has  the  supreme  honour  of  fighting,  as 

Right  and  Honour,  that  she  has  given  her  body  as  a  a  King,  for  the  most  just  of  causes,  for   the  noblest 

rampart  against  barbarism  and  perjury,  that  she  has  of  countries — is  he  not  more  admirable  than  Leonidas  ! 


By   RAMON   D.   PERES 

QUEL  beau  reve  d'etre  I'auteur  d'une  grande  epopee  !  Quelle  sublime 
realite  d'en  etre  le  heros  !  C'est  avec  une  immense  pitie  que  j'ai  suivi,  les 
larmes  aux  yeux,  les  exploits  de  ce  jeune  et  vaillant  Roi,  guidant  ce  petit 
peuple  de  Belgique  que  I'Histoire  mettra  a  cote  des  plus  admirables  nations  ; 
et  je  suis  lier  d'avoir  pleure,  par  la  seule  raison  que  comprendre  la  beaute 
et  I'heroisme  c'est  I'humble  consolation  de  ceux  qui  n'ont  pu  etre  des  heros 
ou  creer  des  beautes  parfaites,  eclatantes. 

La  Belgique  possedait  des  poetes  profonds,  touchants,  au  vol  audacieux  : 
elle  peut  se  vanter  aussi  d'avoir  I'audace  du  beau  geste,  a  la  saveur  antique, 
qui  offre  la  vie  pour  garder  I'independance  et  la  dignite.  L'Espagne  a  un 
peu  le  droit  d'admirer  cette  ombre  en  deuil  qui  passe,  fiere  au  milieu  des 
mines,  et  moi,  le  dernier  des  ecrivains  espagnols,  je  la  salue  avec  ce  grand 
frisson  que  fait  naitre,  dans  tout  homme  de  coeur,  ce  qui  est  grandiose  et 
noble  autant  que  terrible.  ^         ^  ^ 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 

How  splendid  to  dream  of  being  the  author  of  a  great  Belgium  possessed  deep  and  moving  poets,  capable  of 

epic  !   How  sublime  to  be  actually  the  hero  of  such  a  daring  flights  ;   she  may  also  claim  to  have  ventured 

work  /    With  tears  in  my  eyes,  and  an  immense  pity  upon  a  noble  and  daring  action  in  the  antique  spirit, 

in  my  heart ,  I  have  follou-ed  the  exploits  of  that  young  offering    life    itself   to    safeguard   independence    and 

and  valiant  King,  guiding  the  little  country  of  Belgium,  dignity.     Spain  has  some  prescriptive  right  to  admire 

which  History  zcill  rank  among  the  most  admirable  this     mourning    shadozv,    passing     proudly     among 

of  nations  ;   and  I  am  proud  of  having  wept,  because  the  ruins,   and  I,  the  least  of  the  Spanish  writers, 

to   understand   beauty    and   heroism    is    the   humble  salute  her  with   the   thrill  that  every  feeling  heart 

consolation  of  those  who  can?iot  be  heroes,  or  create  must  feel  in  the  presence  of  what  is  grandiose  and 

perfect  and  glorious  beauty.  noble  as  well  as  terrible. 


By  M.  H.   SPIELMANN 

THE  indomitable  people  which  in  the  past  emerged  unchanged  and  un- 
changeable from  the  foreign  flood,  Spanish,  Austrian,  and  Napoleonic — 
loyal  to  its  blood  and  staunch  in  the  maintenance  of  its  historical  character 
— will  make  good  triumphantly  to  the  end.  Its  Art,  the  expression  of  its 
ideals  and  the  pageant  of  its  soul,  has  ever  remained  unspoiled  and  uncoloured 
by  stranger  domination. 

Belgium's  heroic  leader  personifies  her  spirit.  Superb  in  the  business  of 
war,  he  has  proved  his  conviction  that  the  peaceful  arts  are  not  less  truly  the 
expression  of  its  being.  It  is  fitting,  therefore,  that  acclaimed  by  the  civilised 
world,  idolised  by  his  grateful  and  admiring  country,  and  consecrated  in 
the  lustre  of  his  heroism,  he  should  be  destined  to  become  henceforth  an 
immortal  theme  of  his  country's  Art  and  Letters. 


132 


By   AI.    ALEXArsDRE    F.   RIBOT 

LE  monde  cntier  s'incline  avec  respect  devant  le  peuple  Beige  et  devant 
son  chef  admirable  le  Roi  Albert,  qui  donnent  un  si  grand  exemple  a  toutes 
les  nations  civilisees.  Lcur  cause  est  celle  du  droit  :  elle  nc  peut  succomber, 
parce  qu'elle  a  pour  elle  la  conscience  universelle.  ,     ^ 

TRANSLATION 

The  whole  u-orld  botes  in  respectful  homage  before  to  all  civilised  nations.     Their  cause  is  the  cause  of 

the  Belgian  people  and  before  their  glorious  leader.  Right  :   it   cannot  fail,  because  the  conscience  of  the 

King  Albert,  who  are  showing  such  a  great  example  world  is  one  with  it. 


By  PADEREWSKI 

THERE  is  no  country  where  the  tragedy  of  Belgium  created  more  sorrow 
and  indignation  than  in  Poland.  Nowhere  did  the  unshakable  heroism  of 
the  Belgians  and  their  glorious  King  inspire  more  sincere  admiration,  more 
profound  reverence.  And  yet  of  these  sentiments  no  tangible  proof  has  been 
given  ;  no  Polish  voice  has  been  heard.  Though  over  one  million  and  a 
quarter  of  her  sons  are  under  arms,  Poland  has  no  right  to  speak  ;  though 
before  spoliation  her  territory  was  much  larger  than  the  whole  of  present 
Germany,  she  is  now  destitute,  poor.  The  terrific  storm  which  destroyed 
Belgium's  most  deserved  prosperity  is  raging  furiously  over  our  country, 
and  wherever  it  comes  it  leaves  nothing — nothing  but  eyes  to  weep.  There 
is  no  land  where  Belgium's  fate  has  moved  so  many  hearts,  but  we  do  not 
weep,  we  do  not  complain,  we  do  not  despair.  King  Albert's  and  his 
people's  immortal  example  gives  us  courage  and  strength,  as  it  always  will 
comfort,  strengthen,  and  encourage  all  countries  and  nations  suffering  and 
longing  for  Liberty. 


By   SIR   FREDERICK  POLLOCK,  BART. 

NEARLY  two  thousand  four  hundred  years  ago  the  Boeotian  city  of  Plataea 
was  one  among  the  many  lesser  Greek  republics.  Her  citizens  earned 
immortal  fame  by  taking  part  with  the  leading  States  of  Athens  and  Sparta 
in  the  decisive  battles,  fought  on  their  own  territory,  which  delivered  Greece 
from  the  fear  of  Persian  conquest  and  saved  the  light  of  Greek  freedom  and 
civilisation  from  being  extinguished.  To  this  day  the  name  of  Plataea  is 
held  in  honour  throughout  the  world  ;  for  manv  centuries  that  honour 
was  unique.  Belgium  has  now  done  and  dared,  for  the  freedom  of  modern 
Europe,  as  much  as  Plataea  did  of  old  ;  she  has  unhappily  suffered  far  more. 
As  her  valour  has  been  equal  and  her  suffering  greater,  her  reward  will 
be  no  less  immortal.  Belgium  will  be  remembered  with  Plataea  centuries 
after  the  military  tyranny  of  the  Hohenzollerns  has  vanished  like  an  evil 


r* 


133 


By   M.   JUSSERAND 

LES  grands  carnages  internationaux  se  faisaient  plus  rares,  les  triomphes  de 
la  force  brutale  plus  difficiles  ;  d'aucuns  commen9aient  a  les  croire  choses 
du  passe  ;  des  accords  avaient  ete  signes  admettant  que  de  peuple  a  peuple, 
comme  d'homme  a  homme,  pourrait  regner  la  Justice. 
Dans  le  passe,  les  ferocites  barbares  ;  dans  I'avenir,  la  Justice. 
A  la  Belgique,  petite  par  le  territoire,  grande  par  le  ccEur,  laborieuse,  lettree, 
stricte  observatrice  des  traites,  pays  de  travailleurs,  de  penseurs,  d'artistes, 
aux  villes  celebres  par  leur  industrie  et  leur  beaute,  Liege  ou  naquit  Gretry, 
Louvain  ou  professa  Vesale,  Anvers  ou  Rubens  mourut,  I'alternative  fut 
offerte.  Prendrait-cUe  parti  pour  le  passe  ou  pour  I'avenir  ;  pour  la  Force 
Brutale  ou  la  Justice  ?  La  Force  Brutale  etait  debout,  avec  ses  promesses  et 
ses  menaces  :  serait-ce  la  tranquillite,  la  prosperite — la  soumission  ;  ou 
serait-ce  les  ravages,  les  executions  sanglantes,  les  devastations,  peut-etre 
la   mort  ? 

A  la  Belgique  fremissante,  a  la  Belgique  ensanglantee,  a  la  Belgique  mourante, 
mais  qui  ne  mourra  pas,  trois  fois,  quatre  fois,  I'alternative  fut  presentee. 
Nulle  souffrance,  si  atroce  fut-elle,  douleur  de  femmes  et  d'enfants,  de 
pauvres  gens  sans  foyer,  sans  pain,  sans  autels,  ne  put  changer  la  determi- 
nation de  la  Belgique  et  de  son  Roi  ;  pour  eux  il  n'y  avait  meme  pas  d'alter- 
native  ;  un  devoir  est  un  devoir  et  il  faut  le  remplir,  c'est  tout.  Une  fois 
de  plus,  et  sous  nos  yeux,  David  s'est  dresse  devant  Goliath. 
Le  jour  viendra  oti,  avec  le  reste  du  monde,  I'ennemi  meme  s'inclinera 
devant  tant  de  vertu,  enviera  une  si  pure  gloire,  qui  est  celle  du  Roi  comme 
du  plus  humble  de  ses  sujets  ;  Roi  digne  d'un  tel  peuple,  peuple  digne 
d'un  tel  Roi. 


C-o^/ 


^ 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 
Great  international  slaughter  had  becojne  rare,  and  the 
triumph  of  brute  force  a  difficult  tnatter  ;  some  began 
to  look  upon  them  as  things  of  the  past  ;  agreements 
had  been  signed,  admitting  that  between  tuition  and 
nation,  as  betzveen  man  and  man,  Justice  might  reign. 
In  the  past,  there  were  barbarous  ferocities  ;  in  the 
future  there  would  be  justice. 

The  alternative  teas  offered  to  Belgium,  a  country 
small  in  extent,  but  great  of  heart,  industrious, 
lettered,  a  strict  observer  of  treaties,  a  land  of  workers, 
thinkers,  and  artists,  of  towns  famous  for  their  ac- 
tivities and  their  beauty  :  Liege  which  gave  us 
Gretry,  Louvain  where  Vesalius  taught,  Antzcerp 
where  Rubens  died.  Would  she  range  herself  on  the 
side  of  the  Past  or  of  the  Present,  the  side  of  brutal 
Might  or  of  Justice?  Brutal  Might  zcas  afoot,  with 
his  promises  and  threats  :  t'joidd  she  have  tranquillity, 


prosperity — and  submission  ;  or  rapine,  bloody  execu- 
tions, devastation,  perhaps  death  ? 
Thrice,  four  ti?nes  zcas  this  alternative  presented  to 
quivering  and  bleeding  Belgium,  a  Belgium  dying,, 
but  not  to  die.  No  suffering,  hozvever  atrocious,  not 
even  the  agony  of  zvomen  and  children  and  of  poor 
folk  ZL'ithout  homes,  zvithoui  bread,  and  zvilhouf 
altars,  could  shake  the  determination  of  Belgium  and 
of  her  King  ;  for  them  the  alternative  did  not  even 
exist  ;  a  duty  is  a  duty,  and  must  be  performed, 
that  is  all.  Once  more,  and  this  time  before  our  eyes, 
David  rose  up  against  Goliath. 

The  day  will  come  zchen  zvith  the  rest  of  the  zcorld 
the  enemy  will  pay  homage  to  such  virtue,  and  will 
envy  the  stainless  glory  of  the  King  and  of  the  humblest 
of  his  subjects,  a  King  zcorthy  of  such  a  people,  a 
people  worthy  of  such  a  King. 


134 


By  THE   BARONESS   ORCZY 

Sunlight  and  Shadows 

Being  Extracts  from  the  Diary  of  Nurse  Bellamy  oj  the  Voluntary  Aid 
Detachment  at  Ladrock  '  October  i^th. 

MY  pet  Belgian  wounded  is  making  ver}-  little  progress.  His  heart  doesn't 
seem  to  be  in  it.  1  don't  think  that  he  means  to  get  well.  He  is  so  sure 
that  he  will  never  see  his  wife  and  little  children  again.  He  won't  be 
comforted.  I  wish  I  could  understand  all  that  he  says,  but  he  is  a  Walloon 
and  hardly  knows  any  French.  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^ 

To-day  we  have  moved  his  bed  close  to  the  window,  and  turned  it  so  that 
he  can  watch  the  children  when  they  come  out  of  school.  They  scramble 
on  the  railings  and  peep  in  at  him,  and  he  smiles  at  them,  oh  !  so  pathetic- 
ally :  it  nearly  breaks  my  heart  to  see  him.  October  i6th 
I  got  on  better  with  my  poor  wounded  Walloon  to-day.  I  know  now  that 
his  wife  and  five  little  children  were  at  Liege,  and  why  he  is  so  sure  that  he 
will  never  see  them  again.  When  I  tr\^  to  comfort  him,  he  just  looks  at  me 
with  utter  hopelessness  in  his  eyes,  and  makes  with  his  limp,  emaciated 
hands  pathetic  gestures  indicative  of  the  horrors  which  he  has  seen — 
women   murdered — children  mutilated  :    "  J'ai  vu,  madame  !  "   he   says, 

J  ■  October  ijth. 

Great  excitement  at  Ladrock  to-day.  Five  hundred  Belgian  refugees 
arrived  early  this  morning  and  we  at  the  V.A.D.  are  hoping  that  there  will 
be  a  few  among  them  who  speak  a  word  or  two  of  English  and  Flemish  or 
Walloon,  so  as  to  act  as  interpreters  between  us  and  our  wounded. 

October  i8th. 
My  poor  wounded  Walloon  has  been  watching  the  children  through  the 
window  all  the  morning,  and  I  watched  with  him  for  a  little  while.  One 
wee  mite  ran  and  brought  some  flowers  which  she  held  tightly  squeezed 
in  her  ver\-  grimy  little  fist,  and  these  she  held  out  at  arm's  length  to  the 
sick  man  whom  she  could  see  through  the  window.  I'he  sight  of  the 
flowers  and  of  the  child  seemed  to  cheer  him.  He  smiled  and  I  opened 
the  window  to  take  the  flowers  from  the  tiny  tot.  The  autumn  air  was 
very  sweet  and  balmy,  and  when  I  had  thrown  the  window  wide  open,  I 
stood  aside  so  that  my  wounded  man  should  get  a  good  view  of  the  street 
and  a  good  whiff  of  fresh  air.  I  watched  him  as  he  gazed  out  in  his  usual 
pathetic,  hopeless  way,  when  suddenly  a  change  came  over  his  face.  Before 
I  could  stop  him  he  had  half-raised  himself  out  of  bed  and  stretched  out 
his  arms  ;  then  he  fell  back  with  a  loud  cry  upon  his  pillow. 
The  sister  ran  to  my  rescue  and  I  left  her  to  look  after  him  for  a  moment, 
whilst  I — moved  by  a  strange  intuition — leaned  out  of  the  window  and  looked 
out  into  the  street.  A  melancholy  little  crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children 
were  wandering  aimlessly  along  the  pavement,  turning  wide,  inquiring  eyes 
on  our  quaint  little  provincial  street,  so  typical  of  an  English  country  town. 

135 


One  woman,  young  and  more  than  ordinarily  wretched-looking,  had  four 
little  children  clinging  to  her  skirts,  and  she  carried  a  wee  mite,  wrapped 
in  a  ragged  shawl  in  her  arms. 

It  was  instinct  in  me,  of  course,  intuition,  inspiration — whatever  you  like 
to  call  it.  Certain  it  is  that  I  threw  every  thought  of  order  and  regulations 
to  the  wind,  left  my  post  in  the  ward,  ran  out  into  the  street,  and  to  the 
poor  woman's  utter  astonishment  and  bewilderment  seized  her  by  the  hand, 
and  dragged  her  incontinently  into  the  V.A.D.  hospital  and  into  our  down- 
stairs ward.  Nobody  said  a  word,  for  the  same  inspiration  or  intuition 
had  come  to  every  one  of  us  then  :  every  one  of  us  at  least  who  happened 
to  be  watching  our  poor  Walloon  soldier  at  the  moment.  The  woman 
gave  one  cry  and  ran  straight  to  him,  the  children  scrambling  after  her  as 
best  they  could.  But  he  made  no  sound,  only  stretched  out  his  arms  and 
she  fell  sobbing  across  the  bed.  ^^^^^^^  ^9^^. 

My  pet  Belgian  wounded  has  just  left  the  hospital  to  go  to  a  convalescent 
home  in  the  neighbourhood.  His  wife  and  children  will  remain  in  Ladrock 
during  that  time.  He  got  well  wonderfully  quickly,  and  she  is  such  a  nice 
little  woman.    The  children  are  darhngs,  and  he  is  so  proud  of  them. 


____ '^-S»»»->^»^,,,.j,,c^;>'£-^?^^2^    ^ 


By  EDWARD   H.   SOTHERN 

Elisabeth  of  Belgium 

Silefit  we  look  on  her  all  pitiful 

Who,  stooping  to  the  lowly  Mary^s  mien, 

Rises  beyond  the  station  of  a  queen  ; 

And,  humble,  wears  a  saintly  aureole. 

Laviiig  the  bleeding  feet  and  ?naking  whole 

The  battle-broken  ;  and  the  plague-struck  clean. 

No  diadem  shall  match  the  myrtle  green 

Which  crippled  hands  shall  proffer  as  their  dole. 

Poor  shattered  hearts  and  weary  weeping  eyes 

Pulse  to  thy  name  and  search  the  dark  for  thee. 

The  famished  a?id  storm-beaten  scan  the  skies 

And  cry,  as  from  a  second  Calvary, 

"  My  God  !  My  God  !  Hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?  " 

"  Day  breaks  !  He  is  here."  Thy  steady  voice  replies. 

136 


By  MAURICE  DONNAY 

"  Les  Elisabeth  " 

J'aime  le  carillon  dans  tes  cites  antiques, 
O  vieiix  pays  gardien  de  tes  inoeiirs  domestiques. 
Noble  Flandre  oil  le  fiord  se  rechauffe  engourdi 
An  soleil  de  Castille  et  s'accouple  au  midi. 

Victor  Hugo 

CERTES,  avant  la  grande  guerre,  nous  aimions  la  Belgique,  pour  son 
histoire  si  souvent  melee  a  la  notre  ;  pour  son  peuple  hospitaller  et  doux  ; 
nous  I'aimions  parce  qu'entre  les  nations  armees,  elle  symbolisait  les  se- 
curites  de  la  paix.  O  Belgique  !  pays  noir  du  charbon,  blondes  plages  de 
sable,  vertes  prairies,  eau  dormante  des  canaux,  et  tant  de  vieilles  villes  aux 
mer\'eilles  d 'architecture  :  belles  cathedrales  qui  sont  comme  de  la  pierre 
solide  ;  hauts  beffrois  dont  les  cloches  convoquaient  a  I'approche  de  I'ennemi 
les  bourgeois  qui  pendant  des  siecles  se  sont  unis  de  combattre  pour  leurs 
libertes  ;  vieilles  halles,  hotels  de  ville,  dont  la  facade,  pierre  et  or,  nous 
montre  le  style  gothique  dans  sa  richesse  et  son  elegance  tertiaires,  silencieux 
beguinages.  La  Belgique  !  elle  est,  comme  I'ltalie,  une  des  patries  sacrees 
de  I'Art.  Trois  vers  latins  disent  a  peu  pres  :  Bruxelles  s'enorgueillit  de 
ses  nobles  hommes,  Anvers  de  ses  richesses,  Gand  de  ses  cordes  au  col 
(les  bourgeois  de  Gand),  Bruges  de  ses  belles  pucelles  (famosis  puellis), 
Louvain  de  ses  doctcurs  et  Malines  de  ses  fols.  Mais  ces  villes  s'en- 
orgueillissent  aussi  de  Sainte  Gertrude,  de  Saint  Bavon,  de  Saint  Rombaud 
et  de  leurs  grand'places,  et  des  anciennes  maisons  des  corporations,  et  des 
grands  vieux  maitres  Hubert  et  Jean  Van  Eyck,  Roger  Van  der  Weyden, 
Jean  Memling,  Gerard  David,  Quinten  Matsys,  artistes  admirables  dont  les 
oeuvres  immortelles  sont  une  invitation  a  la  sincerite  patriote  et  passionnee. 
Immortelles  !  peut-on  ecrire  ce  mot,  quand  les  Barbares  sont  la  ?  Combien 
de  monuments  ne  sont  deja  plus  que  des  mines  ?  Malines,  Louvain,  vos 
gais  carillons  nc  tinteront  plus  dans  I'air  leger.  Guerre  abominable  ou  il 
faut  pleurer  les  hommes  et  les  pierres  ! 

Oui,  nous  aimions  la  Belgique,  avant  la  grande  guerre  ;  mais,  aujourd'hui, 
nous  la  cherissons,  nous  I'admirons.  Artistique,  commer9ante,  industrielle, 
pacifique,  tout  a  coup  elle  devient  guerriere,  se  leve  pour  defendre  son 
droit,  notre  droit,  le  Droit !  Son  territoire  n'est  pas  vaste,  mais  elle  n'entend 
pas  que  I'etranger  le  traverse  sans  coup  ferir ;  son  armee  n'est  pas  nom- 
breuse :  elle  I'oppose  pourtant  aux  hordes  innombrables.  C'est  la  nation 
martyre  qui  accepte,  s'il  le  faut,  de  mourir  pour  sa  foi.  Le  lion  de  Brabant 
surgit  :  Liege  protesta  de  tous  ses  canons.  Liege  tomba,  puis  Namur  ; 
Bruxelles  est  occupe,  enfin  Anvers  !  O  douleur  !  Mais  les  Beiges  rc- 
sistent  toujours.  Cette  resistance  fait  I'admiration  des  peuples,  elle  n'in- 
spire  que  de  la  rage  aux  Allemands,  incapables  de  respect,  d'cstime,  de 
generosite,  de  ces  sentiments  qu'ont  les  iiommes  qui  mcme  dans  les  fureurs 
de  la  guerre,  restent  dignes  du  nom  d'hommes.     Les  villes  et  les  villages 

137 


sont  pilles,  incendies,  les  femmes,  les  enfants,  les  vieillards  massacres,  ou 
bien  mutiles  avec  des  raffinements  que  n'imaginerait  pas  un  gorille,  Tanimal 
lubrique  et  feroce.  D'ici  sous  les  yeux  des  rapports,  des  temoignages  : 
quand  on  les  connaitra,  quand  ils  seront  publies,  dans  leurs  details,  le  monde 
entier,  le  monde  civilise,  fremira  d'horreur  ! 

Cependant  un  roi  jeune,  charmant,  et  brave  est  dans  les  camps,  dans  les 
tranchees,  a  cote  de  ses  soldats  ;  une  reine  brave  et  vaillante  est  aupres  de 
son  chevalier. 


# 


* 


Cet  apres-midi,  dans  un  Paris  d'automne  voile  de  brumes,  un  groupe  de 
jeunes  gens  parcourt  les  rues.  L'un  d'eux  porte  le  drapeau  aux  trois  bandes 
verticales,  rouge,  jaune,  noir,  les  couleurs  de  I'ancien  comte  de  Brabant  et 
de  la  Revolution  qui  triompha  en  1789  du  regime  autrichien.  A  I'extremite 
de  la  hampe  un  bouquet  de  roses  blanches.  Le  peuple  de  Paris  regarde 
avec  un  sourire  et  une  emotion  fraternels  ces  jeunes  gens  qui  demain  seront 
soldats,  combattront  pour  la  deliverance  de  leur  pays. 
II  y  a  un  siecle,  en  1813,  les  conscrits  de  France  s'appelaient  les  "  Marie- 
Louise."  Conscrits  et  volontaires  beiges,  du  nom  de  votre  reine,  devenue 
beige  par  la  couronne  et  par  le  cceur,  ne  pourrait-on  pas  vous  appeler 
"  Les  Elisabeth  !  "  ^ 


TRANSLATION  {abridged)  by  Florence  Simmonds 
"  The  Elisabeths  " 

/  love  the  chimes  of  thine  antique  cities, 
O  ancient  land  that  guards  its  homely  manners, 
Noble  Flanders,  zvhere  the  frozen  North  zcarms 
itself  in  the  sun  of  Castille,  and  mates  with  the  South. 

Even  before  the  Great  War,  we  all  loved  Belgium, 
whose  history  has  so  often  mingled  with  our  own  ;  we 
loved  her  gentle  and  hospitable  people  ;  we  loved  her, 
because  in  the  midst  of  nations  in  arms,  she  seemed 
to  symbolise  the  safety  of  peace.  O  Belgium  I 
land  of  dark  coalfields,  of  golden,  sandy  beaches,  of 
green  meadows,  sleepy  canals,  and  countless  ancient 
towns  full  of  architectural  marvels  :  beautiful 
cathedrals,  like  masses  of  solid  stone  ;  lofty  belfries, 
whose  bells  rang  out  at  the  approach  of  the  enemy  to 
summon  the  burghers  who  for  centuries  had  united  to 
battle  for  their  liberties  ;  old  markets  and  town  halls, 
whose  fagades  of  stone  and  gold  shoiu  us  the  Gothic 
style  in  its  tertiary  grace  and  richness  ;  silent 
nunneries.  Belgium,  like  Italy,  is  one  of  the  sacred 
fatherlands  of  Art.  There  are  three  Latin  verses 
which  tell  us  something  of  this  sort  :  Brussels  is  proud 
of  her  noble  men,  Antwerp  of  her  wealth,  Ghent  of  her 
"  cords  round  the  neck  "  {her  burghers),  Bruges  of 
her  fair  maidens  (famosis  puellis),  Louvain  of  her 
doctors,  and  Mechlin  of  her  madmen.  But  these 
cities  were  also  proud  of  Saint  Gertrude,  Saint  Bavon, 


and  Saint  Romhaud,  their  stately  squares,  their  ancient 
guildhalls,  and  their  Old  Masters,  Hubert  and  Jan 
Van  Eyck,  Roger  Van  der  Weydeti,  Mending,  Gerard 
David,  and  Quinten  Matsys,  admirable  artists 
7vhose  immortal  loorks  are  an  invocation  of  real  and 
passionate  patriotism.  I  say  immortal  works,  but 
is  this  a  word  to  use  when  the  Barbarians  are  in 
possession  ?  How  many  monuments  are  now  but 
heaps  of  ruins  !  Mechlin  and  Louvain,  your  gay 
chimes  will  vibrate  no  fnore  in  the  clear  air  /  Abomin- 
able war,  which  has  made  us  weep  alike  for  men  and 

stones  ! 

***** 

This  afternoon,  a  group  of  young  men  were  marching 
through  the  misty  streets  of  autumnal  Paris.  One 
of  them  bore  a  flag  with  three  vertical  stripes  of  red, 
vellozv,  and  black,  the  colours  of  the  ancient  County  of 
Brabant  and  of  the  Revolution  of  1789  which  over- 
threw the  Austrian  regime.  At  the  top  of  the 
standard  was  tied  a  bunch  of  white  roses.  The  people 
of  Paris  looked  with  a  smile  and  mth  brotherly 
emotion  at  these  youths,  who  to-morrow  zcill  be  soldiers 
fighting  for  the  liberation  of  their  country. 
.4  century  ago,  in  1813,  the  French  conscripts  called 
themselves  the  "  Marie-Louises."  Belgian  conscripts 
and  volunteers  might  you  not  be  aptly  christened 
The  Elisabeths,"  after  your  Queen,  who  has  become 
a  Belgian  by  her  crown  and  heart  ? 


138 


i 


Andante  Relijioso. 


HYMN 

[homage   to  BELGIUM,  1914] 


^m 


f 


Edward  German. 


it=S: 


r=^ 


^ 


5 


Dtn 


3i: 


P 


^ 


:^ 


^^ 


^ 


o  w 


3: 


311 


311 


i 


i\  »    ^i-3- 


ig"  ^    §i 


^ 


^ff    ip 


^ 


■"/_,4t#^ 


tro- 


£ 


S==^ 


^ 


^      =^^g^ 


3i: 


331 


fclz 


"0~ 


3 


3x: 


3= 


i 


=t^ 


ip 


=§= 


^E        ^1^ 


-e- 
xr 


"r 
^ 


cresc 


=^ 


_Q_ 


^ 


ffi 


JC 


:S: 


>^  >         > 


t 


T=^ 


i 


>i- 


3 


IS. 


^,  ^  ^ 
Pit 


ZMSl 


* 


w 


/ 


? 


''):j>,    - 


« — a 
>l  ^ 


1 


4 


^^ 


3i: 


p   bo- 


-o- 


+i-»- 


-e- 


---e/ 


i^^nT-rSL, 


^1^ 


By  VISCOUNT  ALVERSTONE 

I  HAVE  for  many  years  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  Belgians  distinguished 

in  science,  jurisprudence,  literature,  and  educated  culture.     My  heart  has 

been  deeply  grieved  at  the  cruel  fate  which  has  befallen  their  nation  ;    the 

result  of  what  is,  in  my  opinion,  the  most  wicked  action  of  which  any 

civilised  nation  has  ever  been  guilty. 

Germany  can  never  remove  this  stain  on  her  honour. 

To  every  subject  of  the  Belgian  Crown,  and  to  their  gallant  King,  I  humbly 

offer  my  true  and  heartfelt  sympathy. 


By   SIR  HIRAM   S,   MAXIM 

IN  the  midst  of  the  wickedest  and  most  disastrous  war  that  the  world  has 

ever  known,  we  cannot  fail  to  realise  that  civilisation  demands  the  complete 

elimination  of  that  system  of  government  whereby  it  is  possible  for  one 

selfish  man,  merely  for  the  gratification  of  his  own  vanity  and  ambition, 

to  cause  such  an  infinite  amount  of  suffering  and  destruction. 

All  honour  and  glory  to  the  gallant  Belgian  nation  and  her  brave  and  noble 

King  ! 

Words  fail  to  express  the  great  sympathy  that  must  be  felt  everywhere  for 

the  terrible  sufferings  that  have  been  inflicted  on  this  valiant  little  country 

in  her  noble  struggle  to  maintain  her  honour  and  independence. 

"  Thou  shalt  live,  thou  shalt  prosper 
Through  thy  united  unity. 
With  heart  and  voice  in  chorus  zve  unite  : 
For  King,  for  Law  and  Liberty." 


^/0O»iytyz.    ^.  ^{/ ^kA^A^-u-<^ 


By  H.  A.   L.   FISHER 

SO  long  as  a  respect  for  right  survives  upon  this  planet  it  will  be  remembered 
that  the  King  of  a  tiny  nation  once  vindicated  the  public  law  of  Europe 
against  the  brutal  aggression  of  a  mighty  Power,  knowing  well  that  it  would 
be  for  his  heroic  subjects  to  sustain  the  first  furies  of  the  attack  and  to 
endure  the  certain  cruelties  of  a  temporar}^  conquest.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  the  capture  of  forts  and  cities,  the  defeat  of  armies,  the  murder  of  women 
and  children,  the  burning  of  a  cathedral  and  a  library  famous  throughout 
the  civilised  world,  neither  weakened  his  resolution  nor  broke  the  spirit  of 
his  people,  and  that  he  and  his  fought  on  tenaciously  to  the  end,  saving 
the  honour  and  liberties  of  Europe  by  their  act  of  desperate  and  inspired 
valour.  , 

//  /}   I     ^A^ 

140 


CHARLEROI 
Bi/  Joseph  Pennell 


By  MAY   SINCLAIR 
Field  Ambulance  in  Retreat 

Via  Dolorosa,  Via  Sacra 
I 

A  straight  flagged  road,  laid  on  the  rough  earth, 

A  causeway  of  stone  from  beautiful  city  to  city. 

Between  the  tall  trees,  the  slender,  delicate  trees, 

Through  the  flat  green  land,  by  plots  of  flowers,  by  black  canals  thick  with  heat. 

II 

The  road-makers  ?nade  it  well 

Of  fine  stone,  strong  for  the  feet  of  the  oxen  and  of  the  great  Flemish  horses. 

And  for  the  high  waggons  piled  with  corn  from  the  harvest. 

But  the  labourers  are  few  ; 

They  and  their  quiet  oxen  stand  aside  and  wait 

By  the  long  road  loud  with  the  passing  of  the  guns,  the  rush  of  armoured  cars 

and  the  tramp  of  an  army  on  the  march  forward  to  battle  ; 
And,  where  the  piled  corn-waggons  went,  our  dripping  Ambulance  carries  home 
Its  red  and  white  harvest  from  the  fields. 

Ill 

The  straight  flagged  road  breaks  into  dust,  into  a  thin  white  cloud, 

About  the  feet  of  a  regiment  driven  back  league  by  league. 

Rifles  at  trail,  and  standards  wrapped  in  black  funeral  cloths.     Unhasting, 

proud  in  retreat, 
They  smile  as  the  Red  Cross  Ambulance  rushes  by. 
( You  know  nothing  of  beauty  and  of  desolation  who  have  not  seen 
That  smile  of  an  army  in  retreat.) 

They  go  :  arid  our  shining,  beckoning  danger  goes  with  them, 
And  our  joy  in  the  harvests  that  we  gathered  in  at  nightfall  in  the  fields  ; 
And  like  an  unloved  hand  laid  on  a  beating  heart 
Our  safety  weighs  us  down. 

Safety  hard  and  strange  ;  stranger  and  yet  more  hard, 
As,  league  after  dying  league,  the  beautiful,  desolate  Land 
Falls  back  from  the  intolerable  speed  of  an  Ambulance  in  retreat 
On  the  sacred,  dolorous  Way.  t  ^^ 

141 


By    WINSTON    CHURCHILL 

ONCE  translated  into  action,  the  ideas  of  Von  Treitschke  and  of  Bernhardi 
have  been  repudiated  by  the  civilised  world.  These  ideas  are  peculiarly 
repugnant  to  Americans.  Militarism,  and  monarchy  which  has  in  it  any 
touch  of  absolutism,  have  always  incurred  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic 
suspicion  and  dislike  ;  a  growing,  enlightened  portion  of  our  population 
perceive  an  added  menace  to  the  world's  peace  and  true  prosperity  in  that 
militant,  nationalised  commercialism  which  has  been  so  deftly  woven  by 
the  Germans  into  the  monarchical  principle,  in  the  hope  of  prolonging  the 
life  of  that  principle.  This  nationalised  commercialism.,  moreover,  is  a 
logical  consequence  of  the  economic  doctrine  of  enlightened  self-interest, 
the  adaptability  of  which  to  modern  conditions  is  being  seriously  challenged. 
In  this  mongrel  code  of  modern  Germany  not  only  is  Nietzsche  misrepre- 
sented— but  even  Christ.  It  is  a  code  in  which  the  finest  spirits  of  Germany 
find  no  place  ;  nor  does  it  contain  any  hint  of  that  new  economics  of  human 
needs  for  which  the  world  owes  so  large  a  debt  to  Germany  herself. 
For  the  German  people  the  people  of  America,  Uke  the  people  of  Great 
Britain,  have  a  sincere  affection.  The  obsession  of  such  a  nation  is  difficult 
to  understand.  We  can  only  hope  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when 
Germany  will  awake  to  her  better  self. 

The  British  Empire  is  fighting  as  truly  for  the  German  people  as  for  her  own. 
Under  the  circumstances,  our  pity  and  sympathy  for  the  Belgian  people, 
and  our  indignation  at  what  we  must  deem  the  ruthless  destruction  of  that 
nation  to  satisfy  German  militarist,  commercial,  and  monarchical  ambition 
are  overwhelming. 

I  can  conceive  of  no  greater  rebuke  to  this  ambition  than  that  manifested 
by  the  contributions  which  to-day  are  being  poured  out  by  the  world  at 
large  to  care  for  those  Belgians  who  have  so  ruthlessly  and  so  needlessly 
been  deprived  of  their  homes  and  possessions.  No  aid  was  ever  given 
more  willingly.  We  give  it,  indeed,  as  a  just  debt  to  a  gallant  people  to 
whom  the  world  owes,  and  will  ever  owe,  more  than  it  can  pay — to  a  people 
who  have  sacrificed  their  all  in  the  cause  of  progress  and  liberty. 
The  name  of  their  heroic  sovereign,  King  Albert,  will  henceforth  be  written 
with  those  of  the  great  liberators  of  the  world. 

By   MARGARET   DELAND 

Liberty-loving  America  is  stirred  by  the  profoundest  sympathy  for  the 
families  of  the  gallant  Belgians  who  are  giving  their  lives  that  Liberty  rnay 
live  ;  she  has  only  admiration  for  the  King  who,  in  the  face  of  overwhelming 
odds,  is  leading  his  people  where  honour  calls.  She  can  never  forget  her 
debt  of  gratitude  to  the  martyr-nation  whose  King  and  people  are  giving 
all  that  they  possess  that  the  Spirit  of  Freedom  may  not  wholly  perish  from 
their  land.  ^  ^ 

142  / 


By  G.   K.   CHESTERTON 
The  Largest  Window  in  the  World 

IT  is  a  terrible  thing  to  have  trod  on  battlefields  before  they  were  fought. 
It  gives  a  man  a  cold  and  ghostly  shiver,  as  of  being  the  babe  unborn.  But 
I  was  a  boy,  and  almost  a  babe,  when  I  was  first  in  Belgium  ;  and  I  can  only 
write  down  the  reality  that  impressed  me  then.  Beyond  some  streets 
burning  with  brass-ware  which  seemed  perpetually  on  sale,  almost  out  of 
sight  of  the  great  Bclfr}-,  there  is  (or  was)  a  sort  of  museum  of  the  great 
Alemlinc.  Among  the  pictures  was  one  which  even  as  a  boy  I  could  not 
forget  :  and  ver^'  few  poets  or  prophets  can  even  imagine  how  much  a  boy 
can  forget.  It  was  a  picture  in  which  the  window  seemed  hardly  wider 
than  the  crack  of  a  door.  Yet  through  that  crack  the  human  eye  could 
almost,  in  the  strong  Scripture  rhetoric,  take  the  wings  of  the  morning  and 
abide  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea. 

And  I  remember  a  voice  near  me  speaking,  in  an  accent  that  was  neither 
French  nor  Flemish  nor  my  own  .  .  . 
"  You  see  how  narrow  the  windows  were  in  those  days." 
I  did.  I  also  began  to  see,  for  the  first  time,  how  narrow  the  minds  are 
in  these  days.  I  looked  at  the  little  window  again  ;  and  I  thought  it  the 
largest  window  in  the  world.  Simply  because  the  aperture  was  narrow,  I 
knew  the  landscape  was  wide.  If  modern  artists  had  swept  it  in  a  larger 
style,  I  should  have  noticed  it  no  more  than  some  hundred  miles  of  wall- 
paper. Then  note  not  only  the  pride  of  the  small  nation,  but  the  pride  of 
the  rich  peasantry.  Look  from  the  slit  of  a  turret  in  Cumberland  or  Calabria 
and  there  is  a  chance  that  your  eye  may  strike  something  slightly  depressing. 
But  any  strip  of  Belgium  will  be  a  string  of  jewels.  Note,  thirdly,  that  the 
thinness  of  the  outlook  is  largely  due  to  the  thickness  of  the  walls.  There  is 
no  trace  of  what  vulgar  people  call  "  a  vista  "  :  the  house  does  not  open  up 
indefinitely  to  the  world  outside.  The  man  of  Memlinc  sees  the  world  from 
his  window.  But  it  is  still  the  final  fact  that  the  window  was  his  window 
and  the  world  is  not  his  world.  I  should  have  thought  it,  then,  quite 
inconceivable  that  any  one  would  assail  that  turret.  But  I  should  have 
thought  it  equally  inconceivable  that  any  one  should  fail  to  defend  it.  A 
man  living  in  such  a  house  might  almost  shut  the  front  door  to  protect  the 
beauty  of  the  window. 

I  have  never  been  in  Belgium  since  ;  I  have  never  met  any  who  could 
possibly  be  in  connection  with  any  revolutionary  or  anti-national  idea. 
Yet  for  me  Belgium  has  continued  to  mean  that  small  field  of  vision,  making 
certain  so  vast  a  field  of  prosperity.  That  keyhole  is  still  the  largest 
window  in  the  world. 

Since  then  I  have  not  seen  the  country,  except  in  frightful  photographs. 
I  have  gradually  begun  to  understand  what  was  meant  by  my  alien  friend 
when  he  spoke  of  the  needless  narrowness  of  the  mediaeval  window.  To 
judge  by  the  photographs,  he  has  broadened  architectural  efi'ects  very  much  ; 
he  has  blown  window  into  window  and  enlarged  the  premises  ;   he  has  left 

143 


long  lines  of  street  in  which  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  he  has  combined 
the  windows  that  exist,  or  spared  the  windows  that  never  existed.  He 
cannot  make  anything  except  a  window  ;  for  a  window  is  simply  a  hole. 
When  he  has  blown  everything  to  atoms,  when  no  stack  or  stone  stands 
about  us  for  many  miles,  he  will  say,  with  an  insane  simplicity  :  "  I  have 
made  the  largest  window  in  the  world."  ^    ^ 

By   SIR  E.   RAY  LANKESTER 

I  ESTEEM  it  a  high  privilege  to  be  allowed  to  express  to  His  Majesty  King 
Albert  and  to  the  heroic  people  of  Belgium  my  heart-felt  admiration  for 
their  incomparable  valour.  With  a  courage  and  self-sacrifice  unparalleled 
in  history  they  held  back,  only  a  few  weeks  ago,  the  treacherous  attack  on 
their  country  by  the  German  hordes — a  deed  by  which  the  designs  of  the 
ruthless  Enemy  of  Europe  against  Britain  and  our  beloved  ally  France  were 
effectually  checked  and  frustrated.  The  barbarous  cruelties  in  which  the 
defeated  Germans  have  vented  their  rage  on  Belgium  have  filled  every 
Briton  with  the  desire  to  assuage  her  anguish  and  to  exact  from  William 
of  Prussia  the  full  price  of  his  unspeakable  brutality. 
All  humanity  glories  in  the  revelation  to  it,  at  this  crisis,  of  another  man, 
a  man  who  is  worthy  to  be  King,  a  King  who  has  fought  side  by  side  with 
his  people,  ready  to  give  his  life  rather  than  lose  his  honour,  to  die  rather 
than  accept  the  shameful  bribes  of  the  German  bully. 
My  knowledge  of  Belgium  and  my  friendship  with  her  people  date  from 
the  time  when  fifty  years  ago,  intent  on  geological  studies,  I  visited  the 
excavations  in  progress  for  the  new  fortifications  of  Antwerp  and  was  the 
guest  in  the  old  University  buildings  of  Louvain  of  the  great  naturalist 
Professor  P.  J.  Van  Beneden.  His  son,  a  youth  of  my  own  age,  became 
my  life-long  and  intimate  friend.  In  later  years,  when  Edouard  Van 
Beneden  had  become  professor  at  the  University  of  Liege  and  attained 
world-wide  celebrity  by  his  discoveries  in  biological  science,  I  stayed  with 
him  in  that  flourishing  city  and  he,  in  turn,  was  my  guest  in  Oxford  and  in 
London.  I  have  had  many  friends  among  Belgian  naturalists,  some  con- 
nected with  the  wonderful  museum  in  Brussels,  others  who  sought  collabora- 
tion with  me  in  my  own  laborator}-' — and  I  have  the  honour  of  being  a  foreign 
Associate  of  the  Royal  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Belgium.  Thus,  I  do  not 
write  here  with  an  admiration  and  aff^ection  newly  called  into  being  but  as 
an  old  and  favoured  comrade,  who  is  familiar  with  the  glories  of  ancient 
Flanders  and  the  splendid  achievements  of  her  sons  in  science  and  in  art. 
I  venture  to  render  my  homage  to  King  Albert  and  his  people  as  one  who 
knows  and  loves  the  unconquerable  spirit,  the  unswerving  fidelity,  of  the 
free  and  independent  Belgian  folko  ^y      /         > 

144 


By  DON  ANTONIO   LOPEZ  MUNOZ 

EjEMPLO    ReDENTOR 

PARA  escribir  una  pagina  en  honor  de  Belgica,  para  Ilorar  por  sus  hijos 
muertos,  por  sus  fabricas  deshechas,  por  sus  campos  arrasados,  por  sus 
monumentos  destruidos,  por  sus  hogares  sin  familia  y  sus  familias  sin  hogar, 
por  la  augusta  paz  de  su  trabajo  perdida,  por  sus  horizontes  de  esperanza 
cerrados  a  la  luz,  por  la  aterradora  soledad  de  sus  almas  sin  refugio,  sin 
termino  en  sus  dolores,  sin  el  bendito  patrimonio  de  sus  tradiciones  afectivas, 
unico  sosten  en  las  humanas  luchas,  basta  scr  hombre.  Si,  basta  ser 
hombre  ;  y  es  en  todo  caso  doble  estimulo  ser  hijo  de  Espaiia,  la  patria  del 
Quijote  que  encarna  la  exaltacion  del  ideal  y  vibra  con  ecos  de  amor  en 
todos  los  ambitos  del  mundo,  para  rendir  homenaje  a  un  pueblo  que  por 
el  ideal  sacrifica  la  vida,  dando  un  ejemplo  que  hard  sentirse  a  la  Humanidad 
redimida  y  orgullosa. 

Rey  Alberto,  desdichado  tu,  que  aun  ofreciendo  el  pecho  en  las  avanzadas, 
no  has  podido  impedir  que  tu  nacion  sea  degollada  en  lucha  desigual  ;  pero 
dichoso  tii,  que  con  la  espada  en  la  diestra  eres  la  imagen  viva  del  heroismo 
tallada  en  carne  por  la  inspiracion  genial  de  tu  pueblo,  como  seras  maiiana 
la  muerta  imagen  inmortal  tallada  en  piedra  y  en  bronce  por  la  admiracion  de 
los  siglos.  Y  dichoso  tambien,  porque  al  tiempo  mismo  que  tu  fuiste  caudillo 
en  la  brecha,  la  Reina  ha  sido  en  el  hospital  y  en  el  campo  el  angel  de  la 
piedad  ;  simbolo  tii  de  la  fortaleza  en  el  combate,  si'mbolo  ella  de  la  ternura 
y  de  la  paz  del  alma  que  constitui'a  la  caracteristica  del  culto  y  laborioso 
pueblo  belga  ;  dandose  asi  testimonio  de  como  el  trabajo  civilizador,  lejos 
de  amenguar  la  virilidad  del  temperamento,  lo  dispone  al  arranque  en  toda 
ocasion  gloriosa. 

Belgica,  nacion  de  heroes  y  de  martires,  has  caido  al  golpe  de  la  fucrza  ; 
pero  sobre  la  fucrza  que  hunde  has  puesto  la  dignidad  que  glorifica  ;  has 
caido  ;  pero  no  has  muerto  ;  y  aunque  no  revivieras  sobre  tu  tierra  adorada, 
reviviras  eterna  en  el  amor  de  todos  los  corazones.  La  conciencia  humana 
sera  tu  hogar  y  tu  templo. 


TRANSLATION  by  Prof.  Fitzmaurice-KcUy 

To  he  a  man  is  cnout^h  to  urite  a  page  in  honour  of  which  will  make  humanity  feel  proud  and  conscious 

Belgium  :    to  lament  her  slaughtered  ones,  her  ruined  of  its  redemption. 

industries,   her  devastated  meadows,  her  demolished  I'nhappy  thou,  King  Albert,  who,  though  imperilling 

monuments,    her    homes    untenanted,    her    homeless  thy  life  in  the  vanguard,  hast  not  availed  to  save  thy 

children,  the  august  peace  of  all  her  efforts  vanished,  nation   from    succumbing    in    an    unequal    conflict  ! 

the  horizon  of  hope  cut  off  from  light,  the  appalling  Yet  happy  thou  who,  sword  in  hand,  art  the  living 

sohtude  of  her  unsheltered  population  whose  woes  are  image  of  the  heroism   made  bodily  manifest   by   the 

illimitable,   and  who  are  bereft   even   of  the  sacred  dominant    inspiration    of   thy   people  !      To-morrmv 

inheritance  of  fond  traditions — the  one  mainstay  in  thou  shalt  see  its  mute,  immortal  farm  sculptured  in 

human  contests.      ]'cs,  to  be  a  man  is  enough.     And,  stone   or    bronze  for    the   admiration    of  all   ages  ! 

in  any  case,  for  etery  son  of  Spain,  the  land  of  Don  Happy  too,  inasmuch  as,  at  the  very  time  when  thou 

Quixote,  incarnating  the  exaltation  of  the  ideal  and  wast  foremost  in  the  breach,  thy  Queen  was  the  angel 

thrilling  with  echoes  of  love  throughout  the  world,  of  mercy  in  the  hospital  or  field  !    Thou  the  symbol 

there  is  a  double  obligation  to  pay  homage  to  a  race  of  valour   in    the   battle  !    She   the  symbol  of  that 

that  surrenders  life  for  its  ideal,  and  sets  an  example  tcndcrruss  and  peace  of  spirit  so  characteristic  of  the 

H5 


refined  and  liardzvorking  Belgian  people  !   And  thus  Thou  hast  perished,  hut  thou  hast  bequeathed  us  an 

proving  that  civih'sing  labour,  so  far  from  diminishing  example  of  hozv  men  die  in    the   cause   of  justice  ! 

manliness  of  soul,  fosters  its  impetuous  fire.  Even  if  thou  zverl  not  to  he  horn  anew  on  thy  consecrated 

Belgium,  nation  of  heroes  and  of  martyrs,  thou  hast  soil,  thou  wilt  live  for  ever  in  the  love  of  all  men's 

fallen  beneath   the  blozvs  of  Might,  but  above  that  hearts.     The   conscience    of  humanity   shall  be    thy 

overzvhelming  force  thou  hast  set  a  glorifying  splendour!  dzvelling  and  thy  temple. 


By  SIR  NORMAN   LOCKYER 

MEN  of  science  have  been  accustomed  to  look  upon  German  methods  in 
education  and  applied  science  as  worthy  of  imitation,  and  in  my  address  as 
President  of  the  British  Association  in  1903  I  pointed  out  the  serious  danger 
we  were  running  in  allowing  them  to  outstrip  us  in  these  directions.  But 
we  now  know  that  their  guiding  spirit  was  not  the  advance  of  civilisation 
but  the  provision  of  means  for  the  destruction  of  all  who  opposed  the 
inordinate  ambition  of  the  ruling  class  for  world  power. 
The  story  of  the  bravery  which  King  Albert  and  his  nation  have  shown  in 
sacrificing  everything  rather  than  honour  will  be  handed  down  from 
generation  to  generation,  a  monument  to  a  great  people. 
The  present  is  one  of  misery  and  suffering  beyond  all  precedent,  brDught 
about  by  unexampled  brutality  in  waging  war  by  means  of  destruction, 
rapine,  cruelty,  and  lies  rather  than  by  the  best  generalship  and  fighting 
power.  But  a  time  will  soon  come  when  Belgium  will  rise  liks  a  Phoenix 
from  its  ashes  and  she  may  console  herself  with  the  thought  that  even  in 
the  distant  future  it  will  be  recognised  that  the  history  of  the  world  has  been 
ennobled  by  her  deeds  and  her  determination  to  defend  her  honour.  Her 
efforts  will  be  chronicled  as  a  brillianl  chapter  in  the  annals  of  the  human 
race. 


~iz:^ 


By  SIR  FREDERICK  TREVES 

With  grave 
Aspect  he  rose,  and  in  his  rising  seemed 
A  pillar  0/  state  ;  deep  on  his  front  engraven 
Deliberation  sat,  and  public  care  ; 
And  princely  counsel  in  his  face  yet  shone 
Majestic  though  in  ruin. — Paiiadise  Lost. 


''''''^•^^JiZZUicA.^^ttoji^ 


14b 


rOLi:  llESOliE  U0M3IAGE  A  HA  MAJESlH  LE  i:ul  ALUEUT  I'l  DE  BELGIQUE  ET  A  SES  SOLDATS. 


BERCEUSE  HEROIQUE 

BY 


CLAUDE    DEBUSSY 


jVotler/ (tans  lenteur).  0  =  12. 


a^^ 


Grave  et  toutenn. 


H^z^^Mi^ 


:^= 


•^» 


E^^E^=j!£fE^ 


^ 


pp 


•^    ^ 


-*— 5 


-=r-= 


-#^o^r- 


1^ 


retell  u. 


^■ 


S:2^,%=a 


2-!i^ 


*°1 1- 


=»^=5^ 


-,==-'-, r 


p/) 


•>  ■>      T- 


zzriz 


^f 


"O" 


■r 


=r^=ii^ 


E3^^t 


^"■C"*-""^:^^!^ 


I        1  1.       I.       1  r. 


au  mouvenunt.  #  =  80. 


7A 


:::S-nt2:=:t 


:t^5::s' 


:r:-?S-: 


IT.  ij 

-:r— 1 « — i(— ,-J 


^^Zz 


•J-i- 


-p.-li=^ 


trmpre  PP 


T  y  r  T  r  "ir  r 


.        simile. 


r  ■^-  r  ^-  r 


;o^ ?*=& -**    — ■-• — m-m-l-m^ 


ai^i-i-:i[ 


/J  expressif. 


'r^:r^ 


^ 


7)IH  /' 


^i^ijfe 


i 


^  f  r  r  ^r  ^ 


T  i-  T  -r  ry^  r   r  >  r  f- 


Coptjri'jht  by  Durand  el  CiC  in   L'.:3.A.,  191J. 


147 


un  peu  en  dehors. 

^  3 


"f  -pr  T         -^ 

en  animant  et  en  augmentant  peu  a  pea. 


r  '  r 

animez  toujours. 


w 


iJ^ 


-5=1- 


S=^^^ 


/»  ^ 


^e.- 


^•-        *^     ^       lit     tj*-     *         ^  79-    ^     „^      j.^     -,-    H--  ^ .  ___J 


¥    % 


ili 


^P'^t — ?r:^=;!p= 


i;*- 


^g-SE52^ 


:t;'-22= 


_qL 


S 


{ 


-5^^Sr 


'**— ^y=4^< 


=^ 


-W- 


=9a= 


a-^S  ^r-p-  B, 


^ rtjT ''- 


3* 


^^ 


J^13         ^ 


/ 


i?fe 


78^ 


:r 


4^; 


^  P/««  calme. 


tT-^ 


_c2_ 


a^e: 


^^^^te 


ii*.        t  h*- 


ij*- 


I'  Jierement. 


=-^+- 


S=aMFz==^ 


.^  ti-    '. 


T      =l^f^ 


Xwi 


■1       tiP- 


:S^?^fc 


^|ir^4*— ^r-.-i'-^ii^^ 


Eevenir progressivement  au  motivement. 


zi^ggizj^Q- 


^ N 


^^^^ 


te 


Cq- 


m/ 


m.g. 


^-r^,_^T 


S2^r,tt:2' 


^|S 


^ 


148 


?«^    oo-      r,*-   =   -'p- 


^  rir 


(^^-1= 


au  mouvement.  #=80. 


J=f 


m 


'Zz:t-i^- 


^SIj±| 


—  * 


^i^B^ 


-t2-^c 


:^ 


iP^ 

'/  «<^-      j^,<- 


y  «<<:. 


£,• 


^jzrixi 


':^r^  f 


^::'-?-v 


J  J  J  d .;-_-  >      J 


;:HS5iikH^ 


i_j  r   I    ?#-^j>-*-#^<:.-*  '*^^^*^^^  T^^'f'T'f^'T 


^^ 


.^. -A 


J=| 


^^:C,tai 


^^^^t 


T^ 


^ 


1-^-* — *^ 


r^j^T^Tj-  rjfj-jjrj 


^ 


,-5H«— 1^ 


1i^  -i^  -if. 


=5=5 


^ 


1-^-*— •- 


1=i 


§ 


rg:y    "^o^     , 


3 


piup 


P^ ^^^ ^^'^^^ 


^■H 


2-r 


ejcpressif. 


^ 


?T>T~oi: 


^r^^ 


^=^=^=3: 


=^a= 


5^ 


?' — p" 


^ 


V" 


'f^F 


:=:2c^ 


jE»t  reimant  jasqu'd  la  Jin.  3 

lointain.. — . 


^ 


■p" 


-3H ?._ 


^^ 


^m 


/j/jM  lointain. 


zrwz 


— \ — •»*.* 


^SSI 


Se 


PP 


m..g. 


piii  PP 


vug. 


3E 


m^-E 


^5?=^ 


E8E 


^ 


•^ 


?as:; 


^^:^^^ 


H-^S?^ 


Sfe 


=i^L^: 


|fe, 


PPP^ 


S 


la= 


II 


M^zzaz 


^ 


r-^fVf^^ 


^ 


;,-#. 


-Oe»- 


^ 


-«=<r?- 


[=g32 


^t^ 


2^^ 


r  ^  r 


r  - 


r  r 


140 


By  ANTONIO  MACIEIRA 

E  jidgareis  qual  e  ?nms  excetente 
Se  ser  do  mimdo  rei,  se  de  tal  gente. 

Luiz  DE  Camoes,  Luziadas,  Canto  I,  estancia  lo 

A  "  BARBARIE  multiplicada  pela  sciencia  "  ou  seja  a  ac^ao  alema,  assim 
definida  ha  pouco  e  com  rigor  scientifico  por  M.  Boutroux,  tornou  agoni- 
sante  o  grande  povo  de  uma  pequena  nagao.  Essa  barharie  civilisada  faltou 
a  fe  dos  tratados,  trucidou,  incendiou,  matou,  depois  de  tentar  o  suborno 
do  povo  laborioso  que  entregue  ao  seu  progresso,  sem  ambigoes  externas^ 
nao  dando  razao  a  odios  nem  odiando,  jamais  pretextara  a  feroz  arremetida 
do  imperialisinio  di-vinizado. 

Nem  rigor  de  formulas,  nem  deveres  de  humanidade,  nem  simples  piedade, 
nem  intuitivo  sentimento  artistico  ;  ou  seja  :  nem  direito,  nem  ideias 
liberaes,  nem  lagrimas  de  inocentes,  nem  respeito  pela  beleza — nada  poude 
detel-a  ! 

N'essa  tragedia  formidavel  que  abriu  ferida  larga  e  funda  em  todas  as  almas 
piedosas,  existe  a  mais  admiravel  ligao  que  um  povo  pode  dar  em  fulguragoes 
de  honra — li^ao  que  de  ouvil-a  a  alma  se  arranca  em  convulsoes  de  dor,  e 
que  de  pensal-a  o  espirito  se  alevanta  na  mais  profunda  e  afectiva  e  grata 
das  admira^oes. 

Grande  povo  na  paz  como  na  guerra,  a  Belgica  !  Na9ao  de  herois  que 
embargaram  essa  avan^ada  fulminante  que  tentou  esmagar  a  vida  da  Fran9a 
— a  vida  de  nos  todos — e  impedir  o  esforgo  protector  da  Inglaterra,  digna 
colaboradora  na  defeza  das  nossas  vidas  !  Na9ao  estremecida,  relicario  das 
maiores  dores  sofridas  sob  o  peso  das  maiores  injusti9as  ! 

Sobre  esse  glorioso  Paiz  caem  as  sagradas  ben9aos  dos  que  amam  a  liberdade 

querendo-a  para  todos,  dos  que  adoram  a  belesa  das  ideias  e  da  forma  com 

a  artistica  paixao  das  almas  simples. 

A  Belgica  e  a  na^ao  exemplar  da  dor  glorificada. 

O  imperialismo  alemao  nao  venceu  a  Belgica,  porque  a  dor  dos  povos  nao 

se  vence  ;   a  dor  dos  povos  fortalece-os. 

Onde  quer  que  esteja  o  valoroso  Rei  dos  Belgas,  ecta  a  Belgica  ;  onde  quer 

que  esteja  essa  figura  de  nobre  Rainha  que  errou  pelo  territorio  da  sua 

Patria  sempre  bem  perto  de  cada  alma  dos  epicos  lutadores  que  a  defendiam^ 

esta  a  Belgica. 

E  se  a  Belgica  existe  na  guerra  moralmente  mais  querida,  mais  amada,  mais 

respeitada,  mais  forte  com  o  seu  territorio  devastado,  os  sens  monumentos 

arrasados  e  o  seu  povo  sem  lar,  na  paz,  que  nao  tardara,  ela  ficara  moral  e 

materialmente  o  padrao  das  nagoes  que  sabem  lutar  por  sua  honra,  em  defeza 

propria  e  das  grandes  causas  da  humanidade. 

Cidadao  de  uma  Patria  gloriosa  que  ama  o  seu  territorio  como  a  propria 

carne  ;    republicano  de  inteligencia  e  de  sentimento,  esta  homenagem  que 

presto  comovidamente  ao  bravo  e  alto  representante  do  Grande  Povo,  ao 

150 


rei  Alberto,  e  aquela  mesma,  que,  no  fundo — embora  com  melhores  palavras, 
e  decerto,  espero  bem,  em  breve  com  actos — Ihe  prestaria  e  prestara  a 
nacionalidade  portugueza. 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 

And  you  u-ill  judge  xchich  is  the  better  : 

To  be  King  of  the  world,  or  King  of  such  a  people. 

Lliz  DE  C.\MOENS,  Lusiad,  Canto  1, 1.  lo. 

"  Barbarism  multiplied  by  science,"  as  M.  Boutroux 
has  defined  German  action  Kith  scientific  precision, 
has  brought  the  pains  of  death  upon  the  great  people 
of  a  little  nation.  This  "  civilised  barbarism," 
repudiating  a  solemn  treaty,  has  proceeded  to  kill, 
burn,  and  massacre,  after  a  vain  attempt  to  suborn 
an  industrious  people,  ziholly  absorbed  in  progress, 
cherishing  no  external  ambitions,  giving  no  pretext 
for  haired,  and  hating  no  one — a  people  who  had 
never  given  the  least  justification  for  the  savage 
onslaught  of  deified  Imperialism. 
Nothing  sufficed  to  avert  this — neither  the  duties  of 
humanity,  nor  pure  pity,  nor  artistic  sentiment — in 
other  words  :  equity,  liberal  aspirations,  the  tears  of 
innocence,  beauty  itself  / 

From  the  dire  tragedy  that  has  so  deeply  wounded  all 
souls  capable  of  pity,  we  may  learn  the  most  admirable 
lesson  of  untarnished  honour  that  any  people  could 
have  given  ;  to  listen  to  the  lesson  is  to  have  one's 
heart  torn  by  pain,  to  think  of  it  is  to  feel  one's  spirit 
uplifted  to  the  most  intense,  the  most  effective,  and 
Ihe  most  grateful  of  admirations. 
Great  is  Belgium,  both  in  peace  and  war  !  Heroic 
nation,  which  has  arrested  the  thunderbolt  aimed  at 
the  life  of  France — our  common  life — and  foiled  the 
attempt  lu  baffle  the  protecting  effort  of  England, 


worthy  collaborator  in  the  defence  of  that  common 
life  !  Nation  groaning  and  travailing,  the  shrine  of 
supreme  suffering  brought  about  by  supreme  injustice  I 
Blessed  be  this  glorious  country  by  those  who  love 
liberty,  desiring  it  for  all,  by  those  who  worship  the 
beauty  of  ideas  and  of  form  with  the  art-inspired 
passion  of  simple  souls  t 

The  Belgian  nation  is  the  prototype  of  Pain  glorified. 
German  Imperialism  has  not  conquered  Belgium,  for 
triumphs  cannot  be  achieved  over  a  people's  pain  ; 
a  nation  grows  stronger  by  suffering. 
Wherever  the  brave  King  of  the  Belgians  is,  there  is 
Belgium  ;  wherever  we  find  that  noble  Queen  who 
has  wandered  over  the  territory  of  her  kingdom, 
always  close  to  the  souls  of  its  heroic  defenders,  there 
is  Belgium. 

And  if  in  war  Belgium  seems  morally  more  beloved, 
more  respected,  and  mightier,  with  her  devastated 
fields,  her  ruined  monuments,  and  her  homeless  people, 
in  the  peace  that  will  come  before  long,  she  will  remain 
the  model  for  all  nations  zvho  fight  for  their  honour, 
for  their  own  defence,  and  that  of  the  great  causes  of 
humanity. 

Citizen  of  a  glorious  land,  who  loves  his  country  as 
his  own  flesh  and  blood  /  Republican  in  heart  and 
mind  I  This  homage  I  pay  with  deep  emotion  to 
the  brave  representative  of  a  brave  people  is  one  with 
the  homage  which  the  Portuguese  nation  offers  him 
in  better  terms — will  offer  him  shortly,  I  hope,  in 
terms  of  action  I 


By  GEORGE  H.  PERLEY  {representing  the  Canadian  Government  in 
Lotidon) 

ALL  honour  to  the  boundless  courage  of  the  Belgians  and  their  brave  King  ! 
They  have  given  to  the  world  the  most  splendid  example  of  a  small  country 
fighting  against  enormous  odds  in  defence  of  its  soil  and  for  the  principles 
of  freedom  and  liberty.  We  can  never  repay  them  for  their  tremendous 
sacrifices,  but  it  is  our  duty  to  drive  the  enemy  from  Belgium  as  quickly 
as  possible  and  to  punish  him  for  his  ruthless  slaughter  and  wanton 
destruction. 


151 


By  WILLIAM   CANTON 

IT  has  now  been  for  months,  it  will  be  for  centuries,  one  of  the  glorious 
things  of  history,  that  in  this  world- war  it  was  one  little  nation,  which  had 
no  ambition  to  serve,  which  had  much  to  lose,  but  which  was  intrepid  and 
unbribable,  that  flung  itself  across  the  first  rush  of  a  great  empire,  and  held 
it  in  check  single-handed.  It  was  overborne  by  the  weight  of  brute  millions  ; 
its  storied  cities,  its  prosperous  villages,  its  fruitful  fields  were  looted, 
drenched  with  blood,  ruined  by  fire  ;  yet  it  fought  on  alone,  with  unshaken 
faith  ;  it  was  never  defeated.  Its  very  reverses  were  material  and  moral 
triumphs  ;  the  success  of  its  amazing  courage  and  tenacity  is  visible  to-day 
in  the  gigantic  battle-front  of  the  Allies  from  the  sea  to  the  Vosges. 
Every  drop  of  blood  that  Belgium  has  shed  has  been  a  testimony  to  the 
heavenly  Powers  ;  a  vindication  of  the  world's  ideals  of  liberty,  justice, 
mercy,  honour,  chivalry  ;  an  appeal  to  the  conscience  of  Christendom. 
Yes,  and  every  outrage  of  the  drunken  and  unclean  hordes  of  Berlin  has  been 
a  cry  to  Heaven  for  vengeance.  Our  material  debt  to  Belgium  is  enormous  ; 
our  moral  debt  is  beyond  calculation.  And  these  are  not  our  debts  only, 
but  the  debts  of  the  world. 

The  heroisms  of  old  days  rise  before  me — Leonidas  at  Thermopylae,  our 
own  Byrhtnoth  holding  Blackwater  ford  below  Maldon,  the  Swiss  peasants 
with  their  boulders  and  tree-trunks  at  Morgarten.  They  are  dim  shadows 
beside  this  little  people,  whose  women  and  children  are  heroic.  I  see  their 
King  in  the  trenches,  sharing  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  his  comrades 
in  arms,  inspiring  them  with  the  cheerfulness  of  an  indomitable  soul.  And 
I  see  another  king,  frantically  fussing  from  front  to  front  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Red  Cross,  and  sleeping  at  night,  when  he  can  sleep,  in  a 
huge  iron  cage  encircled  by  a  swarm  of  Uhlans  and  a  guard  of  airmen. 
His  iron  cage  !  The  words  evoke  another  memory.  Out  of  the  far  past 
I  hear  the  voice  of  a  greater  Kaiser,  scared  by  a  dream  of  the  night  : 

Behold,  a  watcher  and  an  holy  one  came  dozen  from  heaven  ;  he  cried 
aloud,  and  said  thus,  Hew  down  the  tree,  and  cut  off  his  branches  ;  shake 
off  his  leaves,  and  scatter  his  fruit  :  let  the  beasts  get  away  from  under  it, 
and  the  fowls  from  his  branches  : 

Nevertheless  leave  the  stump  of  his  roots  in  the  earth,  even  with  a  band  of 
iron  and  brass,  in  the  tender  grass  of  the  field  ;  and  let  it  be  wet  with  the  dew 
of  Heaven,  and  let  his  portion  be  with  the  beasts  iti  the  grass  of  the  earth : 
Let  his  heart  be  changed  from  man's,  and  let  a  beast's  heart  be  given 
unto  him  ;  and  let  seven  times  pass  over  him. 

The  same  watchers  and  holy  ones  still  look  out  of  the  clouds.  Surely 
no  man,  whatever  his  love  of  peace  and  horror  of  war,  can  consent  to 
any  end  of  this  unprovoked  and  barbarous  aggression  but  "  a  fight  to  the 
finish  "  ;  and  when  the  tribunal  of  the  nations  sits  in  judgment,  to  any 
plea  of  mistaken  pity  or  of  high  policy,  of  diplomatic  expediency,  or  of 
kinship  to  stay  the  hand  of  justice  and  retribution. 
152 


What  shall  be  said  of  this  sorrowful  nation  eating  the  bread  of  the  exile  ? 
What  need  there  be  said  ?  The  "  tears  of  these  things  "  grip  the  heart  of 
two  hemispheres.  These  houseless  men  and  women  and  children  are  in  a 
bitterly  literal  sense  our  blood-brothers  and  blood-sisters  and  little  ones. 
They  are  the  kinsfolk  of  all  right-minded  and  true-hearted  people.  All  the 
material  help  they  need  will  be  given  gladly  and  gratefully.  But  they  need 
more — the  uplifting  of  the  heart  by  admiration,  by  honour,  by  the  cheering 
strength  of  personal  affection. 

A  new  spring  will  come  to  the  ravaged  land  ;  new  cities  and  villages  will 
replace  the  old.  Lament  not  overmuch  the  great  and  beautiful  art  that 
has  vanished — it  lives  everlasting  in  the  heavens  and  in  the  memon,'  of  men. 
And  the  dead — weep  for  them,  but  with  a  proud  joy  that  they  died  for  all 
that  makes  life  w^orth  living. 

O  King,  O  people,  the  sound  of  a  great  bell  is  ringing  over  your  land — a 
mightier  bell  even  than  "  Roland  "  ;  it  is  the  bell  of  eternal  justice  and 
right,  cr\'ing  that  there  is  "  Victory  in  the  land."  >  a 

By  MRS.  W.   K.   CLIFFORD 
To  His  Majesty  King  Albert 

GREATLY  daring  I  venture  to  address  you,  w'hile  I  bow  my  head,  as  all 
the  world  does.  Sir,  to  you  and  to  your  crucified  country — crucified,  as 
Christ  was,  to  save  others.  You  are  bereft  of  the  temporary  deckings  of 
your  Kingship,  and  your  people  of  all  they  possessed  ;  and  yet  so  much  has 
come  to  you  and  them,  though  it  is  obscured  now  by  the  wreckage  of 
many  homes,  the  vanishing  of  many  lives,  by  all  the  calamities  that  a  cruel 
dishonourable  enemy  could  bring. 

For  a  splendid  immortality  is  yours — even  here  in  this  mortal  world — and 
none  can  take  it  from  you.  Your  enemy  came  in  shining  armour  that  is 
for  ever  blackened  with  crime  and  stained  with  blood  ;  but  your  armour 
none  can  hurt  nor  time  disfigure  :  it  is  woven  of  Truth  and  Honour,  of 
Courage  and  Endurance,  and  through  the  centuries  it  will  shine  to  those 
who  sit  in  darkness,  to  those  who  doubt  or  hesitate.  You  have  made  the 
whole  world  better  because  of  all  that  you  have  put  into  it.  And  for  thought 
of  you,  and  your  people,  many  will  become  great,  and  brave  deeds  will  be 
done ;  and  thousands  whose  courage  would  fail  will  take  heart,  feeling  that 
they  must  be  worthy  of  a  world  in  which  you  lived,  that  as  you  kept  faith  so 
in  turn  will  they  ;  and  whether  their  swords  be  strong  or  weak  they  will  fight 
and  endure,  as  you  have  done,  without  flinching.  Do  you  realise  it  all.  Sir, 
the  divine  example  you  have  set  us  ;  does  it  help  you  a  little,  does  it  comfort 
you,  to  know  that  our  hearts  go  out  to  you  as  we  reverently  bow  our  heads, 
to  you  and  your  Queen,  to  your  soldiers  and  your  dead  } 


By  HJALMAR  BARNTING 

MIN  personliga  hylining  at  Belgien  betyder  sa  litet.  Darfor  vill  jag  beratta 
om  mitt  folk. 

Sverge  var  forutbestamt  att  se  med  tyska  ogon  pa  varldskrisen.  Tyskarna 
aro  vara  stamfrander,  dit  gar  vara  forbindelsers  tataste  nat,  franTyskland  har 
svensk  odling  starkast  paverkats.  Vara  ledande  klasser  beundra  tysk 
ordning  och  plikttrohet,  de  underordnades  disciplin  och  landets  valdiga 
materiella  uppsving.  Och  var  arbetarrorelse  vaxte  som  tysk  planta,  innan 
den  slog  belt  rot  och  formades  om  efter  den  svenska  jorden  ;  nar  Sverges 
arbetare  ar  1909  kampade  sin  storstrejks  valdiga  forsvarskamp,  gavo  oss 
tyska  broder  ett  maktigt  stod.  Och  naturligt  lystrade  Sverge  till  den  forsta 
tyska  forkunnelsen  :  tsardomet  ar  fredstoraren,  Europas  fara — vi  svenskar 
ha  ju  sett  pa  nara  hall  Finlands  besvurna  sjalvstyrelse  forintas,  medan  de 
ryska  militarforlaggningarna  dar  okats  och  vart  eget  land  utsatts  for  nar- 
ganget  rj'skt  spioneri. 

Men  sa  kom  folkrattsbrottet  mot  Belgien.  For  oss,  som  sjalva  vilja  till  det 
yttersta  bevara  var  neutralitet,  kandes  det  som  en  stot  mot  eget  hjarta.  Det 
vande  hela  stamningen  hos  vart  folks  djupa  leder,  och  det  var  som  om 
t.o.m.  i  den  mest  tysksinnade  delen  av  var  press  stammorna  forlorade  sin 
sjalvsakra  klang.  Och  ju  hardare  framfarten  blev,  ju  mer  genomtaget  tog 
karaktar  av  en  harjande  erovrares  invasion,  desto  starkare  vaxte  svenska 
hjartans  sympati  for  det  lilla  tappra  folk,  som  holl  ut  for  ratt  och  frihet 
oforskrackt,  utan  att  rakna  krossande  overmakts  tal. 

Mahanda  vann  tysk  strategi,  trots  att  den  missraknat  sig  pa  motstandet, 
nagon  fordel  av  inbrottet  over  folkrattsskyddat  land.  Men  det  finns  makter 
i  varlden,  som  pa  langden  betyda  mer  an  strategi. 

Ma  kortsynt  smaklokhet  rakna  ut  :  Belgien  borde  ha  stannat  vid  ett  forsta 
motstand,  tillrackligt  att  markera  dess  neutralitet.  Nej,  mitt  i  forodelse 
och  fortvivlan  maste  det  svaras  :  nu  forst,  nar  Belgiens  unga  nation  visat 
att  den  tagit  fadernas  offermod  helt  i  arv,  nu  forst  ar  dess  frihet,  dess  sakra 
plats  bland  folkens  brodrakedja  oryggligt  tryggad  for  tider  som  komma. 
Att  Belgiens  hela  folk,  ej  minst  dess  socialistiska  arbetarklass,  satt  in  sa 
oandligt  mycket  mer  an  lama  ord-protester,  det  har  gjort  dess  sak  helig  for 
alia  man  och  kvinnor  varlden  runt,  vilka  annu  akta  ratt  och  frihet. 
Darfor  :  hell  Belgien  !  Och  min  varmaste  onskan  som  svensk  maste  bli 
denna  :  skulle  en  dag,  mot  vad  vi  hoppas  och  till  trots  for  den  folkfred  vi 
soka  forbereda,  vart  eget  neutrala  land  hotas  av  valdet,  ma  vi  da  veta  att 
endraktigt  folja  Belgiens  lysande  foredome,  segerbetryggande  mitt  i  skenbar 
undergang  !  "  Hallre  do  an  bli  slav,"  sager  ett  friesiskt  ord.  Det  ar  samma 
anda  som  i  var  svenska  biskop  Thomas'  sang  fran  15  :  de  seklet  : 

Frihet  dr  det  bdsta  ting, 

som  sokas  ban  all  varlden  kring, 

ty  jrihei  foljer  dra.  A^^^^  ^^^. 


/ 


154 


TRANSLATION 

My  personal  homage  to  Belgium  means  so  Utile. 
Therefore  I  mil  speak  about  my  people. 
Steeden  teas  predestined  to  look  upon  the  world- 
crisis  nith  German  eyes.  The  Germans  are  our 
kinsmen.  To  them  goes  the  closest  nettvork  of  our 
communications,  the  strongest  influence  on  Swedish 
culture  has  come  from  Germany.  Our  upper  classes 
admire  the  German  orderliness,  sense  of  duty,  the 
discipline  of  the  subordinate  classes  among  the  people 
■and  the  enormous  material  grotclh  of  the  country. 
■Our  labour  movement  greiv  as  a  German  plant 
before  it  took  root  in  and  was  reshaped  for 
the  Swedish  soil.  And  when  the  Swedish  workers 
fought  their  great  defensive  battle  in  the  general 
strike  of  1909,  their  German  brethren  gave  them  a 
potcerful  support.  Naturally  enough  Sweden  was 
ready  to  listen  to  the  first  German  proclamation  : 
■"  Tsar  ism  is  the  peace  disturber,  the  danger  (f 
^11  Europe."  We  Swedes  had  had  the  opportunity 
to  see  how  the  confirmed  self-government  of  Fin- 
land had  been  destroyed,  we  had  seen  hozc  troop 
concentrations  in  that  country  had  been  increased, 
tvhile  our  owti  had  been  subjected  to  a  system  of 
intrusive  Russian   espionage. 

But  then  came  the  crime  against  International  Late, 
the  violation  of  Belgium's  neutralitv.  For  us,  tve 
vsho  intend  to  defend  to  the  very  utmost  our  neutrality, 
it  was  like  a  thrust  directed  against  our  own  heart. 
It  changed  altogether  the  feelings  atnong  the  broad 
ranks  of  our  nation.  Even  in  the  most  Germanophile 
part  of  the  newspaper  press  it  seemed  as  if  the  voices 
had  lost  their  note  of  self-confidence.  The  more  ruth- 
less the  methods  became,  the  more  tlie  "  march 
ihrouoh  "  assumed  the  character  of  a  ravaging  con- 
qiteror's  invasion,  the  stronger  gretv  the  sympathies 
in  Stcedish  hearts  for  the  little  brave  nation  that 


undaunted  held  on  for  right  and  liberty  tcithout 
counting  the  crushing  superiority  of  numbers. 
Perhaps  German  strategy,  in  spile  of  it  having  miscal- 
culated the  resistance,  tvon  some  advantage  through 
the  invasion  of  an  internationally  protected  country. 
But  there  are  powers  in  the  tcorld  which  after  all 
count  more  than  strategy. 

Short-sighted  wiseacres  may  caladatc  that  Belgium 
ought  to  have  yielded  after  a  first  resistance  sufficient 
to  mark  her  neutrality.  No,  in  the  midst  of  destruc- 
tion and  despair,  it  must  be  said  :  Only  note,  tchen 
the  young  Belgian  nation  has  shotcn  how  thoroughly 
she  has  taken  over  from  her  ancestors  the  heritage 
of  courage  and  potver  of  sacrifice,  only  notv  is  her 
liberty,  her  place  in  the  chain  of  brother-nations 
irrevocably  secured  for  all  time.  That  the  whole 
Belgian  nation,  her  socialistic  leorking  class  not 
least,  has  staked  so  much  more  than  feeble  protests 
of  words  has  made  her  cause  sacred  to  all  those  men 
and  tcomat  in  the  whole  world,  tcho  still  value  justice 
and  liberty. 

Therefore  :  Hail  to  Belgium  !  And  my  sincerest 
wish  as  a  Swede  must  be  this  :  if  in  spite  of  the 
hope  tve  cherish  and  the  peace  hettceen  the  nations 
we  are  trying  to  prepare,  the  day  should  arrive, 
tchen  our  own  neutral  country  is  threatened  by  viola- 
tion, may  tve  then  unanimously  follow'  the  magnificent 
example  of  Belgium,  securing  victory  in  the  midst 
of  apparent  ruin.  "  Rather  die  than  become  a 
slave,"  says  a  Frisian  proverb.  It  is  the  same 
spirit  as  in  the  song  from  the  fifteenth  century  by 
our  Swedish  Bishop  Thomas  : 

Liberty  is  the  best  of  all  things 

that  can  be  sought  in  the  whole  world, 

Because  with  liberty  conies  honour. 


By  ERMETE  NOVELLI 

"  Godi  !  barbarie."  Poiche  se'  si  grande 
Che  per  Mare  e  per  terra  batti  Vali 
E  per  rinjerno  il  tiio  notne  si  spandc  ! 

UNA  nubc  ncra,  dcnsa,  minacciosa,  incombc  sulla  terra  gittando  sovr'  cssa 
rovinosa  pioggia  di  sanguc  e  grandinc  di  fuoco  !  .  .  .  Gucrra  !  ,  .  .  Quanti 
morti  .  .  .  quanti  lutti  ,  .  .  quantc  lagrimc  d'insanabilc  dolorc  !  .  .  . 
Gucrra  .  .  .  Guerra  !  ...  In  queste  angosciosc  tenebre  nellc  quali 
brancoliamo  attoniti  c  smarriti,  un  punto  luminoso  rimanc,  a  spcranza  di 
un  domani  di  Sole  ;  il  sublime  Martirio  del  Belgio,  unico  forse  nella  storia 
dei  popoli  !  Martirio  che  insegna  era  c  inscgnera  ne'  secoli  futuri  come  un 
popolo  conscio  della  forza  dei  proprii  diritti  possa  cambiare  uno  sconfitto 
nella  piu  grande  gloriosa  Vittoria  !  ...  ^  /      //^       // 

-'^^  r^  U^bu  JVcrU  ^^i- 


iSS 


LAMENTATION 


BY 


P.  E.  LANGE-MULLER 


Andante  sostenuto. 


i 


1 — m 


-*^      ^-     m»-    *>*- 


~m 


w^^ 


m 


^^—^ 


-^ 


|*=V't wh 


M^ 


f 


dim. 


m^^ 


^ 


^^^ 


-w- 


H 


i  P 


u^'5:.-^ 


1= 


#L4_^--4^^ 


^ 


I 


-^ — ^— :ssi 


r-i 


^- 


P  dolce. 


A 1- 


m.d. 


W—mt- 


it—mz 


S 


Sfet 


-^^       --    faJ-     '    ^ 


^        ^ 


"P ^ 


_;:a"         "cr  ««a  cor  da. 


r  r  r 


m^^^^^m 


Piu  'inosso. 


^ 


i^n 


-f»&- 


O'fs.  e  j'Oco  striiKjendo. 


mp   due  corile. 


^ 


I    u 


-l—l— «=— I  fi 


:2M= 


^S; 


-•— pip- 


H^= 1- 


32lt 


lt±t 


^-^^>-    ■^:,      t>?    ^    t>^    ^    V    -^     -T^ 


:>ii: 


'^i^~r 


Sua  bassa.  ■ 


156 


-i:    {.S:    b^     -^      -?     ^     -^     _^ 


m 


?^— — ij  Pol 

*1 


=:^=r?r3^^«^^^5^5-^^t^d^^fe?^g^'^^^ 


:wF 


^J^^r-^H^^-w^i^^     -^-^iJ       ^Wi^ 


colSifo- 


-^ 


#^ 


'        J:-^-- 


r^tf^it^i* 


^ 


j^^W^^^i^^rt 


^^^ 


M 


^-  C'rg: 


Eg^^^ 


-"^P 


j-tW~y 


-iT 


^?*    "^         ^    * 


coi  8fa 


g^jJ  j:T5^1^P^^g^:J^:^5=^ 


Poco piii  mosso  <li  Ima  volta. 


( 


^— H*- 


i 


^^^Ta 


i«r: 


=^       '• 


?«^it 


^^ 


/ 


dim. 


T— T 


^^ 


/ 


^ 


l}>s 


^ 


"3r   _^ 

■*=   f?     h^    .^- 


dim.     I 


^ 


^ 


5^^ 


tii — 4 


:r^ 


3  i 


rt 


157 


poco  rail. 


Come  sopra. 


^   ^  ?•-   far   f-#-  y    ?g 


-SI-  -SI- 


--i^ 


^Ei 


f  -,•-  -•-  -#"  -i- . 


P  dolce. 


^j:^-r 


i 


^^    W-       5    3        -^^bJ^    -i    -g  unacorda. 


^ 


-^ — =^-i • 


^  ^ ^  -*-        J      ^        J        "5    •:        '  J-  L 

— ■ — '^    ^  *,      >  ^r     1 I     1  I  ,  I ■ ' 

^ ^       ^==^        s      -a       i         d 

^-U 1 *i 1 — r  =T ^^^~md :  —^ 1=_  z^ 11= -  r=L ; 

?; J  I — ^_J-±^r^  ^-- -^_^ — « •-'==1 — 0 • • — ^1    1 — • -• *  0-^ 


I' — r 


:^- 


:^ 


-g^- 


Ji^=J=S= 


i= 


J. 


.J. 


ot/ 


■zfct 


'^f" 


-1- 


-• • • •- 

T    I     I     > 


il^^^=g 


rfjfe  corde. 


^■-\.—-- 


H 


rfM».  ■ '         V 


^P 


i 


J      S:z — -  I  J      -*: 

^ jj — ^ 1 — _  ^ 


-^ 


3=|3-iEEEE=:EE^ 


l^i^^&?^i" 


^^-H \ 


:it 3i. • 5r 


izt 


^-^ 


--^^ 


4       j-= 


EEE 


z^ 


^ 


-it- 


^ 


^ 


?=mi 


^^ 


F 


dim. 


^E^^SiEE 


E?s; 


fc 


^^ 


^ 


^j^^U 


^^ 


mf 


dim. 


pp 


^m 


^ 


■j:  q:^fr~^" 


J. 


158 


-c>- 


By  VINCENTE   BLASCO   IBANEZ 

El  Rey  Caballero 

EN  Espana  llamamos  asi  a  Alberto  I  de  Bclgica. 

Nuestra  epoca  ofrece  dos  clases  de  soberanos  a  la  atencion  publica. 

Los  hay  que  estudian  sus  gestos  y  palabras  como  si  fuesen  actores,  adoptando 

posturas  teatrales,   haciendo  mil  cosas  a  la  vez,  queriendo  en  todos  los 

instantes  rccibir  el  incienso  de  la  admiracion  y  asombrar  a  las  gcntes. 

Quemarian  medio  mundo  si  esto  pudicse  dar  nuevo  brillo  a  su  gloria 

neroniana.    En  fuerza  de  locuras  pueden  llegar  a  infundir  miedo,  pero 

nunca  amor  ni  vcrdadcra  admiracion. 

Alberto  I  no  ha  pensado  jamas  en  deslumbrar  a  nadie,  no  conoce  las  actitudes 

escenicas,  su  deseo  era  vivir  en  una  paz  laboriosa  rodcado  de  su  pueblo  de 

trabajadores,  y  en  todos  los  momentos  ha  seguido  una  vida  recta,  ti'mida  y 

larga  a  la  vez,  como  las  li'ncas  de  su  cuerpo.    Es  un  heroe  sin  desearlo  ni 

buscarlo  ;    el  heroe  mas  grande  y  mas  simpatico  de  todo  el  siglo  XX.    Es 

*'  el  rey  caballero." 

El  resorte  de  su  heroismo  no  fue  el  amor  a  la  gloria  ni  tampoco  las  ambiciones 

de  conquista.     Fue  el  deber,  el  cumplimiento  de  la  palabra  dada,  el  respeto 

de  los  propios  derechos,   todas  las  virtudes   modestas    y  solidas   de    las 

gentes  de  bien. 

Plegandose  a  las  exigencias  del  fuerte  hubiese  sido  feliz.    Es  cierto  que  esta 

felicidad  la  habria  pagado  con  la  deshonra  ;    pero  hay  tantos  deshonrados 

triunfantcs  !  .  .  .  Alemania  agradecida  a  su  obediencia  le  habria  sostenido 

siempre.     Tranquilidad,   abundancia,   protcccion  ;    la  vida  sumisa  y  bien 

cebada  del  animal  domestico  que  reconoce  un  dueiio.    Pero  a  estas  ventajas 

positivas  que  hubiesen  tentado  a  los  mas,  prefirio  los  viejos  idealismos  en 

los  que  aun  creen  algunos  ;    el  honor,  la  libertad,  el  odio  al  atropello,  la 

independencia  de  su  patria. 


# 


Este  general  improvisado  ha  sabido  hacer  la  guerra  como  no  la  hari'an  muchos 

profesionales.     Su  tenacidad  heroica  al  f rente  de  un  pueblo  pequeiio  y 

valeroso,  ha  quebrantado  desde  el  primer  momento  el  monstruoso  empuje 

alcman. 

Gloriosa  epopeya  la  de  Belgica  y  su  rey  caballero  I  Muchos  de  sus  conciuda- 

danos  murieron.    El  vive  porque  la  Muerte  no  quiso  su  persona.     Manejo 

como  simple  artillero  los  canones  de  Amberes  bajo  una  Uuvia  de  mctralla. 

Tomo  cl  fusil  de  un  soldado  e  hizo  fuego  en  las  tricheras  de  la  infantcn'a. 

Los  belgas  han  perdido  sus  casas  ;  el  casi  ha  perdido  su  reino. 

No  recordeis  como  modelos  inimitables  de  caballcria  a  aquellos  reyes  sin 

corona,  de  la  Edad  Media,  vagabundos  y  dcsgraciados,  que  la  poesi'a  y  ei 

drama  han  hecho  intcrcsantes.     Nuestra  epoca  de  vulgar  positivismo  ticnc 

figuras  mas  romanticas. 

Alberto  Sin-Ticrra  vale  mas  que  todos  los  monarcas  Sin-Tierra  de  la  historia. 

Estos  perdieron  la  corona  por  hechos  de  familia  y  ambiciones  de  conquista. 

159 


El  rey  caballero  se  ve  sin  reino  por  la  libertad,  por  el  derecho,  por  no  haber 
consentido  los  atropellos  del  fuerte. 

Y  con  la  noble  tristeza  del  heroe  repelido  pero  jamas  derrotado,  que  sabe 
que  la  razon  va  con  el,  se  mantiene  en  un  rincon  de  Flandres,  al  frente  de 
un  punado  de  bravos,  para  que  vea  el  mundo  como  lucha  un  hombre 
paci'fico  convertido  en  guerrero  por  las  exigencias  del  honor,  come  perece, 
si  es  preciso,  el  primer  ciudadano  de  una  monarqui'a  democratica  en  defensa 
de  su  dignidad. 


* 


* 


* 


Un  periodista  lo  vio  a  la  caida  de  la  tarde,  asomado  a  una  ventana  del  Hotel 

de  Ville  de  Furnes,  contemplando  la  puesta  del  sol,  sonando  tal  vez. 

Pareci'a  triste.    Contemplaba  melancolicamente  el  astro  moribundo. 

Iba  a  llegar  la  noche  y  con  ella  la  sombra,  las  horas  de  incertidumbre,  las 

horas  de  desesperacion. 

Pero  la  noche  no  es  eterna  y  despues  de  ella  viene  otra  vez  el  dia,  con  un 

nuevosol.  ^^^^^ 


TRANSLATION  (abridged) 
The  Noble  King 

This  ts  what  we  in  Spain  call  Albert  of  Belgium. 
Our  period  offers  to  public  attention  two  different 
types  of  monarchs. 

Some  there  are  who  rehearse  their  actions  and  words 
as  if  they  were  actors,  adopting  theatrical  poses, 
trying  to  do  a  thousand  different  things  at  once, 
seeking  at  every  moment  to  receive  the  incense  of  the 
admiration  of  the  people  and  to  astonish  the  popular 
mind.  They  would  burn  down  half  the  world  if  that 
could  add  to  their  Nero-like  glory  and  make  them 
more  renowned.  The  force  of  their  madness  may 
succeed  in  inspiring  terror,  but  never  in  exciting 
affection  or  gemdne  admiration. 
Albert  never  thought  of  dazzling  any  one  ;  he  is  not 
familiar  with  theatrical  poses  ;  his  wish  was  to  live 
in  peace  and  industrial  prosperity,  surrounded  by  his 
hard-zvorking  people,  and  at  all  times  he  has  led  a 
good  and  upright  life,  gentle  and  liberal  at  the  same 
time,  like  his  own  physical  traits.  He  has  become  a 
hero  without  wishing  or  seeking  to  become  one  ;  the 
greatest  and  most  attractive  hero  of  the  entire  twen- 
tieth century.     He  is  "  the  noble  King." 

***** 

This  sovereign,  so  suddenly  called  to  lead  his  army, 
in  spite  of  his  inexperience,  was  able  to  conduct  the 
war  as  many  old  campaigners  could  not  have  done. 
His  heroic  tenacity  at  the  head  of  a  small  but  brave 
nation  was  able  from  the  very  first  moment  to  drive 
back  the  terrible  German  onslaught  and  to  break  its 
might. 

What  a  glorious  epic  is  this  episode  of  Belgium  and 
her  noble  king  I  Many  of  his  subjects  perished.  He 
still  lives  because  Death  wished  to  spare  him.  Like  a 
simple  gunner,  he  served  the  guns  of  Antwerp  under  a 
hail  of  lead  from  the  machine  guns  of  the  foe.     Taking 

1 60 


the  rifle  of  a  soldier,  he  f might  among  the  ranks  of 

his  own  infantry  as  their  comrade. 
The  Belgian  people  have  lost  their  homes,  he  has 
almost  lost  his  kingdom. 

Do  we  not  recall  those  inimitable  models  of  chivalry, 
the  uncrozcned  kings  of  the  Middle  Ages,  wander- 
ing and  unfortunate,  but  renowned  in  poetry  and 
drama  ?  Our  period  of  ordinary  material  prose 
holds  still  i.iore  romantic  heroes  in  its  records. 
Albert  the  Landless  is  worth  more  than  all  the 
Landless  Monarchs  of  history.  They  lost  their 
crowns  through  deeds  of  their  ozvn  or  of  their  families, 
desire  of  conquest  and  further  power.  The  Noble 
King  sees  his  kingdom  lost  for  liberty,  for  justice,  for 
brave  resistance  to  the  dictates  of  overbearing  force. 
And  with  the  noble  sadness  of  the  hero  who  may  be 
defeated  but  is  never  conquered,  who  knows  that  he 
has  right  on  his  side,  he  stays  in  a  corner  of  Flanders, 
at  the  head  of  a  handful  of  courageous  souls,  enabling 
the  whole  world  to  sec  hozc  a  man  of  peace  fights 
when  he  has  been  forced  to  become  a  zvarrior  through 
the  necessities  of  honour,  hozc,  if  it  be  needful,  the 
first  citizen  of  a  democratic  monarchy  will  knozc  how 
to  die  in  defence  of  his  own  nobility. 

A  journalist  caught  sight  of  him  one  afternoon  as  the 
twilight  fell,  leaning  from  a  ivindow  in  the  City  Hall 
in  Furnes,  watching  the  setting  sun,  dreaming  per- 
chance. 

He  appeared  sad,  and  he  watched  the  sinking  God  of 
Day  tvith  an  aspect  of  deep  depression. 
The  night  zvas  coming,  and  with  it  darkness,  the  hours 
of  uncertainty,  the  hours  when  despair  is  lugh. 
But  the  night  is  not  eternal,  and  when  it  is  gone, 
there  comes  another  day,  bringing  tvith  it  a  new 
sun. 


By  ANATOLE  FRANCE 
Le  Roi  Albert 

IL  est  ne  avec  I'ame  d'un  heros  et  d'un  juste.  Des  son  avenement  au  trone, 
il  etait  estime  (j'ai  pu  m'en  assurer)  de  tout  son  peuplc,  respecte  de  tous 
les  partis  politiques  et  sociaux,  et  de  ceux-la  meme  qui,  d'ordinaire,  se 
montrent  le  moins  disposes  a  s'incliner  devant  la  prerogative  royale,  11 
inspirait  confiance  a  tous.  On  lui  reconnaissait  un  esprit  de  droiture,  de 
sagesse,  de  justice,  de  douceur.  On  aimait  cette  simplicite  qui  lui  etait 
naturelle  et  qui  chez  un  prince  revele  presque  toujours  un  caractere  superieur 
a  la  fortune. 

Tres  jeune  encore,  une  terrible  epreuve  fondit  soudain  sur  lui  et  sur  son 
peuple  et  lui  fournit  I'occasion  de  donner  sa  mesure.  Quand,  par  un  attentat 
monstrueux,  les  allemands  violerent  la  neutralite  de  la  Belgique,  le  Roi 
Albert  ne  s'inclina  pas  devant  la  force  et  ne  se  borna  pas  a  protester  contre 
cette  violation  des  traites  les  plus  sacres.  II  tira  I'epee  et  ne  se  contenta  pas 
d'un  simulacre  de  defense  ;  il  ne  jugea  pas  que  I'honneur  beige  put  se 
satisfaire  par  une  demonstration  d'un  jour.  Sourd  aux  promesses  de 
I'envahisseur  comme  il  I'avait  ete  a  ses  menaces,  il  vit  sans  palir  les  barbares 
fondre  sur  lui,  et  mettre  a  feu  et  a  sang  un  pays  coupable  seulement  d 'avoir 
obei  aux  lois  de  I'honneur.  Le  Roi  Albert  opposa  aux  innombrables  hordes 
du  Kaiser  la  petite  armee  beige  et  son  epee  claire  et  pure,  tiree  pour  une 
juste  cause.  II  se  montra  digne  de  son  people  ;  son  peuple  se  montra  digne 
de  lui.  La  Belgique  tint  rAUemagne  en  echec  et  montra  ce  que  peuvent 
des  braves  gens  qui  combattcnt  pour  le  droit. 

Dans  cette  guerre  sainte,  le  Roi  Albert  se  revela  bon  chef  et  bon  soldat. 
On  le  vit,  dans  une  batterie  a  Anvers,  pointer  lui-meme  une  piece  et  atteindre 
une  position  qu'on  croyait  hors  de  portee.  Ailleurs,  dans  la  tranchee,  arme 
d'un  fusil,  il  fit  le  coup  de  feu  au  cote  de  ses  fantassins.  Qu'il  est  beau  le 
spectacle  donne  par  ce  jeune  prince  qui  egale  en  sagesse  les  meilleurs 
souverains,  en  courage  les  plus  rudes  troupiers  ! 

Et  ces  grandes  actions  du  peuple  beige  et  de  son  roi  n'auront  pas  ete  ac- 
complies  en  vain.  Ce  n'est  pas  en  vain  qu'Albert  et  la  Belgique  en  armes 
auront  fait  de  Liege  les  Thermopylcs  de  la  civilisation  europeenne,  lis  ont 
brise  I'elan  des  barbares,  co-opere  puissamment  a  la  victoire  des  allies, 
assure  le  triomphe  du  droit  et  de  la  liberte. 

Mon  pays  a  contracte  envers  le  Roi  Albert  et  son  peuple  une  dette  de  re- 
connaissance qu'il  tiendra  a  jamais  pour  sacree.  II  y  paraitra  quand,  de 
concert  avec  ses  nobles  allies,  apres  le  triomphe,  il  s'efforcera  de  constituer 
une  Europe  harmonieuse. 


^ry^^>/^ri^,^^^if7~^ 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 

King  Albert  and  social  parties,  even  by  those  least  inclined  to 

He  was  born  ta'lh  the  soul  of  a  hero  and  of  a  righteous  reverence  the  royal  prerot^ative.     lie  inspired  conft- 

man.     From  the  moment  of  his  accession  to  the  throne  dence  in  all,  and  the  truth,  m'sdoni,  justice,  ami  mildness 

he    was    esteemed    (I   say    this   on  Qood    authority)  of  his  spirit  zcere  unanimously  recognised.     His  natural 

by  his  whole  people,  and  respected  by  all  political  simplicity  was  attractive — that  simplicity  wliich  in  a 

i6i 


prince  nearly  always  indicates  a  character  more 
exalted  than  his  rank. 

While  he  was  still  quite  young,  a  terrible  catastrophe 
fell  suddenly  upon  him  and  his  people  and  gaze  him 
an  opportunity  of  proving  his  quality.  When  Germany 
violated  the  neutratity  of  Belgium  by  a  monstrous 
attack,  King  Albert  did  not  botv  to  violence,  and  was 
not  content  merely  to  protest  against  this  infringement 
of  the  most  sacred  treaties.  He  drew  his  sword,  and 
this  with  no  idea  of  a  simulacrum  of  defence.  He 
did  not  think  that  Belgian  honour  could  be  satisfied 
by  a  brief  demonstration.  Deaf  to  the  promises  of  the 
invader  as  he  had  been  to  his  threats,  he  did  not  blench 
when  he  saw  the  barbarians  bear  down  upon  him, 
bringing  fire  and  sword  into  a  country  guilty  otily  of 
having  obeyed  the  lazes  of  honour.  King  Albert 
opposed  the  little  Belgian  army,  and  his  pure  and 
shining  sword,  drawn  in  a  just  cause,  to  the  Kaiser's 
innumerable  hordes.  He  showed  himself  icorthy  of 
his  people  ;  his  people  showed  themselves  worthy  of 
him.  .  .  . 


In  this  holy  war  King  Albert  showed  himself  a  good 
leader  and  a  good  soldier.  He  was  seen  at  Antwerp 
in  a  battery,  laying  a  gun  himself,  and  hitting  an 
objective  which  was  supposed  to  be  out  of  range. 
At  another  point  he  was  found  in  the  trenches,  armed 
with  a  rifle,  and  shooting  side  by  side  with  his  infantry- 
men. How  fine  is  the  spectacle  of  this  young  Prince, 
who  rivals  the  best  kings  in  wisdom  and  the  roughest 
troopers  in  courage  ! 

These  great  deeds  of  the  Belgian  King  and  people 
will  not  have  been  done  in  vain.  Not  in  vain  will 
Albert  and  Belgium  in  arms  have  made  Liege  the 
Thermopyla  of  European  civilisation.  They  have 
broken  the  rush  of  the  barbarians,  contributed  largely 
to  the  victory  of  the  Allies,  and  ensured  the  triumph 
of  right  and  liberty. 

My  country  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  King  Albert 
and  his  people  which  they  will  ever  hold  sacred. 
This  will  be  evident,  when,  in  concert  with  our  noble 
Allies,  she  will  work  for  the  constitution  of  a  har- 
monious Europe,  after  our  final  triumph. 


By  WALTER   SICHEL 
To  King  and  People 

All  the  great  things  have  been  done  by  the  little  peoples. — Disraeli 

SirCy  King  oj  men,  disdainer  oj  the  mean, 

Belgium's  inspirer,  well  thou  stand' st  for  all 

She  bodes  to  generations  yet  unseen, 

Freedom  and  fealty — Kingship's  coronal. 

Nation  of  miracles,  how  swift  you  start 

To  super-stature  of  heroic  deeds 
So  brave,  so  silent  beats  your  bleeding  heart 

That  ours,  e'en  in  the  flush  of  welcome,  bleeds. 

No  sound  of  wailing.    Look,  above,  afar, 

Throbs  in  the  darkness  with  triumphant  ray 

A  little  yet  a?i  all-comma7iding  star, 

The  morning  star  that  heralds  forth  the  day. 


iA^-CL/yCc^f-^^t^^^itjC>^ 


162 


By  ISRAEL  ZANGWILL 

Paradise  Lost 

OCCASIONALLY  for  me  the  fog  in  the  North  Sea  lifts,  and  through  the 
letters  of  a  young  officer  on  a  battleship  I  get  a  glimpse  of  how  Britannia 
is  ruling  the  waves.  The  precise  position  of  her  trident  remains  scrupu- 
lously shrouded — at  first  even  the  name  was  removed  from  the  ship's  letter- 
paper — but  the  glimpse  is  enough  to  reveal  the  greatness  and  madness  of 
mankind.  It  is  life  at  its  acme  of  strain  and  exaltation  :  life  joyously  ready 
to  pass  on  the  instant  into  death,  as  some  unseen  mine  is  struck,  or  some 
crafty  torpedo  strikes.  Everybody  sleeps  in  his  clothes,  and  half  the  night 
not  at  all.  The  great  ship  is  bared  of  all  save  necessities  :  my  young  friend's 
spare  wardrobe,  with  all  his  miscellany  of  superfluous  possessions,  the  queer 
garnered  treasure  of  the  years,  comes  economically  home.  Why,  indeed, 
sink  more  capital  with  the  ship  than  is  absolutely  inevitable  ? 
Now  and  again  the  tension  of  this  terrible  vigilance  is  relieved,  if  only  by 
a  change  in  tension.  One  seeks  death  instead  of  waiting  for  it.  There  is  a 
grapple  with  a  German  cruiser,  and  those  not  at  the  guns  crowd  cheerfully 
on  deck  to  watch  the  match  with  that  wonderful  British  love  of  sport.  They 
compare  the  cannonading,  note  with  lively  interest  the  scores  made  by  the 
rival  shells.  Once  the  rift  in  the  fog  shows  the  return  of  a  raiding  flotilla, 
scarred  with  glorious  battle,  and  the  other  vessels  of  the  fleet  are  dressed 
to  salute  its  triumph,  the  bands  are  playing  "  Rule  Britannia,"  the  crews 
are  cheering  and  singing. 

But  none  of  these  peeps  has  left  on  me  so  ineffaceable  an  impression  as  the 
picture  of  my  young  friend  reading — reading  at  every  break  in  his  grim 
watches — and  reading  not  the  detective  stories  that  unbent  Bismarck  but — 
"  Paradise  Lost  !  "  For  the  first  time  he  has  had  leisure  to  read  that 
sonorous  epic  straight  through  and,  unlike  Dr.  Johnson  who  questioned  if 
anyone  ever  wished  it  longer,  he  revels  insatiably  in  the  Miltonic  splendours, 
and  he  quotes  Addison  and  the  Spectator  in  endorsement  of  his  enthusiasm. 
Despite  the  Admiralty  decree,  you  see,  he  has  been  unable  to  regard  his 
books  as  dispensable  :  they  must  sink  or  float  with  him.  And  so  in  the 
midst  of  this  waste  of  white  waters  and  hissing  shrapnel,  he  has  found  for 
himself  a  quiet  Paradise  of  beautiful  words  and  visionary  magnificence, 
and  it  exists  for  him  out  of  relation  to  the  tense  and  tragic  actual.  And 
yet  what  could  be  aptcr  reading  than  this  epic 

Of  man's  first  disobedience  and  the  fruit 
Of  that  forbidden  tree  zvhose  mortal  taste 
Brought  death  into  the  zvorld  and  all  our  woe  ? 

The  ver}'  first  incident,  indeed,  recorded  after  Paradise  was  lost  is  a  murder, 
and  this  fratricidal  strife  of  Cain  and  Abel  has  repeated  itself  in  every 
generation  and  given  to  the  phrase  "  the  brotherhood  of  man  "  a  sinister 
significance.  But  never  in  all  the  long  history  of  blood-lust  have  so  many 
millions  of  brothers  stood  embattled,  ready  to  spike  one  another's  bowels 

163 


with  steel,  or  shatter  their  faces  with  deviUsh  explosives,  as  in  this  twentieth 
century  of  the  Christian  era. 

Now,  whatever  be  the  rights  or  wrongs  of  war,  one  thing  seems  clear.  The 
weapons  are  wrong.  My  young  friend,  with  his  fine-spun  brain  and  his 
spiritual  delight  in  Milton's  harmonics,  ought  not  to  be  annihilated  by  a 
piece  of  raw  matter.  One  does  not  fight  a  Sevres  vase  with  a  stone.  Bring 
up  your  Chinese  vase  an  you  will,  and  let  the  battle  be  of  beauty.  There  is 
a  horrible  expression,  "  food  for  powder  "—you  will  find  it  in  all  languages 
that  are  really  civilised.  It  implies  that  the  masses  are  so  coarse  in  texture, 
are  carcasses  so  gross  and  sub-human,  that  their  best  use  is  to  be  thrown  to 
the  guns — a  providential  fire-screen  for  the  finer  classes.  Democracy  will 
in  due  time  take  note  of  this  conception.  But  in  its  rude  way  the  phrase 
shadows  forth  a  truth— the  truth  that,  for  all  who  have  passed  beyond  the 
animal  stage,  the  war  of  tooth  and  claw  is  antiquated.  Our  war,  if  war 
there  be,  must  be  conducted  with  weapons  suitable  to  the  dignity  of  the 
super-beast  who  has  been  so  laboriously  evolved,  suitable  to  the  spirit 
which  through  innumerable  aeons  has  been  winning  its  way  through  the 
welter  of  brute  impulses.  Not  for  man  the  slaver  of  the  serpent,  the  fangs 
of  the  tiger.  And  shelling  is  only  the  ejection  of  a  deadlier  slaver,  the  bayonet 
only  a  fiercer  fang.  It  seems  futile  to  have  evolved  from  the  brute  if  our 
brain-power  only  makes  us  bigger  brutes.  "  The  man  behind  the  gun  " — 
a  15-inch  gun  that  hurls  a  ton  of  metal  for  twelve  miles — is  a  wilder  and 
more  monstrous  beast  than  ever  appeared  even  in  the  antediluvian  epoch, 
and  that  he  should  not  be  kept  safely  stuffed  in  a  museum  like  the  ptero- 
dactyl is  an  intolerable  anachronism.  A  world  in  which  with  one  movement 
of  his  paw  he  can  kill  off  a  whole  congregation  of  Milton-worshippers  is  a 
world  which  should  have  been  nipped  in  the  nebula.  No,  if  fighting  there 
must  be,  let  my  young  friend  fight  against  Nietzsche-worshippers — let  the 
lucid  lines  of  the  Puritan  poet  confound  the  formless  squadrons  of  the 
Pagan  dithyrambist.  Brain  against  brain,  soul  against  soul,  thought  against 
thought,  art  against  art,  man,  in  short,  against  man — there  lies  the  fight  of 
the  future.  If  my  young  friend  were  a  man  of  science,  he  would  be  kept 
awake  not  by  the  German  torpedoes  but  by  the  German  treatises  :  were  he 
only  a  tailor,  he  should  never  throw  away  his  yard-stick  for  a  lance  but 
with  his  good  old  scissors  cut  out  the  Teutonic  tailor. 
After  such  civilised  fashion,  indeed,  the  Anglo-German  contest  has  long 
been  raging,  and  the  German  has  been  winning  all  along  the  line.  His 
patience,  his  industry,  his  nice  study  of  his  customers,  has  everywhere 
swept  the  Englishman  aside.  Before  his  music  the  Briton  fell — in  worship  ; 
his  drama  invaded  us  triumphantly.  Why  was  Germany  not  content  with 
this  victorious  campaign,  with  this  campaign  worthy  of  human  beings  ? 
German  influence,  German  Kultur — it  is  spread  by  peace,  not  by  the  sword. 
To  German  Universities  shoals  of  Russian  students  flocked  as  to  shrines, 
humble  feudatories  of  German  scholarship,  German  thoroughness.  To 
the  barbarous  regions,  where  an  Ovid  might  still  lament  his  exile,  they 
164 


Ior»nl  ptor*vifiar\octe.  Ch  iacymx  Ci'i/i  mmi.Hiliis  ejus   iVlinym  ii-Am  misif  KoitiS 


By  Bernard  Partridge 


Ul 


eL&)(^ue:l9l4. 


carried  back  German  methods,  the  cult  of  German  science.  And  to  me, 
on  my  iUiterate  island,  Httle  German  cities,  a  Munich,  a  Dresden,  where 
the  theatre  was  classic  and  inexpensive,  and  the  opera  a  form  of  art  and  not 
a  social  display,  loomed  like  models  of  civilisation.  Why  must  Germany 
challenge  the  world  on  the  lower  plane  of  brute  matter  ?  It  is  only  the 
inferior  peoples  that  need  the  sword.  The  Turks  have  had  to  rule  with  a 
rod  of  iron — they  had  no  right  but  might,  no  gift  for  the  world.  Such  races 
must  assert  themselves  in  fire  and  wTite  their  edicts  in  blood.  But  fire 
burns  down  and  blood  dries  up  and  fades,  and  the  only  durable  influence 
is  the  power  of  the  spirit. 

Fatal  perversity  of  Germany — to  have  misunderstood  her  own  greatness  ! 
Proud  in  her  pseudo-philosophy,  she  has  repeated  "man's  first  disobedience" 
— she  has  ignored  the  divine  voice,  she  has  listened  to  the  lower  promptings 
of  the  serpent.  There  will  never  be  a  Paradise  again  for  man  till  he  bends 
his  ear  to  a  truer  philosopher  than  Treitschke  to  a  prince  of  peace  : 

Till  one  greater  tnan 
Restore  us  and  regain  the  blissjul  seat. 


By   EDITH   WHARTON 
Belgium 

La  Belgique  ne  regrette  rien. 

Not  with  her  ruined  silver  spires. 
Not  with  her  cities  shamed  and  rent, 
Perish  the  imperishable  fires 
That  shape  the  homestead  from  the  tent. 

Wherever  men  are  staunch  and  free, 
There  shall  she  keep  her  fearless  state, 
And,  homeless,  to  great  nations  be 
The  home  of  all  that  makes  them  i^reat. 


LolUUaX. 


ouM<AXr{KJi,L.^ri,4JZ 


i6s 


By  COMMENDATORE  TOMMASO   SALVINI 

Al  Belgio  e  al  suo  Re 

AL  Re  del  Belgio,  novello  Agide   Spartano,  e  dovuta  rammirazione  e 

I'omaggio  di  tutti  i  popoli  civili.    Un  vanitoso  coronato  invasore,  distrusse 

la  tranquilla,  laboriosa  Nazione  Belga,  dedita  soltanto  al  progresso  intel- 

lettuale  e  commerciale,  ricca  d'opere  d'arte,  di  classici  monumenti  e  di 

florida  invidiabile  industria. 

Quella  Nazione  fu  crudelmente  straziata,  perdendo  in  una  doverosa,  eroica 

difesa,  gran  parte  dei  suoi  figli,  massacrati  dal  ferro,  dal  fuoco  e  dal  piombo 

Teutonico.    Oh,  quanta  promettente  energia  sacrificata  ! 

E  nulla  v'era  da  incolpare  ne  al  Sovrano,  ne  al  suo  popolo  ! 

II  Belgio,  essendo  neutrale,  non  poteva  permettere  il  passaggio  nel  suo 

stato  alle  truppe  Alemanne,  con  I'intento  di  muover  guerra  alia  Francia, 

Non  doveva  ne  doteva  permetterlo,  e  questa  fu  la  cagione  dell'  assassina 

invasione  della  Germania  contro  il  diritto  delle  genti. 

Onta  air  invasore  e  onore  alia  nazione  Belga  ed  al  suo  magnanimo  Re  ! 

lo  sono  sicuro  che  la  parte  intellettuale  e  umanitaria  della  Germania  non 

puo  che  disapprovare  il  contegno  e  la  condotta  del  militarismo  Prussiana 

che  ruppe  con  la  forza  delle  armi  trattati  politici  stipulati  con  le  altre  Potenze^ 

mancando  cosi  a  doveri  garantiti  sul  suo  onore. 

Deploro  che  I'ltalia,  la  Spagna,  la  Rumenia,  la  Grecia  e  la  Bulgaria,  non  si 

siano  unite  alia  Russia,  all'  Inghilterra,  alia  Francia,   al  Portogallo,   alia 

Serbia  e  al  Giappone  per  punire  la  superchieria  e  la  prepotenza  della 

Germania  e  dell'  Austria-Ungheria. 

Vi  e  pero  da  noi  un  antico  proverbio  che  d^fficilmente  fallisce  e  dice  :  "  Dio 

non  paga  il  sabato."    Attendiamo  dunque  la  resa  dei  conti  del  buon  Dio. 

E  mentre  ci  sanguina  il  cuore  pensando  al  sacrifizio  e  alia  sciagura  di  quel 

nobile  popolo,  alziamo  un  inno  di  Gloria  al  Capo  di  quell'  Armata,  che  con 

tanto  eroismo  e  con  ammirabile  abnegazione,  difese  i  sacrosanti  diritti  della 

Giustizia  e  dell'  Umanita. 

TRANSLATION  {abridged) 

All  civilised  natiom  offer  here  their  tribute  of  homai^e  on  the  invader  !    All  honour  to  the  Belgian  people 

and  admiration  to  the  King  of  the  Belgians,   that  and  to  their  noble  King  I 

modern  Spartan  Agis.  I  feel  sure  that  even  in  Germany  the  intellectual  and 

A  vain-glorious  invading  monarch  has  destroyed  the  humane  minority  can  but  disapprove  in  the  depths  of  their 

peace   of  the   industrious   Belgian   nation,   a   nation  hearts  that  Prussian  militarism,  zvhich  by  sheer  brute 

devoted  to  ititellectual  and  commercial  progress,  rich  force  has  violated  political  treaties  with  other  Powers, 

in  works  of  art,  in  classical  monuments,  and  flourishing  and  failed  to  keep  an  undertaking  "  rooted  in  honour." 

by  virtue  of  her  enviable  industry.  I  deplore   the  fact   that   Italy,    Spain,   Roumania, 

,              ,              sj              ^             ^  Bulgaria,  and  Greece  have  not  jollied  England,  Russia^ 

France,  Servia,  Portugal,  and  Japan   to  punish   the 

And    this   was   in    no   wise    the  fault   of  the   King  insolence   and  treachery   of  Germany   and  Austria- 

nor    of    his     brave    people.       For     the     Belgians,  Hungary. 

persisting   in    their  neutrality,    could  not   allow   the  But  there  is  an  old  Italian  proverb  which  is  rarely 

German    troops  to  march   through   their  country  to  wrong  :    "  DIO  non  paga  il  sabato  "  ("  GOD  does 

the  conquest  of  France.     They  could  not  and  they  not  pay  every  Saturday,"  i.e.   He  punishes  in  His 

would  not.  own    good    time.)     Therefore    we    must    await    the 

Whereupon  Germany  carried  out  her  criminal  and  judgment  and  sentence  of  our  Lord, 

brutal  invasion,  defying  the  rights  of  nations.     Shame  »             *             *             «             • 

i66 


SUNT  LACRYM^E  RERUAI! 


BY 


PIETRO    MASCAGNI 


Amlaiilt  mf»tc. 


Se 


piaP 


.-O  f-a-  z^ 


P  (jrave. 


--CC- 


.t?o- 


SS^SEi 


EI«ZEE5P^ 


-i: 


^P^ 


„  con  ttprets. 

un  poco  rail.       a  tempo.     ^     f,u — 


'Cf 


=te= 


=^ 


F     6p-        ^p-   -p-      b^     :^ 


rfi  tritlfzza. 


m 


T*-^  I 


^z-^..=,i5U==?5T-^B^ 


-H 1—4-1 ^- I— ^ 


±-ri- 


i 


cres.  <d  unpoeo  animato 


S^ 


rfo?C(;  <  Uyato. 


^^m^^^^^p^^^ 


£ 


Effi^E: 


"i r 


1       r 


^l^^^Jl 


^g^£^e 


^^^ 


T=2f: 


Pciz:' 


/W.    «  Pfrf.  4c 


calando.  rail,  e  dim.  lotttnuto.  lamentoso. 


^  Tb: 


I  pkEgpEg-^S^.^:.^^iEEEZE^b^ 

I I         I i T—^-) 1 a ■— rt— ^ ^^^—^ --^ '    j.  J.- 

red.0Ptd.*red.*       Ptd,    *  Ped.^  *  Ped.    *-  *  P<d.**      Ped.    -^*  Ped.-^  m  Ptd.    "^  ♦        "S 


*__  tip,  ri^^     p^  p^ 


Ped.m-  *  Ped. 


r^  n  P-. 


-5z.S^H=, 


I  f^>n  twice  e  U'lato.  _^;^-— — 

r"— fa-         -G-'— ^' Tt 1 i=-g.E 


y^pfe^ 


?-K- 


un  poco  piA  lento. 


unpoci 


% 


piA  P  I  ■  I 


ig-^ 


:»:: 


t- 


^ 


dim.  e  rail,    pop 


ppp 


^m 


I 


"O. 


^ 


yw. 


n&-^       Ptd.     -p-*      /•;</. 


■p-*  />../.  -p-*;.,,; 


-r. 


167 


By   CONDE  DE   ROMANONES 

LE  monde  de  la  civilisation  attend  avec  anxiete  les  resultats  de  ces  terribles 
evenements,  qui  lui  feront  connaitre  le  sort  reserve  a  la  Belgique.  Cette 
petite  nation,  petite  jusqu'au  jour  de  son  malheur,  et  de  son  abattement, 
mais  aujourd'hui  d'une  grandeur  morale  qui  n'a  jamais  ete  surpassee  dans 
I'histoire,  ne  pourra  pas  disparaitre,  ne  pourra  pas  perdre  sa  souverainete. 
Si  cela  venait  a  arriver,  il  faudrait  admettre  que  le  bon  droit  et  la  justice  ne 
sont  plus  de  nos  jours  les  principes  de  I'existence  des  peuples  civilises  ; 
ce  serait,  en  plus,  une  terrible  le^on  que  ceux-ci  ne  pourraient  jamais  oublier. 
Pourquoi  tant  de  sollicitudes,  tant  d'energies  depensees  a  accroitre  les  forces 
morales  et  materielles  d'un  petit  territoire,  pour  le  transformer  en  une 
nation  modele,  digne  de  tous  les  respects,  de  toutes  les  considerations  ! 
Pourquoi  tant  d 'efforts  pour  avancer  sur  la  voie  du  progres,  de  la  liberte, 
du  respect  aux  droits  d'autrui,  si  le  droit  du  plus  fort  doit  primer  en  dernier 
lieu  ! 

II  vaudrait  mieux  vivre  cette  vie  d 'independence  sauvage  des  peuples  qui 
sont  encore  en  dehors  de  toute  civilisation. 


TRANSLATION  by  Florence  Simmonds 

The  world  of  civilisation  awaits  with  anxiety  the  energy  be  expended  in  increasing  the  moral  and  mate- 
results  of  the  terrible  events  which  will  make  known  rial  forces  of  a  small  territory,  and  transforming  it  into 
the  fate  reserved  for  Belgium.  This  little  nation,  a  model  nation,  worthy  of  all  respect  and  considera- 
small  until  the  day  of  her  disaster  and  overthrow,  tion — why  should  such  efforts  be  made  to  further  its 
but  now  possessing  a  moral  greatness  unsurpassed  in  advance  on  the  path  of  progress,  liberty,  respect  for 
history,  cannot  disappear,  cantiot  lose  her  sovereignty,  the  rights  of  others,  if  in  the  last  resort  the  right  of 
If  such  a  thing  could  happen,   we   should  have   to  the  strongest  is  to  prevail? 

admit    that   Right  and  Justice   are    no    longer    the  In  this  case  it  would  be  better  to  live  the  life  of  savage 

principles  of  existence  among  civilised  peoples  ;    it  independe7ice  proper  to  people  as  yet  outside  the  pale 

would  further  be  a   terrible  lesson   that  these  could  of  civilisation, 
never  forget.     Why  should  so  much  care,  so  much 


By  DR.   LYMAN  ABBOTT 

WHATEVER  may  be  our  various  opinions  respecting  the  merits  of  this 
terrible  war  in  Europe  there  can  be  no  question  that  Belgium,  which  so  far 
has  been  perhaps  the  chief  sufferer,  is  absolutely  innocent  of  any  offence. 
The  war  has  swept  over  her  land,  cities  have  been  destroyed,  homes  desolated 
and  thousands  of  Belgians  killed,  because  she  refused  to  disregard  her  own 
promise  but  chose  rather  to  battle  bravely  in  a  desperate  endeavour  to 
maintain  that  neutrality  to  which  she  and  the  Powers  of  Europe  were 
pledged.  The  needs  of  the  Belgians  appeal  to  all  lovers  of  their  fellow-men 
whatever  their  race,  their  religious  creed,  or  their  sympathies  in  this  war. 


i68 


/ 


>. 


L 

/^ 


i> 


By  LADY  LUGARD 

I  AM  honoured  in  being  allowed  to  express  my  profound  respect  for  a 
nation  which  has  lifted  contemporary  history  in  one  step  from  the 
commonplace  to  the  heroic.  The  times  have  suddenly  become  great.  It 
is  the  prayer  of  all  our  hearts  that  we  may  be  great  with  them.  For  Belgium 
the  prayer  is  already  answered — she  has  become  a  great  nation.  In  material 
ruin  she  has  risen  to  spiritual  conquest  so  complete  that  the  world  lies  at 
her  feet.  No  enemy  can  deprive  her  of  this  triumph.  Her  young  King 
has  reason  to  be  proud  and  glad.  So  long  as  history'  is  told  it  will  be  re- 
membered that  under  his  leadership  Belgium  as  an  entire  nation  was  ready 
to  face  mart}Tdom  for  her  faith.  She  has  suffered  a  martyrdom  which, 
by  its  detail  of  horror  and  brutality,  seems  to  be  misplaced  in  the  history  of 
civilisation.  And  the  faith  for  which  she  has  suffered  is  not  her  faith  alone 
— it  is  our  faith  too.  It  is  faith  in  honour,  faith  in  truth,  faith  in  courage, 
justice,  liberty — faith  in  all  that  renders  human  relations  sacred,  tender, 
and  inspiring.  For  this  common  faith  we  are  prepared  to  stand.  The 
nations  feel,  their  Governments  have  said,  that  arms  cannot  be  laid  down 
until  this  faith  has  been  vindicated.  With  its  vindication  must  come  the 
ultimate  victory  of  Belgium  and  her  reinstatement  upon  a  new  and  higher 
plane  of  nationality. 

It  has  been  happily  given  to  England  while  waiting  in  confidence  for  that 
day  to  take  her  part  in  offering  to  the  stricken  Belgian  population  such  help 
as  hospitality  and  sympathy  can  give.  My  own  humble  part  has  been  to 
share  with  others  in  this  work  of  consolation.  It  has  been  at  once  our 
comfort  and  our  privilege.  We  know,  alas  too  well,  how  little  it  is, 
humanly  speaking,  possible  to  assuage  the  unparalleled  sufferings  in  the 
presence  of  which  we  find  ourselves.  But  as  we  have  moved  daily  in  the 
midst  of  sorrows  which  must  have  touched  a  heart  of  stone,  and  have  noted 
with  growing  admiration  the  magnificent  fortitude,  the  simplicity,  the 
gratitude  for  kindness  received  with  which  they  have  been  borne,  the  hope 
has  become  conviction  in  our  hearts  that  the  noble  promise  will  yet  again 
be  fulfilled  :  "  They  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy  and  he  that  goeth  on 
his  way  weeping  and  beareth  forth  good  seed  shall  doubtless  come  again 
with  joy  and  bring  his  sheaves  with  him."  "  Shall  doubtless  " — It  is  for 
that  "  doubtless  "  that  I  believe  our  whole  nation  is  prepared  to  maintain 
the  fight  while  there  is  a  man  or  a  woman  left  in  the  British  Empire. 


By  ROBERTO   BRACCO 

IN  questo  momento  storico,  il  Belgio  — "  la  nazione  agonizzante ''  —  e  la 

piu  grande  nazione  d'Europa.  .  ,^ 

TRAXSf.ATION  \         ^    ' 

Al  ifiis  historic  moment,  Relgium — "  a  nation  in  its 
agony  " — is  the  greatest  nation  of  Europe. 


L69 


By  MARCEL   PREVOST 

A  L'INSTANT  tragique  oii  un  souverain  d'Europe  dechainait  la  barbaric, 
un  autre  souverain  s'est  leve,  qui  a  dechaine  rheroisme.  Et  soudain 
rheroisme  a  gagne  les  peuples,  de  proche  en  proche  —  ces  vieux  peuples 
occidentaux  qu'on  disait  trop  civilises  pour  afi'ronter  la  mort  en  souriant. 
Gloire  a  Albert,  Roi  des  Beiges,  qui  nous  a  revele  la  valeur  de  nos  ames  ! 


TRANSLATION 

At  the  tragic  moment  when  one  Sovereign  of  Europe 
Kas  unleashing  the  dark  pozcers  oj  barbarism,  another 
Sovereign  arose  who  freed  the  pmvers  of  heroistn. 
And  all  at   once   the  spirit  of  the  hero  permeated 


the  nations — these  old  Western  nations  that  •were 
thought  too  ciiilised  to  smile  at  the  menaces  of  Death. 
Glory  to  King  Albert,  King  of  the  Belgians,  who  has 
revealed  to  us  the  value  oj  our  souls. 


By  JONAS   BOJER 

We  are  at  last  in  for  an  epoch  of  heroism,  the  King  again  taking  the  supreme 
place  among  his  nation.  The  storm  has  swept  away  Parliament  and  speakers, 
Government  and  elections,  parties  and  party  programmes.  Only  one  thing 
remains,  a  monumental  thing — the  nation  and  the  nation's  father. 
King  Albert,  rich  when  his  country  was  wealthy — happy  when  Belgium 
flourished — poor  when  his  kingdom  was  sunk  in  ruins — a  refugee  in  his 
land  when  his  own  countrymen  were  driven  away  from  hearth  and  home. 
Brave  among  the  braves,  wounded  among  the  wounded,  but  for  ever 
standing  erect  as  a  symbol  of  the  vitality  of  his  people,  who  had  only  dreamed 
to  live  and  work  on  the  plains  of  Flanders.  He  was  too  proud  to  become 
a  martyr,  too  strong  to  ask  for  pity  ;  he  boldly  faced  destruction,  uncon- 
querable because  justice  and  the  future  are  on  his  side.  There  where  he 
shows  himself  refugees  find  a  home,  the  fatherless  a  brother,  the  homeless 
a  fatherland,  the  desperate  a  leader  whom  they  can  trust  and  who  is  full  of 
faith.  He  is  the  man  who  has  given  the  faded  glories  of  royal  crowns  a 
new  splendour  ;  he  is  the  only  one  in  this  gigantic  fight  who  bears  on  his 
forehead  the  stamp  of  divine  innocence. 

At  his  side  stands  his  wife,  a  woman  who  from  being  Queen  over  a  realm 
rises  to  become  the  Holy  Mother  of  a  nation. 


^^-7^^^^^^^-^    .^C^ 


By  FREDERIK  VAN  EEDEN 

Homage  and  sympathy  for  the  Belgians  and  their  King. 

170 


By  LUIGI   CAPUANA 

HITHERTO  it  seemed  a  horrible  nightmare  from  which  I  could  not  escape. 
So  I  turned  to  the  vigorous  novels  of  my  friend  Camille  Lemonnier,  to 
the  delicate  melodies  of  my  friend  Valere  Gille,  to  the  strange  but  powerful 
dramas  of  Maurice  Maeterlinck,  in  all  of  which  I  had  loved  and  admired 
different  aspects  of  a  happy  laborious  Belgium,  flourishing  in  Industr}', 
Commerce,  Art,  and  Letters. 
I  asked  myself  :    Is  it  possible  ?   Is  it  possible  ? 

And  with  feverish  hands  I  turned  over  the  noble  pages  which  La  Belgique 
artist iqiie  et  litteraire  of  April  1909  devoted  to  the  relief  of  Messinese  and 
Calabrian  suff"erers  from  the  earthquake,  an  outburst  of  ardent  writings 
and  a  magnificent  series  of  drawings,  beginning  with  an  etching  by  Her 
Royal  Highness  Marie,  Countess  of  Flanders. 

My  Sicily  still  remembers  this  outburst  of  fraternal  charity,  and  would 
certainly  like  to  repay  it  now  in  the  worthiest  manner. 
Is  it  possible  ?  Is  it  possible  .''  I  still  ask  myself.  In  the  presence  of  such 
a  treasure  of  vitality,  love,  and  compassion,  I  felt  my  heart  wrung  when  I 
recognised,  as  alas  !  I  was  obliged  to  do,  that  I  was  confronted,  not  with 
any  horrible  hallucination,  but  with  a  terrible  reality,  transcending  any 
monstrous  aberration  of  the  human  imagination. 
Does  Belgium  no  longer  exist  ? 

The  arbitrary  madness  of  a  Sovereign  who  believes  himself  to  be  in  direct 
communication  with  God  has  suddenly  let  loose  a  hurricane  of  fire  and  iron 
on  her  capital,  on  the  richest  and  most  peaceful  of  her  cities,  on  the  most 
fertile  districts  of  her  characteristic  provinces,  condemning  to  miserable 
€xile  thousands  of  old  men,  women,  and  children,  w'ho  have  fled  before  the 
barbarian  violence  of  hordes  unworthy  of  the  name  of  soldiers. 
Belgium  no  longer  exist  ? 
Oh  !  it  cannot  be  ! 

No  one  could  have  supposed  that  this  tranquil  nation  could  have  had  the 
strength  and  courage  to  contest  the  cowardly  German  invasion,  step  by 
step,  to  resist  continuously,  in  the  face  of  overwhelming  numbers  and  the 
gradual  decimation  of  the  proud  army  gathered  round  her  heroic  King  and 
her  not  less  heroic  Queen. 

And  none  would  yet  dare  to  believe  that  the  hour  will  not  soon  come  when 
there  will  be  a  great  reconquest,  in  which  the  hated  invaders  will  be  driven 
from  the  sacred  soil  of  Belgium  and  he  who  has  not  hesitated  to  expose  his 
own  life  as  freely  as  the  humblest  of  his  soldiers  will  return  to  the  Royal 
Palace  at  Brussels,  crowned  with  a  halo  of  glory. 

France,  England,  and  Russia  are  and  will  always  be  proud  to  contribute  to 
this  lofty  work  of  restitution,  and  I  hope  to  see  in  the  victorious  procession 
with  them,  my  Italy,  who  cannot  and  ought  not  to  tolerate  the  disappearance 
of  Belgium  from  among  the  nations  of  Europe. 
And  now  let  us  remember  again  ! 

The  publication  of  that  wonderful  number  of  La   Belgique  artistique  et 

171 


litteraire  was  followed  by  a  military  fete,  given  by  the  Brussels  garrison  in 
aid  of  the  victims  of  the  earthquake  ;  proud  young  soldiers  took  part  in 
equestrian  exercises,  and  in  the  evolutions  of  quick-firing  batteries.  ...  I 
think  with  horror  how  many  of  those  young  figures  have  disappeared, 
mowed  down  by  the  treacherous  war  thrust  on  them  by  the  Germans  ; 
and  I  think  too  how  many  writers  like  Paul  Andre,  Georges  Eckland,  Henry 
Davignon  ;  poets  like  Emile  Verhaeren,  Georges  Marlon,  Auguste  Vierset, 
Theo.  Hannon  ;  painters  and  sculptors  like  Edmond  Piccard,  Xavier 
Mallery,  Ferd.  Georges  Lemmors,  Henry  Wautiers  ;  musicians  like  Paul 
Gilson,  Emile  Mathieu,  Victor  Rufiin — I  take  the  first  names  that  come 
into  my  head — I  think  how  many  of  these,  suddenly  transformed  into 
combatants,  have  paid  with  their  lives  for  the  patriotic  ardour  of  their  hearts. 
Nevertheless,  how  marvellous  is  the  revelation  of  that  stricken,  devastated, 
and  starving  Belgium,  pressing  round  her  noble  King  and  her  gentle  Queen, 
and  almost  forgetting  her  own  pains  in  those  of  the  elect  couple,  those  living 
symbols  of  a  land  violated  but  not  vanquished. 

And  how  I  suffer  at  the  repression  of  the  Hymn  of  Praise  I  would  fain  pour 
out  to  them  by  the  horrible  spectacle  of  the  barbarian  invasion,  which  freezes 
the  words  on  my  lips,  and  confounds  my  thoughts  ! 

Yet  this  is  powerless  to  overcome  my  steadfast  faith  in  the  speedy  advent 
of  a  glorious  and  complete  reconquest. 

And  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  this  hope,  and  a  hand  trembling  with 
emotion  I  write  : 

Long  live  King  Albert  !  Long  live  Queen  EHsabeth  !  Long  live  heroic — 
and  immortal — Belgium  ! 


By  SIR  F.   CARRUTHERS   GOULD 

WHEN  the  story  of  the  terrible  European  War  which  is  now  raging  comes 
to  be  written  in  the  calm  dispassion  of  impartial  judgment,  it  will  without 
doubt  be  recognised  that  no  nobler  page  in  history  can  be  found  than  that 
which  records  the  heroic  self-sacrificing  stand  which  martyred  Belgium 
made,  not  merely  to  protect  herself  against  unscrupulous  and  brutal  ag- 
gression, but  to  assert  her  sacred  right  to  her  independence  and  to  protest 
against  being  made  a  passive  tool  for  furthering  the  wanton  and  wicked 
designs  of  German  military  dominance  over  Europe. 

War  in  the  twentieth  century,  and  after  nineteen  hundred  and  fourteen 
years  of  Christianity,  seems  a  monstrous  outrage  on  civilisation,  but  we  in 
this  country,  in  spite  of  our  hatred  of  war,  feel  that  Christianity  itself  would 
have  been  still  more  foully  outraged  if  we  had  not  resolved  to  draw  the 
sword,  and  to  the  best  of  our  power  to  stand  by  Belgium  and  her  heroic 
monarch  and  his  gallant  people,  and  to  assert  the  eternal  principles  of 
Justice  and  Honour. 


172 


SHE  COMES  NOT 

WORDS   BY 

HERBERT  TRENCH 

MUSIC   BY 

JOHAN     BACKER-LUNDE 


Voice. 


Piano. 


Andante  lento. 


She      comes  not  .   .  when  Noon  is  on  the     ro 


A  ndante  Unto. 


r:S3E 


i^^^^^^^^i^^ 


Too  bright 


is  Day. 


She      comes  not   to    the 


fV.;^^;^^^!^^ 


1  >    1 


r  z 


1     i<' 


w^ 


sost. 


( 


f^^^-^^^ 


^/, 


-t 


Soul    till     it     re    -    po 


^m^^^ 


From  work 


and 


:^5r?D,-3z:ifc: 


S!^ 


^?S<= 


g"^-^ jf 


=j=*: 


^ta.^^^ 


^^ 


^i::_£:. 


^fe 


1^1-'''    -l||J^ 


i=^L^ 


I.liiy. 


But  when    Night  is    on  the     hills         and  the    great 


^^:^§E= 


173 


iS^ 


light 


I 


i-^i^w^^JS^^^  *^^^  ^^^ 


3#^^ait5: 


^^ 


ig?; 


p^ 


^S^FT^ 


— ^?>;:;pz: 


l> ^[;i^] 


3E?£^ 


t#* 


:C*>^^: 


^5^=p:-=^^^fe=Ffci 


i 


P/J  poco  a  poco  rit 

-h-ii — n^o r — "& 


1^ 


I 


f 


|ei 


^s'^^^^^ 


e:2irS^ 


174 


to      me. 


i^ 


_*J. 


-^Wc-.-\ 


^m 


P  a  tempo. 


'^r 


"-S^^^T 


:rti!zsr 


H 


W; 


n<. 


;j/);> 


1152 


^ 


S5;*f 


i^"^^'-" 


:is= 


1 


By  DR.  OLINDO  MALAGODI  {To  represent'' La  Tribunal'  Rome) 
L'ONNIPOTENTE  Germania,  cercando  di  giustificare  la  sua  violazione 
dclla  neutralita  del  Belgio,  alia  quale  essa  stessa  era  solennemente  impegnata, 
proclamo  con  le  parole  del  suo  Cancelliere  : — Necessita  non  conosce  legge. 
— Con  queste  parole  Germania  diminui  la  sua  stessa  potenza,  sottometten- 
dola  e  rendendola  schiava  di  condizioni  e  circostanze,  e  cio  facendo  umilio 
se  stessa. 

II  Belgio,  piccolo  e  male  armato,  risposc  con  la  sua  eroica  difesa,  la  quale 
puo  essere  tradotta  nella  formula  opposta  : — La  legge  non  conosce  necessita. 
— Con  la  sua  azione  il  Belgio,  mentre  veniva  materialmente  schiacciato,  si 
sollevava  alto  sul  suo  potente  aggressore,  guadagnando  una  vittoria  morale 
di  grande  valore  per  tutto  il  mondo. 

Appunto  in  qucsto  contrasto  si  esprime  tutta  I'epopea  gloriosa  della  difesa 
del  Belgio,  che  contiene  una  promessa  ed  un  augurio  per  I'umanita  futura. 
La  Germania  di  oggi,  che  non  e  la  Germania  di  Kant  e  di  Schiller,  ha 
fondata  la  sua  politica  sull'  assioma  : — La  forza  e  il  diritto. — Questo  assioma 
corrisponde  forse  alia  realta  presente  ;  ma  appunto  per  cio  tanto  maggior 
valore  acquista  qualunque  azione  che  contraddica  questa  legge  di  ferro,  e 
la  quale,  come  il  sacrifizio  a  cui  il  Belgio  si  e  sottomesso  eroicamente, 
contribuisca  a  preparare  una  nuova  e  piu  umana  realta,  in  cui — il  diritto  sia 
la  forza. 


TRAXSLATION  by  Florence  Simmotids 
AU-potcerful  Germany,  seeking  to  justify  her  violation 
of  Belgium's  neutrality,  to  tchicli  she  herself  teas 
solemnly  pledged,  proclaimed  by  the  mouth  of  her 
Chancellor  that  "  Necessity  knotis  no  law."  By 
these  Kords  she  attenuated  her  otai  pc/iccr,  making 
it  the  subject  and  slave  of  conditions  and  circumstances, 
and  thus  humiliating  herself  as  a  nation. 
Belgium,  small  and  poorly  armed,  replied  by  her 
heroic  defence,  which  may  be  translated  by  the  anti- 
thesis :  Law  knows  no  necessity.  Though  Belgium 
has  been  crushed  materially,  this  deed  has  raised 
her  far  above  her  powerful  adversary  and  has  given 


her  a  moral  victory  of  infinite  value  to  the  world. 
In  this  contrast  all  the  glorious  epic  of  Belgium's 
defence  is  expressed.  It  holds  a  promise  and  an 
augury  for  the  future  of  mankind.  The  Germany  of 
to-day,  which  is  no  longer  the  Germany  of  Kant  and 
Schiller,  bases  her  policy  on  the  a.xiom  :  Might  is 
right.  'This  axiom  is  perhaps  in  harmony  with  actual 
realities  ;  but  all  the  more  tnust  we  value  any  action 
which  contradicts  this  iron  lav\  any  action  which, 
like  the  sacrifice  so  heroically  submitted  to  by  Belgium, 
tinds  to  prepare  a  nnv  and  more  humane  reality,  in 
which  ki"ht  will  be  Mi'-ht. 


By   EARL   BRASSEY 

THE  Belgian  people  may  be  well  assured  that  we  in  England  are  their  true 
friends.  We  have  felt  the  keenest  sympathy  with  them  in  all  that  they  have 
suflered.  We  have  profoundly  regretted  our  inability  to  come  more 
promptly  to  their  relief.  We  have  appreciated  their  exalted  patriotism 
and  the  dauntless  valour  of  their  brave  troops.  We  hope  the  day  is  not 
distant  when  they  will  receive  compensation  for  their  heavy  losses  and  cruel 
sacrifices.  ^        j/ 


By    ELLEN   KEY 

SOME  months  ago  Belgium  was  fertile  and  fair  beyond  expression.  It  was 
the  land  of  calmly  flowing  rivers,  grand  forests,  wide  fields  :  beautiful  at 
every  time  and  glorious  when  wrapped  in  the  golden  mists  of  summer 
sunset.  It  was  the  land  of  splendid  old  towns,  where  the  belfries  made 
the  heart  glad  with  music,  and  where  great  works  of  art — by  masters  old 
and  new — filled  the  soul  with  joy. 

Now  Belgium  is  full  of  sorrow  and  misery.  The  garden  is  changed  into  a 
desert.  A  great  number  of  the  people  are  dead  ;  a  still  greater  number  are 
wandering  in  exile  in  foreign  lands.  For  the  remainder — for  King  as  for 
beggar — life  is  a  tragedy  too  deep  for  tears.  This  fate  has  overcome  Bel- 
gium because  the  world  is  still  ruled  by  force,  not  by  justice. 
But  the  name  of  Belgium  is  tiow  engraved  in  the  conscience  of  the  zcorld. 
Humanity  can  have  no  peace  in  sight  of  the  fate  of  this  people.  That  fate 
must  he  chafiged  or  we  shall  witness  such  a  defeat  for  our  higher  ideals,  such 
a  loss  for  the  great  principles  which  our  best  men  and  women  have  lived 
or  died  for,  that  we  ought  to  resist  this  defeat  and  be  on  our  guard  against 
this  loss  with  as  much  energy  as  we  should  use  in  the  defence  of  our  own 
country. 


By  LEONARDO   BISTOLFI 

THE  sublime  sacrifice  of  the  Belgian  people  will  consecrate  the  blood- 
stained earth  of  its  martyrs  as  an  altar  reared  by  the  hands  of  Death  to  the 
pure  and  inviolable  beauty  of  Life. 


By  LIEUT.-GENERAL  SIR  ROBERT  BADEN-POWELL 
IT  would  be  trite  to  quote  David  against  Goliath  in  the  case  of  gallant  little 
Belgium  standing  up  to  the  ogre  of  Prussian  Militarism,  but  that  historic 
fight  had  its  counterpart  recently  where  a  peaceful,  hard-working  little 
tailor  was  set  upon  by  a  big,  beery  loafer.  The  neighbours,  out  of  pity 
and  sense  of  fair  play,  were  prepared  to  run  to  the  rescue,  when  they  stood 
back  to  cheer,  for  the  little  man  stuck  up,  on  his  own,  to  the  bully,  and 
punched  him  and  tripped  him  and  held  him  down  till  help  arrived.  In  a 
moment  the  insignificant  little  worker  had  changed  into  the  hero  of  the 
village. 

There  are  two  things  above  all  others  which  Britons,  down  to  the  very 
lowest  among  them,  inherently  appreciate,  and  those  are  Pluck  and  Fair  Play. 
That  is  why  their  sympathy  is  hot  and  strong  for  the  plucky  little  nation 
which  stood  up  as  a  champion  for  liberty  and  fair  play  against  the  over- 
whelming tide  of  brute-force.  -^  ^  -^ 

176 


By  SIR  JAMES   BARR,  M.D.,  LL.D. 
Some  Eugenic  Ideals 

AS  one  of  those  who  do  not  look  upon  war  as  an  unmixed  evil,  and  who 
think  that  it  is  sometimes  well  for  a  nation  to  be  purified  as  if  by  fire,  I  feel 
confident  that  a  fine  race  like  the  Belgians,  who  have  shown  their  survival 
value,  will  yet  rise  superior  to  "  German  Kultur,"  and  with  the  aid  of  their 
Allies  will  crush  the  barbarous  monster  who  seeks  to  rule  the  world  by 
brute  force.  War,  no  doubt,  has  played  an  important  part  in  the  evolution 
of  the  human  race,  just  as  a  struggle  for  existence  among  lower  forms  of 
life  occurred  long  before  the  appearance  of  man  on  the  globe.  No  doubt 
this  struggle  in  one  form  or  another  will  continue  for  generations  yet  unborn. 
The  millennium,  whatever  that  may  mean,  is  still  in  the  dim  and  shadowy 
future.  There  is  now  a  vain  hope,  a  kind  of  blessed  assurance,  among  many 
peaceful  individuals  that  this  is  the  last  great  war,  that  the  battle  of  Arma- 
geddon is  being  now  fought,  and  that  men  will  learn  the  art  of  war  no  more. 
This  is  a  consummatioji  devoutly  to  be  wished,  but  one  which  will  not  be 
attained  as  we  are  still  on  the  borderland  of  savagery.  I  hope  the  rulers 
of  the  allied  nations  will  not  be  actuated  by  any  such  foolish  ideas,  but  will 
recognise  facts  and  not  be  misled  by  lying  proclamations  of  Germany's 
peaceful  intentions — proclamations  which  contravened  facts  and  the  falsity 
of  which  should  have  been  apparent  to  every  intelligent  being. 
I  have  long  recognised  that  a  life  and  death  struggle  would  be  forced  on 
Britain  by  Germany,  but  I  never  thought  that  it  would  occur  under  such 
favourable  conditions  for  our  country.  Now  that  this  struggle  has  occurred 
it  should  be  the  duty  of  all  the  Allies  to  see  that  the  conditions  are  so  altered 
that  it  will  never  recur.  As  a  wise  preventive  the  Hohenzollern  and  Haps- 
burg  families  should  be  eliminated  root  and  branch,  and  sane  rulers  placed 
in  their  stead.  It  should  not  be  left  within  the  power  of  any  series  of 
megalomaniacs  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  world. 

The  "  German  Kultur  "  as  manifested  in  Louvain,  and  by  rapine  and 
plunder  throughout  Belgium,  must  be  exterminated,  and  this  savage  breed 
as  far  as  possible  wiped  out,  but  herein  arises  an  insuperable  difficulty. 
Maeterlinck  truly  says  the  Germans  are  all  guilty,  any  differentiation  is  a 
mere  matter  of  degree,  and  you  cannot  wipe  out  loo  millions.  Moreover, 
any  such  attempt  would  degrade  the  Allies  to  the  low  base  level  of  German 
conduct.  We  must  carr\'  on  an  honourable  warfare  which  will  leave  no  blot 
on  our  escutcheon.  We  must  conquer  nobly,  we  must  make  the  Germans 
pay  to  their  last  stiver  for  the  war  which  they  have  so  ruthlessly  conducted. 
We  must  weed  out  the  worst  of  the  barbarians,  and  utterly  destroy  the 
princely  looters  with  the  rest  of  the  Prussian  military  gang  who  have  proved 
themselves  a  disgrace  to  humanity.  When  the  Germans  discover  that 
dishonourable  conduct  does  not  pay,  that  it  has  no  survival  value,  then  we 
may  eventually  get  a  newer  and  truer  Germany. 

Personally,  I  have  no  objection  to  German  ascendancv  if  they  produce  a 
finer  race  than  ourselves,  but  I  do  object  to  that  ascendancy  being  attained 

177 


by  brute  force.  I  have  never  liked  German  methods,  but  I  have  always 
given  them  full  credit  for  their  perseverance  and  ability.  Unfortunately 
we  have  all  been  too  apt  to  accept  the  German  at  the  face  value  put  on  by 
himself  without  carefully  examining  his  intrinsic  merit  or  demerit  as  the 
case  may  be.  Germany  has  produced  no  genius,  there  is  no  scope  for 
individualism,  her  work  is  the  collective  wisdom  of  commonplace  savants, 
she  has  never  produced  nor  is  ever  likely  to  produce  a  super-man,  there  has 
been  no  evolution  of  the  higher  and  nobler  nature  of  man,  the  race  has  not 
received  that  internal  push,  as  Bergson  would  say,  which  has  carried  life 
by  more  and  more  complex  forms  to  higher  and  higher  destinies.  There 
has  been  no  cultivation  of  the  spirit  of  altruism,  that  highest  product  of 
human  evolution  which  is  shown  by  sympathy  with  our  fellow-beings  in 
their  suffering.  On  the  contrary  the  worst  and  most  brutal  characteristics 
of  the  Huns  were  evolved  and  developed  in  the  Franco-Prussian  War  of 
1870,  and  have  now  been  perpetuated  in  an  even  more  accentuated  form  in 
the  present  war.  The  German  Emperor  emulates  and  out-Herods  the 
conduct  of  Attila,  "  the  Scourge  of  God."  When,  O  God,  when  can  such 
scourges  be  eliminated  ?  Surely  their  existence  can  be  of  no  value  to  the 
higher  evolution  of  the  race.  The  blasphemous  speeches  of  this  monarch 
can  have  no  divine  sanction,  and  should  not  be  allowed  to  mislead  a  deluded 
nation  ;  the  only  beneficial  effect  which  they  can  have  may  be  to  lead  the 
guilty  to  their  destruction. 

The  Allies  have  shown  their  manhood  and  the  capacity  to  rule,  we  must 
not  therefore  rest  satisfied  with  the  conquest  of  Germany,  the  establishment 
of  peace  and  the  rehabiliment  of  Belgium,  but  we  must  also  raise  imperial 
races  whose  influences  will  be  felt  for  good  throughout  the  world.  We  must 
raise  healthy,  vigorous  manhood  and  womanhood,  men  and  women  who  will 
hold  their  own  in  the  battle  of  life  with  any  other  nations — we  want  nations 
of  stalwarts.  This  can  all  be  rapidly  attained  by  intelligent  artificial  selection, 
and  the  nation  which  produces  the  finest,  noblest,  and  most  intellectual  race 
will  win  in  the  long  run.  Bacon  said  :  "  The  principal  point  of  greatness 
in  any  State  is  to  have  a  race  of  military  men."  He  did  not  then  contemplate 
the  Prussian  braggadocio.  We  are  getting  more  peaceable  since  Bacon's 
days.  Some  are  preaching  peace,  eternal  peace,  forgetting  that  there  has 
been  a  constant  and  incessant  struggle  on  the  earth  since  the  first  appearance 
of  life  thereon,  and  the  surest  way  of  any  nation  preserving  the  peace  is  to 
be  alwavs  ready  for  a  fight.  If  the  Allies  had  been  ready  Germany  would 
not  have  attacked  them.  The  health  of  a  nation  is  its  most  valuable  asset, 
and  I  should  like  to  see  every  man  between  the  ages  of  20  and  60  able  to 
handle  a  rifle  and  a  bayonet,  and,  if  needs  be,  take  part  in  the  defence  of 
his  countr}^ 

In  King  Albert  we  have  a  worthy  ruler  of  an  imperial  race,  and  I  hope  he 
may  live  long  to  rule  over  such  a  self-reliant  and  noble  people. 

178  -^"^  


By  ARMANDO  PALACIO  VALDES 
La  Leyenda  del  Rey  Alberto 

En  los  sighs  zenidcros  las  madrcs  coniordn  a  sus  hijos  en  las  largas  noches 
de  inveirno  "  la  leyenda  del  rey  Alberto." 

"  UNA  vez  era  un  rey,  hijos  mi'os,  que  reinaba  sobre  un  pequeno  pueblo 
industrioso,  noble  y  bravo.  Y  este  rey  era  noble  entre  los  mas  nobles  y 
bravo  entre  los  mas  bravos.  Cerca  de  el  vivi'a  un  gigante  temeroso  que 
reinaba  sobre  un  gran  pueblo  de  gucrreros.  Este  gigante  mantcni'a  en 
suspension  y  espanto  a  cuantos  Ic  rodcaban  y  rebosaba  de  poder  y  de  orgullo. 
Ademas  poseia  un  caiion  maravilloso,  grande  como  una  catedral,  con  el 
cual  arrasaba  los  campos  y  pulverisaba  las  ciudades.  Vecino  del  pequeno 
pueblo  vivia  otro  rico  y  feliz  que  el  gigante  codiciaba. 
"  Dejame  pasar  por  tus  estados,"  le  dijo  un  dia  a  nuestro  rey.  "  Quiero 
aplastar  y  reducir  a  la  servidumbre  a  esa  nacion  que  cerca  do  ti  se  halla. 
Si  me  dejas  el  paso  libre  tcndras  dinero,  participaras  del  botin  que  recoja, 
algunos  de  los  estados  de  esa  nacion  pasaran  a  tu  poder.  Si  no  me  lo  dejas 
arrasare  tu  pueblo  y  sereis  todos  esclavos. 

*'  No  pasaras  sino  sobre  nuestros  cadaveres,"  respondio  el  rey  valeroso. 
"  Mi  pueblo,  que  es  uno  de  los  mas  prospcros  del  orbc,  cstima  mucho  sus 
fabricas,  sus  riquezas,  sus  grandes  ciudades,  sus  hermosos  monumentos, 
pero  estima  mas  su  honra.  Las  piedras  pueden  colocarse  otra  vez  las  unas 
sobre  las  otras  ;  pero  i  quicn  alzara  de  sus  ruinas  el  honor  derrumbado  ? 
Guarda  tu  dinero,  toma  el  mi'o  y  el  de  mis  compatriotas  si  te  hace 
falta,  arrancanos  si  quieres  la  vida,  haznos  esclavos.  No  lograras  hacernos 
viles..." 

"  Entonces  el  gigante  cruel  cayo  sobre  aquel  diminuto  pueblo,  destruyo  sus 
ciudades,  quemo  sus  aldeas,  degollo  a  muchos  de  sus  habitantes  y  sembro 
por  doquier  el  espanto  y  la  desolacion. 

"  El  rey  magnanimo  salio  de  sus  estados,  pero  \  case  extrario  !  los  encontro 
mucho  mayores.  Todos  se  decla-aban  sus  vasallos.  Donde  quiera  que 
iba  se  le  ac'amaba  como  a  un  emperador  vxtorioso.  Las  mujeres  deshoja- 
ban  florcs  sobre  su  cabcza,  los  hombrcs  agitaban  sus  sombreros  gritando  : 
j  Viva  el  rey  ! 

"  Al  fin,  rodcado  de  un  pufiado  de  soldados  heroicos,  penetro  nuevamente 
en  sus  estados  y  comcnzo  la  rcconquista.  Muchos  hombres  le  ayudaron, 
los  unos  con  su  espada,  los  otros  con  su  pluma,  los  otros  con  sus  oraciones. 
Los  angcles  del  ciclo  Ic  abrian  paso.  Y  palmo  a  palmo  en  lucha  tenaz  y 
sangrienta  se  fue  apoderando  de  su  perdido  reino.  Cuando  al  cabo  logro 
sentarsc  otra  vez  sobre  su  trono,  el  universo  entero  dejo  cscapar  un  grito 
de  alcgn'a.  Porque  la  justicia  habfa  quedado  triunfantc,  la  ley  de  Dios 
cumplida  y  el  poder  de  las  tinicblas  vencido. 
"  Hijos  mios,  este  rey  fue  despues  dichoso  sobre  la  tierra  y  ahora  lo  es  en  el 

179 


ARMANDO  PALACIO  VALDES 
TRANSLATION  by  Prof.  Fitzjmurice-Kelly 
The  Legend  of  King  Albert 

In  the  coming  ages,  during  the  long  winter 
evenings,  mothers  will  tell  their  children 
"  The  Legend  of  King  Albert." 

"  Once  upon  a  time,  my  children,  there  was  a  King 
who  reigned  over  a  small,  industrious,  noble  and 
valiant  race  ;  and  this  King  was  the  noblest  of  the 
noble,  and  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  Near  him  there 
lived  a  dreadful  giant  who  ruled  over  a  great  race  of 
warriors.  This  giant  kept  all  those  about  him  in 
awe  and  fear,  and  he  abounded  in  power  and  pride. 
Moreover,  he  had  a  wonderful  cannon,  the  size  of  a 
cathedral,  with  which  he  made  havoc  of  the  country- 
side and  ground  cities  into  dust.  This  small  nation 
had  for  its  neighbour  another  state — a  rich  and  happy 
state,  which  the  giant  coveted. 
"  '  Let  me  pass  through  your  dominions'  he  said  one 
day  to  our  King.  '  /  want  to  destroy  and  enslave 
that  nation  which  dwells  nigh  you.  If  you  let  me 
through,  you  shall  have  wealth  ;  you  shall  share  the 
plunder  that  I  get  ;  seme  of  the  provinces  of  that 
nation  shall  come  under  your  sway.  Should  you  not 
let  me  through,  I  will  crush  your  people  and  you 
shall  all  be  slaves.' 

"  '  You  shall  not  pass — except  over  our  dead  bodies' 
answered  the  valiant  King.  '  My  people,  one  of  the 
most  prosperous   on   earth,   sets  great  store  by  its 


manufactures,  its  riches,  its  large  cities,  its  handsonw. 
monuments  :  but  it  loves  honour  more.  You  cu,,. 
again  pile  stones  one  upon  the  other  ;  but,  if  honour 
be  uprooted,  who  can  raise  it  from  its  ruins  ?  Keep 
your  money  ;  if  that  is  what  you  want,  take  mine 
and  my  people's  !  Take  our  lives  I  Enslave  us  ! 
You  will  fail  to  ynake  us  base  !  ' 

"  Then  the  cruel  giant  fell  on  that  tiny  race,  destroyed 
its  cities,  burned  its  hamlets,  slew  many  of  its  in- 
habitants, and  spread  fear  and  misery  everywhere. 
"  The  high-minded  King  set  forth  from  his  dominions, 
but — marvellous  to  tell  ! — he  found  them  growing 
larger.  All  proclaimed  themselves  his  vassals. 
Wherever  he  went,  he  was  hailed  as  though  he  were 
a  triumphant  conqueror.  Women  scattered  flowers 
on  his  head ;  men  waved  their  hats,  and  cried — ■ 
'  Long  live  tlie  King  ! ' 

"  At  last,  surrounded  by  a  handful  of  heroic  soldiers, 
he  made  his  way  once  more  into  his  Kingdom,  and 
began  to  win  it  back  again.  Many  helped  him  : 
some  with  their  swords,  sotne  with  their  pens,  others 
with  their  prayers.  The  angels  of  heaven  opened  up 
a  path  for  him.  And,  after  a  desperate  and  bloody 
struggle,  inch  by  inch,  he  kept  on  recovering  his  lost 
Kingdom.  When,  at  last,  he  came  to  his  throne 
again,  the  whole  world  raised  a  shout  of  exultation. 
For  justice  had  triumphed,  God's  word  was  fulfilled, 
and  the  powers  of  darkness  were  vanquished. 
"  My  children,  this  King  was  happy  afterwards  on 
earth,  and  is  now  happy  in  heaven." 


By  PAUL   BOURGET 
Le  Roi  Albert 

LA  guerre,  a  travers  tant  d'epreuves,  et  de  si  affreuses,  reserve  du  moins 
ce  bienfait  aux  peuples  et  aux  individus  qui  acceptent  virilement  sa  tragique 
necessite  :  I'education  par  la  resistance,  en  sorte  que  ce  formidable  element 
de  destruction  peut  devenir  un  element  fecond  de  reconstruction.  La 
guerre  procure  aux  gens  de  coeur  un  autre  bienfait  :  celui  de  I'exemple  a 
donner  et  a  recevoir,  en  sorte  encore  que  cette  sanglante  ouvriere  de  discorde 
Test  aussi  d'union.  Elle  resserre  d'un  lien  plus  etroitement  noue  le  faisceau 
social,  a  I'heure  meme  ou  Ton  croit  qu'elle  va  le  briser.  L'exemple,  quand 
il  est  celui  du  devoir  sur  le  champ  de  bataille,  rallie  d'un  tel  elan  les  volontes 
autour  du  drapeau  !  C'est  le  superieur  modelant  sur  lui  I'inferieur,  le  courage 
redressant  la  defaillance,  la  force  servant  de  regie  a  la  faiblesse,  I'energique 
devenu  une  predication  vivante.  II  montre  en  lui  ce  que  pent  I'homme 
quand  il  veut,  ce  que  vous  poiirrez,  vous,  son  camarade,  si  vous  voulez.  Et 
vous  voulez.  —  Braver  le  danger,  souffrir,  mourir,  —  ces  mots  n'avaient 
pour  vous,  heritier  comble  d'une  societe  heureuse,  qu'une  signification  si 
lointaine  !  La  guerre  en  a  fait  en  quelques  jours  une  realite  terrifiante. 
Aurez-vous  la  force  de  I'affronter  ?  Vous  en  doutez.  Et  voici  qu'un  autre, 
i8o 


c^'yy 


■  ■    1 .       If 


C 


^ 


Y-\ 


By  L.  Raven-Hill 

"  You  murk  my  word  Jart^e  ;  that  there  Kayser  'II  come  to 
a  bad  end  :    I've  \td  mv  i\e  nn  tin  fur  mttiiv  a  dav  !  " 


la,  devant  vous,  deploie  cette  force,  froidement,  tranquillement.  Une 
contagion  emane  de  son  attitude.  Ce  qu'il  a  pu  faire,  vous  le  ferez.  Et 
vous  marchez  au  danger,  vous  voulez  souffrir,  vous  savez  mourir.  C'est  le 
miracle  du  sacrifice,  qu'il  sc  multiplic  dans  tous  ses  temoins.  Ce  miracle, 
nous  y  assistons  a  chaque  jour,  a  chaque  heure,  depuis  ces  trois  mois. 
Cette  propagation  de  la  tlamme  sacree,  c'est  vraiment  la  course  de  la  torche 
dont  parle  Lucrece  : 

Et  quasi  cursores  virtutis  lampada  tradunt, 

dirais-je  en  osant  substituer  au  vital  du  texte  ce  mot  de  virtus  que  les  Romains, 
ces  soldats-nes,  chargeaient  d'un  tel  sens  ! 

Parmi  ces  porteurs  de  rhcroique  flambeau,  aucune  figure  ne  m'emeut 
autant  que  ccllc  du  Prince  pour  qui  ma  patrie  la  France  n'aura  jamais 
une  reconnaissance  assez  fremissante.  Je  veux  parler  de  ce  Roi  Albert  dont 
la  personnalite  magnifique  a  donne  son  sens  le  plus  haut  a  cette  dure  guerre. 
Sans  lui,  sans  le  peuple  beige,  elle  n'eut  ete  qu'un  cataclysme  mondial  d'une 
signification  indecise.  Je  lis  bicn  dans  des  articles  et  des  discours  que  nous 
assistons  a  une  luttc  entre  la  Democratic  et  la  Feodalite,  que  nous  avons 
repris  la  tradition  des  volontaires  de  92.  Cette  phraseologie  ne  correspond 
a  rien  d'exact.  Ce  n'est  pas  comme  democrates  que  nous  nous  battons. 
Les  Anglais  n'ont  pas  cesse  d'etre  la  monarchic  et  I'aristocratie  seculaires 
qu'ils  etaient  avant  le  2  aout  19 14,  et  nous  autre  Fran^ais  nous  defendons 
notre  sol,  tout  simplement.  L'Allemagne  n'est  pas  davantage  une  feodalite. 
Ce  n'est  pas  un  groupe  de  hobereaux  que  nous  avons  devant  nous,  c'est 
tout  une  nation  de  coiTimer9ants,  d'industriels,  de  paysans,  d'ouvriers. 
Ne  prenons  pas  au  serieux  cette  pretendue  opposition  de  la  Sozial  Detno- 
cratie  qualifiee  justement  par  un  revolutionnaire  plus  logiquc  de  "  philis- 
tinisme  petit  bourgeois."  Ce  pays  veut  dominer  les  autres  pays  et  d'abord 
conquerir  la  France,  envahir  ses  champs,  ses  mines,  ses  vignobles,  ses 
usines,  son  argent.  Cette  lutte  brutale  pour  'a  vie  d'un  cote,  pour  I'hege- 
monie  de  I'autre,  s'est  eclairee  tout  a  coup  d'un  rayon  d'idee.  C'est  au  Roi 
Albert  que  nous  le  devons.  Aucune  des  lemons  de  cette  guerre  n'est  plus 
eclatante.  C'est  I'exemple  projetant  sa  lumiere  a  la  fois  dans  le  monde 
moral  et  dans  le  monde  politique.  Je  voudrais  dire  pourquoi  en 
quelques  mots.  Je  m'excuse  de  commcnter  des  faits  connus  de  tous.  lis 
ne  seront  jamais  assez  rapportes,  parce  qu'ils  ne  seront  jamais  assez 
medites. 

Voulez-vous  que  nous  reprenions  le  Livre  blanc,  cette  brochure  qui  devrait 
etre  tiree  a  des  millions  d'exemplaires  et  mise  entre  toutes  les  mains  ?  Les 
pires  utopistes  y  apprendraient  a  penser  juste  sur  les  origincs  dc  la  guerre. 
II  contient,  on  le  sait,  la  correspondance  du  gouverncment  britannique  et 
de  ses  agents  pendant  cette  crise  du  20  juillet  au  4  aout.  Elle  se  compose 
de  cent  soixante  et  une  pieces.  Rien  que  le  numero  d'ordre  sous  lequel 
s'inscrit  la  premiere  depeche  relative  a  la  Belgiquc  a  quclquc  chose  de 
pathetique.     C'est    le   cent    quinzieme  !     Les   cent    quatorze    telegrammes 

M  181 


precedents  se  sont  echanges  entre  Londres,  Petrograd,  Berlin,  Paris,  Rome. 
Les  grandes  puissances  causent  entre  elles  avant  d 'engager  la  redoutable 
partie.  La  toute  petite  Belgique  est  absente  de  ces  conversations,  Qu'a-t- 
elle  de  commun  avec  les  interets  en  jeu  ?  Elle  entretient,  dira  son  ministre 
des  affaires  etrangeres,  a  la  date  du  i""^  aout  encore,  "  des  rapports  excellents 
avec  ses  voisins  et  elle  n'a  aucune  raison  pour  suspecter  leurs  intentions." 
Au  Foreign  Office  de  Londres,  on  est  moins  rassure.  Cette  dep^che  numerotee 
1 14  exprime  I'inquietude  de  Sir  Edward  Grey,  lequel  annonce  au  ministre 
anglais  a  Bruxelles  qu'il  a  "  demande  aux  gouvernements  fran9ais  et  allemand 
si  chacun  d'eux  etait  decide  a  respecter  la  neutralite  de  la  Belgique."  Celle- 
ci,  resolue  elle-meme  a  maintenir  cette  neutralite,  ne  s'emeut  pas.  Elle 
repose  sur  la  foi  d'un  traite  contresigne  par  I'Angleterre,  I'AUemagne  et 
la  France.  Le  3  aout,  le  gouvernement  allemand  lui  remet  une  note 
demandant  le  libre  passage  pour  ses  armees  sur  son  territoire,  moyennant 
quoi  I'Allemagne  s 'engage  a  maintenir  I'integrite  du  royaume  et  de  ses 
possessions.  Sinon  la  Belgique  sera  traitee  en  ennemie.  Le  Roi  Albert  a 
douze  heures  pour  repondre.  Devant  cet  ultitnatum,  il  n'hesite  pas.  II 
sait  que  I'armee  allemande  est  une  force  terrible.  II  connait  I'Empereur 
Allemand.  II  sait  que  I'orgueilleux,  apres  une  telle  demarche,  ne  reculera 
plus.  Son  trone  est  en  jeu,  plus  que  son  trone  :  les  sept  millions  d'ames, 
—  quelle  eloquence  prennent  les  vulgaires  termes  de  statistiques  dans 
certaines  circonstances  !  —  qui  lui  sont  confiees  :  il  voit  en  esprit  ce  beau 
pays  indefendable  :  ces  charbonnages,  ces  carrieres,  ces  usines,  ces  filatures, 
ces  ports,  cette  florissante  industrie  epanouie  dans  ces  plaines  ouvertes  qu'il 
ne  pourra  pas  preserver.  Mais  il  s'agit  d'un  traite  ou  il  y  a  sa  signature. 
Repondre  oui  a  I'Allemagne,  c'est  trahir  ses  co-signataires,  le  Fran^ais  et 
I'Anglais.  C'est  manquer  a  I'engagement  pris,  se  deshonorer,  soi  et  son 
peuple,  et  le  Roi  dit  non.     Le  reste  est  connu. 

Cet  heroisme  de  la  probite,  c'est  celui  du  Regulus  antique  retournant  a 
Carthage  et  au  supplice  pour  tenir  la  parole  donnee.  Mais  c'est  aussi  celui 
du  commer9ant  qui  ne  veut  pas  etre  banqueroutier  et  qui  vend  tout,  maison, 
meubles,  linge,  argenterie  pour  taire  face  a  ses  engagements.  C'est  celui 
du  fils  qui  se  ruine  pour  payer  les  dettes  de  son  pere.  "  A  quel  prix  ce 
pacte  aura-t-il  ete  tenu.  Y  avez-vous  pense  ?  "  demandait  M.  de  Bethmann- 
Hollweg  a  Sir  Edward  Goschen.  J'entends  le  Roi  Albert  repondre:  "  Ce 
n'est  pas  mon  affaire.  II  y  a  la  un  chiffon  de  papier,  comme  vous  dites. 
Mon  nom  est  dessus.  Cela  suffit."  Turenne  aussi,  comme  on  lui  reprochait 
un  jour  de  remplir  une  promesse  faite  a  des  voleurs  :  "  Je  tiens  parole  a 
M.  de  Turenne,"  repliqua-t-il.  Cette  fidelite  du  roi  beige  et  de  son  peuple 
avec  lui  au  "  chiffon  de  papier,"  qu'elle  est  simple  et  qu'elle  va  loin  !  Ce 
sera  I'honneur  aussi  de  I'Angleterre  de  I'avoir  comprise  et  partager.  II  ne 
s'agit  plus  la  d'une  ideologic  contestable,  comme  de  savoir  si  la  Democratic 
est  superieure  a  la  Feodalite  ou  le  Socialisme  au  Capitalisme,  vaines  bille- 
vesees  a  piper  le  naif  Demos.  II  s'agit  d'un  contrat,  et  a  son  propos,  de 
tous  les  contrats,  d'un  acte  signe,  done  de  tous  les  actes  signes  et,  comme 
182 


THH    BH  1.(1 1  AN    OK   T()-MUKK()VV 
Ar  Wii.LrAA\  Nicholson 


la  propriete  repose,  par  definition,  sur  un  contrat,  il  s'agit  de  toutes  les 
proprietes,  done  de  tous  les  rapports  possibles  entre  les  hommes  et  du 
fondement  memc  de  la  societe.  Oui,  c'est  I'ordre  social  tout  entier  que  le 
Roi  Albert  a  defendu  quand  il  a  prononce  son  non  possinnus.  C'est  I'ordre 
social  tout  entier  que  M.  de  Bethmann  a  renie,  quand  il  a  crache  sur  le 
"  chiffon  de  paper."  C'est  I'ordre  social  tout  entier  que  I'Empereur  alle- 
mand  a  pietine  quand  il  a  franchi  la  frontiere  beige.  C'est  I'ordre  social 
tout  entier  que  la  France  a  salue  au  Havre  dans  les  personnes  des  ministres 
du  Roi  Albert.  On  raconte  que  cet  admirable  Prince  avait  toujours  sur  sa 
table,  dans  son  cabinet  de  Bruxellcs,  un  volume  de  notre  Le  Play.  Combien 
ce  Maitre  de  la  Reformc  qui  a  si  fortement  insiste  sur  le  role  essentiel  des 
autorites  sociales  cut  ete  fier  d 'avoir  un  pareil  disciple  !  Combien  emu  de 
voir  ce  chef  entrainer  son  peuple,  et  cc  peuple  le  suivre,  avec  une  si  genereuse 
unanimite  dans  la  defense  du  principe  qui  est  la  pierre  angulaire  de  la 
civilisation  ! 

Le  roi  Albert  a  fait  plus.  Le  Premier  Anglais  I'a  reconnu  dans  un  de  ces 
discours,  comme  les  orateurs  britanniques  en  prononcent  des  qu'ils  se 
meuvent  dans  la  grande  ligne  de  leur  histoire.  11  y  cut  jadis  une  Europe 
de  petits  Etats  et  dont  le  morcellement  rendait  plus  difficile  un  choc  mon- 
strueux  d'enormes  masses  humaines,  tel  que  celui  auquel  nous  assistons 
aujourd'hui.  M.  de  Bismarck  fut  I'ouvricr,  genial  et  funeste,  qui  acheva  de 
detruire  cette  Europe  si  prudemment  amenagee.  La  Belgique  est  un  des 
fares  petits  Etats  qui  aient  survecu  Si  nous  voulons,  la  tempete  finie, 
etablir  une  paix  durable,  c'est  cette  politique  des  petits  Etats  qu'il  nous 
faut  reprendre.  Un  des  monarques  dc  la  coalition  le  disait  avec  bien  de  la 
sagesse  a  I'un  de  nos  meilleurs  ambassadeurs  :  "La  tache  des  allies  c'est  de 
ramener  I'Europe  a  la  periode  antebism.arckienne."  La  besogne  de  guerison 
est  la,  non  pas  dans  d'inefficaces  et  chimeriques  proclamations  d'un  pacifisme 
final,  non  pas  dans  le  redoutable  projet  d'unc  plus  grande  unification  alle- 
mande  sous  etiquette  republicaine.  II  importe  a  I'avenir  du  mondc  civilise 
qu'il  n'y  ait  plus  une  Allemagne,  mais  des  Allemagnes,  une  mosaique  de 
petits  ^tats  et  non  plus  le  bloc  amalgame  par  la  main  puissante  du  chancelier 
de  fer.  Mais  pour  qu'une  pareille  Europe  soit  viable,  la  condition  sine  qua 
non  est  que  le  respect  de  I'independance  des  petits  Etats  soit  le  premier 
article  de  son  code.  C'est  cet  autre  principe,  fondement  et  garantie  du 
futur  equilibre  international  que  les  Beiges  ont  convie  les  Anglais  et  nous 
autres  Fran9ais  a  dcfendre  avec  eux,  nous  ramenant,  nous  aussi,  dans  la 
grande  ligne  de  notre  histoire.  La  vieille  monarchic  fran^aise  n'a  jamais  eu 
d 'autre  programme  et  la  verite  politique  se  trouve  rencontrer  la  verite 
sociale  dans  le  geste  du  roi.  II  I'a  fait  ce  geste,  si  simplement  !  Depuis 
ces  longues  et  dures  semaines  qu'il  a  vu  ses  villes  bombardees,  ses  banques 
ran^onnees,  ses  sujets  massacres,  ses  ministres  obliges  de  demander  un  asile 
a  la  France,  pas  une  fois  il  n'a  profere  une  plainte,  et,  correspondancc  sub- 
lime du  cocur  des  sujets  au  cceur  du  Prince,  pas  une  parole  de  regret  n'a  etc 
entendue   qui   trahisse   une  defaillance   du   peuple   envahi.    Une  volonte 


invincible  au  service  d'une  pensee  juste,  connaissez-vous  un  spectacle  qui 
eveille  dans  I'ame  un  plus  male  sursaut  de  respect  et,  s'il  est  possible, 
d'emulation  ?  Michelet  disait  de  Kleber  qu'il  avait  "  une  figure  si  militaire 
que  Ton  devenait  brave  en  le  regardant."  Du  Roi  Albert,  on  pourrait  dire 
que  Ton  devient  plus  honnete  homme,  rien  qu'en  pensant  a  lui. 


a 


TRANSLATION  (abridged) 

War,  in  the  midst  of  its  mcful  and  manifold  trials, 
bestows  at  least  one  benefit  on  the  nations  and  in- 
dividuals who  accept  its  tragic  necessity  in  a  manly 
spirit  :  that  of  education  by  endurance,  which  may 
make  this  formidable  element  of  destruction  a  fertile 
element  of  reconstruction.  War  has  yet  another 
benefit  to  offer  to  "  men  of  good  will  "  /  that  of  the 
example  to  be  given  and  received,  by  means  of  which 
this  bloody  artificer  of  discord  becomes  also  an  agent 
of  union.  It  bifids  the  social  sheaf  more  closely 
together,  at  the  very  moment  when  it  seetns  about  to 
scatter  it.  Example,  when  it  is  the  example  of  duty 
on  the  battle-field,  rallies  all  energies  round  the 
standard  with  extraordinary  vigour  I  The  superior 
models  the  inferior  upon  himself,  courage  reanimates 
despair,  strength  becomes  the  rule  for  weakness,  the 
stout  of  heart  is  a  living  sermon.  He  shows  what 
man  can  do  if  he  will,  what  you,  his  comrade,  could 
do  if  you  would.  And  you  will. — To  brave  danger, 
to  suffer,  to  die — to  you,  fortunate  heir  of  a  happy 
age,  these  words  had  such  a  remote  significance  ! 
In  a  few  days  war  made  them  a  terrible  reality. 
Would  you  have  strength  to  face  it  ?  You  doubted 
it.  But  another,  close  to  you,  showed  this  strength, 
calmly  and  quietly.  His  attitude  zvas  contagious. 
What  he  can  do,  you  will  do.  You  go  out  to  meet 
danger,  you  are  willing  to  suffer,  you  will  be  able  to 
die.  It  is  the  miracle  of  sacrifice  that  it  multiplies 
in  all  ziho  witness  it.  We  have  been  seeing  this 
miracle  every  day,  every  hour  for  the  last  three  months. 
This  propagation  of  the  sacred  flame  is  really  the 
handing  on  of  the  torch  of  which  Lucretius  speaks: 

Et  quasi  cursores  virtutis  lampada  tradunt, 

/  would  venture  to  say,  replacing  the  vitai  of  the  text 
by  that  word  to  which  those  born  soldiers,  the  Romans, 
gave  such  deep  meaning  :  virtus  I 
Among  these  bearers  of  the  heroic  torch,  no  figure  is 
to  me  so  touching  as  that  of  the  Prime  to  whom  my 
country,  France,  can  never  be  too  passionately 
grateful.  I  speak  of  that  King  Albert  whose  splendid 
personality  has  given  the  highest  meaning  to  this 
stern  war.  Without  him,  and  without  the  Belgian 
people,  it  would  have  been  but  a  universal  cataclysm 
of  no  very  definite  significance. 

*  *  *  *  * 

King  Albert  has  done  more.    The  First  of  Englishmen 


<*-t*-C>^j(tn*.^*>NjC) 


has  recognised  this  in  one  of  those  speeches  British 
orators  make  when  they  are  moving  on  the  great  lines 
of  their  history.  Europe  was  formerly  a  collection 
of  small  States,  the  fragtnentary  nature  of  which 
made  the  monstrous  onslaught  of  immense  human 
masses  such  as  that  we  are  zvilnessing  to-day  very 
difficult.  Prince  Bismarck  was  the  sinister  genius 
who  destroyed  this  prudently  arranged  Europe. 
Belgium  is  one  of  the  few  small  states  that  survived. 
If  when  the  storm  is  over  we  wish  to  establish  a 
lasting  peace,  we  must  return  to  this  policy  of  small 
States.  One  of  the  Sovereigns  of  the  Coalition  wisely 
said  to  one  of  our  best  Ambassadors  :  "  The  task  of 
the  Allies  is  to  bring  Europe  back  to  the  ante-Bis- 
marckian  period."  The  cure  lies  in  this  direction, 
not  in  ineffectual  and  chimerical  proclamations  of 
definitive  peace,  nor  in  the  redoubtable  project  of  a 
greater  unification  of  Germany  under  a  republican 
label.  It  is  essential  to  the  future  of  the  civilised 
world  that  there  should  be  no  longer  a  Germany,  but 
several  Germanys,  a  mosaic  of  small  States,  instead 
of  the  block  amalgamated  by  the  mighty  hand  of  the 
Iron  Chancellor.  But  to  ensure  the  existence  of  such 
a  Europe,  it  is  a  sine  qua  non  that  the  first  article 
of  its  code  should  be  the  independence  of  small  States. 
It  was  this  principle,  the  basis  and  the  guarantee  of 
future  international  equilibrium,  that  the  Belgians 
called  upon  the  English  and  the  French  to  defend 
zvith  them,  thus  bringing  us  too  back  to  the  great 
tradition  of  our  history.  The  old  French  monarchy 
7cas  faithful  to  this  principle,  and  political  truth 
recognised  social  truth  in  the  King's  action.  This 
action  he  performed  with  the  greatest  simplicity. 
Throughout  the  long,  hard  weeks  in  which  he  has 
seen  his  towns  bombarded,  his  banks  robbed,  his 
subjects  massacred,  his  Ministers  compelled  to  seek 
asylum  in  France,  he  has  not  uttered  a  single  com- 
plaint, and  such  has  been  the  sublime  sympathy 
between  the  heart  of  the  Prince  and  the  heart  of  his 
people,  that  not  a  word  of  regret  has  been  heard 
revealing  the  despondency  of  an  invaded  people.  An 
invincible  will,  serving  a  true  conception — could  any 
spectacle  stir  the  soul  to  more  virile  respect  and, 
if  possible,  emulation  ?  Michelet  tells  us  KUber 
had  such  a  martial  air  that  those  who  saw  him 
became  brave.  Of  King  Albert  it  may  be  said  that 
even  thinking  of  him  makes  one  a  better  man. 


184 


By   T.   P.   O'CONNOR 

"YOU  have  saved  Europe,"  were  the  words  that  came  instinctively  to  my 
lips  when  I  met  my  friend,  M.  Edmond  de  Prelle,  of  the  Belgian  Legation, 
for  the  first  time  after  the  opening  of  the  War  ;  and  these  words  still  sum  up 
my  feeling  and  the  feeling  of  millions  of  the  peoples  of  our  Empire  with 
regard  to  the  part  which  Belgium  has  played  in  this  great  tragedy  of  a 
European  War.  Give  due  praise  to  the  gallant  entry  of  the  French  Army, 
to  the  deathless  story  of  French's  retreat  ;  and  still  you  have  to  come  back 
to  the  point  that  it  was  Belgium  that  met  and  held  back  the  first  onrush  of 
the  Germans  in  their  invasion  of  Western  Europe.  The  heroic  defence  of 
Liege,  followed  by  similar  heroism,  obstinate  bravery,  tenacious  defence, 
in  other  parts  of  the  Belgians'  native  land,  had  the  incalculable  results  on 
all  the  future  of  staying  the  progress  of  the  war  of  the  Germans  ;  of  turning 
topsy-turvy  their  ambitious  and  well-arranged  Time-Table  ;  and  thus  of 
giving  to  both  France  and  England  the  full  time  and  opportunity  to  be 
ready  for  the  invaders  on  their  belated  arrival  on  the  soil  of  France.  If 
Paris  be  safe  to-day,  if  the  French  and  British  troops  are  now  steadily 
throwing  back  the  invader,  if,  in  short,  the  whole  tide  of  the  fortunes  of 
battle  have  turned,  it  is  Belgium  that  must  always  have  the  glory  of  striking 
the  first  and  decisive  blow  which  led  inevitably  to  those  splendid  results. 
The  heroism  of  this  resistance  is  made  all  the  greater  by  the  gigantic  in- 
equality between  the  forces  of  Belgium  and  those  of  her  powerful  enemy  ; 
the  greater  the  disproportion  the  greater  the  heroism.  It  is  comparatively 
easy  for  one  brave  army  to  face  another  which  is  about  its  equal  in  strength  ; 
but  for  an  army  infinitesimal  in  point  of  numbers  to  face  the  gigantic  army 
of  Germany  to  go  into  battle  was  what  soldiers  call  a  forlorn  hope — that  is 
to  say,  an  enterprise  for  which  only  the  bravest  even  among  the  brave 
volunteer  to  undertake.  And  to  Belgium,  as  to  Greece  in  the  days  of  her 
ancient  struggle  against  the  hordes  of  Asia,  civilisation  will  always  give  her 
infinite  gratitude,  and  Liege  will  take  its  place  in  the  same  calendar  as 
Thermopylae. 

This  resistance  then  to  Germany  has  put  Europe  and  civilisation  under  this 
great  debt  to  Belgium  ;  but  I  can  add  that  future  generations  of  Belgians 
will  bless  the  generation  of  to-day  who  by  their  heroic  resistance  have 
placed  the  liberty  and  the  independence  of  Belgium  on  an  impregnable 
rock.  Never  again  will  any  Power,  however  powerful,  unscrupulous,  or 
cruel,  dare  to  violate  the  soil  or  attempt  to  destroy  the  national  and  in- 
dependent existence  of  Belgium.  The  men^ — the  women  and  the  children 
also — of  Belgium  who  have  died,  have  sealed  with  their  blood  the  divine 
right  of  Belgium  for  all  time  to  own  and  rule  their  own  country. 


zrrf .  ^-^f^pAM^ 


185 


By  M.  D.  MEREJKOWSKY 

Translated  from  the  Russian  by  C.  Hagberg  Wright,  LI..D. 

To  THE  Belgian  People 

WE  do  not  say  to  you — Have  courage.  No  courage  could  be  greater  than 
that  which  you  have  shown.  But  we  say  to  you — Have  faith.  Your 
sufferings  have  not  been  in  vain  ;  they  have  awakened  the  conscience  of  the 
peoples.  From  henceforth  your  land,  drenched  with  the  blood  of  your 
sons,  shall  be  a  Holy  Land  :  from  henceforth  your  cause  shall  be  the  cause 
of  Humanity.  To  wipe  away  the  tears  from  your  eyes,  to  heal  your  wounds, 
to  restore  a  hundred-fold  that  which  has  been  taken  from  you,  this  the 
peoples  have  solemnly  sworn — to  this  they  have  pledged  their  honour,  and 
that  oath  will  be  kept.  We  desire  no  solace  while  you  remain  desolate,  we 
desire  no  liberty  while  you  remain  in  bondage,  we  desire  no  victory  until 
you  have  conquered.  In  the  day  when  the  victors  triumph,  the  first  crown 
shall  be  yours  ;  and  Humanity  shall  bestow  it  upon  you.  All  nations  shall 
make  way  for  you,  and  in  the  forefront  you  shall  enter  the  promised  land. 


^  ^^ 


<^.^J-X<«-»^' 


By  M.  TOUGAN   BARANOVSKY 

Translated  from  the  Russian  by  C.  Hagberg  Wright,  LL.D. 

To  Belgium  and  Her  King 

IN  the  life  of  a  man  as  in  the  life  of  a  Nation,  Evil  is  closely  interwoven 
with  Good.  Without  Evil  there  would  be  no  Good — for  Good  is  nothing 
more  than  the  vanquishing  of  Evil. 

From  this  point  of  view  Evil  not  only  serves  Good  but  is  also,  as  it  were, 
the  invariable  basis  of  its  activity.  Great  historical  crimes,  like  those  of 
which  we  are  eye-witnesses  to-day,  have  their  place  in  the  triumphant 
onward  march  of  eternal  truth.  The  more  terrible  the  crime,  the  more 
beautiful  and  the  more  dazzling  the  power  of  that  good  which  overcomes  it. 
Was  not  the  Crucifixion  essential  to  the  everlasting  victory  of  Jesus  ?  And 
shall  not  the  picture  of  Belgium  ruined  and  laid  waste  by  her  foes  be  graven 
for  ever  on  the  pages  of  human  history  ?  Shall  not  our  remote  descendants 
make  songs  and  legends  about  the  glorious  country  of  King  Albert  which 
has  given  proof  of  supreme  courage  and  unconquerable  spirit  in  the  awful 
hour  of  barbarian  invasion  ?  And  shall  not  Belgium  by  her  example  inspire 
Humanity  throughout  the  ages  to  do  deeds  of  heroism  and  to  battle  for  truth. 
Henceforth  King  Albert  belongs  to  all  of  us,  he  is  our  common  possession, 
like  one  of  those  spiritual  heroes  who  raise  the  value  of  the  whole  of  mankind. 
And  after  many,  many  years,  when  every  trace  of  the  present  bloody  struggle 
has  vanished,  when  the  names  of  the  battle-fields  and  the  great  commanders 
are  forgotten,  when  all  the  horrors  we  are  now  living  through  seem  but  far- 
off  legends,  when  the  proudest  temples  and  palaces  of  our  era  have  crumbled 
into  dust,  the  image  of  the  noble  King  shall  still  continue  to  inspire  the  poet. 

i86 


By  A.   KOUPRINE 

Translated  from  the  Russian  by  Henry  Bradley,  LL.D. 

NOT  applause,  not  admiration,  but  the  deep  eternal  gratitude  of  the  whole 
civilised  world  is  now  due  to  the  self-denying  Belgian  people  and  their 
noble  young  Sovereign.  They  first  threw  themselves  before  the  savage 
beast,  foaming  with  pride,  maddened  with  blood.  They  thought  not  of 
their  own  safety,  nor  of  the  prosperity  of  their  houses,  nor  of  the  fate  of 
the  high  culture  of  their  country,  nor  of  the  vast  numbers  and  cruelty 
of  the  enemy.  They  have  saved,  not  only  their  fatherland,  but  all  Europe, 
the  cradle  of  intellect,  taste,  science,  creative  art,  and  beauty  ;  they  have 
saved  from  the  fury  of  the  barbarians,  trampling  in  their  insolence,  the  best 
roses  in  the  holy  garden  of  God.  Compared  with  their  modest  heroism, 
the  deed  of  Leonidas  and  his  Spartans  who  fought  in  the  pass  of  Ther- 
mopylae falls  into  the  shade.  And  the  hearts  of  all  the  noble  and  the  good 
beat  in  accord  with  their  great  hearts.  .  .  . 

No,  never  shall  die  or  lose  its  power  a  people  endowed  with  such  a  noble 
fire  of  blood,  with  such  feelings,  that  inspire  it  to  confront  bereavement, 
sorrow,  sickness,  wounds  ;  to  march  as  friends,  hand  in  hand,  adored  King 
and  simple  cottager,  man  and  woman,  poor  and  rich,  weak  and  strong, 
aristocrat  and  labourer.     Salutation  and  humblest  reverence  to  them  1 


(^^^>       /W-^yt/w^^ 


By  M.   D.  ANOUTCHIN 

WHO  now,  save  the  Germans,  would  not  compassionate  poor  Belgium, 
small,  but  at  the  same  time  great,  utterly  devastated  and  depopulated  for 
this  sole  reason — that  she  has  dared  to  remain  loyal  and  to  defend  her  soil 
against  the  unrighteous  invasion  of  barbarians. 

One  would  have  to  be  a  William  II,  representing  the  worst  side  of  Teutonic 
militarism,  to  dare  name  the  noble  country  a  traitor.  We  Europeans 
admire  the  heroism  of  the  Belgians  and  their  knightly  King. 
Let  us  hope  that  with  the  united  forces  of  England,  Russia,  France,  Belgium, 
Serbia,  and  Japan,  the  enemy  of  good  faith  and  humanity  will  be  utterly 
broken.  In  all  these  emergencies  the  device  "  now  or  never  "  is  not  to  be 
forgotten,  and  the  sword  shall  not  be  sheathed  until  the  Kaiser  acknowledges 
himself  beaten. 


By   LOUIS   COUPERUS 

TOWARDS  noble  Belgium,  victim  of  a  world-tragedy,  all  sympathies 
stretch  out  like  maternal  hands,  eager  to  soothe  her  quivering  griefs.  To 
her  noble  Sovereigns,  King  Albert  and  Queen  Elisabeth,  a  chorus  of  con- 
solation raises  this  cry  :  Despair  not,  for  sooner  or  later  the  victim  is  always 
avenged  by  Justice  and  Destiny. 

187 


By  HALL  CAINE 

Great  Britain  * 

Not  that  she's  old  and  full  of  days,  O  God, 

Not  that  she  keeps  the  round  Earth's  wealth  in  fee, 

Not  that  her  ships  are  sovereign  of  the  sea, 
Not  that  her  sons,  forth  from  their  native  sod 
Have  borne  her  flag  as  far  as  man  has  trod. 

Not  that  her  arm  is  feared,  nor  yet  the  flood 

Of  her  avenging  wrath,  her  anciefit  blood — 
Not  therefore  is  she  mighty,  O  my  God. 

But  that  as  Mother  of  Nations,  strong  yet  meek. 
Her  strength  is  given  her  to  protect  the  weak, 

And  that  she  cries  o'er  any  child  of  Thine 
At  any  wrongful  blow  of  any  State, 

"  Because  her  soul  is  outraged  she  is  mine  " — 
Therefore  it  is  that  God  made  Britain  Great.  {LjfC 

*  Reply  to  Rossetii's  "  Refusal  of  Aid  Betiheen  Nations." 


By   MAETERLINCK 

To  the  Editor  of  King  Albert's  Book 

IL  ne  m'appartient  pas  de  celebrer  en  ce  moment  la  gloire  de  ma  petite 

patrie.     Vous  I'avez  fait  du  reste  de  si  admirable  fagon,  avec  une  eloquence 

si  precise  et  si  belle  qu'il  n'y  a  rien  a  aj outer  a  votre  Introduction.    Vos  paroles 

m'ont  emu  jusqu'aux  larmes.    Elles  nous  apportent  le  plus  haut  temoignage 

que  Ton  puisse  esperer  dans   I'histoire    parcequ'elles  sont  prononcees  au 

nom   d'un  grand  peuple  pour  qui   I'honneur,   la  loyaute,  la  fidelite   aux 

engagements  solennels,  le  courage  silencieux,  tenace  et  invincible,  furent 

toujours  les  lois  memes  de  la  vie.    De  tout  mon  coeur,  merci ! 

TRANSLATION 

It  is  not  for  me  to  sing  the  glories  of  my  little  country  highest  testimony  we  can  hope  for  in  history  for  they 

at  this  moment,  and  indeed  you  have  done  so  yourself  speak  in  the  name  of  a  great  people  to  whom  honour, 

with  such  a  true  and  noble  eloquence  that  it  would  he  loyalty,    faith     to    solemn     covenants,    and    silent 

difficult  to  add  anything  to  your  Introduction.     Your  tenacious,   invincible  courage  have  always  been   the 

words   brought   tears   to  my   eyes.     They   bear   the  very  law  of  life.     With  all  my  heart,  thank  you  ! 

THE     END     OF     KING     ALBERT'S     BOOK 


\ 


o  vijvaijvy  viNv?  o 


/ 


O     OF    CALirOfrNI 


TMF    PlHCflRY    OF     O 


J-->  t    J 

\ 


o  wjvaava  vinwc 


■  iNijOiavD  JO   o 


o     iUSa^AlNn   IHl 


o 

THE   UNIVERSITY 

o 

X 

1 

0 

r\ 

0 

5 
f 

SAN  I A  bAKiiAKA 


^L 


/ 


/ 


THE  UBRARV 
LNIVERSITV  OK  C  Al  IKORMA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DIE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


./ 


lOOM  1 1   S6  Series  9482 


/ 


\ 


/ 


\ 


o    THE  IIBHASV   OF    c 


/ 


m 


THE  UNIVERSITy 


'.ANTA  BARBARA 


o     THE  UNIVEeSITY 

0 


^£ 


6 


'   SANIA  BAIiBARA 


Va»88W«  VlHVi 


i^ 


K 


i.|l<i^5AlMn     IHi 


VlJVfl»V9  ViNVS 


9 


5^ 


AiisuSAiNn  ii 


O    THE  UNtVERSITV 


^    /.liSdMlt^a  jHi    ^ 


i£ 


B 


O    SANTA  BAIISA( 


/ 


O     VtNaOJIlVD    JO 


O    OF  CAllfOtlNIA    o 


W 


^ 


33n 


0    iO  *!lva«ll  3H1    o 


o    THE  UNlVESSir^ 


o  Santa  bac&ara 


y 


/ 


^    «iTUi'    *«i 


[^(^"^15 


;i^ 


\ 


/ 


/ 


51  J    |l<^ 


M 


«lisk«CMilO  «0 


0 

xeviav. 

»lNT'i 

-^1 

a  1 

C  ' 

205  00932  5364 


'>-n; 


«  tx  ■ 


**      W     ••VJ'slI     )H1      ^ 


r  c;niiTMf  RN  RfnmNAi  i  irrarv  FAriLiTY 


000  833  142 


!tut-J!^ 


-L 


0 

0 

« 

THE  u>«viBSrrv 

A 

> 

£1 

1 
s 

8 

5 
s 

y 

£ 

?!d) 

^ 

? 

/ 


a 


iP 


o    •IN<0«W3  <0    e 


>  C«>.»0*Mik    e 


-Dl? 


0 

o»  c*c»oiMU 

V 

? 

^ 

P 

1 

3 

J 

n 

•    JO  tlMUl  »il    •_ 


fe 


n 


•    VMK>lll*3  <0 


\ 


/