But they who govern Thought take unfair advantage of that agreement, for they know well that when the simple folk have said, “German militarism,” they have said all.  They stop there.  They amalgamate the two words and confuse militarism with Germany—­once Germany is thrown down there’s no more to say.  In that way, they attach lies to truth, and prevent us from seeing that militarism is in reality everywhere, more or less hypocritical and unconscious, but ready to seize everything if it can.  They force opinion to add, “It is a crime to think of anything but beating the German enemy.”  But the right-minded man must answer that it is a crime to think only of that, for the enemy is militarism, and not Germany.  I know; I will no longer let myself be caught by words which they hide one behind another.

The Liberal Member of the Upper House says, loud enough to be heard, that the people have behaved very well, for, after all, they have found the cost, and they must be given credit for their good conduct.

Another personage in the same group, an Army contractor, spoke of “the good chaps in the trenches,” and he added, in a lower voice, “As long as they’re protecting us, we’re all right.”

“We shall reward them when they come back,” replied an old lady.  “We shall give them glory, we shall make their leaders into Marshals, and they’ll have celebrations, and Kings will be there.”

“And there are some who won’t come back.”

We see several new recruits of the 1916 class who will soon be sent to the front.

“They’re pretty boys,” says the Member of the Upper House, good-naturedly; “but they’re still a bit pale-faced.  We must fatten ’em up, we must fatten ’em up!”

An official of the Ministry of War goes up to the Member of the Upper House, and says: 

“The science of military preparedness is still in its beginnings.  We’re getting clear for it hastily, but it is an organization which requires a long time and which can only have full effect in time of peace.  Later, we shall take them from childhood; we shall make good sound soldiers of them, and of good health, morally as well as physically.”

Then the band plays; it is closing time, and there is the passion of a military march.  A woman cries that it is like drinking champagne to hear it.

The visitors have gone away.  I linger to look at the beflagged front of the War Museum, while night is falling.  It is the Temple.  It is joined to the Church, and resembles it.  My thoughts go to those crosses which weigh down, from the pinnacles of churches, the heads of the living, join their two hands together, and close their eyes; those crosses which squat upon the graves in the cemeteries at the front.  It is because of all these temples that in the future the sleep-walking nations will begin again to go through the immense and mournful tragedy of obedience.  It is because of these temples