The President. So you think patience, moderation and reasonable argument are all useless?

Mr. G. See here, Mr. President, this is how the matter stands.  They imagine they can ruin England with their submarines—­they ’re probably wrong, but that’s their notion—­but if they give way to America this illegitimate weapon is blunted and they lose the war.  Sooner than suffer that catastrophe they will defy America.  And they don’t believe as yet that America means what she says and is determined to fight rather than suffer these outrages to continue.  The Germans will try to throw dust in your eyes, Mr. President, while continuing the submarine atrocities.

The President. The Germans will soon be undeceived.  We will not suffer this wrong, and we will fight, if need be, in order to prevent it.  God knows we have striven to keep the peace through months and years of racking anxiety.  If war comes it is not we who have sought it.  Nobody can lay that reproach upon us.  Rather have we striven by all honourable means to avoid it.  But we have ideals that we cannot abandon, though they may clash with German ambitions and German methods.  There we are fixed, and to give way even by an inch would be to dishonour our country and to show ourselves unworthy of the freedom our forefathers won for us at the point of the sword.  That is the conclusion I have come to, having judged these matters with such power of judgment as God has given me.

Mr. G. And to that every true American will say Amen.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  WAR-SAVINGS.

SULTAN.  “THE OLD ’UN SEEMS TO WANT THE WHOLE WORLD AGAINST HIM, SO AS TO
SAVE HIS FACE WHEN HE’S BEATEN.”

FERDIE.  “I DON’T CARE WHAT BECOMES OF HIS FACE SO LONG AS I SAVE MY HEAD.”

SULTAN.  “SAME HERE.”]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  HOME DEFENCE.

“AND WHAT’S YOUR CORPS, MY LAD?”

“PARKS-AND-OPEN-SPACES-WIRE-WORM-CABBAGE-CATERPILLA
R-AND-INSECT-PEST-EXTERMINATING-PATROL, SIR.”]

* * * * *

THE WATCH DOGS.

LVI.

MY DEAR CHARLES,—­The weather is very seasonable for the time of year, is it not?  A nice nip in the air, as you might say; thoroughly healthy for those at liberty to enjoy it al fresco.  I assure you the opportunity is not being wasted out here; all the best people are out-of-doors all the time.  For myself, with thirty degrees of frost about, it seemed to be the exact moment to slip over to England and help keep the home fires burning.