murder—­
    Which now, with blood-hot sighs,
    Stamps o’er the shuddering earth. 
    True to the earth, the bread-giving earth,
    Happy and cheery in business and trade,
    Peaceful we sat in the oak tree’s shade,
    Peaceful,
    Though we were born to the sword.

    Circled around us, for ever and ever,
    Greed, sick with envy, and nets lifted high,
    Full of inherited hatred. 
    Every one saw it, and every one felt
    The secret venom, gushing forth,
    Year after year,
    Heavy and breath-bated years. 
    But hearts did not quiver
    Nor hands draw the sword.

    And then it came, the hour
    Of sacred need, of pregnant Fate,
    And what it brings forth, we will shape,
    The brown gun in our mastering hand.

    Ye mothers, what ye once have borne,
      In honor or in vice,
    Bring forth to every sacred shrine—­
      Your country’s sacrifice.

    Ye brides, whom future happiness,
      Once kissed—­it but seemed true,
    Bring back to fair Germania
      What she has given you.

    Ye women, in silks or in linen,
      Offer your husbands now. 
    Bid them goodbye, with your children,
      With smiles and a blessing vow.

    Ye all are doomed to lie sleepless,
      Many a desolate night,
    And dream of approaching conquests
      And of your hero’s might.

    And dream of laurel and myrtle,
      Until he shall return,
    Till he, your master and shepherd,
      Shall make the old joys burn.

    And if he fell on the Autumn heath
      And fell deep into death,
    He died for Germania’s greatness,
      He died for Germania’s breath.

    The Fatherland they shall let stand,
      Upon his blood-soaked loam,
    And ne’er again shall they approach
      Our sacred, peaceful home.

—­Translated by Herman J. Mankiewicz.

[Illustration:  H.M.  GUSTAF V

King of Sweden

(Photo from Underwood & Underwood)]

[Illustration:  H.M.  HAAKON VII

King of Norway

(Photo from Underwood & Underwood)]

The Peace of the World

A Famous Englishman’s Diagnosis of the War Disease and His Prescription for a Permanent Cure

By H.G.  Wells

(COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY.)

(Copyrighted in Great Britain and Ireland.)

I.

Probably there have never been before in the whole past of mankind so many people convinced of the dreadfulness of war, nor so large a proportion anxious to end war, to rearrange the world’s affairs so that this huge hideousness of hardship, suffering, destruction, and killing that still continues in Europe may never again be repeated.