some by boats, some by life preservers; and last of all the captain and officer in command were proceeding to leave the fast foundering ship, when the latter heard a voice close to him, saying, “Colonel, may we leave now?” It was the voice of one of his two sentinels.  In the stress and strain of the awful scenes of that night he had for the moment forgotten that he had ordered them not to leave their post until he gave the word of command.  And he said that the water was almost up to their lips!

Oh ye mothers of America and of our great Empire! send us such men as these,—­men who will mount guard over women and children in all lands, and see, as far as in them lies, that they do not make shipwreck of what is dearer than life;—­men who, even with the bitter waters of temptation up to their own lips, will still hold their post and see that no man, to save himself, drives them down into that dread sea of perdition which never gives up its dead.

Then East, West, North, South, the American flag will witness in the face of all nations to the true manhood that steers its course by no earth-born fires of passion and selfish lust, but by the eternal stars, the heavenly lights of God, and mother, and duty, and home.

East, West, North, South, by its side our flag, twice scored with the White Cross, will float wide in the face of all nations the Englishman’s faith, reverence for womanhood, self-giving manhood, and the pure heart that sees God.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 38:  Hereditary Genius, by Francis Galton, p. 331.]

[Footnote 39:  Great Britain, since the conquest of the Soudan, rules one-fourth of the population of the world.]

CHAPTER XI

THE DYNAMIC ASPECT OF EVIL[40]

There remains yet one other way in which I earnestly desire to help you if I can.  I would fain afford you some light on this difficult problem and give you a spring of hope within by enabling you to see what it is working out in the world without.  Some, I know, do not need this help.  Some wholesome souls seem to gaze on all evil with sun-dazzled eyes—­eyes that see Him in whom they walk, and not it, and in His light they see light.  They are the “naturally Christian” souls who lead melodious days amid all the jars and discords of the world around them.  Others there are who seem to look upon these great social evils as especially provided to afford a sphere for their beneficent activities; and who if, by some sudden rise in public opinion, some passionate sense of the wrong done to women, the degraded class should almost cease to exist, would in their heart of hearts secretly regret so many empty beds in their little Rescue Home and the possibility that it might have to be shut up, when “the girls did turn out so well.”  Others, again, there are who never trouble their heads or hearts about the misery