had been asked to speak of the conditions which might prevail should the Germans reach this country.  She did not feel competent to speak on that subject, as the whole idea of Germans in this country seemed absolutely inconceivable.  If the Germans were to land on our shores all the waters which surrounded this isle would not wash the land clean.  She knew what the Germans were, and had seen the wreck they had made of Belgium and part of France.  She knew what the women and children had suffered, and how the churches had been desecrated and demolished.  It was said that this was a war of humanity, but she believed it was a war of right against wrong; and if she were asked when the war would finish, she could only say that we would fight it right on to the end until we were victorious.

The Germans were beaten already, and had been beaten from the day they gave up their honour.  She spoke of the heroism of the troops, and stated that since September last she had been running a soup-kitchen for the wounded.  In this humble vocation she had had an opportunity of gauging the spirit of the soldiers.  She had seen them sick, wounded, and dying, but had never known them give in.  Why should humble villages in France without soldiers in them be shelled?  That was Germany, and that was what they saw.  The thing was almost inconceivable, but she had seen helpless women and children brought to the hospitals, maimed and wounded by the cruel German shells.  After this war England was going to be a better country than before.  Up to now there had been a national selfishness which was growing very strong, and there was a terrible love of money, which, after all, was of very little account unless it was used in the proper direction.  She could tell them stories of Belgians who had had to fire upon their own women and children who were being marched in front of German troops.  The power of Germany had to be crushed.  The spirit of England and Wales was one in this great war, and they would not falter until they had emerged triumphant. (Applause.)

[Page Heading:  A CLARION CALL]

Mr. Robinson Smith said the clarion call had been sounded, and they were prepared, if necessary, to give their last shilling, their last drop of blood, and their very selves, body, soul, and spirit, to fight for right till right had won. (Applause.)

     Cheers were given for the distinguished authoress, and the
     proceedings terminated.

* * * * *

After Cardiff (and a most cordial send-off from my committee) I came back to London, and lectured at Eton, at the Polytechnic, and various other places, while all the time I was preparing to go to Russia, and I was also writing.