And these same peasant-immigrants in America have, without the shadow of a doubt, already written back to their relatives and friends in the old country--and very frequently--about the difficulties of the antiquated Julian calendar, and these, in turn, can disseminate common sense about the change in a way which the Government, aided by the Holy Synod and the explanations of home-staying parish priests, unaided, could never effect. When the fitting time arrives, perhaps the Russian Government will avail itself of just this argument, among others--the welfare of friends in distant America. There has never been a propitious time in Russia to make that calendar reform since the reign of Peter the Great until now. And America may fairly be said to have brought from its dark hiding place the mustard seed which has been trying so long to germinate, and imparted to it a vivifying impulse. THE MOTHER'S SONG. By CECILIA REYNOLDS ROBERTSON. Hush, oh, my baby, your father's a soldier, He's off to the war, and we've nothing to eat. And the glory is neither for you nor for me, With the cockleburr crushing the wheat. Little boy baby, look well on your mother; Some day you may ask why she bore you at all; For the trenches are foul with the blood and the wallow, And the bayonet is sharp for your fall. Rest, rosy limbs, and blue eyes and gold lashes-- Made in the mold of the Saviour, they say! Drink deep of my bosom, my starved, meagre bosom, That--keeps you alive for the fray. Sleep, oh, my man child, and smile in your sleeping, But the gun has been fashioned to lay in your hand, And your life blood flows smooth in your fair little body The better to water and plenish the land! Pan-American Relations As Affected by the War Consequences of the European Conflict on Future Commerce Between the United States and Latin America By Huntington Wilson, _Formerly Assistant Secretary of State_. I. A study of the effects of the war upon our relations with the other republics of this hemisphere involves political, commercial, financial and strategic elements of far-reaching scope and much complexity. The situation presents an opportunity. It offers a lesson even more vital than the opportunity. The political considerations are most relevant to the lesson; and the final text of the lesson will be the result of the war. The economic opportunity is already upon us, definite and clear. It will not wait. It must be grasped without delay and may therefore be first discussed.