May I tell you, in a simple parable, what I think this war is doing for us? I know a valley in North Wales, between the mountains and the sea, a beautiful valley, snug, comfortable, sheltered by the mountains from all the bitter blasts. It was very enervating, and I remember how the boys were in the habit of climbing the hills above the village to have a glimpse of the great mountains in the distance and to be stimulated and freshened by the breeze which came from the hilltops, and by the great spectacle of that great range. We have been living in a sheltered valley for generations. We have been too comfortable, too indulgent; many, perhaps, too selfish. And the stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the great everlasting things that matter for a nation, the great peaks of honour we had forgotten, duty and patriotism, and, clad in glittering white, the great pinnacle of sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven. We shall descend into the valleys again; but as long as the men and women of this generation last they will carry in their hearts the image of these great mountain peaks, whose foundations are unshaken, though Europe rock and sway in the convulsions of a great war. RT. HON. DAVID LLOYD GEORGE THE TRIBUTE Not by the valour of Belgium, nor the lightning sabre of France, Not by the thunder of Britain's Fleet, and the Bear's unchecked advance, Not by these fears, Lord Kaiser, tho' they shatter a tyrant's lust, Is your heart most darkly troubled, and your soul brought down to the dust. But by the great affirming of the lands we have knit as one; By the love, by the passionate loyal love, of each separate freeborn son. Canada cries, "We are coming!" and Australasia, "We come!" And you scowl that no Boer is rising at the beat of your German drum. And the sons of Ind bear witness--"We have grumbled, but now no more; We have shared your plentiful righteous Peace, we will share your righteous War. Trust us to guard your Honour, one with yours is our breath; You have dealt us an even justice, we are yours to the gates of Death." Here in these rain-swept islands where we fought for the things of peace, Where we quarrelled and stormed in factions, at a stroke all factions cease; And there in the vast dominions, more free than your Prussian lords, The women are shouting for England and the men are drawing their swords. HAROLD BEGBIE _By permission of the Author_ EXTRACT FROM SPEECH OF LORD KITCHENER AT THE GUILDHALL (_November 9, 1914_)