The nation, too, began to feel that it had a solemn duty to its soldiers. Vast crowds followed the reservists to the points of mobilisation; eyes were dim at the thought of the sacrifice these brave men were making. For they were going to adventure "life and love and youth for the great prize of death in battle," at their country's call. They were exchanging, many of them, comfort and comparative ease for the hunger and rain and cold of the dreary bivouac, for the toilsome march beneath the burning sun of the veldt, for torture by wounds, and death in its most terrifying forms. They were leaving behind them women and children who looked to them for daily bread. Yet they came with a single heart; came cheerfully, and gave to their country all that they had to give as the choicest offering of their love and devotion. [Illustration: [_Photo by Elliott & Fry._ LADY RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, _née_ Miss Jennie Jerome. Of American parentage; she is the mother of two sons, one of whom, Mr. Winston Churchill, was recently a prisoner in Pretoria, having displayed conspicuous bravery in a small fight at which he was present as a newspaper correspondent. Lady Randolph was instrumental in organising the hospital ship _Maine_ as a token of American brotherhood with Great Britain.] [Illustration: [_Photo by Gregory._ MISS NORMAN AND NURSING SISTERS ON BOARD THE S.S. "TROJAN."] [Illustration: [_Photo by Gregory._ DEPARTURE OF THE 1st BATTALION, RIFLE BRIGADE: H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT LIGHTING THE MEN'S CIGARETTES.] [Sidenote: OCT. 1899.] _Hospital Ships and Relief Funds._] Those who at home and in ease were to reap the fruits of their love and devotion responded to the best of their power. Employers announced that they would pay half wages to the women and children whose bread-winners had been called away; enormous funds were raised to support the widowed and the fatherless of those who should fall, and to keep in comfort the families of the soldiers. Workmen subscribed their shillings; the well-to-do their guineas; the rich their thousands of pounds. The most intensely national of poets, Mr. Rudyard Kipling, appealed in touching verse to the nation's heart. In answer to his appeal women sent their rings, children their pence, and the poor and humble gifts in kind. No names were published; the giving was simple and unostentatious, and therefore all the nobler. Thus our soldiers were made to feel that they went forth to battle with the nation's love and with its fervent prayers. [Illustration: [_Photo by W. & D. Downey, Ebury Street._ THE "PRINCESS OF PITY." The latest photograph of H. R. H. the Princess of Wales in Drawing-room dress.] [Illustration: THE "PRINCESS OF WALES" HOSPITAL SHIP; FORMERLY THE "MIDNIGHT SUN" EXCURSION STEAMER.