nd of mine told me the story of a young Scottish
boy of his acquaintance, now a military prisoner in Germany--I
forget for the moment in which camp. This boy received a letter
from home one day telling of his mother's serious illness and
the doctor's verdict that she could only live a few weeks. The
German Commandant, finding the boy in great distress, asked him
what was the matter, and on learning the cause of his grief,
said: "Would you like to go home to your mother?" The boy sprang
up, exclaiming indignantly, "How can you mock me when you know
it is impossible?" "But you shall go, my boy," said the
commandant. "I will pay your return fare on condition that you
give me your word of honour to come back here." The boy went
home to Scotland and remained by his mother's side for about
three weeks till her death, when, true to his word, he returned
to Germany.

The writer of "Under the Clock" considers that "well-attested" stories
of this kind should be given publicity. It is even more necessary to
examine the "attestation" of the other kinds of stories, for all the
bias is against the enemy, and demand is apt to create supply.

MERSEBURG, DOEBERITZ.

I pass on now to a report made by a United States Official. The American
Consul writes from Leipzig under date of November 16, 1914: "On Saturday
afternoon, the 14th instant, I visited the military concentration camp
near Merseburg, where some 10,000 prisoners of war are interned. The
object of my visit was to investigate the claim of a French prisoner
that he is an American subject. The result of my observations regarding
the welfare and humane treatment of the prisoners at large was a
surprise to me.... Separated by nationality, these prisoners are housed
in wooden buildings, well built, ventilated and heated.... They sleep
upon straw mattresses in well-warmed quarters, and, as far as I could
judge, are as well or better housed than labourers upon public works in
the United States. The prisoners are fed three times a day. Breakfast
consists of coffee and bread. Dinner consists of vegetable and meat,
soup and bread, and for supper they are given bread and coffee. I was
informed that many of the prisoners have some money, and that they are
allowed to buy whatever else they may wish to eat. If I may judge from
the mounds of empty beer bottles at hand, there is evidence in support
of this statement. The prisoners app