e beyond the borders of life you are waiting. I cannot speak
to you, nor look on your face, but the love of a father for his child
can penetrate the eternal mysteries of the unknown. To those who love
there is no death; and in the hearts of parents, children live long
before they are born.

'My son, this letter that I write now to you will lie hidden and unseen
by other eyes until the time when you alone shall read it. I shall be
changed by then: like the world, I may forget; but you, my son, must
read these words, and know that they are truth--truth as unchangeable
as the tides of the sea, or the hours of dawn and sunset.

'_Civilisation has murdered ten million men_.

'The human mind cannot encompass that. It is beyond its comprehension,
so it is trying to forget.

'Ten million men--murdered.

'Read these words, my son, written in the hush of night, when men's
souls stand revealed.

'Nearly six years ago there came the war. History will prove this or
that responsibility for it, but the civilisation that made war possible
is itself responsible. The nations sprang to arms; but soon, by that
strange destiny which seems to guide mankind, the issue was one not of
nations against nations, but of Humanity against Germany. Do not ask
me how the land of Goethe, Schiller, and Beethoven became so vile. I
only know that Germany was the champion of evil, and on Britain and
France men's hopes were rested.

'America held aloof. When this is read by you, my son, you will have
known the noble thrill of patriotism, the pride of race and
citizenship. But it is because of that that you must read what I write
now about the country I love best.

'Less than any other nation, America is to be blamed for the war. Her
life was separate from the older world, and the spoils of victory made
no appeal. Yet this great Republic, born of man's desire for freedom,
remained silent even when the whole world saw that the war was one of
Justice against Evil. Men, like myself, were blind, and fed the flames
of ignorance with ignorance. Others knew we were not ready, and called
upon us to prepare; and others made great fortunes while Youth went to
its Cross.

'Month after month passed by, and Britain and her Allies fought
Humanity's fight; and the murder of men went on.

'At last we came of age, and our young men stormed across the seas, not
to save America--for we had nothing to fear--but to rid the world of an
intolerable curse.