permission of the "Daily Graphic."]

The cheerfulness, but not the determination. Baden-Powell wrote home
in December, after some two months of the siege, saying that they were
all a little tired of it, but just as determined as ever never to
submit. And in order to keep up the spirits of the garrison in the
hour when it seemed to many Englishmen that Mafeking was to be another
Khartoum and he a second Gordon, Baden-Powell began to plan all
manner of entertainments for the amusement of the women and children.
The special correspondent of the _Pall Mall Gazette_ in Mafeking, who
sent to his journal some of the most interesting letters received
during the siege, bore witness to Baden-Powell's efforts in this
direction. In one of his letters he said: "The Colonel does all in his
power to keep up the spirits of the people. To-day we have quite a big
programme of events--the distribution of flags in the morning, cricket
afterwards, general field sports, plain and fancy cycle races, a
concert in the afternoon, and in the evening a dance given by the
bachelor officers of the garrison. We have no Crystal Palace or
monster variety hall, but nevertheless we manage to enjoy ourselves on
truce days, and it goes without saying that the institution of sports
and pastimes has done wondrous things in the way of relieving the
tension on the public mind, and keeping up the health of the
population. It may shock the mind of some cranks to hear that we so
spend our Sundays; but if such persons wish to test the worth and the
wisdom of a rational Sabbath, transfer them here, and let them have a
week of shell-fire. They will speedily become converts." During the
Matabele campaign, it may be remarked, Baden-Powell always held divine
service on Sunday, and even to those whose training makes them regard
the playing of innocent games on Sunday an offence, this holiday of
Sunday in Mafeking must surely be regarded as a holy-day, pleasing to
the Father of men. The love of Baden-Powell for children, his intense
eagerness to keep alive the flame of joy in their young hearts, and
the spark of hope still burning in the hearts of their defenders,
could not, we may be very certain, inspire any decision displeasing to
high Heaven.

Baden-Powell's dauntless courage, his brisk unchanging hopefulness,
and his unflinching determination to "stick it out," were the
inspiration of the splendid little garrison. To many of them surrender
would have meant nothing