ually silent. The fact that a Cabinet Minister of high rank, as well
as a renowned general, were announced to speak, however, caused the
news editor to give it prominence.

'It's on the right lines,' he repeated. 'Yes, I'm going.'

'Better go to some place of amusement,' I suggested.

'Nero fiddled while Rome was burning,' was his reply.

A little later we found our way to a huge hall where some thousands of
people had gathered. It was evident that the subject to be discussed
appealed strongly to a large portion of the population, and that the
audience was much interested in the proceedings.

I could see, however, that Edgecumbe was disappointed in the meeting.
None of the speakers spoke strongly and definitely. Each enlarged on
the difficulties of the situation, and spoke of the impossibility of
making men pure by Act of Parliament, but no suggestion was made
whereby the evils mentioned might be grappled with and strangled.
While all admitted that a frightful state of things existed, and
declared that something ought to be done, no one had the courage to
demand drastic reforms, or strike a prophetic note. The Cabinet
Minister enlarged in a somewhat stilted fashion upon what the
Government had done to check drunkenness, while another speaker told of
the magnificent work of the Y.M.C.A., and of the hostels and huts which
had been provided, both in England and on the Continent; but all felt
that the heart of the matter had not been touched. It was not until
the General spoke that the audience was anything like aroused, and even
he failed to get at close quarters with the evils which all admitted.

Indeed I, who could not see how more could be done than had been done,
felt that the meeting was a failure, and as, when the General sat down,
the reporters were preparing to leave, and the audience grew restless,
I felt that the whole thing was in the nature of a fiasco.

'Let's go, Edgecumbe,' I said.

'No, not yet,' and I saw that he was much excited.

'But the meeting is practically over. There, the chairman is going to
call on somebody to propose the usual vote of thanks.'

But he took no notice of me. Instead he rose to his feet, and his
voice rang clearly throughout the hall.

'My lord,' he said addressing the chairman, 'I am a soldier just home
from the front. May I say a few words?'

It was only then that I realized what a striking figure Edgecumbe was,
and although I was almost stunned by his sudd