, worthless parasites.
The whole country was given over to money getting and pleasure seeking.
I didn't realize it then; but I do now. On every hand they were
craving for unnatural excitement, and doubtless there was a great
danger of our race becoming decadent. But these last few weeks I've
realized the difference. Why, our people have been glorious, simply
glorious! See what an earnest tone pervades all life. Think of what
the women of all classes have done, and are doing! Think of their
change of outlook! Instead of being mere bridge-playing, gambling,
purposeless things, finding their pleasures in all sorts of silly fads
and foolishness, they've given themselves to service--loyal, noble
service. The young fellows who filled up their time by being mere
club-loungers, empty-headed society dudes, whose chief talk was women,
the latest thing in neckties, or their handicap at golf, are now doing
useful work, or fighting for the best in life. As for the rank and
file, life has a new meaning to them, and they've become heroes.

'Mind you, we've still a long way to go; but we are on the right road.
God is speaking out of the whirlwind and the fire. Religion may not be
expressing itself in Church-going, but it is expressing itself in
deeper, grander ways. I failed to see it; but I see it now. Oh, man,
if England will only be true to the call of God, we can become the
wonder and glory of the world!'

'Then you believe we are ready for victory?'

'I do not say that; but we are getting ready. God has been putting us
through the refining fires, and I can see such a democracy emerging out
of this world upheaval as was never known before.'

'And yet the war does not appear to be coming to an raid,' I urged.
'Think of Russia. Russia is a wild chaos, the victim of every passing
fancy. Anarchy is triumphant, and the great army which should be a
tower of strength is a rope of sand. If Russia had been true, we
should have been----'

'Don't be in a hurry, my friend. God never is. Things will brighten
in that direction. I don't say the war will be ended on the
battlefield. Sometimes I think it won't. God does things in big ways.
Surely the history of the last few months has taught us that. With Him
nothing is impossible. People say that Kaiserdom stands more firmly
than ever. What of that? The Kaiser may become more autocratic than
ever, but his doom is written for all that. What is happening to his
invinc