of officers of the type favored
by Partow who would bring the industry that commands respect to any
calling, taking Lanstron's views as worthy of their profession; of that
irrepressible poet laureate of the soldiers, Captain Stransky, I.C.
(iron cross), breaking forth in a new song to an old tune, expressing
his brotherhood ideas in a "We-have-ours-let-them-keep-theirs" chorus
that was spreading from regiment to regiment.

This left the retired officers to grumble in their coiners that war was
no longer a gentleman's vocation, and silenced the protests of their
natural ally in the business of making war, the noisy element, which
promptly adapted itself to a new fashion in the relation of nations.
Again the great square was packed and again a wave-like roar of cheers
greeted the white speck of an eminent statesman's head. All the ideas
that had been fomenting in the minds of a people for a generation became
a living force of action to break through the precedents born of
provincial passion with a new precedent; for the power of public opinion
can be as swift in its revolutions as decisive victories at arms. The
world at large, after rubbing its forehead and readjusting its
eye-glasses and clearing its throat, exclaimed:

"Why not? Isn't that what we have all been thinking and desiring? Only
nobody knew how or where to begin."

The premier of the Browns found himself talking over the long distance
to the premier of the Grays in as neighborly a fashion as if they had
adjoining estates and were arranging a matter of community interest.

"You have been so fine in waiving an indemnity," said the premier of the
Grays, "that Turcas suggests we pay for all the damage done to property
on your side by our invasion. I'm sure our people will rise to the
suggestion. Their mood has overwhelmed every preconceived notion of
mine. In place of the old suspicion that a Brown could do nothing except
with a selfish motive is the desire to be as fair as the Browns. And the
practical way the people look at it makes me think that it will be
enduring."

"I think so, for the same reason," responded the premier of the Browns.
"They say it is good business. It means prosperity and progress for both
countries."

"After all, a soldier comes out the hero of the great peace movement,"
concluded the premier of the Grays. "A soldier took the tricks with our
own cards. Old Partow was the greatest statesman of us all."

"No doubt of that!" agreed t