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Show ‘ ' mi\\1a.wll By SIR GILBERT PARKER IT is given to some men and some peoples now and again in the world's history to represent mankind at its truest, its highest and best; to offer upon altars of liberty the blood of sacrifice for all men in all the world; and to pledge for humanity once again devotion to eternal things. This is what the Belgian King and the Belgian people have done. A monstrous, destroying legion of terror and tyranny moved upon them out of the night, offered them gain and gold if they would forswear their bond, and give freedom to the legions of an Emperor to whom the ink of honour and the pledged paper were no obstacles to the march of ambition. Belgium, its Kingr and people, preferred death to dishonour. Their way was the ancient way-to lose the whole and gain their own souls. This they did, and while Time tells its story the torch that Belgium lighted will burn, and the hand of the King that held it aloft will be honoured among men. " Oh, happy are all free peoples too strong to be dispossessed, But blessed are they among nations that dare to be strong for the rest." 57/ 1 By SIR SIDNEY LEE THE King of the Belgians and his brave army have set an example which lends humanity a new glory. Their heroic resistance to the wholly unmerited wrongs which brute strength has forced upon them has shed tresh radiance on the history of the civilised world. In spite of the cruel sultering which the ruthless enemy has sown broadcast through the land, in spite of all the waste and desolation which German soldiers have inflicted without pity or remorse. Belgium, its ruler and its people, mav find hope and consolation in the knowledge that the justice of their cause is recognised wherever truth and right prevail, and that the honour of all honourable men is pledged to secure for them due reparation of their unconscionable wrongs. . VL‘Lvu-lI/(u [3y PROFESSOR WILLIAM FLINDERS PETRIE ERR. l".B.A., D.C.L., LL.I).. Pill). '10 the Belgian Nation and its Noble Leader, I present the most sincere Homage to its Bravery, Respect for its unflinching Fortitude, Gratitude for its saving of England and France, Wishes for its speedy resettlement, Hopes that by its sufferings it may be perfected in true greatness. By SIR HERBERT TREE TIIE ULTIMATUM : or, Eoery Man Has His Price. CHARACTERS : The Ruler of a Great People ; a Chiropodist ; Princes, Grand Dukes, Ministers of State, Priest, Professor, and Sycophants. SCENE : The RULER'S marble bathroom in the Palace. [At the rise of curtain, the RULER OF A GREAT PEOPLE is discovered seated in his dressing-gown ; the CHIROPODIS'I‘ plies his trade] CHIROPODIST : What remarkable corns your Majesty has I RULER : Yes, they are ancestralflall my predecessors were noted for them. CHIROPODIST : I have heard, your Majesty, that in the seventeenth century many of the Court wore tight shoes in order to cultivate the Royal infirmity-[correcting himself]-prerogative I RULER: I daresay. Take care-you hurt me. [CHIROPODIST takes from his tray some drops from a little bottle labelled "Poison" and applies them with a brush to the royal foot, and resumes his pedicure] You may continue to address us. CHIROPODIST [after a pause, choosing his topic] : The weather, your Majesty, is very very regrettable. RULER [with the divine-right manner] : Yes, we are much displeased with the weather ! CHIROPODIST : Yet the peasants have prayed for fine weather for the occasion of your Majesty's name-day. RULER : The prayers of peasants are not always heard. To-day is Friday, is it not P I have a superstition against signing important documents on Friday. To-night it is the Ultimatum. [Bored] Oh, this war! What is the feeling among the people? You have leave to speak the truth. CHIROPODIST : Your Majesty is too gracious. The people, your Majesty, do not wish for war. RULER : The Minister of War assures me they do. CHIROPODIST : The people, your Majesty, will regard the decision of their King as the will of God. [Bowing over the royal foot] RULER : You are a clever fellow. You might go far. CHIROPODIS'I‘ [with momentary expansion] : My hump has stood in my light, your Majesty. RULER: There is a saying of my great ancestor, " It is lucky to have a hunch-back near you." CHIROPODIST : Yes, your Majesty, the common proverb says: " A hump is a misery to him who hath it, but it fills him of the straight back with contentment." RULER : We all have our compensations. CHIROPODIST: Yes, your Majesty, my mother always had a premonition that before I died a great honour would be conferred on me. 93 |
