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Show I‘MDUW m UM By ROBERT HICHENS THE END OF LITTLE BELGIUM WHEN war began and the German army appeared before the forts of Liége, the world said, " This will be the end of little Belgium." There was deep pity in all hearts, but with it was mingled a certain sense of the impotence of the tiny nation confronted by the brutal might of Germany. I heard two men in a London street discussing the question of the opening war and the tragic situation of the Belgians. One of them, with a twist of his shoulders, said, " What on earth can they do P " The other man replied, " The right thing, and that's what they're going to do." The little nation had decided. The guns of Lie'ge opened fire. "The martyrdom of Belgium," as it has been called, began. even children were slain. Men, women, and Villages and cities were burned. Thousands were wounded ; tens of thousands were rendered homeless. And people said, " Unhappy Belgium l " Where has that exclamation not been uttered? Even in Germany it has come from the lips of Germans, and from time to time the ruler of Germany sent to the ruler of Belgium suggestions of peace. "Haven't you had enough of doing the right thing? " The answer was " No." And more human beings were slain, and more villages were burned, and more families were driven out homeless and starving to live how and where they could. But people said no more, " Unhappy Belgium ! " Strangely, as the tragedy deepened and darkened, the world almost ceased from pitying. " Wonderful Belgium!" we said. And the days and the nights went by, and the roar of battle drew nearer to our coasts. And still the Belgians went on obstinately doing the right thing. Antwerp fell. The Belgian army avoided capture and retreated. All that " was left of it " was said to have passed into France, and the English papers announced that it would " rest" for awhile to recover spirit and strength after its terrible trials and exertions. Not many hours later the world knew that it was still in Belgium, attacking the German army with fierce tenacity, and giving splendid help to the Allies. Its King was with it, and its Queen was not far oil. Since then people speak of " Glorious Belgium ! " The pilgrimage has been accomplished and the peaks have been gained. How then can we pity Belgium? I went among the crowds of refugees at Folkestone, and sat in the midst of sick Belgian soldiers. I talked to old and young, to non-combatants and fighting men, and I gathered from my experiences a dominant impression, which was not an impression of despair. Misery of the body there was. But the far deeper, the far more terrible misery of the soul was so seldom apparent that it could not be said with truth, " This is a nation in despair. This is a ruined nation." 105 |
