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Show .4 By LADY LUGARD I AM honoured in being allowed to express my profound respect for a nation which has lifted contemporary history in one step from the commonplace to the heroic. The times have suddenly become great. It is the prayer of all our hearts that we may be great with them. For Belgium the prayer is already answered-she has become a great nation. In material ruin she has risen to spiritual conquest so complete that the world lies at her feet. No enemy can deprive her of this triumph. Her young King has reason to be proud and glad. So long as history is told it will be remembered that under his leadership Belgium as an entire nation was ready to face martyrdom for her faith. She has suffered a martyrdom which, by its detail of horror and brutality, seems to be misplaced in the history of civilisation. And the faith for which she has suffered is not her faith alone -it is our faith too. It is faith in honour, faith in truth, faith in courage, justice, liberty-faith in all that renders human relations sacred, tender, and inspiring. For this common faith we are prepared to stand. The nations feel, their Governments have said, that arms cannot be laid down until this faith has been vindicated. With its vindication must come the ultimate victory of Belgium and her reinstatement upon a new and higher plane of nationality. It has been happily given to England while waiting in confidence for that day to take her part in offering to the stricken Belgian population such help as hospitality and sympathy can give. My own humble part has been to share with others in this work of consolation. It has been at once our comfort and our privilege. We know, alas too well, how little it is, humanly speaking, possible to assuage the unparalleled sufferings in the presence of which we find ourselves. But as we have moved daily in the midst of sorrows which must have touched a heart of stone, and have noted with growing admiration the magnificent fortitude, the simplicity, the gratitude for kindness received with which they have been borne, the hope has become conviction in our hearts that the noble promise will yet again be fulfilled : " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy and he that goeth on his way weeping and beareth forth good seed shall doubtless come again with joy and bring his sheaves with him." " Shall doubtless "-It is for that " doubtless " that I believe our whole nation is prepared to maintain the fight while there is a man or a woman left in the British Empire. By ROBERTO BRACCO IN questo momento storico, il Belgio-" la nazione agonizzante "-e la -\ ' plu gran d e nazion / e d'E uropa ' dZOLui/b Qnfi" . TRA NSLA T1ON At this historic moment, Belgium-" a nation in its agony "-15 the greatest nation of Europe. / 169 Mt'mw‘lmgw‘ |