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Show Hum ARMANDO PALACIO VALDES TRANSLATION by Prof. l‘itzmaurice-Kelly THE LEGEND or KING ALBERT In the coming ages, during the long winter evenings, mothers will tell their children " The Legend of King Albert." " Once upon a time, my children, there was a King who reigned over a small, industrious, noble and valiant race ; and this King was the noblest of the noble, and the bravest of the brave. Near him there lived a dreadful giant who ruled over a great race of warriors. This giant kept all those about him in awe and fear, and he abounded in power and pride. .Moreooer, he had a wonderful cannon, the size of a cathedral, with which he made havoc of the country side and ground cities into dust. This small nation had for its neighbour another stateia rich and happy state, which the giant coveted. " ‘ Let me pass through your dornim'ons,' he said one day to our King. ‘ I want to destroy and enslat'e that nation which dwells nigh you. If you let me through, you shall have wealth ; you shall share the plunder that I get ; some of the proi'inces of that nation shall come under your sway. Should you not let me through, 1 will Crush your people and you shall all be slac‘es.' " ‘ You shall not pass-except occr our dead bodies,' answered the Valiant King. ‘ )1)! people, one (j the most prosperous on earth, sets great store by its manufactures, its riches, its large cities, its handsome monuments : but it loves honour more. You can again pile stones one upon the other ; but, if honour be uprooted, who can raise it from its ruins? Keep your money ; if that is what you want, take mine and my people's l Take our lives! Ens/ave us! You will fail to rnalee as base .' ' " Then the cruel giant fell on that tiny race, destroyed its cities, burned its hamlets, slew many of its inhabitants, and spread fear and misery everywhere. " The high-minded King set forth from his dominions, but-marvellous to tell lfihe found them growing larger. All proclaimed themselves his vassals. theret'er he went, he was hailed as though he were a triumphant conqueror. Women scattered flowers on his head; men waved their hats, and cried~ ‘ Long live the King7 l ' " At last, surrounded by a handful of heroic soldiers, he made his way once more into his Kingdom, and began to win it back again. lWany helped him .' some with their swords, some with their pens, others with their prayers. The angels of heaven opened up a path for him. And, after a desperate and bloody struggle, inch by inch, he kept on recovering his lost Kingdom. When, at last, he came to his throne again, the whole world raised a shout of exultation. For justice had triumphed, God's word was fulfilled, and the powers of darkness were "vanquished. "117}! children, this King was happy afterwards on earth, and is now happy in lzeaoerz." By PAUL BOURGET LE R01 ALBERT LA guerre, a travcrs tant d'épreuves, et de si affreuses, reserve du moins ce bienfait aux peuplcs ct aux individus qui acceptent Virilement sa tragiquc ne'cessité : l'éducation par la résistance, en sorte que ce formidable élément de destruction peut dcvenir un élément fécond do reconstruction. La guerre procure aux gens de occur un autre bienfait : celui de l'exemplc £1 donner Ct 51 recevoir, en sorte encore quc cette sanglante ouvriére de discorde I'est aussi d'union. Elle resserrc d'un lien plus étroitement noué 1e faisccau social, a l'hcure méme 01‘) l'on croit qu'elle Va 16 briser. L'exemple, quand il est cclui du dcvoir sur le champ de bataille, rallie d'un tel élan les volontés autour du drapeau ! C'est le supérieur modelant sur Iui l'inférieur, 1e courage redressant 1a de'faillance, la force servant de régle a la faiblesse, l'énergique devenu une prédication vivante. Il montre en lui ce que pent l'homme quand il oeut, ce que vous pourrez, vous, son camarade, si vous ooulez. Et vous t'oulez. - Braver le danger, souffrir, mourir, -- ces mots n'avaient pour vous, héritier comblé d'une société heureuse, qu'une signification si lointaine! La guerre en a fait en quelques jours une réalité terrifiante. Aurel-vous la force dc l'afironter P Vous en doutez. Et voici qu'un autre, 180 By L. RAVENHILL You marl: my word ,[itl‘g‘i' : t/zzrt there [\Utywr 'll come to a bail end .' l'vc 'ad my eye on no for llltllly a day l ' "DUNK"1 |
