n have awakened more
slowly--as was inevitable until the nature of the war and the
urgency of the call were brought clearly home to them--but are now
responding with alacrity. The brave deeds of their countrymen in
France have proved the surest stimulus, and disaster, as, for
instance, that reported to the Gordon Highlanders, at once raised
the tide of recruits. This is a very typical and encouraging
feature, showing that all that is wanted to convert interest into
enthusiasm and to blow the embers into flame is that the case
should be brought home by the sense of patriotic achievement or
national loss.

Unquestionably the two incidents that have appealed most to the
public sentiment have been the heroic resistance and tragic
sufferings of Belgium--to be compensated by all that our national
generosity can provide and atoned for by whatever reparation the
Allies think it ultimately right to exact--and the splendid
contribution from India. These events excite the loudest cheers and
touch the deepest chords of emotion.

In some cases, where recruiting has been slow, men have been
affected by a too exclusive but quite pardonable regard for the
interests of themselves and their families. The provision made from
various sources for the bread winner who has joined the colors or
is at the front might easily be made more generous. But the outlook
for those who are wounded or disabled, or for the families of those
who lose their lives, and perhaps most of all for those who on
their return may find it difficult to secure re-employment, is
thought by many to be insufficiently assured. Private employers and
business firms have, on the whole, met the situation with
liberality; and a similar attitude on the part of the Government
would meet with its immediate reward. It is perhaps a selfish
utterance if a man is heard to say, "How am I going to come out of
it?" or still more, "What good is it going to do to me?"; but if he
put the same question on behalf of those who depend upon him for
subsistence he is entitled to a definite and a not ungenerous
reply.

Two dangers may have to be faced as the war proceeds. One is that
the nation, exhilarated by smaller successes, may think that the
war will soon be over, and that no excessive effort is therefore