rom
the most savage and barbarous enemy of all time. As sure as France and
England were at the end of their rope--and they were--so surely Germany,
the victor, would have invaded America, and Belgium would have happened
in our country. A hundred years wouldn't have been enough to free us
again, if that had happened. You and I, dearest, owe it to those
soldiers that we are here together, free, prosperous citizens of an ever
greater country.

_She_. (_Drops on her knees by the ditch_.) It's a shrine. Men of my
land, I own my debt. I thank you for all I have and am. God bless you in
your heaven. (_Silence_.)

_He_. (_Tears in his eyes. His arm around her neck as he bends to her_.)
You'll not forget the story of the Charging Blank_th_?

_She_. Never again. In my life. (_Rising_.) I think their spirits must
be here often. Perhaps they're happy when Americans are here. It's a
holy place, as you said. Come away now. I love to leave it in sunshine
and flowers with the dear ghosts of the boys. (_Exit He and She_.)

FIFTH ACT

_The scene it the same trench in the year 2018. It is five o'clock of
the same summer afternoon. An officer of the American Army and an
English cabinet member come, together, to visit the old trench. The
American has a particular reason for his interest; the Englishman
accompanies the distinguished American. The two review the story of the
trench and speak of other things connected, and it is hoped that they
set forth the far-reaching work of the soldiers who died, not realizing
their work, in the great fight of the Charging Blank_th.

_Englishman_. It's a peaceful scene.

_American_. (_Advances to the side of the ditch. Looks down. Takes off
his cap_.) I came across the ocean to see it. (_He looks over the
fields_.) It's quiet.

_Englishman_. The trenches were filled in all over the invaded territory
within twenty-five years after the war. Except a very few kept as a
manner of monument. Object-lessons, don't you know, in what the thing
meant. Even those are getting obliterated. They say this is quite the
best specimen in all France.

_American_. It doesn't look warlike. What a lot of flowers!

_Englishman_. Yes. The folk about here have a tradition, don't you know,
that poppies mark the places where blood flowed most.

_American_. Ah! (_Gazes into the ditch_.) Poppies there. A hundred of
our soldiers died at once down there. Mere lads mostly. Their names and
ages are on a tablet in th