228 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [25 April, 1917. 



FARMERS, WIX THE WAR! 



H. A. Mullett. B.Ag.Sc. 

 The Spirit of Self Sacrifice. 



In August, lOl-t, the sudden thunder of the great guns aroused man- 

 kind from a deep sleep ; in the twinkling of an eye all Europe was aflame 

 from end to end. During the mighty struggle that followed many time- 

 honoured customs failed to meet the new conditions, and were tossed 

 aside; men long trusted for their sagacity and statesmanship crumpled 

 under the strain, and even whole nations have been cast into the 

 melting-pot. 



It is an age of big things, of noble deeds; but if there is one thing 

 that has stood out nobler than any — clear cut from all the rest — it is the 

 amazing subordination of self-interest by so large a section of the people 

 for the good of the community as a whole. It was this sjurit of sclf- 



Gatlieiing in the Golden Grain. 



sacrifice that stemmed that first great rush of the enemy hordes, and 

 gained for the Allies valuable time; it was this spirit that enabled them 

 to hold on and subsequently plan the counter, the full weight of which 

 is now being felt by the enemy. This point has not been reached 

 without a supreme eifort of self-sacrifice by the peoj)le of the British 

 Isles and their Allies. 



In France, every able-bodied man between the ages of 18 and 50 

 years is engaged in war work; while at tliat work he receives the pay of 

 a soldier, which is but a few pence a day, and as a soldier he may- be 

 called upon to work night or day. Every man in Belgium, Servia, and 

 Ronmania is serving in the Allies' cause, while in Great Britain many 



