FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. l6l 



with the record of human experience lying 

 as an open page before us, and yet see the 

 wave of barbarism which is sweeping over 

 the earth, I feel weak. 



The immediate prompting to this reflec 

 tion is the dastardly assassination of Car- 

 not, which took place last night. In all 

 ages there have been assassinations of 

 rulers, and we have had previous instances 

 of the untimely taking off of those upon 

 whom in some measure depended the im 

 mediate progress of nations or of the race. 

 But here we have one of a constantly pro 

 gressive series of incidents resulting from 

 deliberately organized barbarism. Society 

 in many countries is undermined in the 

 interest merely of destruction. This is 

 one, but perhaps not the most dangerous 

 aspect of the situation. Ideas and princi 

 ples, as well as society and customs, are 

 undermined, and there is scarcely a truth 

 in business or social relations which history 

 and experience have taught, which is not 

 boldly repudiated and defied. 



What is the cause of this, and what are 

 we to expect ? It is difficult, I am not sure 

 that it is not impossible, to say. It all 

 seems so unnecessary, and yet we are ap 

 parently so impotent to prevent or cure it. 

 M 



