The Mighty Deep 



one morning what has gone on, the previous 

 afternoon, in China, in India, in Australia, in 

 America, in Africa. 



During the days of the Peninsular War, battles 

 were fought, reverses took place, victories were 

 won and the news filtered slowly home by 

 hand. Larger items of information arrived 

 generally in the course of a few weeks ; particu- 

 lars as to individuals often not for months. 



Now, not only does a check or a success on 

 one day become known to the Empire at large 

 on the day following ; but even while a hard- 

 fought battle is being carried on, we at home 

 sometimes hear of it, and strain our mental 

 vision, and watch in suspense for the ending. 



What would our forefathers have thought of 

 that historic day, when the beleaguered garrison 

 of Ladysmith was fiercely assaulted, and we 

 seven thousand miles distant knew what was 

 being done; hearing that the heroic defenders 

 were "hard-pressed," and no more? Hours of 

 agonised impatience were lived through ; not 

 only in England, but in many a far-off Colony 

 beyond the Ocean, all waiting for the result. 

 Not that the news might not have been sooner 

 sent from South Africa. Delay was due to the 

 cutting short of local sunshine, so that a helio- 



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