26O EVOLUTION AND SOCIAL PROGRESS 



Men and women, clamoring and falling beneath 

 the swords of a barbarian soldiery fill the fore- 

 ground of the scene, where the plashing fountain 

 is clogged with the bodies of the dead and dying. 

 Dense multitudes, with agonized faces, are rush- 

 ing to the water's side, where the massive bridge 

 has been broken away and a meagre structure 

 spans the stream, over which the struggling 

 masses pour, falling precipitous into the engulfing 

 waters. The black waves are faintly lit by the 

 ghastly conflagrations of the sinking ships, filled 

 with despairing fugitives. Loot, murder, 

 butchery; death and horror everywhere; while 

 blazing firebrands are carried through the streets. 

 By the fountain-side a gigantic warrior-figure 

 had been erected, dominating all the scene. With 

 shield advanced, body tensely stretching forward, 

 and the unvanquished sword in his sinewy right 

 hand, it was the true embodiment of the nation's 

 ideals of force and might. By these, and by the 

 skill and craft of statesmanship had the great em- 

 pire beeen created. Written over all was the 

 motto of the modern superman, the same in busi- 

 ness as in politics and war: "Let him take who 

 can." But now the sword-hand of that soldier- 

 image was broken at the wrist; the head, with 

 cold, relentless and imperious eyes, lay shattered 

 on the pavement; and the edge of the protecting 

 shield was broken by the missiles of a crushing 

 defeat. 



