148 THE NATURE OF NATURE 



own line of action in regard to them. She takes 

 decisions. And she acts. She is for a long time 

 suspicious of Russia, and takes measures to defend 

 herself against any possible hostile Russian action. 

 She later comes to the conclusion that there is no 

 fundamental difference between her and Russia, so 

 she takes steps to compose the superficial differences. 

 Later still, when both she and Russia are being 

 attacked by a common enemy, she deliberately 

 places herself on terms of closest friendship with 

 Russia, and both gives her help and receives help 

 from her. At the same time, having come to the 

 conclusion that Germany is threatening her very 

 life, she makes war on Germany, and prosecutes 

 that war with courage, endurance, steadfastness 

 and intelligence, and with a determination to win 

 at any cost. England has deep feeling, too. 

 She had a feeling of high exaltation on the day 

 she determined to fight for her life and freedom. 

 She had a feeling of sadness and anxiety as things 

 went against her at Mons, Ypres, Gallipoli, Kut. 

 She was wild with joy when the war was victoriously 

 concluded. And she was proud of herself as she 

 thought how among the sister nations of the Empire 

 of which she was the centre, and among the allied 

 nations, she had played a great and noble part. 



Now when a body, like England, can thus think 

 for itself, form its own decisions, take action, 

 establish friendships, fight enemies, and feel deeply, 

 surely that body must possess personality. In 

 ordinary language England is always spoken of as 

 a person. And ordinary language speaks with 

 perfect accuracy in this respect. 



