THE GREAT WAR 95 



best and bravest. Wives mourning for their 

 husbands, children for their fathers, parents for 

 their sons too often their only sons. 



The legacy of sadness and bereavement which 

 the war will leave to almost every family will unite 

 all classes by the ties of a common sympathy. 

 The women of the nation are acting nobly in the 

 present crisis. Large numbers of them have 

 given up pleasures and occupations in order to 

 become nurses or helpers of nurses for our 

 wounded soldiers. Those whose health and 

 strength are not sufficient for active work are 

 doing all they can for the common cause. In 

 short, it may be said that the members of every 

 household in the kingdom have their hearts full 

 of warm sympathy and their hands busy with 

 useful and necessary work. There are signs that 

 the people generally are waking up and recog- 

 nizing the nature of the colossal struggle in 

 which we are engaged. Mr. Bonar Law truly 

 said : " As a nation we are being tested, and we 

 shall stand the test." 



The children of future generations will be told 

 the inspiring tale of the splendid deeds of their 

 forbears, and the national character will be 

 strengthened thereby. 



