[ 17] 



All the same, we considered ourselves 

 " Christians of the best edition, all picked 

 and culled," and the churches remained 

 open, prayers rose to Jehovah, many of 

 whose priests — even his bishops ! — were 

 in khaki, and quit themselves like men — 

 yes, and scores died the death of heroes ! 

 Into such hells of inconsistency does war 

 plunge the best of us ! 



Learning — new or old — seems a vain 

 thing to save a nation, but possibly, as a set- 

 off, science, as represented by cellulose and 

 sulphuric acid, may yet prove the best bul- 

 wark of civilization! In his "History of the 

 Origin of Medicine," ' Lettsom maintains 

 that the invention of firearms has done more 

 to prevent the destruction of the human 

 species than any other discovery; he says : 

 Invention and discernment of mind have 

 made it possible to reverse the ancient max- 

 im that strength has always prevailed over 

 1 1778, p. 30- 



