6 NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
North Shore Breeze 
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VOL. XII December 25, 1914. No. 52 
Britain’s Coast has been attacked and the theories 
that have hitherto been held by the people of the King- 
dom concerning the impregnable character of its naval 
defences have been exploded. The attack may be in the 
nature of a feint and have no real bearing upon the 
ultimate victory either of the allies or of Germany. 
It is, however, certain that there are some secondary re- 
sults of the bombardment. It shows that Germany has 
abandoned all forms of civilized warfare and declined to 
abide by the international law which provided for im- 
munity of unprotected cities and towns. That the Brit- 
ish fleet has been unable to properly patrol the coast 
is plain; else how was it possible for the German cruisers 
to make their raid and successfully retreat. It shows 
to the government the tragic blunder that was made 
when Helgoland was ceded to Germany. While the at- 
tack has caused a deep feeling of apprehension to pass 
over all England it has stirred the patriotism of the young 
men with such a spirit that the recruiting officers have 
been busy. That any nation should countenance such 
villainy seems unthinkable, but it is to be presumed that 
the reply would be “all is fair in war.” To remonstrate 
with Germany over its activities before Hartlepool, Scar- 
borough and Whitby would avail nothing. And no ap- 
peal need be made to neutral nations; the facts do not 
need to become a matter for national communications. The 
nations of the earth have heard and know the meaning 
only too well of the British raid. If the German fleet 
has swung free of the North Sea base there ought to be 
some interesting developments. The Hartlepool attack 
was Germany’s answer to the battle off the Falkland Is- 
lands even as that battle was England’s answer to the 
Pacific encounter. Human nature is exceedingly cruel 
in its balancing activities that are born of revenge. War 
is a return to the semi-civilized state of man when the 
law is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The 
raid has stirred all England and that feeling, perhaps, 
will find expression in a sea attack upon Germany’s naval 
forces. Hartlepool is but a small matter compared with 
the violation of Belgium neutrality and its dire conse- 
quences, The German government has tried to justify the 
Belgian raids as measures of military necessity, but what 
military necessity compelled armed cruisers to shoot up 
three defenceless towns? The whole incident reveals 
the atrocity of war and the low depths to which a na- 
tion can sink under the miasmatic influence of the War 
od, 
A Merry CuristMas at home with sad thoughts for 
the broken homes in Europe! There is no Christmas in 
the trenches. 
THE Fraternity Mempers of the colleges in 
America do not have so high a standing in their studies 
as do the non-fraternity men, it is asserted. There is 
no sense in disparaging the value and advantage of book 
instruction and knowledge. But life is as much a matter 
of persons as it is of books. The man is greater than 
the book. Books are mere methods of convenience in 
communicating the thoughts of men. The non-fra- 
ternity men do not necessarily deny themselves of com- 
panionship, but it is nevertheless true that a fraternity is 
one of the most helpful institutions in college life for 
the promotion of good-fellowship in the highest and best 
sense of the words. It is well to study books, but friend- 
ship may mean more in the enrichment of a human life 
in the end. Knowledge of books and men both have their 
place in life, and while the college may “mark” a man 
in ranks by studies, life gains may best be obtained by 
friendship. 
WELLESLEY CoLLEGE has felt the embarrassing cir- 
cumstances incident to the European war as much as any 
institution hereabouts. The fire which caused so great a loss 
was discouraging, but the royal way in which the gradu- 
ates of that institution rallied to her colors was inspiring. 
The improvement fund grew rapidly under the pressure 
and self-denial of the loyal workers in Wellesley’s cause. 
But the war has put a check upon its financial progress. 
To gain the $750,000 which has been promised the insti- 
tution needs but $15.000. Such a useful institution 
ought not to be embarrassed by failure in this exigency. 
Some kind friend or friends should come to the rescue. 
Ture NEwspPaPERs indicate that the conditions of de- 
pression are showing themselves in an outbreak of crime. 
In one trade alone, that of carpentry, there are two thou- 
sand men out of employment in the city of Boston. The 
weaker men, who in times of peace are law-abiding, find 
in the idleness of unemployment and the pinch of pov- 
erty, conditions which instead of steadying them appears 
to open opportunities and irritations which lead to crime. 
It is a sociological symptom that cannot be overlooked. - 
A Mu Criticism of the financial policy of Boston 
University has drawn President Murlin’s fire. President 
Murlin was doubtless delighted to have the opportunity 
to present his case. He has done it well. A policy of 
“pay as you go” need not necessarily mean a policy of 
retrenchment. It is seen by the figures that the annual 
budget has increased, showing progress. The increase 
has been due to broader fields of work and not to salary 
increases as much as such increases are desirable. 
Tuer Unrrep States GovERNMENT can surely take 
some middle ground in its Army and Navy policy. The 
nation ought never to be fully prepared for war, but it 
ought to be possible, nevertheless, to develop some policy 
of national defence that would not open the nation to the 
attacks of a European power. 
Sua It Br electric lights or gas lights? Even this 
discussion is pleasanter than the choice between lantern 
light and candle light. The ancient fathers would have 
considered the Manchester streets veritable “white ways.” 
The conveniences of yesterday are the inconveniences of 
today. 
One oF THE MarKED Resuwts of the retrenching 
policy which has been operative on the North Shore 
during the last three months is the decrease in the for- 
eign laboring population in most of the towns. 
