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Show A DIFFERENT AGE. In Maeaulay 's ' ' Lays of Ancient Rome," we read that Romans in Rome's quarrel Spared neither land nor gold, Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life. In the brave days of old. Gold, lands and life are not spared in the quarrel of the modern nations, but many lives have been taken unjustly, especially those sacrificed by the torpedoing torpe-doing of unarmed vessels at sea. Perhaps Per-haps the Eomans would have done the same, but we had a right to expect better bet-ter things in this day and age of the world. But the victims of such horrors who went down to death did not die dishonored and the men who have died upon the battlefields of Europe in the last year and a half will ever be revered re-vered for having sacrificed their lives for home and country. Other lives have been lost in a discreditable dis-creditable manner and those who perished per-ished will not adorn the deathless pages of history or live in song or story. Ie their nation 's darkest hour they proved recreant and were led forth to execution execu-tion as traitors. If a story coming from Berlin is true, 200 Italians who wore the uniform of th army or navy aud refused to join the colors were transported trans-ported from Florence to Arezzo to be shot. An ignominious fate. Better a thousand times to die at the battle front than to be shot down like a dog by one's own countrymen. No blame attaches to the Italian government for the drastic action taken. Other executions execu-tions have taken place in India, where the Hindus started a revolt, twenty-four of the leaders meeting a disgraceful death. Tho Romans usually made short work of,, traitors and betrayal of one's country is an unpardonable crime today. to-day. Time has not changed the punish ment. There is a notable difference between Rome in full tide of conquest and the modern European nations engaged in war, unless Maeaulay was indulging iu poetic license when he wrote: Then none was for a party; Then all were for the state; Then the great man helped the poor. And the poor man loved the great; Then lands were faiiiv portioned; Then spoils were fairly sold: The Romans were like brothers In the brave dayB of old. In after years tie Romans were divided di-vided against themselves and Rome fell, as it. deserved to fall. If the fate of the nation that once ruled the world is to be avoided by some of the countries coun-tries now at war the people will have to stand together and make common cause. TVars cannot be won by har--rangues in parliament or by criticizing the generals in the field. What, is needed need-ed is unity of purpose and unselfish and unyielding patriotism. Great Britain's course is not lost because of the failure of tho attempt upon the Dardanelles, butnt will be lost if the captious critics of the government, the army and the navy are not muzzled. Tho Romans would not have endured them long in the .brave days of ni. |