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Show H- Does Civilization Civilize Men CONTEMPLATING the present war in Europe, the first thought that comes to mind is: H "Does civilization civilize man?" H When the roths, visi-Goths, Vandals and Huns H swept down upon southern Europe some cen- H turies ago, they were after plunder. They wanted H rich lands, more food and all kinds of personal H adornment. They had different gods that they H prayed and sang hymns to, but instead of that H religion causing them to respect any property B rights; they held in their convenient religions B that their gods would especially bless their big- Bj j gest fighters and biggest thieves. H 1 Some of them were converted to Christianity, H returned home and they and their descendents B have made up several of the Christian nations of B Europe. They have made vast advances too in B learning in the arts and sciences and in reducing B their thoughts to a literature which it is a per- B petual charm to peruse. B They have discarded their pagan gods for the B living God, to whom they hold themselves re- B sponsible, and in reverence for whom they preach B truth, mercy, charity and all around righteous- B ness. B ' But, suddenly, last year they sprang to arms B on the flimsy excuse that one little power in B southern Europo would not make reparation for Bj the " murder of a prince and princess by some Bi coarse assassins. Up to date perhaps three mil- I lions of men have been killed and as many more so maimed that they will be a charge upon society so-ciety for the rest of their lives. And the killing is going on at an apparently steadily increasing '' rate. jHj1 During the centuries vast improvements have B1 been made in the means of destruction, but tho last news indicates that the armies where the heaviest fighting is going on, have come down to hand to hand fighting such as the old barbarians indulged in. Moreover the fighting is for the same purpose that Atilla and Alarlc fought for land and loot. The question is, "Does civilization civilize men?" "Does Christianity come any nearer quelling the wild beast in man than Paganism did?" If civilization has done anything for men except ex-cept to make them more adroit murderers than their Pagan ancestors were, it is not visible to the naked eye. |