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Show IX ECLIPSE. Occasionally our metropolitan news, papers make casual mention of the deaths of French, deputies on the western front. There, were two more in the first week in September. The items are generally in some obscure ob-scure corner of the back pages, and consist of six or eight Line paragraphs. para-graphs. In French papers they get more space, but not much. Deputies shouldering rifles are numerous, and to become illustrous each must acquit himself illustriously in battle. It is not easy to shine pre-eminently when: so many do their best. Yet it is unfair to say that the French belittle the functions of a; legislator. Circumstances have combined com-bined to cause a readjustment cci values. They have ruled that art average man with a bayonet is mora important than an average deputy, congressman or parlimentarian. Many who have answered the 4'5 year draft call should find a dep contentment herein. There: are those who do not hope to attain even the dignity of a congressman, and' yet feel experience has given them executive capacity and aptitude in specialized lines of endeavor whicli would bo wasted in the. trenches. Iiut if they have the supreme quality of physical soundness, and do not include in-clude in their makeup something; peculiarly necessary to military or industrial establishment here at home they are likely to find themselves in training camps. They will be in good company. The elected representatives of tiei Fiench people measure up to tire standards of eloquence and political s.vaeity maintained in American and English legislative bodies, but rhetoric rhet-oric and electioneering dexterity ar surpr',;ingly easy to dispense with, when wars are to be won. Many gins of mind are at present subordinate sub-ordinate in importance to strong: limbs and sound digestions. |