Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1915 — THE FIGHTING NATIONS. [ARTICLE]

THE FIGHTING NATIONS.

By Walt Mason,

‘•Another nation takes up arms,” and trades its peace for war’s alarms, and all of war’s atrocity; why do all countries wish to scrap and thus incarnadine the map? They have of a paucity. The latest comer to the fray is welcomed with a “Hip, hooray! Come on! The more the merrier! The foe has blood that should be spilled, and hosts of men who should be killed, so dig in like a terrier!” The farmer leaves his fields of grain, his useful labors, safe and sane, the smith becomes a warrior, front every trade and helpful art, 'or crimson fields the men depart—alas, the more the sorrier. What ails the nations of the earth, that they forsake all things oi worth, and think they will be happier, when wading to the knees in gore, and piling dead on every shore, each mo ment growing scrappier? Is madness epidemic now, that every king will trade his plow for something he can slaughter with, that where the harvests used to grow, red Death is stalking to and fro, pale Famine, his dread daughter, with? If I were king i would Sit tight; I'd surely be "too proud to tight,” though called an also ran again; if I had rude, rambunctious foes, l think I'd let them pull my nose, before I’d start shenanigan.