nothing more exciting than beer and conversation. It was there, two
nights ago, I met at the same time three Germans representing three
dominant classes in the life of their country, and had from each of them
the viewpoint of his class toward the war. They were, respectively, a
business man, a scientist, and a soldier. The business man belongs to a
firm of brothers which ranks almost with the Krupps in commercial
importance. It has branches in many cities and agencies and plants in
half a dozen countries. He said:

"We had not our daily victory to-day, eh? Well, so it goes; we must not
expect to win always. We must have reverses, and heavy ones too; but in
the end we must win. To lose now would mean national extinction. To
win means Germany's commercial and military preeminence in this
hemisphere.

"There can be but one outcome of this war--either Germany, as an empire,
will cease to exist, or she will emerge the greatest Power, except the
United States, on the face of the earth. And so sure are we of the
result that to-day my brothers and I bought ground for doubling the size
and capacity of our largest plant.

"In six weeks from now we shall have beaten France; in six months we
shall have driven Russia to cover. For England it will take a year--
perhaps longer. And then, as in all games, big and little, the losers
will pay. France will be made to pay an indemnity from which she will
never recover.

"Of Belgium I think we shall take a slice of seacoast; Germany needs
ports on the English Channel. Russia will be so humbled that no longer
will the Muscovite peril threaten Europe. Great Britain we shall crush