The White Morning by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
page 53 of 114 (46%)
page 53 of 114 (46%)
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but Heloise half arose, but she sat staring at that hard drawn face as
if in telepathic communication. "Can you do anything--really?" gasped Kate. "We have been hoping for a revolution, but had given up the idea--until after the war. Your Socialists either eat out of the Kaiser's hand or sputter and fizzle out. And all your able-bodied men are at the front--" "But not the women." "The what?" "You have both lived in Germany. You know that German women are big strong creatures--what you call husky. They are stronger than many of the men because they have led more decent lives. The men at the front are hopeless as revolutionary material--at present. They are hypnotized. They have been taught not to think. They are sick of the war, they suffer when they come home and see their women reduced to shadows, or go to the cemeteries to visit the graves of their little brothers and sisters; but the teaching of a lifetime: the omnipotence of their sovereigns, whom they innocently believe to rule by divine right, sends them back submissive, patient, sad. I know what you had in mind when you brought us here to convince us that our country was not only responsible for the war, but beaten. You hoped we would somehow bring about the assassination of the Kaiser and the Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria--all the great generals. Is it not so? That would, assuredly, break down the morale of the army, give it a more smashing blow than any it has received even on the Western front. Well, it cannot be done. Even I could not obtain a pass into Great Headquarters. You might as well expect a British soldier to be permitted to saunter over from his lines |
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