Save, after the great cataclysm, perhap
On the world's shaken map
New lines, more near or far,
Binding to king or czar
In festering hate
Some newly vassaled state;
And passion, lust and pride made satiate;
And just a trace
Of lingering smile on Satan's face!
--_Boston News Bureau Poet_.


This poem has been called the great poem of the war. It was written
just preceding the war, and published August 1 by the "Boston News
Bureau." Of it, and its author, Bartholomew P. Griffin, the following
was written by Rev. Francis G. Peabody: "The English poets, Bridges,
Kipling, Austin, and Noyes, have all tried to meet the need and all
have lamentably failed. I am proud not only that an American, but that
a Harvard man, should have risen to the occasion."




PREFACE

The Scotch have this proverb: "War brings poverty. Poverty brings
peace. Peace brings prosperity. Prosperity brings pride. And pride
brings war again." Shall the world settle down to the faith that there
is no redemption from an everlasting round of pride, war, poverty,
peace, prosperity, pride, and war again?