'You have been fighting, Major? The Battle of Loos? Well, I
guess that must have been some battle. We in America respect the
fighting of the British soldier, but we don't quite catch on to the
de-vices of the British Generals. We opine that there is more
bellicosity than science among your highbrows. That is so? My father
fought at Chattanooga, but these eyes have seen nothing gorier
than a Presidential election. Say, is there any way I could be let into
a scene of real bloodshed?'

His serious tone made me laugh. 'There are plenty of your
countrymen in the present show,' I said. 'The French Foreign
Legion is full of young Americans, and so is our Army Service
Corps. Half the chauffeurs you strike in France seem to come from
the States.'

He sighed. 'I did think of some belligerent stunt a year back. But
I reflected that the good God had not given John S. Blenkiron the
kind of martial figure that would do credit to the tented field. Also
I recollected that we Americans were nootrals - benevolent nootrals
- and that it did not become me to be butting into the struggles of
the effete monarchies of Europe. So I stopped at home. It was a big
renunciation, Major, for I was lying sick during the Philippines
business, and I have never seen the lawless passions of men let
loose on a battlefield. And, as a stoodent of humanity, I hankered
for the experience.'

'What have you been doing?' I asked. The calm gentleman had
begun to interest me.

'Waal,' he said, 'I just waited. The Lord has blessed me with