DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, October 1917 | 1917-10-25 Robert M. Browning to Mavel C. Williams Page 5

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Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, October 1917

1917-10-25 Robert M. Browning to Mavel C. Williams Page 5 - Clipping

666

LIFE

[the ghost army]
The Ghost Army
(See centre page cartoon)

[cartoon of man washing his clothes on flooded trench while five soldiers stand looking at him]

[text below cartoon]
"YOU'RE A NICE ONE, I DON'T THINK! A-WASHIN' YOUR SHIRT IN THE WATER WE'RE GOIN' TO SLEEP IN!"
[text below cartoon]

The ruddy moon shone dimly
On Havel's turgid flood,
And in its bed the stream rolled red,
Like slowly-moving blood.

Up through the streets of Potsdam
There came a mighty throng--
A ghostly crew of pallid hue
That mutely surged along.

Ten thousand times ten thousand
Rolled onward, wave on wave:
The vast array was misty gray
And silent as the grave.

It gained the royal palace;
On through the door it swept;
And up the stair it streamed to where
The mighty Kaiser slept.

The Kaiser woke in horror
And hid his lordly head,
But still his eye could clearly spy
The throng before his bed.

There passed the ghosts of children
Murdered at his command;
Of mothers slain in grievous pain
By fires that he had fanned;

Of innocents unnumbered,
The victims of his shells,
His stored-up guns, his filthy Huns,
His hate, his poisoned wells;

Of soldiers by the million,
Of every race and creed,
Whom he had killed, what time he willed
His most atrocious deed.

Until the dawn was breaking
The awful ranks passed by;
And fearful things unknown to kings
Filled every spectral eye.

"God! God!" the Kaiser murmured,
"Relieve me of this woe!"
But to his fright the dawn's half light 
Thrilled to a murmured "No!"

Kenneth L. Roberts.
[the ghost army]

[big men and big jobs]
Big Men and Big Jobs

In politics, as in therapeutics, there is a vis medicatrix natural, natural cures which proceed as consequences of events or methods of government. For example, we all know that for fifty years past the great majority of the real smart men in this country have been busy with private, money-making business, and left the job of government to inferior talent. But the moment affairs come to such a pass that private enterprise can no longer make much money, back swarms all the astute and highly gifted to take charge of government.
The ablest men will always want to do the most important thing. When railroading is the big thing, they are railroad men; when the bankers sit at the head of the table, they are bankers; when lawyers are king-pins, they study law; in war they are generals, and when the preachers have the power, they are preachers. The big job in the long run gets the big men. When preaching runs to the undersized, it is because there is not much in it. And the same with politics. But as quick as mankind gets out of hand, so that life and profits are seriously disturbed, back must troop the able men into politics, and probably also into preaching.
Big men only take to money-making so long as that offers the most attractive return for effort. Whenever other activities offer better sport they swap into them. So the misfortunes and crises of society work their cure.

[cartoon of the snails, one carrying a sign that says GARDEN WORKERS' UNION]

[text below cartoon]
"SOME PARADE! TOOK US FOUR HOURS TO PASS A GIVEN POINT"
[text below cartoon]
[big men and big jobs]

[on to berlin]
On to Berlin

Our boys in khaki are all dressed up, and know where to go.
[on to berlin]

Saving...

666 LIFE [the ghost army] The Ghost Army (See centre page cartoon) [cartoon of man washing his clothes on flooded trench while five soldiers stand looking at him] [text below cartoon] "YOU'RE A NICE ONE, I DON'T THINK! A-WASHIN' YOUR SHIRT IN THE WATER WE'RE GOIN' TO SLEEP IN!" [text below cartoon] The ruddy moon shone dimly On Havel's turgid flood, And in its bed the stream rolled red, Like slowly-moving blood. Up through the streets of Potsdam There came a mighty throng-- A ghostly crew of pallid hue That mutely surged along. Ten thousand times ten thousand Rolled onward, wave on wave: The vast array was misty gray And silent as the grave. It gained the royal palace; On through the door it swept; And up the stair it streamed to where The mighty Kaiser slept. The Kaiser woke in horror And hid his lordly head, But still his eye could clearly spy The throng before his bed. There passed the ghosts of children Murdered at his command; Of mothers slain in grievous pain By fires that he had fanned; Of innocents unnumbered, The victims of his shells, His stored-up guns, his filthy Huns, His hate, his poisoned wells; Of soldiers by the million, Of every race and creed, Whom he had killed, what time he willed His most atrocious deed. Until the dawn was breaking The awful ranks passed by; And fearful things unknown to kings Filled every spectral eye. "God! God!" the Kaiser murmured, "Relieve me of this woe!" But to his fright the dawn's half light Thrilled to a murmured "No!" Kenneth L. Roberts. [the ghost army] [big men and big jobs] Big Men and Big Jobs In politics, as in therapeutics, there is a vis medicatrix natural, natural cures which proceed as consequences of events or methods of government. For example, we all know that for fifty years past the great majority of the real smart men in this country have been busy with private, money-making business, and left the job of government to inferior talent. But the moment affairs come to such a pass that private enterprise can no longer make much money, back swarms all the astute and highly gifted to take charge of government. The ablest men will always want to do the most important thing. When railroading is the big thing, they are railroad men; when the bankers sit at the head of the table, they are bankers; when lawyers are king-pins, they study law; in war they are generals, and when the preachers have the power, they are preachers. The big job in the long run gets the big men. When preaching runs to the undersized, it is because there is not much in it. And the same with politics. But as quick as mankind gets out of hand, so that life and profits are seriously disturbed, back must troop the able men into politics, and probably also into preaching. Big men only take to money-making so long as that offers the most attractive return for effort. Whenever other activities offer better sport they swap into them. So the misfortunes and crises of society work their cure. [cartoon of the snails, one carrying a sign that says GARDEN WORKERS' UNION] [text below cartoon] "SOME PARADE! TOOK US FOUR HOURS TO PASS A GIVEN POINT" [text below cartoon] [big men and big jobs] [on to berlin] On to Berlin Our boys in khaki are all dressed up, and know where to go. [on to berlin]