If your sordid views were true, how do you suppose for one minute
that in this great epic struggle we could be consoled by the thought
that we are 'making history'? Has there been a single utterance of any
note which has not poured the balm of those words into our ears? Think
how they have sustained the widow and the orphan, and the wounded lying
out in agony under the stars. 'To make history,' 'to act out the great
drama'--that thought, ever kept before us, has been our comfort and
their stay. And you would take it from us? Shame--shame!" repeated
Mr. Lavender. "You would destroy all glamour, and be the death of every
principle."
"Give me facts," said Joe stubbornly, "an' you may 'ave my principles.
As to the other thing, I don't know what it is, but you may 'ave it,
too. And 'ere's another thing, sir: haven't you never noticed that when
a public man blows off and says something, it does 'im in? No matter
what 'appens afterwards, he's got to stick to it or look a fool."
"I certainly have not," said Mr. Lavender. "I have never, or very
seldom, noticed that narrowness in public men, nor have I ever seen them
'looking fools' as you rudely put it."
"Where are your eyes, sir?" answered Joe; "where are your eyes? I
give you my word it's one or the other, though I admit they've brought
camouflage to an 'igh art.
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