THE SOUL OF BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2398, 2 March 1915, Page 8

THE SOUL OF BELGIUM

"WOUNDED, PANTING, BUT FIGHTING ON:: Tho January number of the "Hibbert Journal" (Williams and Norgate) opens with an improssive article entitled "The Soul of Belgium," by the Abbe Noel. The writer gives an interesting sketch of the characteristic traits of the Belgian people, and doscribes some of-the cffects of the brutal shock, of war. "The observer, who yesterday might still have his doubts, has no difficulty to-day in discerning lie national soul." The article concludes as follows: — "Numerous 6igns justify the expectation that Belgium on emerging from tho present crisis will again witness that union of parties which founded the national life in 1830. In the common effort which will presently remake, our country the four universities will, I hope, find their' part enlarged. The disaster which has overtaken the .oldest of them and struck down to the heart of 1 its intellectual life, and fallen upon the memorials of its past, can-have but one outoome; it will cause our scientific activities and our ideal life to be born again, enlarged and' broadened. "True it is that during recent years the intensity of ''our industrial _ and economic effort has somewhat diminished t'he attention - due to the pure preoccupations of the spirit. The days of poverty which awaio us will, lead us bacK to these, through reactions a little hard but salutary in their essential effect. And the new role we shall have to take in the world will give to our thought more fulness and more courage . '.'Compelled to remain always neutral, w-e have taken scrupulous care to hold the balance of our affections even among all the Powers. Never ha,ve wo taken sides in their quarrels. . . . Unconscious. of the right to take a definite attitude in international life, we became habituated to taking no interest in it, and that in do small measure has contracted our minds and confined our ideas and our dreams 1 within the narrow limits of our own. frontiers.

. . -. Our industry, our literary and scientific activity,' had no doubt won some lustre in the world; but we lacked self-confidence, we felt we had no footing of equality among the other nations, and l so we • remained among them not unlike a child iu the company of great personages. "What our geographical frontiers trill be to-morrow I Know not. But I do know that our moral position in the world-will henceforth be other than it was. In tho most terrible crisis of history we have suddenly found ourselves confronted by a duty which we little expected. Yet, nourished as it was in reverence for right, the nation understood without a moment's hesitation, and a-s one man, that his duty was sacred, and instantly "grappled it. with all the energy of its loyal and believing soul. In presence of brutal aggression the old instinct of freedom asserted itself with the energy of other days, and Belgium, hardly herself perceiving what had happened, was plunged into a world-war for right and for liberty.,, She it is who personifies this cause, and to her has fallen the honour of suffering marty> dom ;on its behalf. She lies wounded, panting, ■ but fighting on. ill the nations bend over her and surround her with their love and veneration. ' Tomorrow, when Foroe shall have yielded to Justice, Belgium will cherish the right to speak and to act in the new world which is coming to the birth. With a broadened natioral consciousness, all we Belgians feel that it is so; and wo are ready to raise our mind to the height of a loftier part.

"Doubtless our prudence restrains us from all immoderate dreaming. The danger is last it confine us within limits too modest. It is too soon to dismiss prudence; the possibilities of the future are not yet revealed, and no man can divine with certainty the roads that will open when the 'bloodstained veil shall be lifted behind which the is being prepared. And yet no task will exceed the forces of our national energy. Twenty times in the course of history Belgium has been the battlefield of Europe. Twenty times Belgium has rebuilt her ruined cities' and found a new prosperity. Since she was left to herself she has created laws that are sane, rational, and progressive, she" has combined traditional faith and liberty, she has founded order on respect for right, and she has succeeded in winning profound happiness. The hour has struck for her to establish her independence for ever on 3 force which inspires respect.' In the Europe which is to bo it will be hers to extend the reign of Faith,-Justice, and Freedom." Another interesting and timely article is entitled "The Slavophile Creed." It is written by Paul Vinogradoff, Professor of Jurisprudence in the University of Oxford. The Rev. E. Lyttelton, Headmaster of Eton, discusses some of the problems which will hsve to be considered when the time comes for settling the terms of peace, and the part which Britain will then have to play- A professor of the University of Louvain gives a first-hand account of the destruction of Louvaui by the Germans. It is a terrible story. Other articles dealing directly or indirectly with the war are "Gottingen in the Sixties," by Professor Sully) "Meredith and His Fighting Men," by Professor James Moffatt; "Why "We are Fighting," by Edward Willmore; "The Unity of Civilisation," by P. S. Marvin; "Germans, Tartars, and a Chinese Patriot,_ by D. A. Wilson; "Thoughts on Pacificism," by G. H. Powell. The January number ' also contains contributions by Professor Strong ("The Jews Through Roman Spectacles ); Professor L. T. More ("The Scientific Claims of Eugenics"): Professor D. Noel Paton ("A Physiologist's Viewjjf Life and Mind"); George Haw (The Religious Revival in the Labour Movement").