HYPOCRITICAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 238, 29 June 1915, Page 3

HYPOCRITICAL.

A very pathetic bit of literature has made iis appearance in Austria in the shape of a letter, described as "written ion tli e threshold of my grave," and addressed by the Emperor to the children of all Austrian schools. We give part of it:

"You have always been the joy, the consolation indeed, in. the difficult hours of ray long life, the solo consolation and the sole joy of your Emperor and King. Whenever I saw yen, it was like a ray of sunshine in the shadow of my existence. That the allpowerful ihand of God may protect and preserve Austria-Hungary . . . this is the only wish which still remains to me after a life so rich in suffering. This was my wish as I, still young and full of hopes, ascended tha throne of my fathers; and this is my present wish, which perhaps will soon float from my dying lips as the words of last love and concern from my land.for my peoples. . . . God listens to the prayers of innocence, because He loves it and sees in it His own image. Therefore do not cease praying with folded hands, you little ones and least ones. Dear children, do not, then, forget tliG Empire to which you belong on this earth, and its old Emperor."

It is highly probable, suggests "Life," that th e letter was written, not by the Emperor, birt for him, and represents an attempt, if not to 'exploit the' simple piety of Austrian children for political uses, yet to strike some note.of much needed loyalty throughout the masses of the Austrian Empire generally. The "prayers of innocence" seem grimly out of place when asked for by •he monarch who kindled this dreadful Avar, which Is blackening the skies of the civilised world, and darkening innumerable homes, and making tens cf thousands of. little children fatherless. But the Emperor's prayer is beautifully phrased. It was written, if not in some mood of deep and sincere feeling, yet by one who knows how to talk the language of deep emotion. John, the beloved Apostle, might have written that appeal to "you little ones, and least ones," exhortng. them "not to ceas s praying with folded hands." But the, effect of these beautiful phra-ses-en the outside world is.spoiled by the knowledge that behind them is the dark, crooked, and ruthless purpose that brought this war on the world. The irony of even's, it may b 3 added. i-3 sometimes very cruel, Austria began -his war by addressing to Servia, one of the tiniest States in Europe, what Sir Edward Grey called "the most arrogant demand ever addressed to or i'nclspenent State." Austria was going i'.o "iscir-Une" Servia, and to "d'isclplac" it by extinguishing it. At fPie present ■ moment there is not an Austrian or vv-an soil. who in not a prisoner cf Wrr wlv'le Austrians'afe digging en''•vQTiclvitrents around Vienna against fh.-. possible aporoach cf the Rus3Jap columns. And how much water ho? run under the bridge since Eir! Iperor, who talked so arrogantly to Ser via. tow talks so humbly to "the little ones and- least ones" n hfcs own empire, ana begs their prayers!