HYPOCRITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1915, Page 4

HYPOCRITICAL.

■A very pathetic bit of literature lisia made its appearance in Austria in the shape of a letter, described as " written on the threshold of my grave," and addressed by the Emperor to the children of all Austrian schools. The magazine Life gives part of it: — 1

"You have always been the joy, the consolation indeed, in the difficult hours of my long life, the sole consolation and the sole jov of your Emperor and King. Whenever I saw you it was like a ray of sunshine in the shadow of my existence. That the all-powerful hand of God may protect and preserve AustriaHungary . . . 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 the 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 for my land, for my peoples . . . God listens m 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, foiget the Empire to which you belong cn this earth, and its old Emperor." It is highly probable, suggests Life, that the letter was written, not by the Emperor, but for him, and represents an attempt, if not to exploit the simple piety of Austrian children fov 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 the monarch who kindled this dreadful war, which is blackening the skies of the civilised wortd, and darkening innumerable homes, and making tens of thousands of little children fatherless. But the Emperor's prayer is beautifully phrased. It was written, if not in some mood of deep and sincero 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," exhorting them "not to cease praying with folded hands." But the effect of those beautiful phrases on the outside world is spoiled by the knowledge that behind tliem is the dark, crooked, and ruthless purpose that brought this war on the world. The irony of events it may be added, is sometimes very crual. Austria began this war by addressing to Servia, one of the tiniest States in Europe, what Sir Edward Grey called "that most arrogant demand ever addressed to an independent State" Austria was going to "discipline" Servia, and to "discipline" it by extinguishing it. At the present moment there is not an Austrian on Servian soil who is not a prisoner of war; while Austrians a-e digging entrenchments around Vienna against the possible approach of the Russian columns. And how much water has run under the bridge since the Emperor, who talked so arrogantly to Servia, now talks so humbly to "the little ones and least ones" in his own empire, and begs their prayers!