PAGE EIGHT "THE DAILY BRITISH WHIG, ~~ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16,1016. A MESSAGE OF PEACE A bewildered mind fails this year to grasp the meaning of th Christmas message, the message of peace and good will to men. the watching shepherds the Christmas.song of the angels was sur prisingly sweet. The message of peace, two thousand years later comes with a deeper and greater significance. The watghing she; herds have given place to the watching soldiers, and from many = eery place they scan the heavens, and weariness of spirit long for music less dismal than that of shot and The message of peace comes in 191¢ for source--the counsels of the war lords the world believe that the spirit of the Eternal One is influencing them while they do unspeakable things. Men have asked"what Christ would do were He to.visit earth and view that which is the very in- carnation of avil. The late W. T. Stead tried to imagine what Christ would think if he returned to certain cities, alleged Christian cities, adorned with churches and cathedrals and many of the institutions which Christianity inspire; and Stead failed most signally to express any conviction but his own. It was condemnatory of much that he saw and heard. The Christ Tt in A og approve of the acts of even some church men. What woul hrist do or say it He: now walked the earth, or.if He stood in the shadows while the Kaiser, the unctuous pretender, addressing his troops, ground his teeth, clenched his fists, scowled most savagely, and straffed England? Frederick Palmer, in his First Year of the War, tells the simple and pathetic story of a Christmas in Belgium. It was early morning. The people, in fear and trepidation, gathered within a little church. They knelt in holy mass. A Bavarfan soldier entered. He stood apart from the rest. He was of their faith. He professed to have the same brotherly love. He bowed in worship. But he was sick of the war. So were all of those that were present. TheYCjad one solace in common. Yet if the Bavarian were asked to givé up Belgium he would have answered, "Not after all we have suffered to take it." While the Belgians were supposed to be engrossed in prayer they thought "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," and Palmer's conoclastic conclusion is, "Christians have a peculiar way of apply- g Christianity." The world, then, does not, and cannot, interpret the Christ life while present conditions prevail, and one wonders if the" yar wilt make conditions worse or hetter. . One sits down with unbiased feelings to study "Belgium and Germany." It is only one of the special pub- lications which depict the dislocation of society by the war. The story is sordid, sorrowful, saddening. There is the absence of anything which would suggest the existence of a Christian spirit. The furies of battle, surpassing all that the disordered imagination can conceive, robbed the land of every semblance of civilization. Church and clois- ter, wherein the litanies of the ages have been sung, are in ruins. The last vestige of religious refinement has been blotted out. The evidences of Christianity, as we once understood and inter- preted it, are absent; and it may be, as some British divine has put it, that the holocaust is the usual preliminary for accomplishment to that.purification of life which is deemed so absolutely necessary. Great Britain has been passing through the purgatorial fires that must purge her of many things. The social life of the nation has been shockingly laid bare, and it has been, in places, made repulsive enough. Hence, whén war was declared, and the infatuation of the masses had passed away-----when they realized that the traditions of the past were challenged, that the flower of the land had been cut down, and mourning brought to thousands of people--the church was , looked to as never before. It may be that God, in His infinite good- \ ness, did send the war as the one thing needful, and the only thing that, in its terrible toll, would chasten the people and call them to repentance. . At any rate, there has been a revival of religion, and once more --in the Old Land more than this, for the ravages of war have not yet apparently wrought their most corrective lesson in Canada--the Christ will be worshipped in the heart with a new devotion. He comes, too, at an opportune time. Away across the sea, in_ lands 'that have been stripped of their beauty, in danger and in solitude, sit many to- day thinking of home and fireside and loved ones. They are wonder- fully cheery. They are doing the hardest kind of service without . murmuring, and this is simply astonishing, in view of their privations, their sufferings, and the needs of the hour. Not a jarring note is heard in all the messages 'that find their way across the Atlantic. In every letter there is the assurance "All is Well," and it brings the de- sired comfort. Trench life in the winter is incomprehensible to any one who has not tasted of it. It can be borne, but from the heart of every soldier there must arise the prayer, "Oh, God, if it be Thy will, let this carnage of war come to an end," and those at home can, as if by telepathic communication, read the appeal and add "Amen." If Christ visits the battlefield to-night He must find many a one to cheer and bless. God only knows whether the sacrificial fires have burned long enough and fiercely enough to consume -and relieve the world of its wen 4ross, but let us hope that the end is near.. The peace that will come some time is the peace which the Great and Eternal Father will dic- tate, and He only will know when this will be. In the meantime, let us have faith in Him, in His immutable justice, in His love and com- passion, and act in the belief that He doeth all things well. Christmas has its tender message, and it has been beautifully expressed in the following lines of an anonymous poet: shell. from a new and unlooked These lords would have 4 THE CHRISTMAS. BELLS. The merry bells of Christmas ring through the frosty air Glad, beautiful and holy---a promise and a prayer,-- Their lovely voices falling On human hearts, are calling: ' Children, fling your hearts away for Santa Claus to wear." The bells of Christmas whisper as the darkeness turns to day: -- "0 Comrades, fill the world with love and chase the gloom away; Where human hearts are sighing, And human hopes are dying, Make music till the lonely ones grow young and bright and gay." The bells on Christmas morning peal. forth a tender song: "0 Brothers, join your hearts as one and cheer the world along; Let your faith and joy go mingling, Through your worship and your singing, Till they leave God's peace and beauty on the heart-ache of the throng." The Christmas bells are beating at the heart of You and Me: £0 ye who dwell in happiness, lift up your hearts to nd How God gives into your keeping All the sad ones who are weeping,-- Have you hung a stocking fof them on your gleaming Christmas tree?" O Bells of Christmas, ringing down the glory of the sky, Our listening souls renew again the dreams that cannot: die,-- By the living sacred token Of God's love, unblurred, unbroken, Qur love shall gleam to-day for every long heart and eye. C "Merry Christmas! ring, * And the weary earth grows lovely with the song the angels sing, As you and I are giving All the rapture of our living To the tle ynely corners Where the Christmas sorrows cling. ~-0dd Fellows' Review. wPLECKED" IN EXAMS Lady Medical Students Who Wanted | report that the ing" was don to Go Overseas. [with « view of them ot: Tarou, | Dec. 16.--The problem home is emphatically denied by Dr. the four fifth-year lady medical | McPherson, of the Faculty of Med- students who applied for commis- icine, "They flied to quailty." ne sions to go overseas with their male said. ig which has been puzzling Re Tart And many a marries the x right one Sy Merry Christmas!" Bells and hearts together ny ,0f the university examiners' = who ! have "plucked" the young ladies. A Sigua do not permit. of man because iljary regula solved hy the action propose. Mhe Nationalist party. The British Whig 83RD YEAR. | | Published Daily and Semi-Weekly by | THE BRITISH WHIG PUBLISHING | CO., LIMITED. J. G. Elliott . President Leman A. Guild"... Managing Director | . and Sec.-Treas Teleph Business Office .. Editorial Rooms Job Office SURSCRIPTION RATES: (Daily Edition) Ome year, delivered in city One year, if paid Ww advance . 5 One year, by mall to pura offices $2.80) Ine year, to United Sta (Semi-Weekly Edition) One year, by mall, cash One year; if not paid in ad One ear, to United States . x and three months pro 'rata. Attached is one of the best orinting offices In Canada. ance $1.50 | .$1.50 The circulation of THE BRITISH WHIG is authenticated by the ABO Audit Bureau of Circulationa pn RR] READING MEN'S MINDS. The motives of the Kaiser in coun- selling the appeals for peace, through the neutrals, Lloyd George, phet, and certainly speaks with pro- phetic power, will mentally dissect the proposition and give out the re- sult in his speech. The premier --arfd one stops as he writes the term to reflect upon the marvelous rise of the man from the to the great \ much-abused faddist dictator--has to pacify two import- ant divisions of the people. One is It represents those who have lost some of their admiration for the premier, and probably lost some of their faith, since he has accepted Sir Edward Carson as a'colleague. Sir Edward and the Redmonds never pulled. There is less likelihood of them pull- ing néw, as there will be more than ever suspicion of his designs upon home rule. The other party is that with whieh | Lloyd-George 'has been allied prac- tically since he became a public man. He has made rapid changes. He has been somewhat radical, with liking for labor and social problems, but he has always been a. liberal. When- ever he has strayed, in the accom- plishment of his plans, he always wound up in the liberal camp, and as the man who, next to Asquith, was equal to every party toning up. job | cannot be surmised. | who is a kind of pro-| is said, change th heir | political faith, who may concede something for a while, -but not very} much at any time and for very 'long. | . Lastly there is a party outside of England whose leader wants to know what the little Welshman thinks, This the Kaiser. He may have essayed humbug. Britain's new he did tHYs at a time purpose may be 'easily The Lloyd George war cabinet is 'one of greater energy, greater directness of power, greater skill in the conduct of the war; and there will not be any halt at the Kaiser's invitation. The German of- fer is regarded as a sign of weakness. A similar sign on the part of Lloyd George would work his ruin. who never, it is to premier, but when his measured. EDITORIAL NOTES: © Bethmann-Hollweg's latest. . pie- tures are not at all flattering. 'He looks like a man who is not enjoying the peace that passeth understanding. It looks as if the Allies' war ma- chine in the Bdlkans may slip another. cog. Which would be bad for more | than the Allies. deputation of liquor men told Premier Gouin of «Quebec that pro- | hibition would not produce the de- sired results. Sir Lomar pointed to ! results in Ontario and Manitoba. He said that something would happen | shortly, but just what it would be he did not indrcate. A | wholesale mer- to Quebec A deputation of | chants, who went to op- pos¢ the anti-liquor legislation, said living was not high. It was a as tch of imagina- tion, to think so. [I'rices were up a | bit, but so were profits, [and the people were enjoying them- } Is that .it? that .pure invention, wages and selves. Inspector Cowley, has demonstrated, from that the ¢hild who begins his public school .ducation at seven years of age makes greater progress than the one he begins at five years of age. Ther whats the use of organizing classes { Jor younger children if they are bet- .er at home for a couple of years? of Toronto, statistics, | MINISTER FINED FOR TREPASS st. Marys Proprietor Resentful of Search of Premises, Stratford, Dec. 16 Damages to the extent of $1 with costs, according to the divisional scale, were awarded James A. McLaren, a St. Marys hotel-keeper, im his action in the county court against Rev. John Knight of Hensall, for trepass. The action arose over a search for liquor made of the premises by the chief of police of St, Marys and the defendant. No liquor was found and the plaintiff claimed that the reputa- tion of his house was impaired by reason of the search, To Spend Christmas at Front, London, Dec. 16.--Arrangements have been concluded for & party of Canadian journalists tospend Christ mas at the . Camadian front in France. Many a man's wife dresses stylish- 'ly because his creditors can afford it. Now he is surrounded by unionists A boy in a schoolroom is worth a dozen in a poolroom. nfm "Rm 'Random Reels "Of Shoes and Ships and Seallng Wax, of Cabbages and Kings." Waiting For The Train, . Waiting for the train is a flour- ishing American {industry which- calls for more patience and home- spun religion than trying to teach table manners to the brainless burro. The passenger trains of this coun- try are operated by schedules which are not supposed to vary over one- thousandth of an inch. These sched- ules are printed in plain type in a time-table which can be understood by anybody who ig in his right mind and has the assistance of a station agent. One of the sweetest things about human nature is the trustful childlike confidence which the aver- age American reposes in the rail- way time-tableé aud its simple, pellu- cid hieroglyphics. In the winter time, however, the railway time-table is about as ac- curate as a barometer with a broken leg. Every now and then snow will fall infront of the engine, in its slow, ingratiating manner, and cause it to hitch along with the uncon- scious grace of a peg-legged man doing the hesitation waltz. When- ever this happens every station on | the line is ¥ongested with people who |. relied on the time-table and found tap it wag taking a week off, here is nothing so conducive to rising temperature in the human mind as to scramble to the station through three feet of new-mown snow, carrying two 80-pound grips | 204 Princess St. and a frost-bitten nose; and find | that the train is not expected until | the spring thaw sets in, When a| woman is caught in this fashion | she can pull out a mess of embroid- | ery and tat something, but all a! man can do is to sit around and think up some new and improved form of cuss word to hurl at the railway company. More people have been deprived of a good batch of religion while Waiting for a train that has run into a hard frost four miles out of town than in any other way, which teaches us that a rail- way station in the winter time is 3 poor place to start a camp meet- ng. Ripping Rhymes LIFEIS ful actions. It funeral would f works get bulky SHORT The span of life is much too brief, the years too Just are Jumping; No Te = the sere and yellow leaf ore we've started humping. But yeste: y, it see to me, mad pastry I was making; and ve Ch boi I can be, my bent limbs feebly shaking. ,But yester- day ¥ want to school, and scrapped with vulgar frac- tions; and now old.age begins to cool my zeal for use- 3 name I'd leave behind fe. "But just when one is getting wise, in shape to cut much clover, his . Man lives a youthful score of years, in which he's merely growing; a score, before he which he's merely I could live five hundred years, my nd me a household word in all the and: he dies, and his career is over., ed to show you our stock. \ McLeod's I : -- Young Men's Clothing See Our New Arrivals The Biltmore Suit, $18 and $20. Better fabrics, signing; the limit of skillful tailoring and perfection of the fit are the fea- tures interesting to men who enjoy wearing better clothes. The Alton Suit, $12.50, $15. more artistic "de- Young Men's Overcoats The Derby Newest fabrics, newest designs. Elegantly tailored. : Price $15.00. The Reno Overcoat $18.00. The Somme Overcoat - $22.50. BIBBYS SELL FOWNES, DENTS, & PERRINS GLOVES ie Electrical Chri:tmas Suggestions 7 Table Lamps. Electric Irons. Electric Toasters. Electric Vacuum Cleaners. 7 Moore's Wellington Street. "WE CAN SETTLE THE CHRISTMAS QUESTION FOR YOU. Electric Shop CHOICE NEW STOCK Of Christmas Goods New Seeded Raisins, Table Raisins, Currants, Peels, Etc. Navel Oranges, Malaga Grapes, Table Figs and Dates, Choice Boxes of Chocolates and Christmas Candy. HARRY THOMPSON Phone oi Plone 389 PARADIS GARAGE FOOT OF BROCK STREET 'Phones: Office 522, House aL We furnish: Auto Supplies, Gasoline at 33e. Motor Ofl. Cars for Hire. Washing Cars Large, $1.00, Small, 5c. Efficient Scruiee suaranteed. Give us a E. PARADIS, Prop. (I A KODAK would be ap- preciated as a Christmas Gift. Our stock is new and well assorted. Cam- eras from $1.25 up to $25.00; each one guaran- teed to give entire satis- faction. Would be pleas- ----At -- At all Grocers. LADIES' WINTER COATS Get your winter coat made to measure with choice of styles for less . money than ready-made, Also suits, skirts, and dresses for very low prices. New York Skirt and Suit Co. 203 Wellington Street. You will ail need boots and shoes before Christmas. Why not get them at the Model Shoe Store We have a very heavy stock of all kinds 'and can suit all tastes in ladies' men's and children's boots and shoes. eh wa will sell nt the old "184 Princess Street | H. ROTGAULE, Prop. Olives Plain. Stuffed with Pimentos. Stuffed with Celery. Stuffed with Celery and Pimentos. Stuffed with Capers. Imperial Mixed. + (Plain, Celery and Pimentos). JAS. REDDEN & CO. Phones 20 and 990. Sunkist Raisi First Car New Raisins Just Arrived. ns Insist on SUNKIST 1 DALY GARAGE 335 King Street. Phone 363. We furnish aute supplies of all kinds; gusoline, motor oll, ete, Cars washed and stored at rea" sonable t to. nen suars tee: J. P. Daly, P; Weight? Yes! Wait? No! It's Too Big for The Christmas Stocking But--a ton 'of our coal is a _ Rift that will receive a hearty welcome. COAL is our "stockin" trade Good old Santa re 'ommend our coal to those who insist on real quality CRAWFORD : Foot of Queen St. Phone 9.