The following interesting letter, full of generous sentiment, written by Sir Valentine Chirol, appeared in "The Times" of August 14. criticizes severely some written by Mr. Stephen Phillips, the well-known poet and dramatist, on the ground that they are unfair to German patriotism. We think that everybody in Shanghai will agree with Sir Valentine.
The verses are as follows:
THE HUSH, There is a hush before the thunderjar, When white the steeples against purple stand There is a bush when night with star on star Goes ashen on the summer like a brand.
Now a more awful pause appeals the soul, When concentrating armies crouch to spring; Stillness more fraught than any.
thunder-roll, Dawn European with a redder The Teuton host no conscience on-wing. j ward drives; Sullen they come; to slaughter shepherded Timed for the shambles with unwilling lives, With doubt each soldier is already dead, The massed battalions as a myth!
shall reel Vainly they fight, if first they cannot feel.
Sir Valentine Chirol's letter says:
Will you allow me, as one who cannot be suspected of leniency towards official Germany, to protest most strongly against the pharisai-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.