. . . I have talked with Germans of the better kind. . . .
You cannot have a whole nation of Christophes. . . . There also the
true knighthood discovers itself. . . . I do not believe this war
will overtake us."
"WELL!" said White.
"I must go back to Germany and understand Germany better," the notes
went on.
But other things were to hold Benham back from that resolve. Other
things were to hold many men back from similar resolves until it was
too late for them. . . .
"It is preposterous that these monstrous dangers should lower over
Europe, because a certain threatening vanity has crept into the
blood of a people, because a few crude ideas go inadequately
controlled. . . . Does no one see what that metallic beast will do
if they once let it loose? It will trample cities; it will devour
nations. . . ."
White read this on the 9th of October, 1914. One crumpled evening
paper at his feet proclaimed in startled headlines: "Rain of
Incendiary Shells. Antwerp Ablaze." Another declared untruthfully
but impressively: "Six Zeppelins drop Bombs over the Doomed City.
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