Update from April 15, 2024

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@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ London: John Lane, The Bodley Head New York:
 

 

 

-"Our spirits are living bayonets. The ideals which we carry in our hearts are

-more deadly to the enemy than any man-made weapons."

+“Our spirits are living bayonets. The ideals which we carry in our hearts are

+more deadly to the enemy than any man-made weapons.”

 

 

 

@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ FOREWORD
 THESE selections from collected letters of Coningsby Dawson have been edited

 by his sister, Muriel Dawson, and are published in response to hundreds of

 requests. Readers of his first volume of correspondence from the Front, issued

-under the title of "Khaki Courage," have written from all over the country

+under the title of “Khaki Courage,” have written from all over the country

 asking that a further series be given them. The generous appreciation and

 personal interest expressed by these readers have induced Lieutenant Coningsby

-Dawson's family to publish these letters. They take up his story at the point

-where "Khaki Courage" laid it down, at the time when America entered the war.

+Dawson’s family to publish these letters. They take up his story at the point

+where “Khaki Courage” laid it down, at the time when America entered the war.

 

 

 

@@ -66,22 +66,22 @@ last confessedly our Ally. Their financial and industrial support will be
 invaluable to us and will make a difference at once. And the moral advantage

 of having them on our side is the greatest wound to the spirit of Germany that

 she has received since the war started. It will be real fun to be able to come

-back to New York in khaki, won't it?—instead of slinking in as a civilian.

-Besides, if I get wounded, I'll be able to come home to visit you on leave

+back to New York in khaki, won’t it?—instead of slinking in as a civilian.

+Besides, if I get wounded, I’ll be able to come home to visit you on leave

 now.

 

 This big decision has made me almost gay ever since it happened. I have such a

 new affection for everything across the Atlantic—almost as if New York and the

 Hudson were just across the lawn from England, the nearest of near neighbours.

 I wish with all my heart that I could drop in on you for a day and just sit

-down on the sunny verandah and talk and talk. There's so much I want to hear

-and so much I want to understand in the changed attitude of America. I'm sure

+down on the sunny verandah and talk and talk. There’s so much I want to hear

+and so much I want to understand in the changed attitude of America. I’m sure

 everyone must be much more happy now that the cloud of reproach has lifted and

 the brightness of heroism is in the air. It shines in my imagination like the

-clear blueness above the white towers of New York. There's one thing certain;

+clear blueness above the white towers of New York. There’s one thing certain;

 now that the President has made up his mind, the country will go as

 baldheadedly for war as it has for everything else it ever set out to attain.

-The real momentousness of this happening hasn't been appreciated by the

+The real momentousness of this happening hasn’t been appreciated by the

 fighting men out here yet. With a sublime arrogance they feel themselves quite

 capable of licking Germany without the assistance of anyone.

 

@@ -104,19 +104,19 @@ ourselves the sniping started up again. At last we got tired of wading, so
 climbed out and made a dash across the open. None of us was caught, but by

 pure bad luck another sergeant of mine, who was waiting quite 300 yards away,

 got it in the back. He was a big, heavy chap, and we had quite a slippery time

-carrying him out on a stretcher to the dressing-station. That's the second

-N.C.O. who's been hit with me in the last ten days. The other chap got it in

+carrying him out on a stretcher to the dressing-station. That’s the second

+N.C.O. who’s been hit with me in the last ten days. The other chap got it in

 his side.

 

 Either of these wounds would have been nice to get for anyone who wanted a

-rest. But I don't want to get out yet; all the really sporting part of this

+rest. But I don’t want to get out yet; all the really sporting part of this

 war will be this summer. We are praying that we may come into action at the

-gallop, "Halt, action front!" bang off our rounds and follow up again.

+gallop, “Halt, action front!” bang off our rounds and follow up again.

 

 For some reason, to-day my memory has been full of pictures of that wonderful

-leave we had together in London. Things have come back that I'd

+leave we had together in London. Things have come back that I’d

 forgotten—visits to theatres, to restaurants, rides in taxis, so many

-things—all the time there's that extraordinary atmosphere of intense love. I

+things—all the time there’s that extraordinary atmosphere of intense love. I

 suppose I must have spent the night dreaming of you. Living in the daylight

 hours in this deep dug-out makes spring seem like winter; I expect that helps

 me to remember. How I wish I could have those ten days again. Perhaps our next

@@ -128,12 +128,12 @@ lives are so few, that the passionately personal affections of the old days
 shine out like beacon fires. It will be wonderful when the war ends and one

 can sit still in a great hush.

 

-Yesterday I had a day off for a bath behind the lines—I hadn't tubbed for well

-over a month and hadn't been back of the guns; also I had slept in my

+Yesterday I had a day off for a bath behind the lines—I hadn’t tubbed for well

+over a month and hadn’t been back of the guns; also I had slept in my

 clothes—so you may judge that warm water and soap were a necessity. Afterwards

-I had great fun shopping for the mess, but I didn't manage to buy much, as the

+I had great fun shopping for the mess, but I didn’t manage to buy much, as the

 country is all eaten up. All that is beautiful in the way of landscape lies

-ahead, so we're very anxious to capture it from the Hun. One looks out over

+ahead, so we’re very anxious to capture it from the Hun. One looks out over

 his back country, so green and beautiful and untouched, and feels like an Old

 Testament spy having a peep at the Promised Land. Without doubt it will be

 ours in the ordained time. When I went out this morning it was to see a blue,

@@ -143,30 +143,30 @@ at it and thought of when the war is ended. To-day I had to go to another town
 which is in process of being battered. On my way back I passed through a

 wood—most of the trees were levelled to the ground. In the wood I found a hawk

 wounded by shrapnel, and pressing close behind a fallen trunk. And I found my

-first spring flower—a daffodil—which I am enclosing to you. I've sent you many

+first spring flower—a daffodil—which I am enclosing to you. I’ve sent you many

 flowers, but none which carries with it more love than this little withered

 daffodil—my first token of spring—gathered from a fought-over woodland of

 France.

 

-Since writing thus far it has been raining cats and dogs, and I've been

+Since writing thus far it has been raining cats and dogs, and I’ve been

 catching the mud, which leaks through my roof, in a soup-plate. Little things

-like mud and rain don't damp our ardour, however; we press on and on to

+like mud and rain don’t damp our ardour, however; we press on and on to

 certain victory.

 

-One of our officers came back from leave to-day—he'd spent his freedom in

+One of our officers came back from leave to-day—he’d spent his freedom in

 Devon, and was full of the beauty of the spring-time there. Happy Devon! War

-has changed the seasons in France. Winter started in October; it's the middle

+has changed the seasons in France. Winter started in October; it’s the middle

 of April and winter has not yet ended. Oh, to wake up again with the splendid

 assurance of a summer day with nothing but beauty—such a peaceful day as we

 have so often spent at Kootenay. That wounded hawk, crouching among the

-daffodils, is a symbol—we're like that: beasts of prey for our country's sake,

+daffodils, is a symbol—we’re like that: beasts of prey for our country’s sake,

 maimed in mind and spirit, and waiting till our wings grow strong again. And

 yet—who would be anywhere else but here so long as the war lasts? Oh, the fine

 clean courage of the men in the face of danger and their brave endurance in

 the presence of privation! It passes understanding. I saw a chap with a mortal

 wound the other day thinking nothing of himself—only of his pal, who was but

 slightly wounded. The most unendurable people act like heroes in the face of

-death. There's a fundamental nobility in all men which comes to the surface

+death. There’s a fundamental nobility in all men which comes to the surface

 when life is most despairing.

 

 

@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ it raineth every day. To make my appearance more gipsy-like I may add that my
 hands are cracked with the mud. When the war is ended I shall lie in bed for a

 month.

 

-We've come through some very lively times of late, and I shall have plenty of

+We’ve come through some very lively times of late, and I shall have plenty of

 local colour to impart to you when the war is ended. My mind is packed with

 vivid pictures which I cannot tell. This huge silence which rests between

 individuals is the most terrific thing about the war. You get the terror made

@@ -192,14 +192,14 @@ telescope all day, but nothing stirs.
 

 Yet you know that in every hole the hidden death lurks; should you for a

 moment forget and raise your head unwarily, you are reminded of your folly by

-the crack of a rifle. I've always made the mistake of believing the best of

-everyone—and, as a soldier, I've never been able to credit the fact that

+the crack of a rifle. I’ve always made the mistake of believing the best of

+everyone—and, as a soldier, I’ve never been able to credit the fact that

 anyone of a big nation would count himself happy to get my scalp. The actual

 passes belief. I recall so vividly that story of the final war, written by a

 German, The Human Slaughter-house. The chap never realizes the awfulness of

-his job until for the first time he comes face to face with the young boy he's

+his job until for the first time he comes face to face with the young boy he’s

 called upon to kill. We kill by hundreds from a distance, but the destroyed

-and the destroyers rarely have a hint of each other's identity. I came to a

+and the destroyers rarely have a hint of each other’s identity. I came to a

 dug-out the other day in a battered trench. Even the water in the shell-holes

 was dyed by explosives to the colour of blood. Outside lay a German, face

 downwards in the mud—an old man with grizzled hair. I shoved my revolver round

@@ -212,21 +212,21 @@ machine-gunner who, having lost his company, made amends by capturing three
 Fritzes and killing two others with the aid of a pal with a shattered leg. I

 told him to bring his pal up. Under his directions the Fritzes trotted back

 into the hole and brought out the wounded fellow. They were extraordinarily

-meek-looking and quite surprisingly gentle; when I'd told them where the

+meek-looking and quite surprisingly gentle; when I’d told them where the

 dressing-station was, they made a bandy-chair of their hands, placed our

-fellow's arms about their necks and staggered away through the barrage—or

+fellow’s arms about their necks and staggered away through the barrage—or

 curtain of fire, as the papers like to call it—back to safety with their

 wounded enemy. And yet within the hour all these people had been chucking

 bombs at one another.

 

 A few days ago I was detailed for a novel experience—to follow up the infantry

-attack across No Man's Land to the Hun Front line and as far as his support

+attack across No Man’s Land to the Hun Front line and as far as his support

 trenches. I called for volunteers to accompany me and had a splendid lot of

 chaps. My party got away with the adventure without a scratch—which was

 extraordinarily lucky. Moreover, we accomplished the particular job that we

 were called upon to do.

 

-To-night I'm out from dusk to daylight poking through the darkness in a

+To-night I’m out from dusk to daylight poking through the darkness in a

 country where one dare not use a flash-light. Between two ruined towns I have

 to pass a battered Calvary.

 

@@ -252,12 +252,12 @@ I had a letter from each one of you the day before last, and they reached me
 within three weeks of being written—it made you all seem very near.

 

 I am writing this to you from a mercifully deep dug-out, which was the home of

-Huns considerably less than a fortnight ago. I'm sure it was very obliging of

+Huns considerably less than a fortnight ago. I’m sure it was very obliging of

 them to think ahead and provide us with such safe hiding-places from their

 villainous shells. They have knocked the house down overhead. In the yard is a

 broken bird-cage—the owner must have set the captive free before he made good

 his own escape. Hanging at the head of my bunk is an iron crucifix and on the

-wall is a beautiful woman's portrait. One hardly thinks of his enemy as being

+wall is a beautiful woman’s portrait. One hardly thinks of his enemy as being

 human these days—he seems only an impersonal devastating force; but it was a

 man with affections who lately tenanted my dug-out.

 

@@ -266,39 +266,39 @@ liaison officer when one of our planes was shot down. The pilot made an effort
 to land behind our trenches, but his machine was unmanageable and he came down

 in Boche territory—or what had been Boche territory a quarter of an hour

 before. Through my glasses I saw the pilot and observer get out and start to

-creep cautiously back. We ourselves didn't know for certain where the Huns

+creep cautiously back. We ourselves didn’t know for certain where the Huns

 were—all we knew was that they were supposed to be withdrawing. When the

 airmen arrived at our battalion headquarters they were still scarcely

 convinced that our chaps were not Huns in khaki. When we gave them a meal of

 bully-beef they knew that wc were British. So very much I could tell you which

 is thrilling and heroic if only I were allowed.

 

-Do you know, sometimes I marvel at my contented loneliness? It isn't like me.

-I ought to be homesick and—but I'm not. I'm too much consumed with the frenzy

+Do you know, sometimes I marvel at my contented loneliness? It isn’t like me.

+I ought to be homesick and—but I’m not. I’m too much consumed with the frenzy

 of an ideal to care for anything but to see the principle for which we fight

-established. What one man can do isn't much—only a Jesus can save the world

-singlehanded; the real satisfaction is in one's own soul, that softness and

+established. What one man can do isn’t much—only a Jesus can save the world

+singlehanded; the real satisfaction is in one’s own soul, that softness and

 success had not made him deaf to the voice of duty when she called to him. For

 me this undertaking is as holy as a crusade; if it were not I could not endure

 the sights. As it is I keep quiet in my soul, feeling humbly glad that I am

 allowed to fulfil the dreams of my boyhood. I always wanted to do something to

 save the world, you remember. First I was going to be a missionary; then a

-reformer; then a preacher; then a poet. Instead of any of these I "struck

-luck" as a novelist—and I can see now how success was corroding to one's

+reformer; then a preacher; then a poet. Instead of any of these I “struck

+luck” as a novelist—and I can see now how success was corroding to one’s

 ideals. Success in America is so inevitably measured in terms of praise and

 money. I wanted to save the world; never in my wildest dreams did it occur to

 me that I should get my chance as a soldier. I remember when I was studying

 history at Oxford how I used to shudder at the descriptions of battles,

-especially mediaeval battles waged by mailed Titans. I don't know what change

+especially mediaeval battles waged by mailed Titans. I don’t know what change

 has taken place in me; this is a more damnable war in its possibilities for

 suffering than any of a bygone age; in comparison, those old wars seem

 chivalrous and humane. And yet because of the spiritual goal for which we

 fight I no longer shudder. Yes, that is the reason for the change. A man

-doesn't often get the chance in these commercial times to risk all that he

-holds most dear for humanity's sake. I think of the morning family prayers of

+doesn’t often get the chance in these commercial times to risk all that he

+holds most dear for humanity’s sake. I think of the morning family prayers of

 childhood in the old panelled room in Highbury and the petitions you used to

 make for us—everything has shaped towards this great moment in our lives; the

-past was a straight road leading to this crisis. I don't forget the share you

+past was a straight road leading to this crisis. I don’t forget the share you

 three contribute—the share of your brave loneliness and waiting. Your share is

 the greatest. God bless you.

 

@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ thirty stairs from my dug-out into the former garden, which is now a scene of
 the utmost desolation. A row was going on as though the Celestial housemaid

 had lost her temper and given notice, and was tumbling all the plates from the

 pantry through the clouds. Above the clatter I heard a sound which was almost

-alarming: the clear, brave note of a thrush, piping, piping, piping. He didn't

+alarming: the clear, brave note of a thrush, piping, piping, piping. He didn’t

 seem to care a rap how often the guns blew their noses or how often the Hun

 shrapnel clashed like cymbals overhead; he had his song to sing in the

 sunshine, and was determined to sing it, no matter that the song might go

@@ -325,66 +325,66 @@ listen to a faithful priest in a fallen church. I re-created in imagination
 the people who had lived here for generations, their tragedies, kindnesses,

 love-affairs. It must have been a beautiful place once, for everywhere there

 are stumps of fruit-trees, hedges of box trodden almost underground, circular

-patches which were flower-beds. I can picture the exiles' joy when they hear

-that their village has been recaptured. Presently they'll come back, these old

-women and men—for their sons are fighting—and they'll look in vain for even

+patches which were flower-beds. I can picture the exiles’ joy when they hear

+that their village has been recaptured. Presently they’ll come back, these old

+women and men—for their sons are fighting—and they’ll look in vain for even

 the landmarks of the little house which once sheltered their affections. The

 thrush in the tree is all that the Huns have left of past history. We British

 lose our men in the fight, but the sacrifice of the French is immeasurable,

 for when their sons are dead they have no quiet place of recollections. They

-can't say, "Do you remember how he walked here two years back?" or "These

-hollyhocks he planted," or "How he waved us goodbye as we watched him from the

-gate!" The same cyclone of passion which has taken their sons' fives, has

+can’t say, “Do you remember how he walked here two years back?” or “These

+hollyhocks he planted,” or “How he waved us goodbye as we watched him from the

+gate!” The same cyclone of passion which has taken their sons’ fives, has

 robbed them of everything tangible which would remind them of him.

 

 As regards the U.S.A. joining with us, I have spoken with several Huns. They

 one and all seem very dejected about it, and seem to consider the loss of

-America's friendship one of the greatest blows of the war.

+America’s friendship one of the greatest blows of the war.

 

 

 VI

 

 France May 10, 1917

 

-It's just back at the guns from a two days' rest at the wagon-fines. It's the

-first time I've been back since March. I rose early on a blazing morning and

-started down to the point where I was to meet my horses. I say "rose early,"

-but as a matter of fact I had only had four hours' sleep in forty-eight, and

-hadn't had my clothes off for nearly three weeks. As I drew away, the low

+It’s just back at the guns from a two days’ rest at the wagon-fines. It’s the

+first time I’ve been back since March. I rose early on a blazing morning and

+started down to the point where I was to meet my horses. I say “rose early,”

+but as a matter of fact I had only had four hours’ sleep in forty-eight, and

+hadn’t had my clothes off for nearly three weeks. As I drew away, the low

 thunder that we make grew less and less, the indescribable smell of bursting

 explosives fainter; soon I realized that a lark was singing overhead; then

 another—then another. Brave little birds to come so near to danger to sing for

 us. At the edge of a wood I found my chestnut mare, Kitty, and my groom—the

 chap who used to work at the Silver King mine, which overlooks our ranch at

 Kootenay. That we should share that memory always forms a bond of kindness

-between us. We didn't stop long at the wagon-line, but soon started out to get

+between us. We didn’t stop long at the wagon-line, but soon started out to get

 farther back for lunch. I had it in the shack of an officer who was with me at

 Petewawa. Then off I went at a gallop for green trees and clean country. I

-hadn't gone far before I came to a God's Acre full of crowded little white

+hadn’t gone far before I came to a God’s Acre full of crowded little white

 crosses and newly turned earth. Our captain was with me, and he learnt that an

 old friend from one of our batteries was on the way down with a Union Jack

-spread over him. We went into the brown field where the men who have "gone

-west" lie so closely and snugly side by side, and came to a place where six

+spread over him. We went into the brown field where the men who have “gone

+west” lie so closely and snugly side by side, and came to a place where six

 shallow holes were dug like clay coffins. Presently, winding through the

 forest of crosses, the hard blue sky overhead, we saw the little band

 advancing, the stretcher carried high on the shoulders of four officers. The

 burden was set down and the flag lifted, showing the mummy-like form sewn up

 in the blanket in which the living man had slept. The chaplain began

-tremulously, "I am the Resurrection and the life; he who believeth in Me,"

+tremulously, “I am the Resurrection and the life; he who believeth in Me,”

 etc., and while he recited I watched the faces of the gunners drawn up at

 attention in the strong sunlight. To them, whatever else the ceremony meant,

 it at least meant this—a day away from the guns. Suddenly I discovered that

-the Lord's Prayer was being said. Then heads were again covered and the word

-of command was given. "Right turn. Quick march." The stretcher was gathered up

+the Lord’s Prayer was being said. Then heads were again covered and the word

+of command was given. “Right turn. Quick march.” The stretcher was gathered up

 and the little crowd dispersed. I suppose there is a woman somewhere who would

-have given ten' years of life to have stood in my shoes beside that narrow

-grave. For myself I thought, "Well, the chap's got what we long for most out

-here—rest. He won't have to stand in the mud any more, when his feet are like

+have given ten’ years of life to have stood in my shoes beside that narrow

+grave. For myself I thought, “Well, the chap’s got what we long for most out

+here—rest. He won’t have to stand in the mud any more, when his feet are like

 stones and eyes like lead, watching and watching the rockets go up along the

-front. And he won't have to guide his guns in at night, or wonder what life

+front. And he won’t have to guide his guns in at night, or wonder what life

 will do to him when the war is ended. He longed for sleep and now he sleeps

-endlessly." It didn't impress me as at all sad. He'd played his part like a

-man and was at last rewarded. But we—we were alive, and we hadn't had a bath

+endlessly.” It didn’t impress me as at all sad. He’d played his part like a

+man and was at last rewarded. But we—we were alive, and we hadn’t had a bath

 for a month—so we jumped on our horses and trotted off to the nearest shower.

 

 It was five in the afternoon when we again took to the highway. We wanted to

@@ -397,8 +397,8 @@ work on their little patches—women and either very old men or boys. We came to
 a town as quiet and unspoiled as those we used to visit in pre-war days. In a

 courtyard we tethered our horses and then sat down to one of those

 incomparable French meals. It was splendid after canned stuff, and you

-couldn't hear the boom of a single gun. The peace of the place got hold of

-us—we didn't want to go back too hurriedly, and kept postponing and

+couldn’t hear the boom of a single gun. The peace of the place got hold of

+us—we didn’t want to go back too hurriedly, and kept postponing and

 postponing. A blue and gold haze with a touch of silver shining through it was

 blurring all the sky, when we remounted. We travelled slowly, singing—thinking

 up the twilight songs of other times. My thoughts went back to Scotch holidays

@@ -411,12 +411,12 @@ match on entering, I found letters from each one of you awaiting—so lay late
 in bed reading them by candlelight for another hour. One snatches at small

 pleasures and magnifies them into intensity.

 

-Your letters told me about Khaki Courage, and seeing "Colonel Newcome," and

+Your letters told me about Khaki Courage, and seeing “Colonel Newcome,” and

 about the Highlanders in New York. What a very much more homely place America

-must be to you now. I must say I am keen to see the book. It's not mine at

-all—it's you dear home people's—you called it out and you put it together.

+must be to you now. I must say I am keen to see the book. It’s not mine at

+all—it’s you dear home people’s—you called it out and you put it together.

 

-Here I sit in the underground place which I have to call "home" at present.

+Here I sit in the underground place which I have to call “home” at present.

 You go through all kinds of contortions to enter. Stephen Leacock could be

 very funny at my expense.

 

@@ -425,39 +425,39 @@ VII
 

 France June 2, 1917

 

-It is 11 a.m., and I'm sitting at the bottom of a dug-out waiting for the Hun

+It is 11 a.m., and I’m sitting at the bottom of a dug-out waiting for the Hun

 to finish his morning hate before I go upstairs. He seems very angry, and has

 just caved in one of our walls.

 

-Mother seemed most awfully sorry for me in her last letter. But you know I'm

+Mother seemed most awfully sorry for me in her last letter. But you know I’m

 really having rather a good time, despite having a minimum amount of washing

 and having our mess kitchen blown in every few days. The only time that one

 gets melancholy is when nothing is doing. An attack or the preparations for an

-attack are real fun. Everybody is on his toes, and there's no time to think.

+attack are real fun. Everybody is on his toes, and there’s no time to think.

 

-It's four hours later. Just as I had reached this point news came that some of

+It’s four hours later. Just as I had reached this point news came that some of

 our chaps were buried, so I had a little brisk spade-work, then a wriggling

 voyage through a hole, and then a lot of messy work pouring iodine into wounds

-and binding up. I'm afraid my hands are still rather like a murderer's.

-Incidentally our kitchen is entirely done for this time. We've got the wounded

-fellows on their way to Blighty, and are fairly confident that they're not

+and binding up. I’m afraid my hands are still rather like a murderer’s.

+Incidentally our kitchen is entirely done for this time. We’ve got the wounded

+fellows on their way to Blighty, and are fairly confident that they’re not

 going west this time.

 

 I am so glad that the coming of America into the game has made so much

 difference to you. I wish I could come back for a fortnight and share the

-excitement with you. It's difficult to picture New York as a military pageant

+excitement with you. It’s difficult to picture New York as a military pageant

 in khaki. Tell me all about the young fellows I know and what they are doing.

 I wonder how many are in the Field Artillery—which is about the most

 interesting part of the game.

 

 You remember that Calvary I told you about. I saw it under another guise after

 writing. Something happened and, instead of the spring peace, it was a shamble

-with horses and men dying. In such cases one can't do anything—he has to go on

+with horses and men dying. In such cases one can’t do anything—he has to go on

 about his own errand.

 

-I'm so very dirty that I'll leave off now while there's a chance to have a

-wash. I'm awfully muddy, and my hair is just ready for growing

-potatoes—there's about a pound of the real estate of France in it.

+I’m so very dirty that I’ll leave off now while there’s a chance to have a

+wash. I’m awfully muddy, and my hair is just ready for growing

+potatoes—there’s about a pound of the real estate of France in it.

 

 

 VIII

@@ -465,15 +465,15 @@ VIII
 France June 6,1917

 

 You certainly are owed a whole lot of letters, but it is very difficult to

-find the time under present conditions—I didn't get my breakfast until 7.30

-p.m. yesterday. And to-day I was up at 4 a.m., and didn't come back from up

+find the time under present conditions—I didn’t get my breakfast until 7.30

+p.m. yesterday. And to-day I was up at 4 a.m., and didn’t come back from up

 front till dusk. So you see I really have some excuse for being temporarily a

-bad correspondent. You don't need to be sorry for me, though, or anything like

-that, for I'm having quite a good time. After the mud this hard white sunlight

+bad correspondent. You don’t need to be sorry for me, though, or anything like

+that, for I’m having quite a good time. After the mud this hard white sunlight

 is a godsend. Do you remember———

 

 June 7.—Thus far I got when I was interrupted, and another day has gone by.

-I'm just back again from up front. I went there at dawn to do some

+I’m just back again from up front. I went there at dawn to do some

 reconnaissance work. By eight the heat was sweltering—just the way it was when

 we made our memorable trip down the Loire valley—only now there are no

 estaminets at which to drink Ciro Citron. The only inhabitants of the place

@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ should imagine, as you could make into a road. And yet, despite the fallen
 houses, the fruit-trees are green and not so long ago were white with bloom

 and nodding.

 

-I'm feeling extraordinarily lazy and comfortable. I've taken two hours over

+I’m feeling extraordinarily lazy and comfortable. I’ve taken two hours over

 shaving and washing. My basin was the brass case of a big eight-inch naval

 shell which was formerly the property of the Hun. I wish I could send you one

 back. Two mornings ago I had a dive and swim in a shell-hole filled with

@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ is likely to bring on skin disease. I have that to a slight extent already.
 Most of us have—it comes from eating no vegetables and nothing but tinned

 stuff.

 

-How interested you'd be if you could just go for a couple of hours' walk with

+How interested you’d be if you could just go for a couple of hours’ walk with

 me. Coming back to-day I marvelled that we had ever managed to make our

 advance; the Hun machine-gun emplacements were so strongly fortified and well

 chosen. It speaks volumes for the impetuosity of our infantry.

@@ -505,46 +505,46 @@ IX
 

 France June 17, 1917

 

-I believe it must be nearly a week since I wrote. The reason is that I'm down

+I believe it must be nearly a week since I wrote. The reason is that I’m down

 at the wagon-lines, supposed to be resting, which is when we work the hardest.

 First of all, we had a grand inspection of the Brigade, which kept one going

 from 5 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., cleaning harness. Then we had Brigade sports, which

-are not yet over, and which don't leave an officer with any leisure. The best

+are not yet over, and which don’t leave an officer with any leisure. The best

 time for letter-writing is when one is in action, since you sit in a dug-out

 for interminable hours with nothing much to keep you busy.

 

-I'm looking forward very much to the receipt of Khaki Courage; it hasn't come

+I’m looking forward very much to the receipt of Khaki Courage; it hasn’t come

 yet. It will be like reading something absolutely beyond my knowledge.

 

-It is now evening. This has been a mixed day. I've been orderly officer. This

+It is now evening. This has been a mixed day. I’ve been orderly officer. This

 morning I heard Canon Scott preach—he was the father I wrote to you about whom

-I met going up front in the winter to look for the body of his son. He's a

-fine old chap, and fully believes that he's fated to leave his bones in

+I met going up front in the winter to look for the body of his son. He’s a

+fine old chap, and fully believes that he’s fated to leave his bones in

 France. This afternoon was spent in harness-cleaning and this evening in

-watching a Brigade display of boxing. A strange world! But you'll judge that

-we're having quite good times. Last night we had an open-air concert—"Silver

-Threads among the Gold," "The Long, Long Trail," etc. Trenches lay behind us

+watching a Brigade display of boxing. A strange world! But you’ll judge that

+we’re having quite good times. Last night we had an open-air concert—“Silver

+Threads among the Gold,” “The Long, Long Trail,” etc. Trenches lay behind us

 and ahead of us—not so long ago Huns could have reached us with a revolver

 shot, where we were all sitting. Overhead, like rooks through the twilight,

 our fighting planes sailed home to bed. Far away on the horizon, observers in

 the Hun balloons must have been watching us. It was almost possible to forget

-that a war existed; almost, until' a reminder came with a roar and column of

+that a war existed; almost, until’ a reminder came with a roar and column of

 black smoke to a distant flank.

 

 Monday.

 

-This letter gets scribbled in pieces. I'm now waiting for the afternoon parade

+This letter gets scribbled in pieces. I’m now waiting for the afternoon parade

 to fall in. The gramophone is strumming out a banjo song, and in my galvanized

-hut it's as hot as———. Most of the men strip off everything but their breeches

-and go about their horses dripping like stokers. The place isn't so unlike

+hut it’s as hot as———. Most of the men strip off everything but their breeches

+and go about their horses dripping like stokers. The place isn’t so unlike

 Petewawa in some respects, except that there is no water. You look for miles

 across a landscape of sage-green and chalk, with straight French roads running

-without a waver from sky-line to sky-line. There's nothing habitable in

+without a waver from sky-line to sky-line. There’s nothing habitable in

 sight—only grey piles and splintered trees. But in spite of the wholesale

-destruction one finds beauty. You'd smile if you could see our camp—it looks

+destruction one finds beauty. You’d smile if you could see our camp—it looks

 like a collection of gipsy bivouacs made of lean-tos of wood with canvas and

 sand-bags for roofs. The rats are getting bold, and coming out of the

-trenches—rather a nuisance. It's strange to be here playing football on the

+trenches—rather a nuisance. It’s strange to be here playing football on the

 very ground over which not so long ago I followed the infantry within half an

 hour of the commencement of the attack. Our wounded chaps were crawling back,

 trying to drag themselves out of the Hun barrage, which was ploughing up the

@@ -562,21 +562,21 @@ X
 

 France June 23,1917

 

-Last night Khaki Courage arrived. I found the Officers' Mess assembled round

-my mail—they'd guessed what was in the package. I had intended smuggling the

+Last night Khaki Courage arrived. I found the Officers’ Mess assembled round

+my mail—they’d guessed what was in the package. I had intended smuggling the

 book away, and did actually succeed in getting it into my trench-coat pocket.

 A free fight ensued and, since there were four against one, I was soon

 conquered. Then one of them, having taken possession of the little volume,

 danced about our tin tabernacle reading extracts. I had planned to ride into a

 neighbouring city for dinner that night, but sat reading till nearly twelve. I

-can't thank you all enough for your loving work. I think the proof of how well

+can’t thank you all enough for your loving work. I think the proof of how well

 you have done it is, that my brother officers are quite uncynically keen about

 it. If they, who have shared the atmosphere which I have unconsciously set

 down in its pages, can read with eagerness and without ridicule, I think the

 book, as compiled by you, dear people, should stand the test.

 

 Do you remember a description I gave you some months back of seeing Huns

-brought up from a captured dug-out? That's long enough ago now for me to be

+brought up from a captured dug-out? That’s long enough ago now for me to be

 able to give you a few details. A fortnight before the show commenced it was

 planned that an officer from each battery with a party of volunteers should

 follow up the infantry attack and build a road through the Hun Front line over

@@ -597,14 +597,14 @@ runner carried with him a lot of stakes with white rags attached for marking
 out our route. We wound our way carefully through the shells until we reached

 our own Front line. Here the Hun barrage was falling briskly, and gas-shells

 were coming over to beat the band. The bursting of explosives was for all the

-world like corn popping in a pan. We ran across what had been No Man's Land

+world like corn popping in a pan. We ran across what had been No Man’s Land

 and entered the Hun wire. My job was to build from here to his

 support-trenches. His frontline trench was piled high with dead. The whole

 spectacle was unreal as something that had been staged; the corpses looked

-like wax-works. One didn't have time to observe much, for flames seemed to be

-going off beneath one's feet almost every second, and it seemed marvellous

+like wax-works. One didn’t have time to observe much, for flames seemed to be

+going off beneath one’s feet almost every second, and it seemed marvellous

 that we contrived to live where there was so much death. As we went farther

-back we began to find our own khaki-clad dead. I don't think the Huns had got

+back we began to find our own khaki-clad dead. I don’t think the Huns had got

 them; it was our own barrage, which they had followed too quickly in the

 eagerness of the attack. Then we came to where the liquid fire had descended,

 for the poor fellows had thrown themselves into the pools in the shell-holes

@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ all the time my brave chaps dug on, making the road for the guns. Soon through
 the smoke grey-clad figures came in tottering droves, scorched, battered,

 absolutely stunned. They looked more like beasts in their pathetic dumbness.

 One hardly recognized them as enemies. All day we worked, not stopping to eat,

-and by the evening we saw the first of our guns advancing. It's a great game,

+and by the evening we saw the first of our guns advancing. It’s a great game,

 this war, and searches the soul out. That night I slept in the mud, clothes

 and all, the dreamless sleep of the dog-tired.

 

@@ -641,53 +641,53 @@ Hospital
 

 London July 8, 1917

 

-A fortnight ago to-day I got wounded. The place was stitched up and didn't

+A fortnight ago to-day I got wounded. The place was stitched up and didn’t

 look bad enough to go out with. Three days later there was an attack and I was

 to be observer. My arm got poisoned while I was on the job, and when I came

 back I was sent out. Blood-poisoning started, and they had to operate three

-times; for a little while there was a talk of amputation. But you're not to

-worry at all about me now, for I'm getting on splendidly and there's no cause

+times; for a little while there was a talk of amputation. But you’re not to

+worry at all about me now, for I’m getting on splendidly and there’s no cause

 for anxiety. They tell me it will take about two months before I get the full

 use of my arm back. Reggie was in London on leave and got his leave extended—I

 missed him by an hour. J. L. was round to see me this morning and is cabling

-to you. I don't think you ought to cross while the risk is so great and

-there's a difficulty in obtaining passports—though you know how I'd love to

+to you. I don’t think you ought to cross while the risk is so great and

+there’s a difficulty in obtaining passports—though you know how I’d love to

 have you.

 

-I've missed all my letters for the past fortnight. Please excuse me, for my

-arm gets very tired, and I'm not supposed to use it.

+I’ve missed all my letters for the past fortnight. Please excuse me, for my

+arm gets very tired, and I’m not supposed to use it.

 

 

 XII

 

 London July 25, 1917

 

-I'm going on all right, but can't use my arm much for writing just at present,

-so you won't mind short letters, will you? I got the first written by you

+I’m going on all right, but can’t use my arm much for writing just at present,

+so you won’t mind short letters, will you? I got the first written by you

 since I was hurt, yesterday. I am so glad that America is so patriotic.

 

 Yesterday, to my great surprise, I was called up by the High Commissioner of

 Canada, and on going to see him found he wanted me to start at once on

-preparing an important government statement. Since I'm forbidden to use my arm

-for writing, I'm to have a stenographer and dictate my stuff after doing the

+preparing an important government statement. Since I’m forbidden to use my arm

+for writing, I’m to have a stenographer and dictate my stuff after doing the

 interviewing. This job is only temporary. And I think it is possible after I

 have finished it, if they refuse to allow me to return to the Front at once,

-that I may get a leave to America. I wouldn't want to get a long one, as I am

+that I may get a leave to America. I wouldn’t want to get a long one, as I am

 so anxious to get back to France.

 

-Don't worry at all about me. I feel quite well now, and go about with my arm

+Don’t worry at all about me. I feel quite well now, and go about with my arm

 in a sling and am allowed out of hospital to do this work all day. As soon as

-my ann grows stronger I'll write you a good long letter, but while it is as it

+my ann grows stronger I’ll write you a good long letter, but while it is as it

 is at present I have to restrict myself to bare essentials.

 

-Oh, did I tell you? I wouldn't have missed coming through London on a

+Oh, did I tell you? I wouldn’t have missed coming through London on a

 stretcher for pounds. The flower-girls climbed into the ambulance and showered

 us with roses. All the way as we passed people waved and shouted. It was a

 kind of royal procession, and, like a baby, I cried. XIII

 

 London August 3,1917

 

-I've just come back to my office in Oxford Circus from lunching at the

+I’ve just come back to my office in Oxford Circus from lunching at the

 Rendezvous. Next to my table during lunch were two typical Wardour Street

 dealers, rubbing their hands and chortling over a cheap buy.

 

@@ -697,20 +697,20 @@ taste of the old life gives me a very vivid idea of the sheer glee with which
 I shall greet the end of the war. How jolly comfortable it will be to be your

 own master—not that one ever is his own master while there are other people to

 live for. But I mean, what an extraordinary miracle it will seem to be allowed

-to reckon one's life in years and not in weeks—to be able to look forward and

+to reckon one’s life in years and not in weeks—to be able to look forward and

 plan and build. And yet—this is a confession—I can see myself getting up from

 my easy-chair and going out again quite gladly directly there is another war,

 if my help is needed. There was a time, long ago, when I used to regard a

 soldier with horror, and wondered how decent folk could admire him; the red of

-his coat always seemed to me the blood-red of murder. But it isn't the killing

-that counts—you find that out when you've become a soldier; it's the power to

+his coat always seemed to me the blood-red of murder. But it isn’t the killing

+that counts—you find that out when you’ve become a soldier; it’s the power to

 endure and walk bravely, and the opportunity for dying in a noble way. One

-doesn't hate his enemy if he's a good soldier, and doesn't even want to kill

+doesn’t hate his enemy if he’s a good soldier, and doesn’t even want to kill

 him from any personal motive—he may even regret killing him while in the act.

-I think it's just this attitude that makes our Canadians so terrible—they kill

+I think it’s just this attitude that makes our Canadians so terrible—they kill

 from principle and not from malice.

 

-I'm seeing all my old friends again, lunching with one and dining with

+I’m seeing all my old friends again, lunching with one and dining with

 another, and have been to some matinees. But I can go to no evening

 performances, because I have to be in the hospital at 10 p.m.

 

@@ -722,75 +722,75 @@ XIV
 

 London August 30, 1917

 

-I've just left hospital and am staying at this hotel. You keep saying in your

+I’ve just left hospital and am staying at this hotel. You keep saying in your

 letters that you never heard how I got my injury. I described it—but that

 letter must have gone astray. On 26th June I was wounded not by a shell, but

 by a piece of an iron chimney which was knocked down on to my right arm. I had

 it sewn up and for two days it was all right. The third I went up for an

 attack and it started to swell—by the time I came back I had gas-gangrene. The

-arm is better now and I'm on sick leave, though still working. They've made me

+arm is better now and I’m on sick leave, though still working. They’ve made me

 an offer of a job here in London, but I should break my heart if I could not

-go back to the Front. But I think when I've finished here that I may get a

-special leave, with permission to call in at New York. Wouldn't that be grand?

+go back to the Front. But I think when I’ve finished here that I may get a

+special leave, with permission to call in at New York. Wouldn’t that be grand?

 

-I don't want to raise your hopes too high, but it seems extremely likely that

+I don’t want to raise your hopes too high, but it seems extremely likely that

 I shall see you shortly. I was to-day before my medical board, and they gave

-me two months' home service. I have been promised that as soon as a new

+me two months’ home service. I have been promised that as soon as a new

 Canadian ruling on home leave is confirmed, my application for leave will go

 through.

 

-If that happens, I shall cable you at once that I am coming. It doesn't seem

-at all possible or true that this can be so, and I'm making myself no promises

-till I'm really on the boat. It would be better that you should not, also. I'm

+If that happens, I shall cable you at once that I am coming. It doesn’t seem

+at all possible or true that this can be so, and I’m making myself no promises

+till I’m really on the boat. It would be better that you should not, also. I’m

 taking a gamble and am going to order a new tunic for the occasion this

 afternoon.

 

-It's a golden afternoon outside—the kind that turns the leaves red at

+It’s a golden afternoon outside—the kind that turns the leaves red at

 Kootenay, with the tang of iced wine in the air. The sound of London is like

-the tumming of a thousand banjos. It's good to be alive, and very wonderful

+the tumming of a thousand banjos. It’s good to be alive, and very wonderful

 after all that has happened.

 

 Note.—Lieutenant Coningsby Dawson arrived at Quebec on 26th September and came

 home on the following day. He was at home for a month. During that time he

 spoke in public on several occasions, and wrote the book which was brought out

-the following spring, entitled "The Glory of the Trenches."

+the following spring, entitled “The Glory of the Trenches.”

 

 

 XIV

 

 Somewhere on the Atlantic November 11, 1917

 

-Here's the first letter since I left New York, coming to you. It's seven in

-the morning; I'm lying in my bunk, expecting any minute to be called to my

+Here’s the first letter since I left New York, coming to you. It’s seven in

+the morning; I’m lying in my bunk, expecting any minute to be called to my

 bath.

 

-So far it's been a pleasant voyage, with rolling seas and no submarines. There

+So far it’s been a pleasant voyage, with rolling seas and no submarines. There

 are scarcely a hundred passengers, of whom only four are ladies, in the first

 class. The men are Government officials, Army and Navy officers going on

-Cook's Tours, and Naval attachés. The American naval men are an especially

+Cook’s Tours, and Naval attachés. The American naval men are an especially

 fine type. We do all the usual things—play cards, deck-golf and sleep

 immoderately, but always at the wrong times.

 

-I'm going back for the second time, and going back in the most placid frame of

+I’m going back for the second time, and going back in the most placid frame of

 mind. I compare this trip with my first trip over as a soldier. I was awfully

 anxious then, and kept saying good-bye to things for the last time. Now I live

 day by day in a manner which is so take-it-for-granted as to be almost

-commonplace. I've locked my imagination away in some garret of my mind and the

+commonplace. I’ve locked my imagination away in some garret of my mind and the

 house of my thoughts is very quiet.

 

-What bricks you all were in the parting—there wasn't any whining—you were a

-real soldier's family, and I felt proud of you. It was just a kind of "Good

-luck, old chap"—with all the rest of the speaking left to the eyes and hands.

-That's the way it should be in a world that's so full of surprises.

+What bricks you all were in the parting—there wasn’t any whining—you were a

+real soldier’s family, and I felt proud of you. It was just a kind of “Good

+luck, old chap”—with all the rest of the speaking left to the eyes and hands.

+That’s the way it should be in a world that’s so full of surprises.

 

 This trip has done a tremendous lot for me—I shall always know now that the

 trenches are not the whole of the horizon. Before, when I landed in France, it

 seemed as though a sound-and sight-proof curtain had dropped behind and

 everything I had known and loved was at an end. One collects a little bit of

-shrapnel and, heigho, presto! one's home again. On my second trip, the war

-won't seem such a world without end.

+shrapnel and, heigho, presto! one’s home again. On my second trip, the war

+won’t seem such a world without end.

 

-To-night I have to pack—that's wonderful, too. I'm wondering whether Reggie

+To-night I have to pack—that’s wonderful, too. I’m wondering whether Reggie

 will be on the station. I shall send a telegram to warn him.

 

 

@@ -807,20 +807,20 @@ to-morrow at Oxford Circus House, but shall put in an urgent request to go to
 France.-I shall at least try to get some limitations to the period of my stay

 in England. Even when I was in hospital I used to feel that the last

 stretcher-case out of the fighting was someone to be worshipped—he was nearer

-to the sacrifice than I. And now I'm not to go back for months, perhaps—I

+to the sacrifice than I. And now I’m not to go back for months, perhaps—I

 shall eat my heart out in England.

 

 Reggie fell asleep and has just wakened. He was dreaming, he said, the best

 dream in the world. It was that he might land back in New York on 20th

 December and spend Christmas with you—then go up to Kootenay to get a glimpse

-of his little green home among the snow and apple trees and—— "And then what?"

+of his little green home among the snow and apple trees and—— “And then what?”

 

-I asked. He made a wry face. "Go back to hunting submarines," he said quickly.

-Go back! We all want to go back. Why? Because it's so easy to find reasons for

+I asked. He made a wry face. “Go back to hunting submarines,” he said quickly.

+Go back! We all want to go back. Why? Because it’s so easy to find reasons for

 not going back probably. I shall raise heaven and earth to be sent back—and

-you'll be glad of it.

+you’ll be glad of it.

 

-There's something that I shouldn't tell you were I going back to-morrow. Last

+There’s something that I shouldn’t tell you were I going back to-morrow. Last

 week I met one of my gunners on leave. He was standing on the island in

 Piccadilly Circus. I learnt from him that every officer who was with me at the

 battery when I was wounded has since been wiped out. Even some who joined

@@ -830,10 +830,10 @@ one who was my best friend in France, You remember he had a young wife, and
 his first baby was born in February. He used to carry the list of all the

 people I wanted written to if I were killed, and I had promised to do the same

 for him. In addition to the officers, many of the men whom I admired have

-"gone west." All this was told me casually in the heart of London's pleasure,

+“gone west.” All this was told me casually in the heart of London’s pleasure,

 with the taxis and buses streaming by.

 

-A few days ago a pitiful derelict of the streets crossed my path. I'd been

+A few days ago a pitiful derelict of the streets crossed my path. I’d been

 dining out in the West End with L. and P. and was on my way back, when a girl

 stopped me. She stopped me for the usual reason, and I suppose I refused her

 rudely. The next thing I knew she was crying. She said she had been walking

@@ -841,63 +841,63 @@ for twelve hours, and was cold and tired, and ready to fall from weariness. It
 was very late, and I scarcely knew where to take her, but we found a little

 French restaurant open in Gerrard Street. On coming into the light, I

 discovered that she had a little toy dog under her arm, just as tired of life

-as herself. It was significant that she attended to the dog's before her own

+as herself. It was significant that she attended to the dog’s before her own

 needs. We had to tempt it with milk before it would eat—then she set to work

 herself ravenously. I learnt her story by bits. She was a discharged munition

-worker, had strained herself lifting shells, and hadn't the brains or strength

+worker, had strained herself lifting shells, and hadn’t the brains or strength

 for anything but the streets. When she left the restaurant the lap-dog was

 again tucked beneath her arm. It was nearly midnight when she disappeared in

 the raw chilliness of the scant electric light. People die worse deaths than

 on battle-fields.

 

-Wednesday.—I've been working for the last three days at the Minister's, and

+Wednesday.—I’ve been working for the last three days at the Minister’s, and

 still have no inkling of what is to happen to me. My major walked in to-day;

 he wants me to wait till his sick-leave is over, after which we can return

-together. He'll put in a strong personal request for me to be allowed to

+together. He’ll put in a strong personal request for me to be allowed to

 return. He got concussion of the brain eight weeks ago through a shell

-bursting in his dug-out. S. was wounded at the same time, but didn't go out

+bursting in his dug-out. S. was wounded at the same time, but didn’t go out

 till next day. He had got one hundred yards from the battery when he and his

 batman were killed instantly by the same shell.

 

-Reggie wasn't in town when I arrived. He didn't meet me till Friday. What with

-playing with him and working here I don't get much time for writing. But

-you'll hear from me again quite soon.

+Reggie wasn’t in town when I arrived. He didn’t meet me till Friday. What with

+playing with him and working here I don’t get much time for writing. But

+you’ll hear from me again quite soon.

 

 

 XVII

 

 The Ritz, London November 15, 1917

 

-This hanging round London seems a very poor way to help win a war. I couldn't

+This hanging round London seems a very poor way to help win a war. I couldn’t

 stand very much of it, however invaluable they pretended I was, when my pals

-are dying out there. Poor old S.! He's in my thoughts every hour of the day.

+are dying out there. Poor old S.! He’s in my thoughts every hour of the day.

 He was always getting new photos of his little daughter. He longed for a

 Blighty that he might see her again. He was wounded, but stopped on duty for

 two days. At last, only one hundred yards down the trench on his way to the

 dressing-station a shell caught him. He was dead in an instant. Before the

-Vimy show two of our chaps in the mess had peculiar dreams: one saw D.'. grave

-and the other S.'.. Both S. and D. are dead. The effect that all this has on

+Vimy show two of our chaps in the mess had peculiar dreams: one saw D.’. grave

+and the other S.’.. Both S. and D. are dead. The effect that all this has on

 me is not what might be expected—makes me the more anxious to get back. I hate

 to think that others are going sleepless and cold and are in danger, and that

 I am not there. When the memory comes at meal-times I feel like leaving the

 table.

 

 It was ripping to hear from you last night. Your letter greeted me as I

-returned from the theatre. We'd been out with my major. At the theatre we

+returned from the theatre. We’d been out with my major. At the theatre we

 picked up with a plucky chap, named K., who belonged to the same battery as

 B., to whom, you remember, I was carrying a present from some girl in New

 York. The present which she was so keen should reach him by Christmas turned

 out to be a neck-tie which she had knitted for him. On asking K., I found out

-that B. was killed on October 31st. It's the same story all the time so far as

+that B. was killed on October 31st. It’s the same story all the time so far as

 the 18-pounders are concerned.

 

-When Reggie leaves me I'm going to start on another book, Out to Win, which is

+When Reggie leaves me I’m going to start on another book, Out to Win, which is

 to be an interpretation for England of the new spirit which is animating

 America, and a plea for a closer sense of kinship between my two nations.

 

-Don't worry about me, you'll get a cabled warning before I go to France. My

-major expects to go back in a month or two, and we've arranged to return

-together if possible. But you needn't get worried—I'm afraid I shall probably

+Don’t worry about me, you’ll get a cabled warning before I go to France. My

+major expects to go back in a month or two, and we’ve arranged to return

+together if possible. But you needn’t get worried—I’m afraid I shall probably

 spend Christmas in London.

 

 

@@ -905,23 +905,23 @@ XVIII
 

 The Ritz, London November 17, 1917

 

-Your minds can be at rest as regards my safety for a few weeks at least. I've

-been collared for fair, but I think I'll manage to get free again presently. I

-suppose you'll say that I'm a donkey to want so much to get back to the Front;

+Your minds can be at rest as regards my safety for a few weeks at least. I’ve

+been collared for fair, but I think I’ll manage to get free again presently. I

+suppose you’ll say that I’m a donkey to want so much to get back to the Front;

 perhaps I am—the war will last quite long enough for every man in khaki to get

 very much more of it than he can comfortably stomach. The proper soldierly

 attitude is to take every respite as it turns up and be grateful for it. But

-then I'm not a professional soldier. I think in saying that I've laid my

-finger on the entire reason for the splendour of our troops—that they're not

-professional soldiers, but civilian idealists. Your professional soldier isn't

+then I’m not a professional soldier. I think in saying that I’ve laid my

+finger on the entire reason for the splendour of our troops—that they’re not

+professional soldiers, but civilian idealists. Your professional soldier isn’t

 particularly keen on death—his game is to live that he may fight another day.

 Our game is to fight and fight and fight so long as we have an ounce of

 strength left. My major and myself are all that are left of the officers in my

 battery. A great many of our best men are gone. They need us back to help them

 out.

 

-Here's a story of stories—one which answers all the questions one hears asked

-as to whether the Army doesn't lower a man's morals and turn saints into

+Here’s a story of stories—one which answers all the questions one hears asked

+as to whether the Army doesn’t lower a man’s morals and turn saints into

 blackguards.

 

 When we were on the Somme, a batch of very worthless-appearing remounts

@@ -939,14 +939,14 @@ Canadian First Contingent.
 A few weeks later we sent back to the wagonlines for a servant to be sent up

 to the guns, two of our batmen having been killed and a third having been

 returned to duty. The wagon-line officer sent us up this fellow with the

-following note: "I'm sending you X. He's the most useless chap I have—not bad,

-but a ninny. I hope he'll suit you." He didn't. He could never carry out an

+following note: “I’m sending you X. He’s the most useless chap I have—not bad,

+but a ninny. I hope he’ll suit you.” He didn’t. He could never carry out an

 order correctly, and seemed scared stiff: by any N.C.O. or officer. We got rid

 of him promptly. When he returned to the wagon-lines, he was put on to all the

 fatigues and dirty jobs.

 

 The first time we got any hint that the chap had guts was when we were out at

-rest at Christmas. He'd been shifted from one section to another, because no

+rest at Christmas. He’d been shifted from one section to another, because no

 one wanted him.. Each new Number One as he received him put him on to his

 worst horses, so as to get rid of him the more quickly. The chap was grooming

 a very ticklish mare, when she up with her hind-legs and caught him in the

@@ -956,23 +956,23 @@ feet. He was told he could fall out, but he insisted upon finishing the
 grooming of his horse. When the stable parade was dismissed, much against his

 will he was sent to be inspected by the Brigade doctor.

 

-The doctor looked him over and said, "I ought to send you out to a hospital,

-but I'll see how you are to-morrow. You must go back to your billets and keep

-quiet. The kick has chipped the point of your breast-bone."

+The doctor looked him over and said, “I ought to send you out to a hospital,

+but I’ll see how you are to-morrow. You must go back to your billets and keep

+quiet. The kick has chipped the point of your breast-bone.”

 

-"It didn't," said Driver X., "and I'm not going to lie down."

+“It didn’t,” said Driver X., “and I’m not going to lie down.”

 

 The doctor, who is very small, looked as much like the Last Judgment as his

-size would allow. "You'll do what you're told," he said sharply. "You'll find

+size would allow. “You’ll do what you’re told,” he said sharply. “You’ll find

 yourself up for office if you speak to me like that. If I told you that both

-your legs were broken, they would be broken. You don't know very much about

-the Army, my lad."

+your legs were broken, they would be broken. You don’t know very much about

+the Army, my lad.”

 

-"But my breast-bone isn't chipped," he insisted. Contrary to orders he was out

-on the afternoon parade and was up to morning stables next day at six o'clock.

+“But my breast-bone isn’t chipped,” he insisted. Contrary to orders he was out

+on the afternoon parade and was up to morning stables next day at six o’clock.

 When strafed for his disobedience, he looked mild and inoffensive and

 obstinate. He refused to be considered, and won out. You can punish chaps for

-things like that; but you don't.

+things like that; but you don’t.

 

 The next thing we noticed about him was that he was learning to swear. Then he

 began to look rough, so that no one would have guessed that he came from a

@@ -981,11 +981,11 @@ had arrived at when I got wounded last summer and left the battery. The story
 of his further progress was completed for me this week when I met my major in

 town.

 

-"Who's the latest hero, do you think?" he questioned. "You'd never guess—the

+“Who’s the latest hero, do you think?” he questioned. “You’d never guess—the

 dental student. He did one of the most splendid bits of work that was ever

-done by an Artillery driver."

+done by an Artillery driver.”

 

-Here's what he did. He was sent along a heavily shelled road at nightfall to

+Here’s what he did. He was sent along a heavily shelled road at nightfall to

 collect material from blown-in dug-outs for building our new battery position.

 He was wheel-driver on a G.S. wagon which had three teams hooked into it.

 There was a party of men with him to scout up the material and an N.C.O. in

@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ managed to get the wagon clear, so that it could be pulled. He tied four of
 the horses on behind; hooked in the two that were strongest, and brought the

 lot back to the wagonlines single-handed.

 

-And here's the end of the story. The O.C. put in a strong recommendation that

+And here’s the end of the story. The O.C. put in a strong recommendation that

 he be decorated for his humanity and courage. The award came through in the

 record time of fourteen days, with about a yard of Military Medal ribbon and

 congratulations from high officers all along the line. The morning of the day

@@ -1012,20 +1012,20 @@ been read out that the culprit was suspected, and that it would go hard with
 him when he was arrested. The decoration was received in the afternoon while

 harness-cleaning was in progress. Without loss of time the O.C. went out, a

 very stern look on his face, and had the battery formed up in a hollow square.

-There was only one thought in the men's heads—that the thief had been found.

-There was a kind of "Is it I" look in their faces. Without explanation, the

+There was only one thought in the men’s heads—that the thief had been found.

+There was a kind of “Is it I” look in their faces. Without explanation, the

 O.C. called upon the ex-dental student to fall out. He fell out with his knees

 knocking and his chin wobbling, looking quite the guilty party. Then the O.C.

 commenced to read all the praise from officers at Brigade, Division, Corps,

 Army, of the gallant wheel-driver who had not only risked his life to save his

-pals, but had even had the fineness of forethought to bind up the horses'

+pals, but had even had the fineness of forethought to bind up the horses’

 wounds with the puttees. Then came the yard of Military Medal ribbon, a piece

-of which was snipped off and pinned on to the lad's worn tunic. The battery

-yelled itself crimson. The dental student had learnt to swear, but he'd won

-his spurs. He's been promoted to the most dangerous and coveted job for a

-gunner or driver in the artillery; he's been put on to the B.C. party, which

+of which was snipped off and pinned on to the lad’s worn tunic. The battery

+yelled itself crimson. The dental student had learnt to swear, but he’d won

+his spurs. He’s been promoted to the most dangerous and coveted job for a

+gunner or driver in the artillery; he’s been put on to the B.C. party, which

 has to go forward into all the warm spots to observe the enemy and to lay in

-wire with the infantry when a "show" is in progress. Can you wonder that I get

+wire with the infantry when a “show” is in progress. Can you wonder that I get

 weary of seeing the London buses trundle along the well-swept asphalt of

 Oxford Street and long to take my chance once more with such chaps?

 

@@ -1036,7 +1036,7 @@ London
 

 November 29, 1917

 

-Here's such a November London day as no American ever imagines. A feeling of

+Here’s such a November London day as no American ever imagines. A feeling of

 spring and greenness is in the air, and a glint of subdued gold. This morning

 as I came across Battersea Bridge it seemed as though war could not be—that,

 at worst, it was only an incident. The river lay below me so old and

@@ -1046,35 +1046,35 @@ floated. Everything looked very happy. Boys—juvenile cannon-fodder—went
 whistling along the streets; housemaids leant shyly out of upstairs windows,

 shaking dusters to attract their attention. In the square by the Chelsea

 Pensioners, soldiers, all spit and polish, were going through their

-foot-drill; they didn't look too earnest about it—not at all as if in two

-months they would be in the trenches. It's the same with the men on leave—they

+foot-drill; they didn’t look too earnest about it—not at all as if in two

+months they would be in the trenches. It’s the same with the men on leave—they

 live their fourteen days with cheery common sense as though they were going to

-live for ever. It's impossible, even when you meet the wounded, to discover

-any signs of tragedy in London. The war is referred to as "good old war," "a

-bean-feast," "a pretty little scrap," but never as an undertaking of blood and

+live for ever. It’s impossible, even when you meet the wounded, to discover

+any signs of tragedy in London. The war is referred to as “good old war,” “a

+bean-feast,” “a pretty little scrap,” but never as an undertaking of blood and

 torture. Last night there was strong moonlight, very favourable to an air

 raid. When I bought my paper this morning, the fat woman, all burst out and

 tied in at the most unexpected places, remarked to me with an air of

-disappointment: "They fergot h'us."

+disappointment: “They fergot h’us.”

 

-"Who forgot us?" I asked.

+“Who forgot us?” I asked.

 

-"The bloomin' 'Uns. I wus h'expecting them lawst night."

+“The bloomin’ 'Uns. I wus h’expecting them lawst night.”

 

-She spoke as though she'd had tea ready and the kettle boiling for a dear

+She spoke as though she’d had tea ready and the kettle boiling for a dear

 friend who had mis-remembered his engagement. England has set out to behave as

-if there was no death; she's jolly nearly succeeded in eliminating it from her

-thoughts. She's learnt the lesson of the chaps in the front-line trenches, and

-she's like a mother—like our mother—who has sons at the war—she's going to

+if there was no death; she’s jolly nearly succeeded in eliminating it from her

+thoughts. She’s learnt the lesson of the chaps in the front-line trenches, and

+she’s like a mother—like our mother—who has sons at the war—she’s going to

 keep on smiling so as not to let her fellows down.

 

 All the streets are full of girls in khaki—girls with the neatest, trimmest

 little ankles. The smartest of all are the Flying Corps girls, many of whom

 drive the army cars in the most daring manner. When you think of what they are

-and were, the war hasn't done so badly for them. They were purposeless before.

-Their whole aim was to get married. They felt that they weren't wanted in the

-world. They broke windows with Mother Pankhurst. Now they've learnt discipline

-and duty and courage. They'd man the trenches if we'd let them. They used to

+and were, the war hasn’t done so badly for them. They were purposeless before.

+Their whole aim was to get married. They felt that they weren’t wanted in the

+world. They broke windows with Mother Pankhurst. Now they’ve learnt discipline

+and duty and courage. They’d man the trenches if we’d let them. They used to

 sneer at our sex; whether they married or remained single, quite a number of

 them became man-haters. But now—that kind of civil war is ended. Ask the young

 subaltern back on leave how much he is disliked by the girls. Babies and home

@@ -1083,43 +1083,43 @@ saluted by one of these girls—saluted in a perfectly correct and soldierly
 fashion. The idea is right; if they outwardly acknowledge that they are a part

 of the Army, military discipline becomes their protection. But what a queer,

 changed world from the world of sloppy blouses, cheap and much-too-frequent

-jewellery, and silly sentimental ogling! England's become more alert and

-forthright; despite the war, she's happier. This isn't meant for a

-glorification of war; it's simply a statement of fact. The time had to come

-when women would become men; they've become men in this most noble and womanly

-fashion—through service. They're doing men's jobs with women's alacrity.

+jewellery, and silly sentimental ogling! England’s become more alert and

+forthright; despite the war, she’s happier. This isn’t meant for a

+glorification of war; it’s simply a statement of fact. The time had to come

+when women would become men; they’ve become men in this most noble and womanly

+fashion—through service. They’re doing men’s jobs with women’s alacrity.

 

 There is only one thing that will keep me from rejoining my battery in

-January, and that's this American book. We have come to the conclusion that to

+January, and that’s this American book. We have come to the conclusion that to

 complete the picture of American determination to win out, I ought to go on a

 tour of inspection in France. The Government is interested in the book for

 propaganda work. The extreme worthwhileness of such an undertaking would

 reconcile me to a postponement of my return to the Front—nothing else will.

 All the papers here are full of the details of the advance at Cambrai. I want

-to be "out there" so badly. What does it matter that there's mud in the

-trenches, and death round every traverse, and danger in each step? It's the

+to be “out there” so badly. What does it matter that there’s mud in the

+trenches, and death round every traverse, and danger in each step? It’s the

 hour of glorious life I long for; for such an hour I would exchange all the

 sheeted beds and running bath-taps, not to mention the æons of Cathay. I can

 see those gunners forcing up their guns through the mire, and can hear the

 machine guns clicking away like infuriated typewriters. The whole gigantic

-pageant of death and endeavour moves before me—and I'm sick of clubs and

-safety. People say to me, "You're of more use here—you can serve your country

-better by being in England." But when chaps are dying I want to take my chance

-with them. Don't be afraid I'll be kept here. I won't. I didn't know till I

+pageant of death and endeavour moves before me—and I’m sick of clubs and

+safety. People say to me, “You’re of more use here—you can serve your country

+better by being in England.” But when chaps are dying I want to take my chance

+with them. Don’t be afraid I’ll be kept here. I won’t. I didn’t know till I

 was held back against my will what a grip that curious existence at the Front

-had got on me. It isn't the horror one remembers—it's the exhilaration of the

+had got on me. It isn’t the horror one remembers—it’s the exhilaration of the

 glory.

 

-Cheer up, I'll be home some Christmas to fill your Christmas stocking. It

-won't be this Christmas—perhaps not the next; but perhaps the next after that.

-The young gentlemen from the Navy will be there too to help me. It's a

+Cheer up, I’ll be home some Christmas to fill your Christmas stocking. It

+won’t be this Christmas—perhaps not the next; but perhaps the next after that.

+The young gentlemen from the Navy will be there too to help me. It’s a

 promise.

 

-I was present at the opening of the American Officers' Club by the Duke of

+I was present at the opening of the American Officers’ Club by the Duke of

 Connaught. This club is the private house of Lord Leconfield. Other people

 have presented furniture, pictures, and money. It costs an American officer

 next to nothing, and is the best attempt that has been made to give a welcome

-to the U.S.A. in London. It's the most luxurious club in the West End at

+to the U.S.A. in London. It’s the most luxurious club in the West End at

 present.

 

 

@@ -1130,56 +1130,56 @@ London
 December 10, 1917

 

 I got a letter from the Foreign Office, asking me to go back to America to do

-writing and lecturing for the British Mission. I'm sure you'll appreciate why

-I refused it, and be glad. I couldn't come back to U.S.A. to talk about

+writing and lecturing for the British Mission. I’m sure you’ll appreciate why

+I refused it, and be glad. I couldn’t come back to U.S.A. to talk about

 nobilities when their sons and brothers are getting their first baptism of

-fire in the trenches. If I'd got anything worth saying I ought to be out there

-in the mud—saying it in deeds. But I've told Colonel B. that if ever I come

+fire in the trenches. If I’d got anything worth saying I ought to be out there

+in the mud—saying it in deeds. But I’ve told Colonel B. that if ever I come

 out again wounded I will join the British Mission for a time. So now you have

 something to look forward to.

 

 I hear though that permission will probably be granted to me within the next

 few days to start for France to go through the American lines and activities.

 You can guess how interesting that will be to me. I only hope they have a

-fight on while I'm in the American lines. I suppose the tour will take me the

-best part of a month, so I'll be away from England for Christmas. I rather

-hope I'll be in Paris—ever since reading Trilby I've longed to go to the

+fight on while I’m in the American lines. I suppose the tour will take me the

+best part of a month, so I’ll be away from England for Christmas. I rather

+hope I’ll be in Paris—ever since reading Trilby I’ve longed to go to the

 Madeleine for Noël—which reminds me that I must get Trilby to read on the

-journey. It's rather a romantic life that I'm having nowadays, don't you

+journey. It’s rather a romantic life that I’m having nowadays, don’t you

 think? I romp all over the globe and, in the intervals, have a crack at the

 Germans.

 

 After I have finished writing this book on the American activities in France I

-shan't be content a moment till I've rejoined my battery. I feel a terrible

+shan’t be content a moment till I’ve rejoined my battery. I feel a terrible

 shyster stopping away from the fighting a day longer than can be helped. This

 book, which I intend to be a spiritual interpretation of the soul of America,

 ought to do good to Anglo-American relations; so it seems of sufficiently

-vital importance. I can't think of anything that would do more to justify the

+vital importance. I can’t think of anything that would do more to justify the

 blotting out of so many young lives than that, when the war is ended, England

 and America should have reason to forget the last hundred and thirty years of

 history, joining hands in a worldwide Anglo-Saxon alliance against the future

 murdering of nations. If I can contribute anything towards bringing that

 about, the missing of two months in the trenches will be worth it.

 

-I went to a "good luck" dinner the other night, which we gave to my major on

+I went to a “good luck” dinner the other night, which we gave to my major on

 the occasion of his setting sail for Canada. Two others of the officers who

 used to be with me in the battery are to be on the same ship. A year ago in

 the Somme we used to pray for a Blighty—to-day, every officer in our mess has

 either got a Blighty or is dead. It gives one some idea of the brevity of our

 glory.

 

-You'd love the West End shops were you here. I've just drawn down my blinds on

+You’d love the West End shops were you here. I’ve just drawn down my blinds on

 Oxford Street; I walked back by way of Regent Street after lunch—all the

 windows are gay and full. Men in khaki are punting their girls through the

 crowds, doing their Christmas shopping. You can see the excited faces of

-little children everywhere. There doesn't seem to be much hint of war. One

+little children everywhere. There doesn’t seem to be much hint of war. One

 wonders whether people are brave to smile so much or only careless. You hear

 of tremendous lists of casualties, but there are just as many men. It looks as

 though we had man-power and resources to carry on the war interminably.

-There's only one class of person who is fed-up—and that's the person who has

+There’s only one class of person who is fed-up—and that’s the person who has

 done least sacrificing. The person who has done none at all is a nervous wreck

-and can't stand the strain much longer. But ask the fighting men—they're

-perfectly happy and contented. Curious! When you've given everything, you can

+and can’t stand the strain much longer. But ask the fighting men—they’re

+perfectly happy and contented. Curious! When you’ve given everything, you can

 always give some more.

 

 This may reach you before Christmas, though I doubt it. If it does, be as

@@ -1192,44 +1192,44 @@ London
 

 December 10, 1917

 

-I hope you feel as I do about my refusal of Colonel B.'. offer to send me back

+I hope you feel as I do about my refusal of Colonel B.’. offer to send me back

 to America on the British Mission. I was also approached to-day to do press

 work for the Canadians. It seems as though everyone was conspiring to throw

-tempting plums in my way to keep me from returning to the Front. I don't know

-that I'm much good as a soldier; probably I'm very much better as a writer;

-but it's as though my soul, my decency, my honour were at stake—I must get

+tempting plums in my way to keep me from returning to the Front. I don’t know

+that I’m much good as a soldier; probably I’m very much better as a writer;

+but it’s as though my soul, my decency, my honour were at stake—I must get

 back to the Front. The war is going to be won by men who go back to the

 trenches in the face of reason and common sense. If I had a leg off I should

-try for the Flying Corps. I may be a fool in the Front line, but I won't be

-finished as a fighting man till I'm done. They can keep all their cushy jobs

-for other chaps—I want the mud and the pounding of the guns. It doesn't really

-matter if one does get killed, provided he's set a good example. Do you

+try for the Flying Corps. I may be a fool in the Front line, but I won’t be

+finished as a fighting man till I’m done. They can keep all their cushy jobs

+for other chaps—I want the mud and the pounding of the guns. It doesn’t really

+matter if one does get killed, provided he’s set a good example. Do you

 remember that sermon we heard Dr. Jowett give about St. Paul at Lystra, going

-back after they had stoned him? "Back to the stones"—that expresses me

+back after they had stoned him? “Back to the stones”—that expresses me

 exactly. I hate shell-fire and discomfort and death as much as any other man.

-But I'd rather lose everything than have to say good-bye to my standard of

-heroism. I don't want to kill Huns particularly, but I do want to prove to

-them that we're the better men. I can't do that by going through oratorical

-gymnastics in America or by writing racy descriptions of the Canadians'

+But I’d rather lose everything than have to say good-bye to my standard of

+heroism. I don’t want to kill Huns particularly, but I do want to prove to

+them that we’re the better men. I can’t do that by going through oratorical

+gymnastics in America or by writing racy descriptions of the Canadians’

 bravery for the international press. I shall be less than nothing when I

-return to France—merely subaltern whose life isn't very highly valued. But in

-my heart I shall know myself a man. There's no one understands my motive but

+return to France—merely subaltern whose life isn’t very highly valued. But in

+my heart I shall know myself a man. There’s no one understands my motive but

 you three, who have most to lose by my cripplement or death. All my friends

-over here think me an ass to throw away such chances—they say I'm economically

-squandering myself in the place where I'm least trained to do the best work. I

-know they talk sense; but they don't talk chivalry. If every man took the

-first chance offered him to get out of the catastrophe, where would the Huns'

+over here think me an ass to throw away such chances—they say I’m economically

+squandering myself in the place where I’m least trained to do the best work. I

+know they talk sense; but they don’t talk chivalry. If every man took the

+first chance offered him to get out of the catastrophe, where would the Huns’

 offensive end?

 

-You've probably been writing hard at The Father of a Soldier, and saying all

-that you would like to say to me in that. I'm most anxious to see the

+You’ve probably been writing hard at The Father of a Soldier, and saying all

+that you would like to say to me in that. I’m most anxious to see the

 manuscript of it. If you please, how could the son of the man who wrote that

 book accept a cushy job?

 

-I wonder if you've reached the point yet where you don't think that dying

+I wonder if you’ve reached the point yet where you don’t think that dying

 matters? I suspect you have. You remember what Roosevelt said after seeing his

-last son off, "If he comes back he'll have to explain to me the why and how."

-That's the Japanese spirit—honour demands when a man returns from battle that

+last son off, “If he comes back he’ll have to explain to me the why and how.”

+That’s the Japanese spirit—honour demands when a man returns from battle that

 he can give good reasons why he is not dead. Others, his friends and comrades,

 are dead; how does he happen to be living? In that connection I think of

 Charlie S., lying somewhere in the mud of Ypres, with an insignificant cross

@@ -1237,16 +1237,16 @@ above his head. He won a dozen decorations which were not given him. He had a
 baby whom he had only seen once. He was my pal. Why should I live, while he is

 dead? I can always hear him singing in the mess in a pleasant tenor voice. We

 used to share our affections and our troubles. He was what the Canadians call

-"a white man." I can't see myself living in comfort while he is dead. It's odd

+“a white man.” I can’t see myself living in comfort while he is dead. It’s odd

 the things one remembers about a man. We got the idea in the Somme that oil on

 the feet would prevent them from becoming frozen. One time when Charlie was

-going up forward we hadn't any oil, so he used brilliantine. It smelt of

-violets, and we made the highest of game of him. Poor old Charlie, he doesn't

+going up forward we hadn’t any oil, so he used brilliantine. It smelt of

+violets, and we made the highest of game of him. Poor old Charlie, he doesn’t

 feel the cold now!

 

-I'm afraid I've written a lot of rot in this letter—I've talked far too much

+I’m afraid I’ve written a lot of rot in this letter—I’ve talked far too much

 of a host of things which are better left unsaid. But I had to—I wanted to

-make quite certain that you wouldn't blame me for refusing safety. I've

+make quite certain that you wouldn’t blame me for refusing safety. I’ve

 relieved myself immensely by getting all of this off my chest.

 

 

@@ -1256,9 +1256,9 @@ London
 

 December 17, 1917

 

-I'm waiting for Eric, and, while waiting, propose to tell you the story of my

-past few days. I think when you've come to the end of my account you'll agree

-that I've been mixing my drinks considerably with regard to the personalities

+I’m waiting for Eric, and, while waiting, propose to tell you the story of my

+past few days. I think when you’ve come to the end of my account you’ll agree

+that I’ve been mixing my drinks considerably with regard to the personalities

 whose acquaintance I have made.

 

 On Friday evening I was invited to dinner by Lieutenant C., the American Navy

@@ -1267,8 +1267,8 @@ Grossmith, Leslie Henson, Julia James, Madge Saunders, and Lord C————.
 

 I may say that Lord C————is not a member of the Gaiety Company, though I seem

 to have included him. The occasion was really the weekly dinner given by the

-American Officers' Club; the Gaiety Company was there to entertain. I think it

-is typical of England's attitude towards the American Army that people from

+American Officers’ Club; the Gaiety Company was there to entertain. I think it

+is typical of England’s attitude towards the American Army that people from

 such different walks of life should have been present to do the U.S.A. honour.

 Lord C————is a splendid type of old-fashioned courtier, with a great, kindly,

 bloodhound face. He had ensigns and officers of whatsoever rank brought to

@@ -1277,13 +1277,13 @@ aristocrat. It was amusing to see the breezy American boys quite
 unembarrassed, most of them unaware of Lord C————'s political eminence,

 exchanging views in the friendliest of fashions, while the old gentleman,

 keeping seated, leaning forward on his stick with one hand resting attentively

-on a young fellow's arm, expressed his warm appreciation of America's

+on a young fellow’s arm, expressed his warm appreciation of America’s

 eagerness.

 

 Grossmith was in the uniform our boys wear—that of a lieutenant in the

 R.N.V.R. Leslie Henson is now a mechanic in the motor-transport by day and a

 Gaiety star in the evenings. He says that it costs him much money to cure the

-ache which the Army gives to his back—but he continues to do his "bit" by day

+ache which the Army gives to his back—but he continues to do his “bit” by day

 and to amuse Tommies home on leave in the evenings.

 

 Next day, Saturday, I went down to Bath to meet Raemaekers, the Dutch

@@ -1291,11 +1291,11 @@ cartoonist. Mr. Lane was our host. Raemaekers is a great man. On the journey I
 tried to picture him. I saw him as a pale-faced man, with lank black hair and

 a touch of the Jew about him. I rather expected to find him worn and slightly

 more than middle-aged, with nervous hands and hollow eyes. I reminded myself

-that of the world's artists, he was the only one who had risen to the

+that of the world’s artists, he was the only one who had risen to the

 sheerness of the occasion. He expresses the conscience of the aloof

-cosmopolitan as regards Germany's war-methods. England, incurably

-good-humoured, has only Bairnsfather's comic portrayals of Old Bill to place

-beside this indignant Dutchman's moral hatred of Hun cruelty. From the station

+cosmopolitan as regards Germany’s war-methods. England, incurably

+good-humoured, has only Bairnsfather’s comic portrayals of Old Bill to place

+beside this indignant Dutchman’s moral hatred of Hun cruelty. From the station

 I went to the Bath Club; there I met not at all what I had imagined. He looks

 like a Frans Hals burgher, comfortable, with a high complexion, a small

 pointed beard, chestnut hair, and searching grey eyes. His charity of

@@ -1305,27 +1305,27 @@ street as unremarkable unless he looked at you—his eyes are daggers which stop
 you dead.

 

 There were four of us at lunch—he sat at my right and we talked like a river

-in flood. He's just back from America, thrilled by the Americans'

+in flood. He’s just back from America, thrilled by the Americans’

 unimpassioned, lawful thoroughness. He had found something akin to his own

-temperament in the nation's genius—the same capacity to brush aside

-facetiousness in a crisis, and to attain a Hebrew prophet's faculty for

-hatred. One doesn't want to laugh when women lie dead in the ash-pits of

+temperament in the nation’s genius—the same capacity to brush aside

+facetiousness in a crisis, and to attain a Hebrew prophet’s faculty for

+hatred. One doesn’t want to laugh when women lie dead in the ash-pits of

 Belgium. I have been with him many hours and have scarcely seen him smile, and

 yet his face is kindly. As you know, the Kaiser had set a price upon his head.

 His death would mean more to the Hun than the destruction of many British

-Divisions. He has pilloried the Kaiser's beastliness for all time. When future

+Divisions. He has pilloried the Kaiser’s beastliness for all time. When future

 ages want to know what the Kaiser said to Christ, they will find it all in the

-thousand Raemaekers' sketches. Traps have been laid for his capture from time

+thousand Raemaekers’ sketches. Traps have been laid for his capture from time

 to time. Submarines have been dispatched with orders to take him alive. He

 knows what awaits him if such plans should meet with success—a lingering,

 tortured death; consequently he travels armed, and has promised his wife to

 blow his brains out the moment he is captured. We talked of many things—of the

-Hague and H. among other things. He knew the P.'., and drew a sketch of Mr. P.

+Hague and H. among other things. He knew the P.’., and drew a sketch of Mr. P.

 on the tablecloth with his pencil. I tried to purchase the tablecloth that I

 might send it to America, but the club secretary was before me.

 

 In the afternoon I went to the railway-station and spoke with a porter who was

-pushing a barrow—Henry Chappell, who wrote "The Day"—the first war-poet of

+pushing a barrow—Henry Chappell, who wrote “The Day”—the first war-poet of

 1914. As luck would have it, it was Saturday, the day upon which John Lane had

 brought out his volume of poems; it was rather pathetic to find him carrying

 on with his humble task on the proudest afternoon of his life. I told him how

@@ -1333,24 +1333,24 @@ I had seen his poem pasted up in prominent places all the way from the
 Atlantic to the Pacific. He smiled in a patient fashion, and said that he had

 heard about it. I understand that he made one hundred pounds out of this poem

 and gave it all to the Red Cross. A gentleman, if you want to find one! I

-asked him if he didn't look forward to promotion now. He shook his head

+asked him if he didn’t look forward to promotion now. He shook his head

 gravely—he liked portering. At parting I shook his hand, but, when I had

 dropped it, he touched his cap—and touched my heart in the doing of it.

 

 On Sunday I was back in town. Eric turned up this morning, looking gallant and

-smiling, with an exceedingly glad eye. He's just the same as he always was,

-discontented with his job because he thinks it's too safe and trying to find

-one more dangerous. We're going to have a great time together, unless I get my

+smiling, with an exceedingly glad eye. He’s just the same as he always was,

+discontented with his job because he thinks it’s too safe and trying to find

+one more dangerous. We’re going to have a great time together, unless I get my

 marching orders from the Foreign Office.

 

-I lunched with Raemaekers at Claridge's today and have just come back. He's an

-elemental moralist, encased in a burgher's exterior. He affects me with a

+I lunched with Raemaekers at Claridge’s today and have just come back. He’s an

+elemental moralist, encased in a burgher’s exterior. He affects me with a

 sense of restrained power. One is surprised to see him eating like other men.

 How I wish that I could detest as he detests! And yet he has heart in plenty.

 He told me a story of a French battalion going out to die. The last soldier

 stepped out of the ranks towards his colonel, who was weeping for his men who

 would not come back. Flinging his arms about his commanding officer, he kissed

-him and said, "Do not fear, my Colonel; we shall not disgrace you." He has an

+him and said, “Do not fear, my Colonel; we shall not disgrace you.” He has an

 eye for magnanimity, that man.

 

 

@@ -1372,32 +1372,32 @@ last twelve months have been the very best and richest of my life. If I were
 to die now, I should feel that I had at least done something with my handful

 of years.

 

-I'd like to have another glimpse of America now that in the face of reverses

-she has grown sterner. It's certain at last that there'll be a lot of American

-boys who won't come back. They're going to be real soldiers, going to go over

-the top and to endure all the fierce heroisms of an attack. It's cruel to say

-so, but it's better for America's soul that she should have her taste of

+I’d like to have another glimpse of America now that in the face of reverses

+she has grown sterner. It’s certain at last that there’ll be a lot of American

+boys who won’t come back. They’re going to be real soldiers, going to go over

+the top and to endure all the fierce heroisms of an attack. It’s cruel to say

+so, but it’s better for America’s soul that she should have her taste of

 battle after all the shouting.

 

-On Saturday F. R. came to see us. He's home on leave. He and P. and I sitting

+On Saturday F. R. came to see us. He’s home on leave. He and P. and I sitting

 down together after all the years that have intervened since we were at Oxford

-together! As F. expressed it, blinking through his spectacles, "Doesn't it

+together! As F. expressed it, blinking through his spectacles, “Doesn’t it

 seem silly that I should be dressed up like this and that you should be

-dressed like that?" He went out in January as a second lieutenant, and

-returned commanding his battalion. God moves in a mysterious way, doesn't He?

-One can't help wondering why some should "go west" at once and others should

+dressed like that?” He went out in January as a second lieutenant, and

+returned commanding his battalion. God moves in a mysterious way, doesn’t He?

+One can’t help wondering why some should “go west” at once and others should

 be spared. Bob H., who was also with us at Oxford, as you will remember,

 lasted exactly six days. The first day in the trenches he was wounded, but not

 sufficiently to go out. The sixth day he was killed.

 

-Did I tell you that there's a nerve hospital near here crowded with

+Did I tell you that there’s a nerve hospital near here crowded with

 nerve-shattered babies on one floor and nerve-shattered Tommies on the next?

 The babies are all dressed in red and the Tommies in the usual hospital blue.

 Each day the shell-shocked chaps go up to visit the children; the moment the

 door opens and the blue figures appear, the little red crowd stretch out their

-arms and cry, "My soldier! My soldier!" for each Tommy has his own particular

+arms and cry, “My soldier! My soldier!” for each Tommy has his own particular

 pet. When a child gets a nervous attack, it is often only the one particular

-soldier who can do the soothing. Who'd think that men fresh from the carnage

+soldier who can do the soothing. Who’d think that men fresh from the carnage

 could be so tender! And people say that war makes men brutal. Humph!

 

 

@@ -1407,12 +1407,12 @@ A French Port
 

 January 3, 1918

 

-Here I am again in France and extraordinarily glad to be here. I feel that I'm

-again a part of the game—I couldn't feel that while I was in London. I landed

+Here I am again in France and extraordinarily glad to be here. I feel that I’m

+again a part of the game—I couldn’t feel that while I was in London. I landed

 here this morning and arrive in Paris to-night. The crossing was one of the

-quietest. I know a lot of people didn't lie down at all, and still others

+quietest. I know a lot of people didn’t lie down at all, and still others

 slept with their clothes on. Like a sensible fellow I crept into my berth at 9

-p.m., and slept like a top till morning. If we'd been submarined I shouldn't

+p.m., and slept like a top till morning. If we’d been submarined I shouldn’t

 have known it.

 

 I feel tremendously elated by the thought of this new adventure, and intend to

@@ -1422,32 +1422,32 @@ I really do believe that I have the chance of a lifetime to do work of
 international importance. I want to make the Americans feel that they have

 become our kinsmen through the magnitude of their endeavour. And I want to

 make the British shake off their reticence in applauding the magnanimity of

-America's enthusiasm.

+America’s enthusiasm.

 

-It's been snowing here; but I don't feel cold because of the warmth inside me.

+It’s been snowing here; but I don’t feel cold because of the warmth inside me.

 The place where I am now is one of the pleasure-haunts which Eric and I

 visited together in that golden summer of long ago. Little did I think that I

 should be here next time in such belligerent attire and on such an errand.

-Life's a queer kaleidoscope. But, oh, for such another summer, with the long

+Life’s a queer kaleidoscope. But, oh, for such another summer, with the long

 secure peace of July days, and the whole green world to wander! One doubts

 whether El Dorado will ever come again.

 

 I see the girl-soldiers of England everywhere nowadays. A reinforcing draft

 crossed over with me on the steamer—high complexions and laughing faces, trim

-uniforms and tiny ankles. They're brave! It's a pity we can't give them a

+uniforms and tiny ankles. They’re brave! It’s a pity we can’t give them a

 chance of just one crack at the Huns. But they have to stop behind the lines

 and drive lorries, and be good girls, and beat typewriters. Their little

-girl-officers are mighty dignified. What a gallant world! I wouldn't have it

+girl-officers are mighty dignified. What a gallant world! I wouldn’t have it

 otherwise.

 

 For me the New Year is starting well. I face it in higher spirits than any of

-its predecessors. And well I may, for I didn't expect to be alive to greet

+its predecessors. And well I may, for I didn’t expect to be alive to greet

 1918. I hope you are all just as much on the crest of the wave in your hopes

 and anticipations. Nothing can be worse than some of the experiences that lie

-behind—and that's some comfort. Nothing can be more chivalrous than the

+behind—and that’s some comfort. Nothing can be more chivalrous than the

 opportunities which lie before us.

 

-So here's good-bye to you from France once again.

+So here’s good-bye to you from France once again.

 

 

 XXV

@@ -1460,8 +1460,8 @@ Wednesday, and arrived here Thursday evening. As you know, while I was in the
 Front line I had very little idea of what France at war was like. One crossed

 from England, clambered on a military train with all the windows smashed, had

 a cold night journey, and found himself at once among the shell-holes. I was

-very keen on seeing what Paris was like; now that I've seen it, it's very

-difficult to describe. It's very much the same as it always was—only while its

+very keen on seeing what Paris was like; now that I’ve seen it, it’s very

+difficult to describe. It’s very much the same as it always was—only while its

 atmosphere was once champagne, now it is a strong, still wine. As in England,

 only to a greater extent, women are doing the work of men. The streets are

 full of the wounded—not the wounded with well-fitted artificial limbs that you

@@ -1497,7 +1497,7 @@ opportunities, I ought to get an amazingly interesting lot of material.
 Saturday I was lucky enough to secure a car, and went the round of my

 introductions, to the British Embassy and your friends from Newark.

 

-I've been to two theatres. The audiences were composed for the most part of

+I’ve been to two theatres. The audiences were composed for the most part of

 soldiers on leave—American, British, Canadian, Australian, Belgian, French,

 with the merest sprinkling of civilians. Sunday I walked through the

 Luxembourg, most of the galleries of which are closed. Afterwards I walked in

@@ -1516,9 +1516,9 @@ the sky.
 This time last year I was marching into action with temperature of 104

 degrees, and you were reaching London, wondering whether I was truly coming on

 leave. A queer year it has been; in spite of all our anticipations to the

-contrary, we're still alive. I wish we were to meet again this year, and we

+contrary, we’re still alive. I wish we were to meet again this year, and we

 may. We know so little. As Whitcomb Riley says in complete acceptance of human

-fortuitousness, "No child knows when it goes to sleep."

+fortuitousness, “No child knows when it goes to sleep.”

 

 

 XXVI

@@ -1527,7 +1527,7 @@ Paris
 

 January 13, 1918

 

-About an hour ago I got into Paris from my first trip. I've been where M. and

+About an hour ago I got into Paris from my first trip. I’ve been where M. and

 I spent our splendid summer so many years ago, only now the river is spanned

 with ice and the country is a grey-sage colour. From what I can see the

 Americans are preparing as if for a war that is going to last for thirty

@@ -1569,13 +1569,13 @@ set out on a tour in a new direction. So much I am able to tell you; the rest
 will be in my book when it is published.

 

 This time last year we were together in London—how long ago it seems and

-sounds! Years are longer and of more value than they once were. This year I'm

-here. Next year where? This time next year the war will not be ended, I'm

+sounds! Years are longer and of more value than they once were. This year I’m

+here. Next year where? This time next year the war will not be ended, I’m

 certain, nor even the year after that, perhaps. The more we feel our strength,

 the more we are called upon to suffer, the sterner will become our terms.

 

-It's nearly eleven, my dear ones, and time that I was asleep. I have Henri

-Bordeaux's story of The Last Days of Fort Vaux beside me—it's most heroic

+It’s nearly eleven, my dear ones, and time that I was asleep. I have Henri

+Bordeaux’s story of The Last Days of Fort Vaux beside me—it’s most heroic

 reading. What shall we do when the gates of heroism grow narrow and peace has

 been declared? Something spiritual will have gone out of life when the

 challenge of the horrible is ended.

@@ -1587,24 +1587,24 @@ Paris
 

 January 19, 1918

 

-I'm expecting to go to American Headquarters on Tuesday and to see something

+I’m expecting to go to American Headquarters on Tuesday and to see something

 of work immediately behind the lines. I find what I am doing exceptionally

 interesting, and hope to do a good book on it.

 

-Wherever one goes the best men one meets are Hoover's disciples from Belgium.

+Wherever one goes the best men one meets are Hoover’s disciples from Belgium.

 They tell extraordinary stories of the heroism of the patriots whom they knew

-there—people by the score who duplicated Miss Cavell's courage and paid the

+there—people by the score who duplicated Miss Cavell’s courage and paid the

 penalty. Their experience of Hun brutality has somehow dulled their sense of

 horror—they speak of it as something quite commonplace and to be expected.

 

-On Friday I saw Miss Holt's work for the blind. She bears out for France all

+On Friday I saw Miss Holt’s work for the blind. She bears out for France all

 that I have said about the amazing sharing of the wounded in England. One man

 in her care was not only totally blind, but he had also lost both arms. In the

 hospital there were men less grievously mutilated than himself, who hardly

 knew how to endure their loss. For the sake of the cheeriness of his example,

 he used to go round the ward with gifts of cigarettes, which he almost thought

 he lit for the men himself, for he used to say to Miss Holt before undertaking

-such a journey, "You are my hands."

+such a journey, “You are my hands.”

 

 We, in England, and still less in America, have never approached the loathing

 which is felt for the Boche in France. Men spit as they utter his name, as

@@ -1613,8 +1613,8 @@ women are pointed out to you; all of his or her family are behind the German
 lines. We think we have suffered, but we have not sounded one fathom of this

 depth of agony. On every hand I hear that the French Army is stronger than

 ever, better equipped and more firm in its moral. As an impassioned Frenchman

-said to me yesterday, his eyes blazing as he banged the table, "They shall not

-pass. I say so—and I am France."

+said to me yesterday, his eyes blazing as he banged the table, “They shall not

+pass. I say so—and I am France.”

 

 In the face of all this I do not wonder that the French misunderstand the easy

 good-humour with which we English go out to die. In their eyes and with the

@@ -1622,10 +1622,10 @@ throbbing of their wounds, this war is a matter for neither good-humour nor
 sportsmanship, but only for the indignant, inarticulate wrath of a Hebrew god.

 If every weapon was taken from their hands and all the young men were gone,

 with clenched fists those who were left would smite and smite to the last. It

-is fitting that they should feel this way, but I'm glad that our English boys

+is fitting that they should feel this way, but I’m glad that our English boys

 can still laugh while they die.

 

-And now I'm going out on the Boulevards to get lunch.

+And now I’m going out on the Boulevards to get lunch.

 

 

 XXVIII

@@ -1636,7 +1636,7 @@ January 30, 1918
 

 Yesterday on my return to Paris I found all your letters awaiting me—a real

 big pile which took me over an hour to read. The latest was written on New

-Year's Day in the throes of coal shortage and intense cold. Really it seems

+Year’s Day in the throes of coal shortage and intense cold. Really it seems

 absurd that you should be starved for warmth in America. Last week I was

 within eighteen kilometres of the Front line staying in a hotel as luxurious

 as the Astor, with plenty of heat and a hot bath at midnight in a private

@@ -1645,8 +1645,8 @@ night came the perpetual muttering of the guns. There were troops of all kinds
 marching up for an attack; the villages were packed, but there was no

 disorganization.

 

-Well, I've had a great trip this last time. I went to see refugee work—and saw

-it. There were barracks full of babies—the youngest only six days' old. There

+Well, I’ve had a great trip this last time. I went to see refugee work—and saw

+it. There were barracks full of babies—the youngest only six days’ old. There

 were very many children who have been re-captured from the Huns.

 

 To-morrow I start off for the borders of Switzerland to see the repatriated

@@ -1655,20 +1655,20 @@ to see the reconstruction work in the devastated districts. When that is
 finished, I return to London to put my book together. I hope to get back to my

 battery about the end of March.

 

-What a time I have had. A year ago it would have seemed impossible. I've

+What a time I have had. A year ago it would have seemed impossible. I’ve

 motored, gone by speeders and trains to all kinds of quiet and ancient places

 which it would never have entered my head to visit in peace times. The

 American soldier is everywhere, striking a strange note of modernity and

 contrast. He sits on fences through the country-side, swinging his legs and

-smoking Bull Durham, when he isn't charging a swinging sack with a bayonet. He

+smoking Bull Durham, when he isn’t charging a swinging sack with a bayonet. He

 is the particular pal of all the French children.

 

-I'm now due for a day of interviews and shall have to ring off. I rose at

-seven this morning so as to write this letter. At the moment I'm sitting in a

-deep arm-chair, with an electric lamp at my elbow. It's an awful war! In less

-than two months I'll be sitting in clothes that I haven't taken off for a

+I’m now due for a day of interviews and shall have to ring off. I rose at

+seven this morning so as to write this letter. At the moment I’m sitting in a

+deep arm-chair, with an electric lamp at my elbow. It’s an awful war! In less

+than two months I’ll be sitting in clothes that I haven’t taken off for a

 fortnight—the mud will be my couch and the flash of the guns my reading lamp.

-It's funny, but up there in the discomfort I shall be ten times more happy.

+It’s funny, but up there in the discomfort I shall be ten times more happy.

 

 

 XXIX

@@ -1677,16 +1677,16 @@ Paris
 

 February 13, 1918

 

-I've not heard from you for two weeks—which is no fault of yours. There was a

-delay in getting passports—so I'm only just back from the devastated districts

-and get on board the train for London to-night. It's exactly six weeks today

+I’ve not heard from you for two weeks—which is no fault of yours. There was a

+delay in getting passports—so I’m only just back from the devastated districts

+and get on board the train for London to-night. It’s exactly six weeks today

 since I left England on this adventure.

 

-I've done a good many things since last I wrote you. Did I tell you that among

-others I visited Miss Holt's work for the blind? I can think of nothing which

-does more to call out one's sympathy than to sit among those sightless eyes. I

+I’ve done a good many things since last I wrote you. Did I tell you that among

+others I visited Miss Holt’s work for the blind? I can think of nothing which

+does more to call out one’s sympathy than to sit among those sightless eyes. I

 have talked about courage, but these men leave me appalled and silent. They

-are covered with decorations—the Legion d'.onneur, etc. They all have their

+are covered with decorations—the Legion d’.onneur, etc. They all have their

 stories. One, after he had been wounded and while there was still a chance of

 saving his sight, insisted on being taken to his General that he might give

 information about a German mine. When his mission was completed his chance of

@@ -1706,7 +1706,7 @@ get there. Our senior officers used to play hooky in Amiens and come back with
 wonderful tales of sheeted beds and perpetual baths. I got there toward

 evening and was met by a British Staff officer with a car. After dinner I

 escaped him and wandered through the crooked streets, encountering everywhere

-my dearly beloved British Tommy, straight out of the trenches for a few hours'

+my dearly beloved British Tommy, straight out of the trenches for a few hours’

 respite. As I passed estaminets I could hear concertinas being played and

 voices singing. It was London and heroism and home-sickness all muddled up

 together that these voices sang. And they sang just one song. It is the first

@@ -1715,31 +1715,26 @@ ended, I expect it will be the last. If the war goes on for another thirty
 years, our Tommies will be singing it—wheezing it out on concertinas and

 mouth-organs, in rain and sunshine, on the line of march, on leave or in their

 cramped billets. Invincible optimists that they are—so ordinary, so

-extraordinary, so good-humoured and mild! I peered in through the estaminets'

+extraordinary, so good-humoured and mild! I peered in through the estaminets’

 windows of Amiens—there they sat with their equipment off, their elbows on the

-table and their small beer before them. And here's what they sang, as so many

+table and their small beer before them. And here’s what they sang, as so many

 who are dead have sung before them:

 

-

-"Après la guerre fini

-

-Tous les soldats parti,

-

-Mademoiselle 'ave a souvenir—

-

-Apres la guerre fini."

-

+    “Après la guerre fini

+    Tous les soldats parti,

+    Mademoiselle 'ave a souvenir—

+    Apres la guerre fini.”

 

 After all my wandering along French and American fronts, I was back among my

 own people.

 

-My final night in Amiens was equally typical. I went to the officers' club and

+My final night in Amiens was equally typical. I went to the officers’ club and

 found a sing-song in progress. There was a cavalry major there who had been in

 the show at Cambrai. He was evidently a hunting-man, for he kept on getting

 off his hunting calls whenever things threatened to become dull. Most of the

-music was rag-time, which offended him very much. "Let's sing something

-English," he kept on saying. So we gave him "John Peel," "Hearts of Oak,"

-"Drink to me only with thine Eyes"—and he went to bed happy.

+music was rag-time, which offended him very much. “Let’s sing something

+English,” he kept on saying. So we gave him “John Peel,” “Hearts of Oak,”

+“Drink to me only with thine Eyes”—and he went to bed happy.

 

 I had a good fast car, so using Amiens as our base we struck into the Aisne,

 Oise, and Somme, covering a good many kilometres a day. In these districts the

@@ -1752,7 +1747,7 @@ Smith College Unit and, much to my surprise, Miss W. from Newark, who had just
 received a letter from M. She was wanting to go to Amiens, so we put her in

 the car and took her back with us.

 

-I'm longing to get to England to read all your letters. I feel quite out of

+I’m longing to get to England to read all your letters. I feel quite out of

 touch. To-morrow I shall be in London.

 

 I was in Paris when the Huns were overhead, and saw one of them come down. The

@@ -1766,7 +1761,7 @@ London
 

 February 18, 1918

 

-To-day I have made a start on my book Out to Win, and miss you very much. It's

+To-day I have made a start on my book Out to Win, and miss you very much. It’s

 quite a difficult thing, I find, to really concentrate on literary work in a

 strange environment. I wish I could take a magic powder and find myself back

 in my own little study, with my own little family, till the book is written.

@@ -1775,33 +1770,33 @@ Heaps of people I met in France were returning to America, and promised to
 telephone you to say they had seen me.

 

 I stumbled across a most inspiring conversation which I overheard the other

-day, and which, if I had time, I would work into a story, entitled "His Bit."

+day, and which, if I had time, I would work into a story, entitled “His Bit.”

 

 I was sitting in front of two women on a bus.

 

-"Well," said one, "when they told me that Phil was married, you could 'ave

-knocked me darn wiv a feather."

+“Well,” said one, “when they told me that Phil was married, you could 'ave

+knocked me darn wiv a feather.”

 

 It transpired that Phil was a C3 class man, no good for active service. He had

 met a girl, turned out into the streets by her parents because she was about

 to have a child by a soldier now dead, whom she had not married. Phil, without

-asking her any questions, did his "bit"—led her off and married her right away

+asking her any questions, did his “bit”—led her off and married her right away

 because he was sorry for her.

 

-"And she ain't a wicked girl," said one of the good ladies on the bus. "She

-didn't mean no harm. She was just soft-like to a Tommy on leave, I expect. It

-was 'ard lines on 'er. But that Phil—my goodness, he'll make 'er a good

-'usband. Is the child born? I should just fink so. 'E's that proud, she might

+“And she ain’t a wicked girl,” said one of the good ladies on the bus. “She

+didn’t mean no harm. She was just soft-like to a Tommy on leave, I expect. It

+was 'ard lines on 'er. But that Phil—my goodness, he’ll make 'er a good

+'usband. Is the child born? I should just fink so. 'E’s that proud, she might

 be 'is own dawter. 'E carries 'er raund all over the plaice, Lord bless yer.

-And 'is wife's people, they can't make too much of 'im. No, 'e's not strong—a

-C 3 man. I thought I told yer. She 'as ter work to 'elp 'im along. But between

-'em——There! I'm 'ats h'orf to Phil. They're a bloomin' pair of love-birds."

+And 'is wife’s people, they can’t make too much of ’im. No, 'e’s not strong—a

+C 3 man. I thought I told yer. She 'as ter work to 'elp ’im along. But between

+’em——There! I’m 'ats h’orf to Phil. They’re a bloomin’ pair of love-birds.”

 

-I like to think of Phil, don't you? I like to know that chaps like him are in

-the world. He couldn't fight the Germans; but he could play the man by a dead

+I like to think of Phil, don’t you? I like to know that chaps like him are in

+the world. He couldn’t fight the Germans; but he could play the man by a dead

 soldier.

 

-That's a little bit of real life to help you along. Now I'm going to knock off

+That’s a little bit of real life to help you along. Now I’m going to knock off

 and rest.

 

 

@@ -1811,32 +1806,32 @@ London
 

 February 24, 1918

 

-I'm not spending much time on letter-writing just at present. From morning

+I’m not spending much time on letter-writing just at present. From morning

 till night, just as I did when I was writing The Glory of the Trenches, I

 shove away at my new book. I am most anxious to get it creditably finished and

-soon. The weather is getting quite ripping for the Front and I'm keen to be

+soon. The weather is getting quite ripping for the Front and I’m keen to be

 back in time for the spring offensive.

 

-You'll be pleased to know that, under my encouragement, your youngest son has

+You’ll be pleased to know that, under my encouragement, your youngest son has

 broken out into literature. He did it while I was away in France. And the

-result is extraordinarily fine. He's managed to fling the spirit of his job on

+result is extraordinarily fine. He’s managed to fling the spirit of his job on

 paper—it lives and gets you. When they are asked at the end of a patrol what

-they have been doing, they answer, "Pushing Water"—so that he's made that

+they have been doing, they answer, “Pushing Water”—so that he’s made that

 answer his title.

 

-When I took the manuscript to W., he said: "But haven't you another brother?

-What's he doing? Where's his manuscript? And what about your mother and sister

-in America, and your sister in Holland? Don't tell me that they're not all

-writing?"

+When I took the manuscript to W., he said: “But haven’t you another brother?

+What’s he doing? Where’s his manuscript? And what about your mother and sister

+in America, and your sister in Holland? Don’t tell me that they’re not all

+writing?”

 

-At that moment I felt a deep sympathy for Solomon, who I'm sure must have been

-a publisher. Only a publisher would say so tiredly: "Of making many books

-there is no end."

+At that moment I felt a deep sympathy for Solomon, who I’m sure must have been

+a publisher. Only a publisher would say so tiredly: “Of making many books

+there is no end.”

 

-On Tuesday another beastly birthday is due me—but I shan't say anything about

+On Tuesday another beastly birthday is due me—but I shan’t say anything about

 it. I shall commence my new lease of life with a meat-card in my hand and no

 prospect of being really fully fed till I get back to France. For the first

-time England is feeling a genuine shortage. She isn't particularly annoyed at

+time England is feeling a genuine shortage. She isn’t particularly annoyed at

 being rationed, but the worry you have over finding out how much you are

 allowed to eat and where and when, causes people a good deal of trouble. My

 own impression is that there is plenty of food in England at present, but that

@@ -1871,12 +1866,12 @@ have ceased to be afraid of the unguess-able, and better still, I have lost my
 desire to guess. Not to stand still—to press onwards like soldiers—that is all

 that is required of us. I have heard men talk about world-sorrows, but if you

 trace them back, our sorrows are all for ourselves—they are a personal

-equation. To develop one's personality in the remembering of others seems to

+equation. To develop one’s personality in the remembering of others seems to

 me to be the only road to happiness. All this talk—why? Because of the

 footsteps beneath my window!

 

 The leave train has just arrived at Charing Cross from France. It steamed

-across the Thames with the men singing "The Land where the Bluebells grow."

+across the Thames with the men singing “The Land where the Bluebells grow.”

 There was laughter and longing in their singing.

 

 

@@ -1886,12 +1881,12 @@ Bath
 

 March 24, 1918

 

-Here I am with Mr. Lane, spending the weekend. It's a wonderful spring

+Here I am with Mr. Lane, spending the weekend. It’s a wonderful spring

 Sunday—no hint of war or anything but flowers and sunshine. An hour ago I

 halted outside the newspaper office and read the latest telegrams of the great

 German offensive. It seemed like the autumn of 1914, reading of death and not

-being a part of it. They'll not take very long in letting me get back to my

-battery now. One's curiously egotistic—I feel, if only I were out there, that

+being a part of it. They’ll not take very long in letting me get back to my

+battery now. One’s curiously egotistic—I feel, if only I were out there, that

 with my little bit of extra help everything would go well.

 

 Yesterday we went to Batheaston Manor, a fine old Jacobean house, to tea—the

@@ -1903,7 +1898,7 @@ to England, Count de la Laing, was there—a sad, courteous man. As we walked
 back with him to Bath along the canal, he remarked casually that all the art

 treasures in his château outside of Brussels had been shipped to Germany.

 

-We spent the afternoon seeing the King's pictures—mostly Gainsboroughs—which

+We spent the afternoon seeing the King’s pictures—mostly Gainsboroughs—which

 have been brought to Bath from Buckingham Palace. From here we went to tea

 with an old lady, Miss Tanner, who rode on her lonesome through Persia many

 years ago and consequently has gained a Lady Hester Stanhope reputation and,

@@ -1922,40 +1917,40 @@ XXXIV
 London March 31, 1918

 

 Eric is with me. I am very glad to have him for my last days in England, and I

-do hope that Reggie may get here in time to see me. He's ordered south in two

-weeks' time, but I may be in France by then. I report at Canadian Headquarters

+do hope that Reggie may get here in time to see me. He’s ordered south in two

+weeks’ time, but I may be in France by then. I report at Canadian Headquarters

 to-morrow, and will probably be sent straight down to camp, and from there to

 France within two weeks.

 

-Have you seen General Currie's stirring message to the Canadians, saying that

+Have you seen General Currie’s stirring message to the Canadians, saying that

 he expects them to die to a man if, by so doing, they can push the Huns back?

-This summer will see the biggest of all the battles. I'm wildly excited and

-longing to get back. There'll be some of the old glamour about this new

-fighting—it's all in the open. We've got away from trench warfare at last. The

+This summer will see the biggest of all the battles. I’m wildly excited and

+longing to get back. There’ll be some of the old glamour about this new

+fighting—it’s all in the open. We’ve got away from trench warfare at last. The

 beasts are all over the country which we fought for and have recaptured since

-1916. They've destroyed for a second time all the reconstruction work that I

-saw in the devastated areas. I'm wondering if all the girls got out in time.

+1916. They’ve destroyed for a second time all the reconstruction work that I

+saw in the devastated areas. I’m wondering if all the girls got out in time.

 There were so many American girls there.

 

-Don't you dear people get down in the mouth when I'm again at the Front. It's

-where I've wanted to be for a great many months—ever since I recovered. To be

-able to go back now, when there's really something doing, is very fitting. I

+Don’t you dear people get down in the mouth when I’m again at the Front. It’s

+where I’ve wanted to be for a great many months—ever since I recovered. To be

+able to go back now, when there’s really something doing, is very fitting. I

 should have been wasting my time, perhaps, during the inactivity of the

-winter, if I'd been sitting in dug-outs when I might have been writing Out to

+winter, if I’d been sitting in dug-outs when I might have been writing Out to

 Win. But no man, whatever his capacities, is wasting his time in fighting at

-this hour of crisis. I've been made ashamed by the excuses I've heard put up

-for various quitters who have taken bomb-proof jobs. I'm in terror lest I

-should be confused with such. Heaven knows, I'm no fonder of killing or of

+this hour of crisis. I’ve been made ashamed by the excuses I’ve heard put up

+for various quitters who have taken bomb-proof jobs. I’m in terror lest I

+should be confused with such. Heaven knows, I’m no fonder of killing or of

 being killed than anyone else, but there are times when everything decent

 responds to the demand of duty. I shall absolutely be immensely happy to be a

 man again, taking my chances. I know that you will be glad for me. If you

-hadn't known for certain that I was going back, you'd have been making excuses

+hadn’t known for certain that I was going back, you’d have been making excuses

 for me in your hearts during these last five months. So smile and be proud.

 And whatever happens, go on being proud and smiling. Your job is to set an

-example. That's your contribution towards winning the war.

+example. That’s your contribution towards winning the war.

 

-It's past midnight, and I go to camp to-morrow. I'll let you have a cable when

-I go to the Front—so you needn't be nervous.

+It’s past midnight, and I go to camp to-morrow. I’ll let you have a cable when

+I go to the Front—so you needn’t be nervous.

 

 

 XXXV

@@ -1965,27 +1960,27 @@ In Camp. England April 4, 1918
 I got down here last night and reported back this morning. I found the General

 of my Division had already applied for me, so I am going back to my old

 Brigade at the beginning of this week—on the Sunday, I think. To-day is

-Wednesday, so I haven't lost much time in getting into action. Probably I

-shall go up to London to-morrow for a two days' leave and meet Eric.

+Wednesday, so I haven’t lost much time in getting into action. Probably I

+shall go up to London to-morrow for a two days’ leave and meet Eric.

 

-There's just a chance that Reggie may be with us as well, for I've sent him a

-telegram to say that I'm going to France.

+There’s just a chance that Reggie may be with us as well, for I’ve sent him a

+telegram to say that I’m going to France.

 

-And now, as you may imagine, I am at last happy and self-respecting. I'm going

-to be a part of the game again and not a pretence-soldier. What's more, I'm

-going to go straight into a real battle—the biggest of the war. It's really

+And now, as you may imagine, I am at last happy and self-respecting. I’m going

+to be a part of the game again and not a pretence-soldier. What’s more, I’m

+going to go straight into a real battle—the biggest of the war. It’s really

 splendid and I feel childishly elated.

 

-Well, I've had a run for my money if any man ever had. The good times in

-England, France, and America will be worth remembering when I'm again in the

+Well, I’ve had a run for my money if any man ever had. The good times in

+England, France, and America will be worth remembering when I’m again in the

 fighting. I contrast in my mind my present mood with that of the first time

-when I went out—I was very much afraid then; now I'm extraordinarily happy.

-I've learnt to appreciate the privilege of being in the glory and the heroism.

-I'm more pleased than if I had won a decoration, that my Colonel should have

+when I went out—I was very much afraid then; now I’m extraordinarily happy.

+I’ve learnt to appreciate the privilege of being in the glory and the heroism.

+I’m more pleased than if I had won a decoration, that my Colonel should have

 asked for my return at the first possible moment. It proves to me something

 which one often doubts—that I really am some good out there.

 

-Keep your tails up, my dear ones, and don't get worried. This line is only to

+Keep your tails up, my dear ones, and don’t get worried. This line is only to

 let you know the good news.

 

 

@@ -1993,32 +1988,32 @@ XXXVI
 

 London April 6, 1918

 

-I'm the happiest person in London to-day at the thought of my return. This is

+I’m the happiest person in London to-day at the thought of my return. This is

 quite unreasonable, when I sit down to calculate the certain discomfort and

-danger. I can't explain it, unless it is that only by being at the Front can I

-feel that I am living honourably. I've been self-contemptuous every minute

-that I've been out of the line. I began to doubt myself and to wonder whether

+danger. I can’t explain it, unless it is that only by being at the Front can I

+feel that I am living honourably. I’ve been self-contemptuous every minute

+that I’ve been out of the line. I began to doubt myself and to wonder whether

 all my protestations of wanting to get back, were not a camouflage for

-cowardice. I can prove to myself that they weren't now. "The Canadians will

-advance or die to a man," were the words that General Currie sent to his

-troops. Isn't it magnificent to be included in such a chivalrous adventure? I

-don't think you'll read about the Canadians retiring.

+cowardice. I can prove to myself that they weren’t now. “The Canadians will

+advance or die to a man,” were the words that General Currie sent to his

+troops. Isn’t it magnificent to be included in such a chivalrous adventure? I

+don’t think you’ll read about the Canadians retiring.

 

-Whatever happens I've had a grand romance out of life—there's nothing of which

-to complain. I owe destiny no grudge. The world has been kind. I don't think I

+Whatever happens I’ve had a grand romance out of life—there’s nothing of which

+to complain. I owe destiny no grudge. The world has been kind. I don’t think I

 shall get killed; I never have thought that. But if I am, it will be as fine

-an ending to a full day's work as heart could desire.

+an ending to a full day’s work as heart could desire.

 

-I think I'm younger than I ever was. I no longer know satiety. The job in

-front of me fills all my soul and mind. I'm going to prove to myself and

+I think I’m younger than I ever was. I no longer know satiety. The job in

+front of me fills all my soul and mind. I’m going to prove to myself and

 others that my books are not mere heroic sentiment. Going out a second time,

-despite the chances to hang back, will give a sincerity to what I've been

+despite the chances to hang back, will give a sincerity to what I’ve been

 trying to say to America. Heaps of people would think it brutal to want so

-much to go where men are being slaughtered—but it isn't the slaughtering that

-attracts, it's the winning of the ideal that calls me.

+much to go where men are being slaughtered—but it isn’t the slaughtering that

+attracts, it’s the winning of the ideal that calls me.

 

-C. has command of my battery now. He's a fine chap. You remember how he left

-   London before his leave was up, "because he wanted to be among men." That's

+C. has command of my battery now. He’s a fine chap. You remember how he left

+   London before his leave was up, “because he wanted to be among men.” That’s

    the sort he is, and I admire him.

 

 

@@ -2026,26 +2021,26 @@ XXXVII
 

 London April 14, 1918

 

-We're sitting together in the little flat at Battersea, and Reggie is with us.

-It's Sunday afternoon. To-morrow morning early I set out for France. The

+We’re sitting together in the little flat at Battersea, and Reggie is with us.

+It’s Sunday afternoon. To-morrow morning early I set out for France. The

 little party wanted me to sleep here to-night so that they could get up about

-6 a.m. and see me off. I wouldn't have that. So we're going to say good-bye

+6 a.m. and see me off. I wouldn’t have that. So we’re going to say good-bye

 comfortably to-night and the boys will sleep with me at a hotel just outside

 the station.

 

-You can't guess how glad I am at the thought of going back. I was afraid I

-should never be a fighting man again. Now that I'm once more to be allowed to

+You can’t guess how glad I am at the thought of going back. I was afraid I

+should never be a fighting man again. Now that I’m once more to be allowed to

 do my bit I feel extraordinarily grateful. I have the silly feeling that just

-one more man might make all the difference at such a crisis, and I'm jealous

+one more man might make all the difference at such a crisis, and I’m jealous

 lest, when so many are being called upon for an exaggerated display of

 heroism, I should lose my chance. I know now why soldiers sing when they go

-out to war—they're so proud that they have been chosen for the sacrifice.

+out to war—they’re so proud that they have been chosen for the sacrifice.

 

 The boys came down to camp with me and lived near to the camp. I took an

 anti-gas defence course before re-joining in France. Friday night we came up

-to town and we've had a very jolly time.

+to town and we’ve had a very jolly time.

 

-Well, dears, we've lived a happy crowded life since I was wounded, and we've

+Well, dears, we’ve lived a happy crowded life since I was wounded, and we’ve

 each one of us learnt more about the glory of this undertaking.

 

 

@@ -2053,7 +2048,7 @@ XXXVIII
 

 France April 21, 1918

 

-I've been back at the Front six days. This is the first opportunity I have had

+I’ve been back at the Front six days. This is the first opportunity I have had

 to write. I left England last Monday, having spent Saturday and Sunday in

 London with the boys. Major H. came up to give me a send-off and we had a very

 gay time. Saturday evening, after dinner and a theatre, we returned to

@@ -2065,15 +2060,15 @@ and L. walked in on us as we were having breakfast, and S. met us on the
 platform. They all seemed quite assured that they would never, never see me

 again—which makes me smile. I suppose they all had visions of grey waves of

 Germans deluging our infantry by force of numbers, while the gunners were left

-far in front, trying to stem the tide. That is what we all hope for. It's the

-kind of chance we dream about; but it hasn't happened yet.

+far in front, trying to stem the tide. That is what we all hope for. It’s the

+kind of chance we dream about; but it hasn’t happened yet.

 

 Monday afternoon I was in France and slept at the Base that night. Early

 Tuesday morning I was on the move again, passing Red Cross trains packed with

-wounded and trucks crammed with ordnance. I couldn't help comparing this

+wounded and trucks crammed with ordnance. I couldn’t help comparing this

 return to the Front with my first trip up. We had a good time playing cards

 and recalling the old fights—we were like schoolboys coming back for the

-holidays. There wasn't one of us who wasn't wildly excited at the thought of

+holidays. There wasn’t one of us who wasn’t wildly excited at the thought of

 being a part of the game again. This was rather strange, if you come to

 consider it, for each of us had been wounded at least once and knew the worst

 of what war could do to us—yet fear was the emotion most remote from us. We

@@ -2083,7 +2078,7 @@ had been that our fighting days were ended.
 By 2 p.m. we were dumped out at a town through which I used to ride last

 summer. Here we had to report to the Provost Marshal for further transport

 orders. He told me that I should have to go to the Corps Reinforcement Camp. I

-didn't intend to do that, so waited till he was engaged on the phone and then

+didn’t intend to do that, so waited till he was engaged on the phone and then

 made my escape. Taking the baggage I could carry, I beat my way back to my old

 battery on foot and in lorries. I was just coming into the wagonlines when I

 met Major C., who now commands us. I think he had been lonely for some of the

@@ -2098,7 +2093,7 @@ hugging him than trying to kill him. Of course I had to do the latter, and had
 a very nice little strafe. I wrote you a fine long letter up there and somehow

 lost it. So this is my second attempt.

 

-Don't get nervous about me. Everything is quite all right with us and I'm

+Don’t get nervous about me. Everything is quite all right with us and I’m

 having a real holiday after my feverish literary spasms. But a lot of familiar

 faces are absent.

 

@@ -2109,37 +2104,37 @@ France April 22, 1918
 

 You would hardly believe our peaceful state of mind unless you could drop in

 on us for an hour. You, in America, are evidently very worked up about us, and

-picture us as in desperate conditions. Don't worry, we've got our tails up and

-are happy as sand-boys. There's nothing of the grimly set faces about our

-attitude such as you imagine. We're too confident to be grim; war is actually,

+picture us as in desperate conditions. Don’t worry, we’ve got our tails up and

+are happy as sand-boys. There’s nothing of the grimly set faces about our

+attitude such as you imagine. We’re too confident to be grim; war is actually,

 from our point of view, a gigantic lark. It must sound silly to you, I know,

 but I love to hear the screaming of the shells in the darkness and the baying

-of the guns. It's like a pack of wolves being chased through the night by

+of the guns. It’s like a pack of wolves being chased through the night by

 bloodhounds.

 

-I hadn't been back two days before they got the rumour at the wagon-lines that

+I hadn’t been back two days before they got the rumour at the wagon-lines that

 I was wounded—a little previous, I thought it. I call that wishing a blighty

 on me.

 

-I've just come back from a trip across one of our old battlefields. We're in

-the Hun support-trenches, behind us is his Front line, then No Man's Land with

+I’ve just come back from a trip across one of our old battlefields. We’re in

+the Hun support-trenches, behind us is his Front line, then No Man’s Land with

 its craters and graves, and behind that the Front line from which we jumped

 off. You can trace everything plainly and follow the entire attack by the

-broken wire and blown-in dug-outs. We're still filled with amused contempt for

+broken wire and blown-in dug-outs. We’re still filled with amused contempt for

 the Hun on our part of the Front.

 

 We were discussing chaplains the other day—the way some of them have failed us

 in this war. One of the officers told a story of Grannie M., one of our First

 Division majors. A chaplain, who never went farther than the wagon-lines, was

-always saying how much he'd like to see the Front. Grannie called his bluff

+always saying how much he’d like to see the Front. Grannie called his bluff

 and took him for a trip into one of the warmest spots. The chaplain kept

 dodging and crouching every time a shell fell within a hundred yards. Each

 time Grannie, standing quietly silent, waited for him to get up and renew the

 journey. At last the chaplain flopped into a shell-hole and refused to come

 out. Grannie, who is a big man and well over six foot, grinned down at him

-despisingly. "Priest," he said, "if I thought I had half the pull with Christ

+despisingly. “Priest,” he said, “if I thought I had half the pull with Christ

 that you say you have, not all the shells in France would make me lie as flat

-as that." Later another chaplain came to that brigade. No one would give him

+as that.” Later another chaplain came to that brigade. No one would give him

 house-room. He went off and slept where he could; he never came near the

 officers, but he haunted the men at the forward guns. When the brigade moved

 out to another sector, he procured an old skate of a horse and trailed along

@@ -2160,18 +2155,18 @@ France April 26, 1918
 

 I It is now over a week since I have been back with my battery, and it seems

 as though all that trip along the American line and the rush back to New York

-had never happened. I'm sitting in a little "house" in a deep chalk trench.

-The house is made of half-circles of corrugated iron; there's an anti-gas

+had never happened. I’m sitting in a little “house” in a deep chalk trench.

+The house is made of half-circles of corrugated iron; there’s an anti-gas

 blanket hanging at one end and at the other a window made of oiled calico. Up

 one corner are the maps, scales, and office papers; pinned on boards is a

 four-foot map of the entire English front. My sleeping bag is stretched on an

 old French spring mattress, which was brought here some time ago by the Huns.

 From the walls hang a higgledy-piggledy of trench coats, breeches, tunics.

 This is the place in which we work out our ranges, play cards, have our meals,

-and rest when we're back from doing forward work.

+and rest when we’re back from doing forward work.

 

 You can walk for miles where we are without ever being seen, if you follow the

-various systems of Hun and British trenches, for we're plumb in the heart of

+various systems of Hun and British trenches, for we’re plumb in the heart of

 an old battlefield. The only landmarks left to guide one are the craters as

 big as churches—records of mines that have been sprung—and little rows of

 lonely graves. At night when the moon is up, this country creates the curious

@@ -2185,21 +2180,21 @@ Your letters apropos of the latest German offensive bring home to me very
 vividly the emotional terror which war excites in the minds of civilians. You

 picture us as standing with our backs to the wall, desperately pushing death

 from off our breasts with naked hands. The truth is so immensely different.

-We're having a thoroughly bang-up time, and we're as amused by the Hun as

+We’re having a thoroughly bang-up time, and we’re as amused by the Hun as

 ever. He may force us to fall back; but while we fall back we laugh at him.

-That is the attitude of every British soldier that I've met. We're as happy

-and unconcerned as children. There's one chap here who's typical of this

-spirit of treating war as an immensely sporting event. He's the raiding

-officer of a certain battalion, and is known as "Battling Brown"—though Brown

+That is the attitude of every British soldier that I’ve met. We’re as happy

+and unconcerned as children. There’s one chap here who’s typical of this

+spirit of treating war as an immensely sporting event. He’s the raiding

+officer of a certain battalion, and is known as “Battling Brown”—though Brown

 is not his real name. He has a little company of his own, consisting of

-seventy men. He's been in over a hundred raids on the Hun Front line and has

+seventy men. He’s been in over a hundred raids on the Hun Front line and has

 only had two of his men killed in a year. A short while ago he went across

 with his raiders and captured three Germans; on the return journey across No

-Man's Land something happened, and he lined up his prisoners and shot them. He

+Man’s Land something happened, and he lined up his prisoners and shot them. He

 led his men safely back to our lines and then set out again alone on a private

 excursion into the Boche territory. By dawn he once more returned, bringing

 back four prisoners single-handed. You might picture such a man as a kind of

-Hercules, but he isn't. He's thin, and tall, and fair, and high strung. His

+Hercules, but he isn’t. He’s thin, and tall, and fair, and high strung. His

 age, I should guess, is about twenty-two.

 

 Far away in the distance I can hear the pipers playing. It always makes me

@@ -2207,22 +2202,22 @@ think of Loch Lomond and when we were little tads. How green and quiet and
 cool those days seem now—the long rides across the moors and down the glens,

 the bathing in little mountain streams, the walks in the sad twilights. There

 are so many happy memories I have to thank you for. You were very wise and

-generous in the way you planned my childhood. I'm less than a fortnight back

-at the Front, but I'm already falling into the old habit of happy retrospect.

-We don't live here really. Our souls are in France only for brief and glorious

+generous in the way you planned my childhood. I’m less than a fortnight back

+at the Front, but I’m already falling into the old habit of happy retrospect.

+We don’t live here really. Our souls are in France only for brief and glorious

 and intense intervals—during the moments of attack and repulse. The rest of

-the time we're away in the green valleys of remembered places, watching the

+the time we’re away in the green valleys of remembered places, watching the

 ghosts who are the shadows of what we were.

 

 My groom is a boy named Gilpin. The name has proved his downfall. He galloped

 my horse on the hard road the other day, which is forbidden. A colonel caught

 him going full tilt, stopped him and took his name. When the severities seemed

 ended this innocent young party asked the colonel to hold his horse while he

-mounted—so now he's up on an extra charge of insolence.

+mounted—so now he’s up on an extra charge of insolence.

 

-Army discipline is in many ways silly and old maidish. Here's a chap who's

-faithful, well conducted, and honest. He's likely to get a heavier punishment

-for asking a superior officer to hold his horse than if he'd been drunk and

+Army discipline is in many ways silly and old maidish. Here’s a chap who’s

+faithful, well conducted, and honest. He’s likely to get a heavier punishment

+for asking a superior officer to hold his horse than if he’d been drunk and

 uproarious.

 

 

@@ -2230,26 +2225,26 @@ XLI
 

 France April 28, 1918

 

-It's funny to recall the different graveyards among the shell-holes that I've

+It’s funny to recall the different graveyards among the shell-holes that I’ve

 learnt to call home. Once life was so definitely focused—much too definitely

 for my patience. It seemed as though I was rooted and planted for all

 eternity. It never seemed to me then that I should ever find the sacrificial

-opportunity or be stirred to any prophetic exaltations. It's wonderful the way

+opportunity or be stirred to any prophetic exaltations. It’s wonderful the way

 the angel of Death, as discovered in war, can give one visions of limitless

 nobilities, each one of which is attainable and accessible.

 

-I'm by myself at the Battery. It's late afternoon, and a thunderstorm is

+I’m by myself at the Battery. It’s late afternoon, and a thunderstorm is

 brewing. The room is dark (I mean the dug-out); I feel as though it were

 November instead of April. What a queer life this is. In one way I have not

 had so much idleness since I was in hospital—then comes a burst of physical

-strenuosity out of all proportion to one's strength. Things happen by fits and

+strenuosity out of all proportion to one’s strength. Things happen by fits and

 starts; you never know what is going to happen next.

 

-It's intensely still. The stillness is made more noticeable by the booming of

+It’s intensely still. The stillness is made more noticeable by the booming of

 an occasional gun.

 

-The whole hope and talk of our chaps is the Americans—what they're going to

-do, when they're going to start doing it, and what kind of a moral they will

+The whole hope and talk of our chaps is the Americans—what they’re going to

+do, when they’re going to start doing it, and what kind of a moral they will

 have. I hear the wildest rumours of the numbers they have in France—rumours

 which I know to be untrue since my tour along the American lines. You will

 have read the manuscript of Out to Win long before this letter reaches you. I

@@ -2257,7 +2252,7 @@ wonder what you all think of it and whether you like it. It was written in a
 breathless, racing sort of fashion. I sat at it from morning till last thing

 at night. All my desire was to do my duty as regards the Americans and then to

 get out here before the big show started. I managed things just in time. I

-don't remember much of what I wrote—only a picture of Domremy and another of

+don’t remember much of what I wrote—only a picture of Domremy and another of

 Evian and Nancy. I hope it was as good as you expected.

 

 There are things one lives through and sees now which seem ordinary but which

@@ -2270,30 +2265,30 @@ mist which I see hanging above the Hun Front line, a curtain of normality is
 blotting out the sharp abnormal edges of my landscape.

 

 This war, at the distance which removes you from it, must seem a filthy and

-brutal kind of game. It is all of that. But it's more than that. The game was

+brutal kind of game. It is all of that. But it’s more than that. The game was

 not of our inventing—it was thrust on us. We are not responsible for the game;

 but we are responsible for the spirit in which we play it. The fine, clear,

 visionary attitude of our chaps redeems for us the horror and pathos of the

 undertaking.

 

-It will be towards the end of May when this arrives and you'll be off to the

-lakes and the mountains. I wonder where. I suppose we'll still be plugging

-along, sending death over into Fritz's lines and receiving it back.

+It will be towards the end of May when this arrives and you’ll be off to the

+lakes and the mountains. I wonder where. I suppose we’ll still be plugging

+along, sending death over into Fritz’s lines and receiving it back.

 

 

 XLII

 

 France May 2, 1918

 

-Here I am up forward again on my shift. I'm sitting in a hole sunk beneath the

+Here I am up forward again on my shift. I’m sitting in a hole sunk beneath the

 level of the ground, with a slit that just peeps out across the dandelions to

 the Hun Front line. From here I can catch any movement in the enemy

 back-country without being seen myself. Below my O.P. there is a deep dug-out

 to which I can retire in the event of enemy shelling; if one exit gets blown

-in, there's a second from which I can make good my escape. On each fresh trip

+in, there’s a second from which I can make good my escape. On each fresh trip

 to this place I find a new gem of literature left behind by one or other of

 the telephonists. Last time it was a priceless kitchen masterpiece by Charles

-Garvice, entitled The Triumphant Lover; this time it's an exceedingly purple

+Garvice, entitled The Triumphant Lover; this time it’s an exceedingly purple

 effort by Victoria Cross, entitled Five Nights. So you see I do not allow my

 interest in matters intellectual to rust.

 

@@ -2301,8 +2296,8 @@ There are many things of interest that I should like to tell you, but the
 consciousness that the censor is for ever at my elbow prevents. Did I ever

 tell you the story of the censor whom I met on the train from Boulogne, when I

 was returning to the line in January 1917? If I happened to tell it to you,

-the gentleman who uninvited shares all my letters with you hasn't heard it,

-and I'm sure his curiosity must be pricked by this time—so here goes.

+the gentleman who uninvited shares all my letters with you hasn’t heard it,

+and I’m sure his curiosity must be pricked by this time—so here goes.

 

 It was after that splendid leave in London which you came over from America to

 share with me. The train from Boulogne to the Front was the usual draughty

@@ -2318,7 +2313,7 @@ assistant, I should fancy. His uniform fitted abominably, and his appearance
 was as unsoldierly as can well be imagined. He looked like a loose-living

 spider.

 

-We hadn't been moving very long when he started to unwrap his packages and to

+We hadn’t been moving very long when he started to unwrap his packages and to

 gorge himself. He ate steadily like one whose life depended on it. The colonel

 and I had forgotten to bring anything, so we had the joy of watching.

 

@@ -2326,10 +2321,10 @@ In our chilly misery we became human and began to talk. The conversation
 became reminiscent of the numerous offensives. The sloppy lieutenant with the

 drooping walrus moustaches who sat opposite to us, persistently laid claim to

 a more thorough knowledge of attacks that we had been in than we did

-ourselves. He puzzled us; we couldn't picture him as a combatant. Quite

+ourselves. He puzzled us; we couldn’t picture him as a combatant. Quite

 haphazard one of us—I think it was the colonel—commenced to damn censors as

-chaps who sat safely behind the lines and spied on fighting-men's private

-affairs. The lieutenant became very hot in the censors' defence. He tried to

+chaps who sat safely behind the lines and spied on fighting-men’s private

+affairs. The lieutenant became very hot in the censors’ defence. He tried to

 prove the necessity for them by quoting the case of a lieutenant named N., who

 had sent back captured aeroplane photos to his friends. I happened to know N.

 and that he was going to be tried by court-martial for his indiscretion, so

@@ -2339,14 +2334,14 @@ soldier.
 

 Our friend in the corner took my remarks extremely personally. To show his

 resentment of me, he pointedly offered the colonel some of his fodder. At last

-he said very haughtily, "It may interest you to know that I am the censor and

+he said very haughtily, “It may interest you to know that I am the censor and

 am at present going up the line to give evidence against Lieutenant N. at his

-trial." Just at that moment the train stopped at a station. He blinked through

-the window with his shortsighted eyes, trying to read the name "This is M., I

-think," he said; "if it is, we stop here ten minutes and get time to stretch

-our legs."

+trial.” Just at that moment the train stopped at a station. He blinked through

+the window with his shortsighted eyes, trying to read the name “This is M., I

+think,” he said; “if it is, we stop here ten minutes and get time to stretch

+our legs.”

 

-I looked out of the window helpfully. "It is M.," I told him. It wasn't. He

+I looked out of the window helpfully. “It is M.,” I told him. It wasn’t. He

 got out and commenced to walk up the platform. Almost immediately the train

 started to pull out. He made a wild crab-wise dash for the carriage-door, but

 the colonel and I were hanging to it on the inside. When we were safely on our

@@ -2354,17 +2349,17 @@ journey, we shared up his pillows, rugs, hot-water bottles, and eatables
 between us, and had a comparatively pleasant journey. For once we thanked God

 for the censor.

 

-It's tea-time at home. You've probably come in from a walk and are smoking a

+It’s tea-time at home. You’ve probably come in from a walk and are smoking a

 cigar at the family oak-table. I wish I could pop in on you.

 

 Oh, our latest excitement! We received our new gramophone last night with

 about thirty of the latest records!

 

-You'll be glad to know that I now have my old batman back. He's the man who

+You’ll be glad to know that I now have my old batman back. He’s the man who

 took me out when I was wounded and was so tender to me on the way to the

-hospital. That memory of his tenderness is rather embarrassing, for I can't

-bring myself to strafe him the way I ought to. I can always see the fellow's

-concern when he thought that I was done for. Now that he's got me back he acts

+hospital. That memory of his tenderness is rather embarrassing, for I can’t

+bring myself to strafe him the way I ought to. I can always see the fellow’s

+concern when he thought that I was done for. Now that he’s got me back he acts

 as though I were still a very weak and indiscreet person who had to be coaxed

 and managed. I have the feeling in his presence of being perpetually in

 pyjamas and in bed. He has the advantage of me, to put it in a nutshell.

@@ -2374,25 +2369,25 @@ XLIII
 

 France May 3, 1918

 

-It's early morning. I'm still sitting in the little dug-out with the slit that

+It’s early morning. I’m still sitting in the little dug-out with the slit that

 looks towards the Hun Front line. Everything but the immediate foreground is

 blanketed in heavy mist at present. I can hear bombing going on somewhere—but

 I can also hear a lark singing near to the sun, high overhead. The clumps of

-dandelions are still sleeping. They haven't opened—they're green instead of

+dandelions are still sleeping. They haven’t opened—they’re green instead of

 yellow. The grass sparkles with little drops of dew, more beautiful than the

 most costly diamonds. With the first of the dawn I read a story by Tolstoy;

-since then I've been sitting thinking—thinking of you and of the sleeping

+since then I’ve been sitting thinking—thinking of you and of the sleeping

 house in Newark, which will soon be disturbed by your bath-water running, if

 you still rise early; and thinking how strange it is that I should be here in

 the greatest war in history. We planned to do such different things with our

 lives. My first dream was to become extremely wise. At Oxford there seemed no

 limit to the amount of knowledge I could acquire; it seemed only a matter of

 patience and perseverance. Then that dream went, and I wanted to save the

-world. I'm afraid one has to be a little aristocratic towards the world before

+world. I’m afraid one has to be a little aristocratic towards the world before

 he can conceive of himself as capable of saving it or of the world as

 requiring saving. The aristocratic touch grew on me and I decided to do my

 saving not by touching people, but by writing poetry for the few who would

-understand. It wasn't half such good poetry as I thought it was at the time,

+understand. It wasn’t half such good poetry as I thought it was at the time,

 and it never could have re-made anything. Disappointed in that and because I

 had now committed myself to a literary way of life, I took to writing novels,

 which nobody wanted to publish, read, or buy. Then, because I had to live

@@ -2406,30 +2401,30 @@ for democracy. How noiselessly these men gave up their lives and with how
 little consciousness of self-appreciation. They rather put us to shame—we

 privileged dawdlers in our haunted minds. They recognized the one straight

 thing to do when the opportunity presented itself; they did it swiftly and

-unreasoningly with their might. They didn't write about what they did; for

+unreasoningly with their might. They didn’t write about what they did; for

 them the doing was sufficient. I think I shall always be a humble man after

 such companionship, if I survive. I see life in courageous vistas of actions

 now; formerly I was like Hamlet—I thought myself into a green sickness.

 Marriage and children, a home and family love are the best that anyone can

-extract from life. There have been years when I didn't like my kind.

+extract from life. There have been years when I didn’t like my kind.

 

 Out of the many things that have come to me in the past six months I am

-particularly glad of little Tinker's friendship—P.'. baby. She's not two yet,

+particularly glad of little Tinker’s friendship—P.’. baby. She’s not two yet,

 but we were real pals. She would never go to sleep until I had kissed her in

-her cot "Good-night." First thing in the morning she would be beside my bed,

-tugging at the clothes and ordering me to "Det up." Since I've been gone

-they've had to ring the bell and pretend that I'm just entering the hall, so

-that they may make her go to sleep contented. When they ask her, "Where's

-Con?" she reaches up to the window and points. "Dorn walk in park," she says.

-They talk about the love of a woman keeping a man straight, but I don't think

-it's to be compared with the love of a little child. You can't lie to them.

+her cot “Good-night.” First thing in the morning she would be beside my bed,

+tugging at the clothes and ordering me to “Det up.” Since I’ve been gone

+they’ve had to ring the bell and pretend that I’m just entering the hall, so

+that they may make her go to sleep contented. When they ask her, “Where’s

+Con?” she reaches up to the window and points. “Dorn walk in park,” she says.

+They talk about the love of a woman keeping a man straight, but I don’t think

+it’s to be compared with the love of a little child. You can’t lie to them.

 

 The sharp rat-a-tat of the machine guns has started; but the mist is too thick

-for me to see what is happening——It's nothing; it's died down.

+for me to see what is happening——It’s nothing; it’s died down.

 

 In an hour I shall be relieved, and shall return to the guns and post this

 letter. It will reach you when? Sometime in June, I expect, when the summer is

-really come and you're wearing your cool dresses. I can see you going out in

+really come and you’re wearing your cool dresses. I can see you going out in

 the early morning to do your shopping.

 

 

@@ -2438,71 +2433,71 @@ XLIV
 France May 7, 1918

 

 I am sitting in my bed—my sleeping-sack, I mean—which is spread out on the

-red-tiled floor of a funny little cottage. There isn't much of the floor left,

+red-tiled floor of a funny little cottage. There isn’t much of the floor left,

 as four of the other officers are sharing the room with me. Coming in through

 the window is the smell of sweet myrtle, old-fashioned and quiet; from far

 away drifts in the continual pounding of the guns and, strangely muddled up

-with the gunfire, the multitudinous croaking of frogs. I'm having an

+with the gunfire, the multitudinous croaking of frogs. I’m having an

 extraordinary May month of it in lovely country, marching through the showers,

 getting drenched and drying when the sun deigns to make an appearance. After

-being off a horse for so long, I'm in the saddle for many hours every day.

+being off a horse for so long, I’m in the saddle for many hours every day.

 

 I am glad that you all feel the way you do about my returning to the Front. I

-was sure you wouldn't want me to be out of these great happenings. My fear,

+was sure you wouldn’t want me to be out of these great happenings. My fear,

 when I was in England this spring, was the same as I had when I first

 joined—that fighting would all-be ended before I got into the line. No fear of

-that; I think we're in for another two years of it. There's hot work ahead—the

+that; I think we’re in for another two years of it. There’s hot work ahead—the

 hottest of the entire war. Oddly enough my spirits rise as the struggle

-promises to grow fiercer. I don't know why, unless it is that as the action

-quickens one has a chance of giving more. There's nothing sad about being

-wounded or dying for one's country. In this war one does so much more than

+promises to grow fiercer. I don’t know why, unless it is that as the action

+quickens one has a chance of giving more. There’s nothing sad about being

+wounded or dying for one’s country. In this war one does so much more than

 that—he dies for the whole of humanity.

 

 Outside my window a stretch of hedges runs down to a little brook. Ducks,

 geese, cocks and hens make farmyard noises from dawn till last thing at night.

 Above all the peace and quiet, the distant guns keep up their incessant

 murmur. What a variety of places are likely to shelter me before the summer is

-ended—woods, ditches, open fields, trenches. It's all in the game and is

-romance of a sort. I'm sunburnt and hard. I feel tremendously alive.

+ended—woods, ditches, open fields, trenches. It’s all in the game and is

+romance of a sort. I’m sunburnt and hard. I feel tremendously alive.

 

-Once again all the striving and ambition of literary success has vanished. I'm

-only a subaltern—and far prouder to be that than a writer. I'm estimated by

+Once again all the striving and ambition of literary success has vanished. I’m

+only a subaltern—and far prouder to be that than a writer. I’m estimated by

 none but my soldiering qualities and power to show guts. We were lawyers,

-engineers, business-men—now we're soldiers and inquire nothing of each other's

+engineers, business-men—now we’re soldiers and inquire nothing of each other’s

 past.

 

-A thrush has started singing; he's in the willows that stand by the brookside.

-The planes go purring overhead, but he doesn't care. He goes on singing

+A thrush has started singing; he’s in the willows that stand by the brookside.

+The planes go purring overhead, but he doesn’t care. He goes on singing

 towards the evening sun as though his heart knew nothing but joy. He will be

 here singing long after we have passed upon our way.

 

-Don't get worrying about my safety. You're sure to be feeling nervous at the

-wrong times, when I'm perfectly safe. Just feel glad that I'm allowed to be

-here, and don't look ahead.

+Don’t get worrying about my safety. You’re sure to be feeling nervous at the

+wrong times, when I’m perfectly safe. Just feel glad that I’m allowed to be

+here, and don’t look ahead.

 

 

 XLV

 

 France May 14, 1918

 

-I'm afraid you'll be feeling that I've neglected you. Whenever I miss a mail I

+I’m afraid you’ll be feeling that I’ve neglected you. Whenever I miss a mail I

 have the reproachful picture of the disappointed faces of you three at the

-early morning breakfast—so it isn't wilful neglect. I've had no time, for

-reasons which I can't explain. In this way of life one has to snatch the odd

+early morning breakfast—so it isn’t wilful neglect. I’ve had no time, for

+reasons which I can’t explain. In this way of life one has to snatch the odd

 moments for those he loves best and to break off when the sterner obligations

 intrude themselves.

 

-I'm in a beautiful part of the country at present—it must be beautiful, for it

+I’m in a beautiful part of the country at present—it must be beautiful, for it

 is providing us with three ducks for dinner to-night. I doubt whether you

 could get three all at once in Newark. Moreover, we can get all the fresh

-cream and butter that we like. Of course this won't last. Any morning we may

+cream and butter that we like. Of course this won’t last. Any morning we may

 wake up to find ourselves back on iron rations—bully-beef and hard tack. But

 while it lasts we make the most of it. The most ripping attraction to me is

-something that you'll scarcely credit. The willow-groves are full of

+something that you’ll scarcely credit. The willow-groves are full of

 nightingales. As you go back to your billets after midnight and the guns make

 lightning through the grill-work of the trees, you see the little brown

 fellows with their throats quivering, pouring out their song of love and

-spring. When you've crept into your sleeping-sack, you lie awake

+spring. When you’ve crept into your sleeping-sack, you lie awake

 listening—thinking of another world where love and life were once so certain.

 

 

@@ -2529,75 +2524,75 @@ country in which it would not be unbeautiful to die.
 When I went down this morning to the barn in which my section is stationed, I

 found notice printed on the door, on either side a British and American

 flag-and underneath a luridly illustrated Sunday magazine selection of

-extracts from The Glory of the Trenches. A small world, isn't it?

+extracts from The Glory of the Trenches. A small world, isn’t it?

 

-I have been reading a book lately that would interest you; it's by Ford Madox

+I have been reading a book lately that would interest you; it’s by Ford Madox

 Hueffer and is called On Heaven. It consists of a number of poems written

-while on active service. He's managed to put down in a rough and tumble of

-words a good many of our hungers and adorations. I hadn't realized before I

+while on active service. He’s managed to put down in a rough and tumble of

+words a good many of our hungers and adorations. I hadn’t realized before I

 read him how very much of the conversation of our soldiers is an exchange of

 confidences about the women they love or have loved. I believe every man at

 the Front has a hope of the girl he will be true to some day, and a fear

 lest——

 

-One of Hueffer's poems on the subject is very beautiful. It starts this way:

+One of Hueffer’s poems on the subject is very beautiful. It starts this way:

 

 

-    "In Chepstow stands a castle;

+    “In Chepstow stands a castle;

     My love and I went there;

     The foxgloves on the wall all heard

     Her footsteps on the stair.

     The sun was high in heaven

     And the perfume in the air

-    Came from purple cat's valerian—

+    Came from purple cat’s valerian—

     But her footsteps on the stair

     Made a sound like silver music

-    Thro' the perfume in the air."

+    Thro’ the perfume in the air.”

 

 

 The last verse sums up the dread of many a fighting-man—that all his dreams

 are only dreams, and that a return to reality may disappoint him:

 

 

-    "And another soldier fellow

+    “And another soldier fellow

     Shall come courting of my dear.

-    And it's I shall not be with her

+    And it’s I shall not be with her

     With my lip beside her ear.

-    For it's he shall walk beside her

+    For it’s he shall walk beside her

     In the perfume of the air

     To the silver, silver music

-    Of her footstep on the stair."

+    Of her footstep on the stair.”

 

 

-All the world's idealists are in the trenches by now. What a shining cloud of

+All the world’s idealists are in the trenches by now. What a shining cloud of

 imaginings must rise up to the Soul which lies behind the world. God must be

 amazed to find that horror can make His obstinate creations so simple and

 childlike. Here are millions of us who once thought only of our social and

 individual bellies, now thinking only of the unborn children and the things of

 the spirit. All the fond and dear accepted affections have become a kind of

-heaven that lies in the past instead of the future. If we die we don't want

-any heaven that isn't a re-living of the old happy memories.

+heaven that lies in the past instead of the future. If we die we don’t want

+any heaven that isn’t a re-living of the old happy memories.

 

 I find that Hueffer expresses a feeling that many of us have secretly, but

 which I have never heard any man acknowledge—the feeling that all the

 remainder of his days he will have to be explaining if he comes to the end of

 the war alive—almost the feeling that he will have lost his great chance of

-nobility by not dying. Hueffer's poem is called One Day's List; it's a list of

+nobility by not dying. Hueffer’s poem is called One Day’s List; it’s a list of

 three officers and 270 other ranks of his regiment who were killed in action.

 It commences:

 

 

-    "My dears,

+    “My dears,

     The rain drips down on Rouen Town,

     The leaves drip down

     And so the mud

-    Turns orange brown."

+    Turns orange brown.”

 

 

 And it has for its refrain

 

 

-    "But you—at least—are out of it."

+    “But you—at least—are out of it.”

 

 

 It goes on to tell of the officers who fell, and repeats the reflection which

@@ -2605,23 +2600,23 @@ we all have when we gaze on the dead at the end of an attack and know that we
 ourselves have escaped:

 

 

-    "One wonders why you died."

+    “One wonders why you died.”

 

 

 And then,

 

 

-    "We never talked of glory,

+    “We never talked of glory,

     And each thought a lot of one girl

     And waited most days for hours in the rain

     Till she came:

-    But we never talked of Fame——"

+    But we never talked of Fame——”

 

 

 And lastly, addressing the dead,

 

 

-    "But we who remain shall grow old,

+    “But we who remain shall grow old,

     We shall know the cold

     Of cheerless

     Winter and the rain of Autumn and the sting

@@ -2633,32 +2628,32 @@ And lastly, addressing the dead,
     And only you shall be for ever fearless,

     And only you have white, straight, tireless limbs,

     And only you, where the water-lily swims

-    Shall walk along the pathways, thro' the willows

+    Shall walk along the pathways, thro’ the willows

     Of your west.

     You who went west,

     And only you on silvery twilight pillows

     Shall take your rest

     In the soft sweet glooms,

-    Of twilight rooms——"

+    Of twilight rooms——”

 

 

-There's the whole of our one and only cowardice in a nut-shell—that we, who

+There’s the whole of our one and only cowardice in a nut-shell—that we, who

 have posed as conquerors for a while, will, if we survive, return to the

 normal things of life to find our spirits unexalted and the commonplace still

 commonplace.

 

-Out here, where there are corpses in the thistles and "the gas-shells burst

-like snow," we can talk of "the silver, silver music of her footsteps on the

-stair," but we're mortally afraid that in less exultant moments, when the

-heart is not so starved for affection, we shall discover that the "silver

-music" is only the irritating sound of squeaky shoes.

+Out here, where there are corpses in the thistles and “the gas-shells burst

+like snow,” we can talk of “the silver, silver music of her footsteps on the

+stair,” but we’re mortally afraid that in less exultant moments, when the

+heart is not so starved for affection, we shall discover that the “silver

+music” is only the irritating sound of squeaky shoes.

 

-I can't hear from you again for at least six days—a long time to wait! I can't

+I can’t hear from you again for at least six days—a long time to wait! I can’t

 be bothered nowadays to let the mail-clerk sort out the letters: I grab the

 bag and go through it myself.

 

 There may be an interval between this letter and those that follow. If there

-is, don't worry yourselves. It is not possible to find the time or place to

+is, don’t worry yourselves. It is not possible to find the time or place to

 write under all circumstances.

 

 

@@ -2666,29 +2661,29 @@ XLVII
 

 France June 1, 1918

 

-I can't remember when last I wrote you. It isn't always easy to get the time.

-Recently I've spent a good many hours in the saddle and have been up early in

+I can’t remember when last I wrote you. It isn’t always easy to get the time.

+Recently I’ve spent a good many hours in the saddle and have been up early in

 the morning; when work is done the fresh air leaves one too tired for anything

-but sleep. But you mustn't worry about me. I'm stronger than I've been for

+but sleep. But you mustn’t worry about me. I’m stronger than I’ve been for

 months, and tanned to the colour of an Indian.

 

 I have recently met the doctor who did so much to pull me through at the

-Casualty Clearing Station when I was wounded last June. He's still the same

+Casualty Clearing Station when I was wounded last June. He’s still the same

 tall, thin, silent man, with the kindest and sternest of faces. His brother,

 he tells me, is in America on the British Mission, and had informed him of

-America's immense preparations. Like all the men out here, I found him keenly

+America’s immense preparations. Like all the men out here, I found him keenly

 eager to see the U.S.A. proportionately represented in the Front line. We are

 holding, and counting on the States to turn the tide dramatically in our

-favour. Our chaps are to calm and confident of success—out here there's none

+favour. Our chaps are to calm and confident of success—out here there’s none

 of the strain and nervousness which are felt by civilians. Our chaps are as

-philosophical and cheery as ever. "Good old Fritz," they say, "so he's taken

-another fifteen miles! Well, it'll be our turn next." Through defeat and

+philosophical and cheery as ever. “Good old Fritz,” they say, “so he’s taken

+another fifteen miles! Well, it’ll be our turn next.” Through defeat and

 success we carry on quite normally and unperturbed, confident of ultimate

 victory. The general opinion is that the Hun by his advances is only causing

-himself a lot of unnecessary trouble, as he'll have a longer distance to run

+himself a lot of unnecessary trouble, as he’ll have a longer distance to run

 back to Germany.

 

-Here's the first of June and mid-summer approaching when so many pleasant

+Here’s the first of June and mid-summer approaching when so many pleasant

 things used to happen—flights to the country, the purchasing of bathing-suits,

 fishing-nets, maps—the planning of such quantities of family adventures. It

 would be happy to think that some of these old pleasures might return one day.

@@ -2698,7 +2693,7 @@ grows blurred except the present, with the early risings, routine, orders,
 marches, and attacks. To be given our freedom would leave us dazed.

 

 This will probably reach you after you have left New York and settled down for

-the holidays in some quiet country place. There's only one spot which seems

+the holidays in some quiet country place. There’s only one spot which seems

 permanent in our family life—the little grey shack among the orchards in the

 Rockies. My thoughts fly to it very often these hot summer days. I see the

 lake like a blue mirror, reflecting the mountains and the clouds. I hear the

@@ -2713,7 +2708,7 @@ former beauties. I go forward happily, believing that any bend of the future
 may bring the old kindnesses into view again.

 

 The old haunting dream of Blighty is growing up in me once again—the Blighty

-we speak of, think of, worship and imagine every hour of the day. It's worth

+we speak of, think of, worship and imagine every hour of the day. It’s worth

 being wounded if only to wake up the first morning in the long white English

 ward, with the gold-green sunlight dripping in from the leaves through the

 open windows. These are the exquisite moments of peace and rest which come to

@@ -2723,19 +2718,19 @@ my share; they are happy to remember.
 And the war goes on and on. I was so afraid that it would be ended before ever

 I got back. The fear was needless. I shall be out here at least another year

 before peace is declared. There are times when I think that the Americans are

-not so far wrong in their guess when they give themselves "four years to do

-this job." The Hun may be desperate; his very energy may be a proof of his

+not so far wrong in their guess when they give themselves “four years to do

+this job.” The Hun may be desperate; his very energy may be a proof of his

 exhaustion. But his death struggle is too vigorously successful to promise any

 very rapid end. Our hope is in America, with her high courage, her sacrifice,

 and her millions of men. If she had not joined us, we would still stand here

 chaffingly and be battered till not one of us was left. The last one would die

-with the smile of victory on his mouth. Whatever happens, they'll never catch

+with the smile of victory on his mouth. Whatever happens, they’ll never catch

 any British fighting-man owning that his tail is down. But the thought of the

 American millions gives us confidence that, though we are wiped out, we shall

 not have lost. Like runners in a relay race, though we are spent, the pace we

 have set will enable those who come after us to win in the last lap.

 

-But don't worry about me. I'm having a splendid run for my money, and am far

+But don’t worry about me. I’m having a splendid run for my money, and am far

 more happy than I deserve.

 

 

@@ -2750,15 +2745,15 @@ Either the ship has gone down or some other calamity has happened. I now
 promise myself that to-morrow there will be a huge package of belated mail for

 me.

 

-We're travelling very light at present. The first thing I did on my return was

+We’re travelling very light at present. The first thing I did on my return was

 to cut down my kit to the barest necessities and send all the balance back to

-England. It's better to have it safe in London, if out of immediate reach,

+England. It’s better to have it safe in London, if out of immediate reach,

 than to have to abandon it in a ditch or shell-hole. While the summer lasts

 there are a great number of things that one can do without.

 

 What an unsportsmanly crowd the Germans are! I think more than anything else

 it will be their lack of fair play that we shall hold against them when war is

-ended. Yesterday at the Pope's request we were foolish enough to refrain from

+ended. Yesterday at the Pope’s request we were foolish enough to refrain from

 bombing Cologne, so the Hun took the opportunity to both bomb and shell the

 Catholics of Paris. It makes one itch to grab a bayonet and go over the top to

 do him as much damage as opportunity will allow. The Hun is educating us out

@@ -2776,15 +2771,15 @@ while a peasant woman walked beside with her best hat carried in a paper-bag
 in her hand. That was very typical—in all the ruin that had befallen a home to

 still cling to the best hat.

 

-I'm very happy and well, living almost entirely in the open and in the saddle

+I’m very happy and well, living almost entirely in the open and in the saddle

 a good part of the day. The part of France I have lived in since my return is

 by far the cleanest and most beautiful that I have seen on active service. The

 weather has been golden and glorious. There is none of that fear in our hearts

-that you must experience for us. We're as certain of victory as we were during

+that you must experience for us. We’re as certain of victory as we were during

 the days of the big Vimy advance.

 

 The Army is a nursery organization, full of annoying pomposities and amusing

-class distinctions. Just at present we're being pestered with continual

+class distinctions. Just at present we’re being pestered with continual

 inspections, when each battery tries to invent some new trick for making

 itself look smarter. Soldiers, on such occasions, are like a lot of old women

 at a spring cleaning. The men much prefer killing Boches to being inspected.

@@ -2793,7 +2788,7 @@ fortunes on polish for the harness all seem such a fruitless waste of time
 when the Huns are hammering our line. But, of course, cleanliness has a moral

 effect on men who have been long under shell-fire.

 

-This is a discursive sort of letter, and doesn't contain much real news. It's

+This is a discursive sort of letter, and doesn’t contain much real news. It’s

 just for remembrance.

 

 

@@ -2801,9 +2796,9 @@ XLIX
 

 France June 4, 1918

 

-I've just left the gramophone shrilly declaring that "When he fancies he is

+I’ve just left the gramophone shrilly declaring that “When he fancies he is

 past love, it is then he meets his last love and he loves her as he never

-loved before." London comes with us to the Front. We hum the tunes of

+loved before.” London comes with us to the Front. We hum the tunes of

 Piccadilly and Leicester Square, and we scheme such splendid times for our

 return. Leave has opened up again, but by a careful calculation I have

 discovered that it will take twenty-one years four months and three days till

@@ -2811,41 +2806,41 @@ my turn comes round at the present rate of allotments.
 

 Some New York papers have just arrived and an exceedingly ancient cake, but no

 letters. In the midst of a great offensive it is wonderful that anything gets

-to us at all. We're as far away from you both in reality and imagination as

+to us at all. We’re as far away from you both in reality and imagination as

 though we lived in a different world. Our standards of conduct, normality,

 right living are not your standards—our hopes and fears are all different.

 Again, as when I first came to the Front, everything civilian seems a tale I

 have read about. I cannot believe that that person who was in New York last

 October was really myself. I rather wonder at him and at his capacity for

-writing about the commonplace events of the present life. Now I couldn't write

+writing about the commonplace events of the present life. Now I couldn’t write

 a line about the war if my life depended on it. I see nothing in perspective

 except the endless path of duty which leads on ahead as each day introduces

 itself. To what goal that path leads I sometimes try to guess—to something

 wonderful and unforeseen, I have no doubt.

 

 I judge from what I read that the entire world which is not at the Front is

-anxious and depressed. We're just the same as ever—cheery and waiting whatever

+anxious and depressed. We’re just the same as ever—cheery and waiting whatever

 may befall with a stoicism born of confidence. Our belief in ourselves, our

 cause, and our ability to win, never wavers. How extraordinarily normal we are

 you could hardly imagine. The moment our men get out of the trenches they

-begin to play baseball, football, cricket, etc. There's a big lake near to

+begin to play baseball, football, cricket, etc. There’s a big lake near to

 where we are with red cliffs around it. Here every evening you can see the

 poised white figures of soldiermen. Last Sunday we held aquatic sports there,

-and had a fine display of swimming. It's wonderful to see the chaps so happy

+and had a fine display of swimming. It’s wonderful to see the chaps so happy

 when you remember that nine-tenths of their companions of this time last year

 are either wounded or dead. As you may guess, we never in our conversation

 call attention to this fact, though there can be few, if any, who forget.

 

-There are children where we are at present. It's amusing to see them making

+There are children where we are at present. It’s amusing to see them making

 friends with our boys. They slip their little paws into the big brown hands

 and toddle along quite proudly.

 

-I don't see how anyone could help loving our men—they're so simple. Their

+I don’t see how anyone could help loving our men—they’re so simple. Their

 faults, when you know the hearts which they hide, become endearing. I think,

-especially when I see them with the French kiddies, "Of such are the Kingdom

-of Heaven."

+especially when I see them with the French kiddies, “Of such are the Kingdom

+of Heaven.”

 

-Please thank the donor of the cake which arrived to-day. We're eating it—don't

+Please thank the donor of the cake which arrived to-day. We’re eating it—don’t

 tell her it was dry.

 

 

@@ -2853,7 +2848,7 @@ L
 

 France June 7,1918

 

-Here's a glorious summer evening—the end of a perfect day, during which I have

+Here’s a glorious summer evening—the end of a perfect day, during which I have

 done my share in capturing two German spies, who now repose unrestfully in our

 guard-room.

 

@@ -2869,9 +2864,9 @@ for dispersing enemy cavalry which ought to be effective. Believe me, two mad
 mules, going thirty miles an hour with an iron roller behind them, are utterly

 demoralizing. It is impossible for any cavalry in the world to withstand them.

 

-You don't know, can't guess, how letters from home buck me up and keep the

+You don’t know, can’t guess, how letters from home buck me up and keep the

 lamp of my ideals still burning. There are moments when the mere mechanical

-side of warfare fills one's mind with an infinite depression. One sees men

+side of warfare fills one’s mind with an infinite depression. One sees men

 doing splendid acts, day in day out, like automatons animated by the spring of

 duty. One almost forgets that there is any human element of choice in the

 matter, or a difference between fighting and fighting well. When your pages

@@ -2879,8 +2874,8 @@ come, I remember—remember that just such affections and human ties bind the
 hearts of all who are out here to life. I begin to see my chaps as

 personalities again and not as only soldiers.

 

-Outside the chaps are singing "O my, I don't want to die; I want to go home."

-Now they've changed to "Take me Over to Blighty."

+Outside the chaps are singing “O my, I don’t want to die; I want to go home.”

+Now they’ve changed to “Take me Over to Blighty.”

 

 

 LI

@@ -2892,7 +2887,7 @@ meet you in London when you all came in 1917 from America. Seeing her again
 brought back all sorts of memories of the depressions and exaltations of other

 days. I think I have been both sadder and more happy since the war began than

 in all the other years of my life. And I used to write about the world not as

-it is, but about the world as I would have made it, had I been God. Now I'm

+it is, but about the world as I would have made it, had I been God. Now I’m

 trying to see things as they are, with the inevitable God shining through

 them. Here, at the Front, God is everywhere apparent—but not the cathedral God

 I had imagined—not the majestic God with sublime uplifted eyes which know

@@ -2905,16 +2900,16 @@ eternal. For us He has again become flesh—He is our comrade; He is the man
 upon our left and our right hand, who goes into battle with us; He is our

 dead. We cannot escape Him; the pettinesses of our sins are forgotten in the

 resemblance of our neighbours to His majesty. Nowadays I cannot think of the

-poet's Christ, wandering through Galilean lilies in a woman's robes. It's His

+poet’s Christ, wandering through Galilean lilies in a woman’s robes. It’s His

 manly death, His white timeless body on the Cross that I remember. Without

-Calvary all His words would have been unconvincing and He Himself a dreamer's

+Calvary all His words would have been unconvincing and He Himself a dreamer’s

 fancy. It was only on the Cross that Christ became flesh—all that went before

 is like a lovely legend gradually materializing in the atmosphere of tragedy.

-God save us from being always happy. It's the chance of being always happy

-that I dread most after the war. There's a terrible corpulence about happiness

+God save us from being always happy. It’s the chance of being always happy

+that I dread most after the war. There’s a terrible corpulence about happiness

 which borders very closely on physical grossness. To strive and keep on

 striving—that is what I want for the world when war is ended, and to have to

-pay with sacrifice for each advance. I don't think any of us who come back

+pay with sacrifice for each advance. I don’t think any of us who come back

 will covet virtue as our goal, save in as far as virtue embraces everything

 that is meant by manliness. To be virtuous in the original sense was just

 that—to be physically perfect.

@@ -2924,57 +2919,57 @@ has called out, transplanted into the civilian world. I so fear that with
 peace those qualities may be debased and lost.

 

 More than anything else the gramophone makes me remember the old days and the

-old aims and desires. It's the greatest miracle of the century that Caruso and

+old aims and desires. It’s the greatest miracle of the century that Caruso and

 Harry Lauder and George Robey, with all the best of music and laughter-makers,

 can step into our dug-out from the point of a needle. When we move, whatever

 else is left behind, the gramophone always goes. It travels in G.S. wagons, on

-the foot-board of limbers—in all sorts of ways. We're feeling sentimental; we

-crank up the canned music. Above the roar of the guns we hear, "All that I

-want is someone to love me, and to love me well." We're feeling merry, so we

-dance to "Arizona." All the world of forgotten pleasures can come to us

+the foot-board of limbers—in all sorts of ways. We’re feeling sentimental; we

+crank up the canned music. Above the roar of the guns we hear, “All that I

+want is someone to love me, and to love me well.” We’re feeling merry, so we

+dance to “Arizona.” All the world of forgotten pleasures can come to us

 through that needle-point. And I—whenever it starts—I see home pictures——

 

 Then in an extraordinarily poignant way I feel earnest to have lived, loved,

 done something big before I die. Everything already done seems insignificant

-and worthless. It's the feeling which you once called "divine discontent."

+and worthless. It’s the feeling which you once called “divine discontent.”

 

-It's evening, as it always is when I write to you. Next door a little refugee

+It’s evening, as it always is when I write to you. Next door a little refugee

 child is chanting his prayers under the direction of his father. One can hear

 the humming of planes overhead. A funny world! How persistent the religious

 instinct is, that men should still credit God when their hearts are bankrupt!

 

-Good-night, I'm going to bed now.

+Good-night, I’m going to bed now.

 

 

 LII

 

 France June 12, 1918

 

-With me it's 6.30 in the evening. I'm sitting in a farmhouse overlooking the

+With me it’s 6.30 in the evening. I’m sitting in a farmhouse overlooking the

 usual French farmyard. The chickens fly in at the window—also the cats. The

 window is my own mode of entrance; I feel like a burglar when I enter my

-"bedroom" in this fashion after midnight. Two other officers share the floor

+“bedroom” in this fashion after midnight. Two other officers share the floor

 with me—literally the floor, for we use our sleeping-sacks.

 

-There's a little boy about three, with long hair, so that at first we mistook

+There’s a little boy about three, with long hair, so that at first we mistook

 him for a girl, who has become the temporary mascot of the battery. He carries

 the broken remains of a toy rifle and falls in with the men on parades,

-holding one of the fellows' hands. He's picked up the detail for "'Shun!" and

-"Stand at Ease!" and carries out the orders as smartly as anyone, looking

-terrifically serious about it. The men call him "little sister" on account of

+holding one of the fellows’ hands. He’s picked up the detail for “'Shun!” and

+“Stand at Ease!” and carries out the orders as smartly as anyone, looking

+terrifically serious about it. The men call him “little sister” on account of

 his appearance, and make him a great pet. I left him sobbing his heart out

 to-day when I had to leave him behind after he had fallen in with a squad of

 riflemen.

 

-There's a genuine little girl who is our friend, of whom I am even fonder.

-She's a refugee kiddy of about thirteen—slim and pretty as a fairy, with a

+There’s a genuine little girl who is our friend, of whom I am even fonder.

+She’s a refugee kiddy of about thirteen—slim and pretty as a fairy, with a

 long corn-gold plait of hair down her back.

 

 As soon as we start the gramophone going she peeps noiselessly as a spirit

 through the window; then one of us lifts her across the sill and she sits on

 our knees with her face hidden shyly against our shoulders.

 

-I'm at present reading Gulliver's Travels. That I should be reading them in

+I’m at present reading Gulliver’s Travels. That I should be reading them in

 such different circumstances from any that Swift could have imagined, kindles

 the art of writing books into a new romance. To be remembered years after you

 yourself have forgotten, to have men prying into the workings of a brain which

@@ -2983,7 +2978,7 @@ immortality. To be forgotten—that is what we most dread. Never to have
 happened would not matter; but to have happened, to have walked the world,

 laughed, loved, created, and then to be treated as though we had not happened,

 there lies the sting of death. The thought of extinction offends our vanity;

-we had thought that we were of more consequence to the universe. It doesn't

+we had thought that we were of more consequence to the universe. It doesn’t

 comfort us to be recalled impersonally in the mass, as the men who captured

 Vimy or thrust the Hun back from some dangerous objective. In the mass we

 shall go down through history, no doubt, but not as human beings—only as

@@ -3003,8 +2998,8 @@ There is nothing to resent,—quite the contrary. Only, now and then creeps in
 the selfish longing that we may be remembered not as soldiers, but as what we

 were—in our weakness as well as in our strength.

 

-You're in a country place where I have not been and which I cannot picture. I

-hope you're all enjoying yourselves. There's no need to worry on my account.

+You’re in a country place where I have not been and which I cannot picture. I

+hope you’re all enjoying yourselves. There’s no need to worry on my account.

 

 

 LIII

@@ -3027,29 +3022,29 @@ admiration of sorts.
 The country is lovely and green now, all except the immediate battle-line.

 Birds sing, flowers bloom, and fleecy white clouds go drifting overhead. One

 takes chance baths in chance-found brooks, and the men spread their tents in

-the meadows. There's everything that life can offer to tempt us to go on

+the meadows. There’s everything that life can offer to tempt us to go on

 living at present. There are moments so happy that I almost wish that you

 could be here to share them.

 

-To-day I'm out of touch—no letters have arrived. Perhaps they will overtake us

+To-day I’m out of touch—no letters have arrived. Perhaps they will overtake us

 tomorrow. A thrush is singing in the monastery garden and the slow blue

 twilight is falling. Mingling as an accompaniment to the song of the thrush is

 the slow continual droning of a plane. The reminders of war are persistent and

 incessant. Nevertheless, in spite of war, I found a strawberry patch this

 afternoon and glutted myself.

 

-I see by to-day's paper that a racket has started on the Italian front. The

+I see by to-day’s paper that a racket has started on the Italian front. The

 Central Powers are declaring their weakness by striking out in too many

-directions. We give and we give, but we never break. We're waiting for America

+directions. We give and we give, but we never break. We’re waiting for America

 and her millions. How long before we can count on them to help us to attack?

 

-It's extraordinary how the belief in America has grown. First of all we said,

-"She has come in too late"; then, "She'll help us to win more quickly"; and

-now, "We need her." If America has done nothing else, she has strengthened our

+It’s extraordinary how the belief in America has grown. First of all we said,

+“She has come in too late”; then, “She’ll help us to win more quickly”; and

+now, “We need her.” If America has done nothing else, she has strengthened our

 moral all along the line; we fight better because we know that she is behind

 us.

 

-You're somewhere where the world is intensely quiet. I shall think of you

+You’re somewhere where the world is intensely quiet. I shall think of you

 where the world is happy.

 

 

@@ -3057,7 +3052,7 @@ LIV
 

 France June 20, 1918

 

-I've just finished reading a big batch of mail, and have had dinner and now

+I’ve just finished reading a big batch of mail, and have had dinner and now

 sit looking out on the drenched country which is covered with a shabby evening

 sky. In the church, which adjoins the monastery in which I stay, monks are

 chanting. They are always chanting. One wonders for what it is that they pray;

@@ -3067,35 +3062,35 @@ Marie Odelle; our scenery is similar to that pictured in the play. Strange how
 one goes to imagination in search of illustrations of reality!

 

 You, at your end, seem to have been having some wildly exciting times with

-your processions in which the Kaiser has been publicly done away with. It's a

+your processions in which the Kaiser has been publicly done away with. It’s a

 phase which all countries go through, I suppose. England did at the beginning

 of the war. But now we entrain for the Front without bands playing, and do our

-best not to attract attention. We're a little ashamed of arousing other

-people's emotions on our behalf. All we want is a "Cheerio and God bless You,"

-for our good-bye. If we come back, it will be "jolly fine"; and if we don't,

-"C'est la guerre"—we shrug our shoulders. In either event we see no reason why

+best not to attract attention. We’re a little ashamed of arousing other

+people’s emotions on our behalf. All we want is a “Cheerio and God bless You,”

+for our good-bye. If we come back, it will be “jolly fine”; and if we don’t,

+“C’est la guerre”—we shrug our shoulders. In either event we see no reason why

 the feelings should be harrowed of those who stop behind.

 

 After a series of very early morning rises, I have been picturing to myself

 the day when I once again wake up at the Ritz, with a camouflaged foreigner to

 bring my breakfast to my pillow and then leave me in peace till twelve

-o'clock. I wonder now why I ever left my bed in peace times and find myself

+o’clock. I wonder now why I ever left my bed in peace times and find myself

 marvelling at my unnecessary energy. The French patriot who held receptions

 and did the business of the day while sitting in a bath of milk, had mastered

 the art of life. Unfortunately, if I remember rightly, he was made a glaring

-example of sloth by being "done in" while thus pleasurably occupied.

+example of sloth by being “done in” while thus pleasurably occupied.

 

-I'm off to do my rounds as orderly officer now. My sergeant is waiting, so, as

-the men say, "I must ring off."

+I’m off to do my rounds as orderly officer now. My sergeant is waiting, so, as

+the men say, “I must ring off.”

 

 

 LV

 

 France June 23, 1918

 

-Here I sit on a summer's evening in the red-tiled kitchen of an old farmhouse.

+Here I sit on a summer’s evening in the red-tiled kitchen of an old farmhouse.

 Immediately under the open window to my right is the inevitable

-manure-heap—the size of which, they say, denotes the extent of the farmer's

+manure-heap—the size of which, they say, denotes the extent of the farmer’s

 wealth. Barn-roofs, ochre-red, shine vividly in the pale gold of the sunset;

 at the end of the yard the walls fall away, giving the glimpse of an orchard

 with gnarled, lichen-covered fruit-trees. All kinds of birds are twittering

@@ -3106,65 +3101,65 @@ Canadians. Every now and then a forlorn group will come trailing down the road
 between the hedges: an old tumbledown cart, drawn by an old tumble-down horse,

 piled and pyramided dangerously high with old tumble-down furniture. The

 people who accompany the vehicle are usually ancient and tumbledown as well.

-They make me recall someone's description of the Irish emigrants on the St.

-Lawrence, travelling with "ragged poverty on their backs." In contrast with

+They make me recall someone’s description of the Irish emigrants on the St.

+Lawrence, travelling with “ragged poverty on their backs.” In contrast with

 these few straggling fugitives, hounded by avaricious fear, is the calm of a

 country billowy with grain and sociable with the grinning contentment of

 quite-at-home British Tommies. Everything in their attitude seems to assure

-the French peasant, "Don't worry, old dear. We're here. Everything's all

-right." From barns and houses and bivouacs come the sounds of gramophones,

+the French peasant, “Don’t worry, old dear. We’re here. Everything’s all

+right.” From barns and houses and bivouacs come the sounds of gramophones,

 playing selections from quite the latest musical comedies. If you wander back

 into the fields you will find horsemen going over the jumps, men playing

 baseball and cricket, officers getting excited over tennis. We even held our

-Divisional Sports the other day—and this in the midst of the war's greatest

-offensive. This "'Arf a mo', Kaiser," attitude of the Canadians would give you

+Divisional Sports the other day—and this in the midst of the war’s greatest

+offensive. This “'Arf a mo’, Kaiser,” attitude of the Canadians would give you

 some idea of the esteem in which we hold the Hun. Our backs are not against

 the wall. We still have both the time and the inclination to be sportsmen and

-to laugh. I'm sure the enemy, grimly obsessed by the idea of breaking our

+to laugh. I’m sure the enemy, grimly obsessed by the idea of breaking our

 line, never allows himself a moment for recreation, and I should think his

 balloon-observers, spying on us from the baskets of his distant sausages, must

-be very chagrined by our frivolity. The papers say, and very probably they're

+be very chagrined by our frivolity. The papers say, and very probably they’re

 right, that German strategists are far ahead of those possessed by the Allies;

 but our men have learnt a trick worth all the strategy—they have learnt to

 laugh both in success and adversity. In this war, I believe we shall find that

 he who has acquired the habit of a light heart will do the laughing last. I

 should very much like to know how many gramophones travel with the German

-Tommies; hardly any, I'll bet. They have their bands with their patriotic

+Tommies; hardly any, I’ll bet. They have their bands with their patriotic

 music, keeping always before the men the singleness of their purpose. The

 singleness of their purpose tires them out. On our side of the line patriotism

-is the last thing you hear about. Thank God, we've got time to forget it.

+is the last thing you hear about. Thank God, we’ve got time to forget it.

 

 Whenever I start trying to explain to you the psychology of our fighting-men

-I'm always conscious that, even while I'm telling you the absolute truth, with

-the same words I'm creating a wrong impression. Fighting-men aren't

-magnificent most of the time; they're not idealists; they're not heroic. Very

-often they're petty and cynical and cowards. They're only magnificent and

+I’m always conscious that, even while I’m telling you the absolute truth, with

+the same words I’m creating a wrong impression. Fighting-men aren’t

+magnificent most of the time; they’re not idealists; they’re not heroic. Very

+often they’re petty and cynical and cowards. They’re only magnificent and

 idealistic and heroic in the decision that brought them here, and in the last

 supreme moment when they bring their decision to fulfilment.

 

 In a letter I received from Paris the other day the puzzle of the modern

-soldier was very well expressed. "I don't believe," it said, "I will ever get

-used to the courage of the men who go on and on with this terrible game. I'm

+soldier was very well expressed. “I don’t believe,” it said, “I will ever get

+used to the courage of the men who go on and on with this terrible game. I’m

 thinking more now of the French and the British soldiers, who are mended up

 only to go at it again. I never can get used to it or take it as a matter of

 course. When I think for a minute how it hurts to have a tooth filled, I

-wonder that all the armies of the world don't get up and run away from each

-other of one accord—every one who isn't a hero or a fool, that's to say."

+wonder that all the armies of the world don’t get up and run away from each

+other of one accord—every one who isn’t a hero or a fool, that’s to say.”

 

 When I think over the problem calmly I have the same wonder. The problem was

 so neatly expressed that I read the passage out to the mess. They stopped in a

-round of poker to listen. "Well, which are we," I asked; "heroes or fools?"

-"Fools," they said unanimously, and then went on playing their hands again.

-They're right; we are fools. We're certainly not heroes. We're fools for a

-kind of kingdom of heaven's sake—but we don't act like the heaven part of it

+round of poker to listen. “Well, which are we,” I asked; “heroes or fools?”

+“Fools,” they said unanimously, and then went on playing their hands again.

+They’re right; we are fools. We’re certainly not heroes. We’re fools for a

+kind of kingdom of heaven’s sake—but we don’t act like the heaven part of it

 any more than we talk about our patriotism. Any mention of either would make

 us shudder.

 

-I wonder what motive brought the heathen Chinee to the Western Front. I've

-been told that he came that he might buy food for his family, because there's

+I wonder what motive brought the heathen Chinee to the Western Front. I’ve

+been told that he came that he might buy food for his family, because there’s

 a famine in China. Maybe. His bronze face stares up into ours from out the

 green-gold of the standing wheat—stares up into ours with the inscrutable gaze

-of an age-old Buddha. He's the one human being on the Western Front who

+of an age-old Buddha. He’s the one human being on the Western Front who

 neither by acts nor words explains his nobility. Nobility there must have been

 to induce him to come; no reasoning creature would have jeopardized his body

 out of lust.

@@ -3182,47 +3177,47 @@ LVI
 

 France June 27, 1918

 

-Here's a glorious June morning with a touch of chill in the air and a jolly

+Here’s a glorious June morning with a touch of chill in the air and a jolly

 gold sun shooting arrows into the wheatfields. The chief sound I hear is the

 rattling of head-chains, for the drivers are hard at work shining up their

-harness. These summer days go by very pleasantly, but they throw one's

+harness. These summer days go by very pleasantly, but they throw one’s

 thoughts back a little wistfully to the Junes of other years—especially those

 in which the train came skidding down the mountains from Spokane to the ranch

 and the lake. All day, from first waking in the morning, we begin to gamble on

-our chances with the mail. It arrives any time between two and five o'clock;

+our chances with the mail. It arrives any time between two and five o’clock;

 the evening passes in reading and re-reading our letters and concocting

-replies. I think some letters from you are nearly due again and I'm hoping for

+replies. I think some letters from you are nearly due again and I’m hoping for

 one this afternoon.

 

 I think I mentioned that our battery has a French baby boy of three for its

 mascot, just at present. He has been christened Bully Beef, but for what

-reason I don't know. Bully Beef falls in beside the Sergeant-Major on all

+reason I don’t know. Bully Beef falls in beside the Sergeant-Major on all

 parades. During stables he inspects the horses, toddling round the lines and

 hanging on to the finger of an officer. The other day he fell into the river

 while the horses were watering. No one noticed his disappearance for a minute

 or two; then he was discovered standing nearly chin-deep, doing a very quiet

 cry. He was consoled with pennies, and I undertook to lead him up to his

-mother. There are many stories about Bully Beef's origin. Some say that his

+mother. There are many stories about Bully Beef’s origin. Some say that his

 father is a rich Frenchman already married; others, a dead poilu; others, a

 sergeant of a Highland Division which was encamped in this neighbourhood. His

-mother is an exceedingly pretty French girl and she is not married. I can't

-help feeling that Bully Beef must be half British, for he isn't timid like a

+mother is an exceedingly pretty French girl and she is not married. I can’t

+help feeling that Bully Beef must be half British, for he isn’t timid like a

 French child. On the contrary, he hides in the hedges and throws stones at us

 when he is offended, and has a finely exaggerated sense of his childish

-dignity. What memories he'll have when he's become a man.

+dignity. What memories he’ll have when he’s become a man.

 

 There was another character I mentioned in a previous letter—I called him

-"Battling Brown "—the chap has D.S.O.'. and Military Crosses with bars to them

-and delights in putting on raids. I've since found that he cuts a notch in his

+“Battling Brown”—the chap has D.S.O. and Military Crosses with bars to them

+and delights in putting on raids. I’ve since found that he cuts a notch in his

 revolver for every Hun he has killed with it. His present weapon has eighteen

 notches and the wooden handle of the first is notched to pieces.

 

-It's refreshing to find a man on our side of the line who knows how to hate.

+It’s refreshing to find a man on our side of the line who knows how to hate.

 If we had hated more at the first, the war would be ended. Personally I can

 only hate ideas and nations—not persons; I acknowledge this as a weakness in

 myself.

 

-I don't think any of us realize quite how much war has changed us,

+I don’t think any of us realize quite how much war has changed us,

 particularly in our relations to sex. Women had grown discontented with being

 wives and mothers, and had proved that in many departments they could compete

 with men. This competition was responsible for a growing disrespect. Men were

@@ -3231,7 +3226,7 @@ were beginning to regard men with a quiet sex-contempt. It looked as if
 chivalry and all that made for knighthood were at an end. Then came war,

 calling men to a sacrifice in which women had no share—could not share because

 they were physically incapable of fighting—and women to the only contribution

-they could make, mercy and motherhood. We've been flung back on our primal

+they could make, mercy and motherhood. We’ve been flung back on our primal

 differences and virtues. War has cut the knotted sex-emancipation; we stand up

 to-day as elementally male and female as when the Garden of Eden was

 depopulated. Amongst our fighting-men, women actually hold the place which was

@@ -3242,7 +3237,7 @@ all women sacred. A new medievalism and asceticism have sprung out of our
 modern tragedy, enacted beneath the sea, on the land and in the clouds. The

 tragedy, while modern to us, is actually the oldest in the world—merely death.

 

-It's evening now. No letter from home came this afternoon.

+It’s evening now. No letter from home came this afternoon.

 

 

 LVII

@@ -3250,7 +3245,7 @@ LVII
 France July 4, 1918

 

 I am now attached with two guns to the infantry on a special job. I live with

-the battalion—speak about "our battalion," in fact—and share quarters with the

+the battalion—speak about “our battalion,” in fact—and share quarters with the

 Trench Mortar officer. The country is green and fragrant with dog-roses. The

 dead have been gathered up and lie in little scattered graveyards. Our living

 men spread their blankets between the mounds and at night hang their equipment

@@ -3271,14 +3266,14 @@ without knowing, bringing up with him a precious load of small-arms ammunition
 to his General, who was cut off by the enemy. He and his five men were given

 rifles, and together with the waifs and strays of many broken regiments held

 the line against the advance on Calais. Experiences such as that are worth

-living for; I'm hopeful that before I take off khaki I may be in something of

+living for; I’m hopeful that before I take off khaki I may be in something of

 the kind.

 

-You needn't think of me any more—at least for the present—as living in

+You needn’t think of me any more—at least for the present—as living in

 beastliness and corruption. I daresay the country where I am is almost as

 beautiful as where you are spending your holidays. The Hun did the Allies a

 good turn when he advanced, for he shoved us back out of the filth of three

-years' fighting into cleanness. One can see deserted cottages with their

+years’ fighting into cleanness. One can see deserted cottages with their

 gardens full of flowers, and green woods shaking their plumes against blue

 skies. At one of our halts the men did themselves very well with baskets of

 trout; they caught the trout by the simple expedient of flinging bombs into

@@ -3294,15 +3289,15 @@ France July 10, 1918
 I am delighted to see that every day the prophecies I made in Out to Win are

 coming true. The attack that the Americans put on on 4th July is, to my mind,

 one of the most significant things that has happened yet. Their battle-cry,

-"Lusitania," says everything in one word concerning their purpose in coming to

+“Lusitania,” says everything in one word concerning their purpose in coming to

 France. If I were a Hun I should find it more terrifying than the most

 astounding statements of armaments and men. I can picture the enemy in those

-old shell-holes of the Somme that I know so well. It's early morning, and a

+old shell-holes of the Somme that I know so well. It’s early morning, and a

 low white mist steals ghost-like over that vast graveyard, where crumbling

 trenches and broken entanglements mark the resting-places of the dead. The

 enemy would be sleepy-eyed with his long vigil, but with the vanishing of

 night he would fancy himself safe. Suddenly, hurled through the dawn, comes

-the cry, "Lusitania!" It must have sounded like the voice of conscience—the

+the cry, “Lusitania!” It must have sounded like the voice of conscience—the

 old and boasted sin for which medals were struck, the infamy of which was worn

 as a decoration, rising out of the past to exact suffering for suffering,

 panic for panic, blood for blood. Whoever chose that battle-cry was a poet—he

@@ -3312,27 +3307,27 @@ France has suffered in the flesh; through being in France she has learnt from
 the French the justice of passionate, punishing hate. I can think that

 somewhere beneath the Atlantic the bodies of murdered children sat up at that

 cry; I can believe that the souls of their mothers went over the top with

-those American boys. "Lusitania!" The white-hot anger of chivalry was in the

+those American boys. “Lusitania!” The white-hot anger of chivalry was in the

 cry.

 

 Yes, and we, too, are learning to hate. For years we have hesitated to

 dogmatize as to which side God favours; but now, since hospitals have been

-bombed and the women who came to nurse us have been slaughtered, Cromwell's

-religious arrogance has taken possession of our hearts—"Let God arise, and let

-His enemies be scattered." When it was only we men who were wounded and killed

+bombed and the women who came to nurse us have been slaughtered, Cromwell’s

+religious arrogance has taken possession of our hearts—“Let God arise, and let

+His enemies be scattered.” When it was only we men who were wounded and killed

 by the Hun we could afford to regard him with an amused tolerance, but

 now——This is how we have changed: we should welcome our chance to kill at

 close quarters and to forget mercy. This time last year we were proud to say

 that we had no personal animosity for the individual German; it sounded so

-strong and impartial. We don't feel that way now; can't feel that way. At

+strong and impartial. We don’t feel that way now; can’t feel that way. At

 last, because of our women who are dead, we have learnt the magnanimity of

 hatred. Germany has entered a new phase of the war—a phase which her

 persistent brutality has created. She will find no more smiling faces on our

-side of No Man's Land when she lifts up her hands, shouting "Kamerad!" We are

+side of No Man’s Land when she lifts up her hands, shouting “Kamerad!” We are

 not her comrades; we never shall be again so long as our race-memory lasts.

 Like Cain, the brand of murder is on her forehead and the hand of every living

 creature is against her. When she pleads with us her common humanity, we will

-answer "Lusitania!" and charge across the Golgotlias and the mists of the

+answer “Lusitania!” and charge across the Golgotlias and the mists of the

 dawn, driving her into oblivion with the bayonet. No truth of the spirit which

 her voice utters will ever be truth for us again. It has taken four years to

 teach us our lesson; we were slow; we gave quarter; but we have learnt.

@@ -3342,7 +3337,7 @@ LIX
 

 France July 11, 1918

 

-I've returned from being with the infantry and am back with my battery now.

+I’ve returned from being with the infantry and am back with my battery now.

 For the next few days I shall probably be out of touch with my incoming mail.

 

 I have spoken several times to you about the test of war; how it acknowledges

@@ -3357,8 +3352,8 @@ bareheaded. The sentence and the crime for which he had been sentenced were
 read aloud to him in an unsteady voice. When that was ended, an officer

 stepped forward and stripped the buttons and the badges of rank from his

 uniform. It was like a funeral at which his honour was buried. Under an

-escort, he was given "Right turn," and marched away to meet the balance of

-life that remained. In peace times he'd have been reckoned a decent-looking

+escort, he was given “Right turn,” and marched away to meet the balance of

+life that remained. In peace times he’d have been reckoned a decent-looking

 chap, a little smart, but handsome—the kind of fellow of whom some mother must

 have been proud and whom probably at least one girl loved. A tall chap,

 too—six foot at least. I see him standing in the strong sunlight, white-faced

@@ -3378,14 +3373,14 @@ LX
 France July 15, 1918

 

 The mail has just come up to us. The runner stuck his head into the hole in

-the trench where I live and shoved in a pile of letters. "How many for me?" I

-asked. "All of them," he said.

+the trench where I live and shoved in a pile of letters. “How many for me?” I

+asked. “All of them,” he said.

 

-I'm all alone at the battery, the major having gone forward to reconnoitre a

-position and all the other subalterns being away on duties—so I've had a quiet

+I’m all alone at the battery, the major having gone forward to reconnoitre a

+position and all the other subalterns being away on duties—so I’ve had a quiet

 time browsing through my correspondence. A Hun cat sits at the top of the

-dug-out across the trench and blinks at me. We found him on the position. He's

-fat and sleek and plausible-looking. I can't get it out of my mind that he's

+dug-out across the trench and blinks at me. We found him on the position. He’s

+fat and sleek and plausible-looking. I can’t get it out of my mind that he’s

 kept up his strength by battening on the corpses of his former owners. Between

 the guns there are two graves; one to an unknown British and the other to an

 unknown German soldier.

@@ -3399,12 +3394,12 @@ their battalions up to the fine. A brave, queer, battling world! If one lives
 to be old, he will talk about these days and persuade himself that he longs to

 be back, if the time ever comes when life has lost its challenge.

 

-The Hun doesn't seem to be so frisky as he was in March and April. Now that

-he's quieting down, we begin to lose our hatred and to speak of him more

-tolerantly again. But whatever may be said in his defence, he's a nasty

+The Hun doesn’t seem to be so frisky as he was in March and April. Now that

+he’s quieting down, we begin to lose our hatred and to speak of him more

+tolerantly again. But whatever may be said in his defence, he’s a nasty

 fellow.

 

-Since I started this letter I've dined, done a lot of work, watched a

+Since I started this letter I’ve dined, done a lot of work, watched a

 marvellous sunset, and received orders to push up forward very early in the

 morning. I shall probably send you a line from the O.P. The mystery of night

 has settled down. Round the western rim of the horizon there is still a stain

@@ -3418,48 +3413,48 @@ France July 17, 1918
 

 To-night brought a great wad of American papers. What a time America is

 having—all shouting and anticipation of glory without any suspicion of the

-cost. War's fine when it's khaki and drums on Fifth Avenue—if it wasn't

+cost. War’s fine when it’s khaki and drums on Fifth Avenue—if it wasn’t

 tortured bodies, broken hearts, and blinded eyes. Where I am the dead lie

 thick beneath the sod; poppies pour like blood across the landscape, and

-cornflowers stand tall in sockets empty of eyes. The inscription "Unknown

-Soldier" is written on many crosses that grow like weeds from the shell-holes.

+cornflowers stand tall in sockets empty of eyes. The inscription “Unknown

+Soldier” is written on many crosses that grow like weeds from the shell-holes.

 All the feet that marched away with shouting now lie silent; their owners have

 even lost their names. Could death do more? Where I live at present everything

-is blasted, stagnant, decayed, morose. War's a fine spectacle for those who

+is blasted, stagnant, decayed, morose. War’s a fine spectacle for those who

 only cheer from the pavement.

 

-It isn't that I'm angry with people for seizing life and being gay. We're gay

-out here—but we've earned the right. Many of us are happier than we ever were

-in our lives. Why not? For the first time we're quite sure every minute of the

-day that we're doing right. And that certainty is the only excuse for being

+It isn’t that I’m angry with people for seizing life and being gay. We’re gay

+out here—but we’ve earned the right. Many of us are happier than we ever were

+in our lives. Why not? For the first time we’re quite sure every minute of the

+day that we’re doing right. And that certainty is the only excuse for being

 happy while the Front line is suffering the tortures of the damned.

 

 I came down this morning from doing forward work; it had been raining in

 torrents and the trenches were awash. I sleep to-night at the battery and

-to-morrow I go forward again. It's really great fun forward when it's fine.

+to-morrow I go forward again. It’s really great fun forward when it’s fine.

 All day you watch the Hun country for signs of movement and snipe his

 support-trenches and back-country. Far away on the horizon you watch plumes of

 smoke trail from the chimneys of his towns, and try to guess his intentions

-and plans. War's the greatest game of the intellect yet invented; very little

+and plans. War’s the greatest game of the intellect yet invented; very little

 of its success to-day is due to brute strength.

 

-It's night now. I'm sitting in my shirt-sleeves, writing by the light of a

-candle in an empty bottle. A row is going on outside as of "armed men falling

-downstairs," to borrow Stevenson's phrase. It's really more like a dozen

+It’s night now. I’m sitting in my shirt-sleeves, writing by the light of a

+candle in an empty bottle. A row is going on outside as of “armed men falling

+downstairs,” to borrow Stevenson’s phrase. It’s really more like a dozen

 celestial cats with kettles tied to their tails. I wonder what God thinks of

 it all; of all the kings, He alone is silent and takes no sides,

-notwithstanding the Kaiser's "Me und Gott."

+notwithstanding the Kaiser’s “Me und Gott.”

 

-My jolly little major has just looked up to suggest that the war won't be

-ended until all the world is under arms. He's an optimist.

+My jolly little major has just looked up to suggest that the war won’t be

+ended until all the world is under arms. He’s an optimist.

 

 

 LXII

 

 France July 18, 1918

 

-I'm up forward, sitting on a bank, looking at the Hun country through a hedge.

-I know you'd give anything to be with me. In front there's a big curtain of

+I’m up forward, sitting on a bank, looking at the Hun country through a hedge.

+I know you’d give anything to be with me. In front there’s a big curtain of

 sea-grey sky, against which planes crawl like flies. A beautiful half-moon

 looks down at me with the tragic face of Harlequin. Far away across a plain

 furrowed by shell-fire the spires and domes of cities in the captured

@@ -3467,35 +3462,35 @@ territory shine. Like all forbidden lands, there are times when the Hun
 country looks exquisitely and unreally beautiful, as though it were tempting

 us to cross the line.

 

-I've just left off to watch a squadron of enemy planes which have been

+I’ve just left off to watch a squadron of enemy planes which have been

 attempting to get across to our side. Everything has opened up on them;

 machine guns are spouting their luminous trails of tracer bullets; archies are

 bursting little cotton-wool clouds of death between them and their desire.

-They evidently belong to a circus, for they're slipping and tumbling and

-looping like great gulls to whom the air is native. Ah, now they've given it

+They evidently belong to a circus, for they’re slipping and tumbling and

+looping like great gulls to whom the air is native. Ah, now they’ve given it

 up and are going home thwarted. I wonder what the poor old moon thinks of all

 these antics and turmoils in the domain which has been hers absolutely for so

 many æons of nights.

 

 The horrible and the beautiful blending in an ecstasy, that is what war is

-to-day. All one's senses are unnaturally sharpened for the appreciation of

+to-day. All one’s senses are unnaturally sharpened for the appreciation of

 both happiness and pain. You walk down a road where a shell fell a minute ago;

-the question always in your mind is, "Why wasn't I there?" You shrug your

-shoulders and smile, "I may be there next time"—and bend all your energies

+the question always in your mind is, “Why wasn’t I there?” You shrug your

+shoulders and smile, “I may be there next time”—and bend all your energies

 towards being merry to-day. The threat of the end is very provocative of

 intensity.

 

-It's nearly dark now and I'm writing by the moonlight. One might imagine that

-the angels were having pillow-fights in their bedrooms by the row that's going

+It’s nearly dark now and I’m writing by the moonlight. One might imagine that

+the angels were having pillow-fights in their bedrooms by the row that’s going

 on in the sky. And there was a time when the occasional trolley beneath my

 windows used to keep me awake at night!

 

 5 a.m. The letters came last night. You may imagine the place in which I read

 them—lying on a kind of coffin-shelf in a Hun dug-out with the usual buzzing

 of battened flies and the usual smell and snoring of an unwashed B.C. party.

-How good it is to receive letters; they're the only future we have. After I'd

+How good it is to receive letters; they’re the only future we have. After I’d

 sent the runner down to the battery I had to go forward to a Gomorrha of

-fallen roofs, which stands almost on the edge of No Man's Land. Stagnant

+fallen roofs, which stands almost on the edge of No Man’s Land. Stagnant

 shell-holes, rank weeds, the silence of death, lay all about me, and along the

 horizon the Hun flares and rockets danced an impish jig of joy. When the war

 is ended we shall miss these nights. Strange as it sounds, we shall look back

@@ -3519,11 +3514,11 @@ LXIII
 

 France |July 19|, 1918

 

-We're all sitting round the table studying maps of the entire Western Front

-and prophesying the rapid downfall of the Hun. It's too early to be

+We’re all sitting round the table studying maps of the entire Western Front

+and prophesying the rapid downfall of the Hun. It’s too early to be

 optimistic, but things are going excellently and the American weight is

 already beginning to be felt. It may take two years to reach the Rhine, but we

-shall get there. Until we do get there, I don't think we shall be content to

+shall get there. Until we do get there, I don’t think we shall be content to

 stop. We may not all be above ground for the end, but people who are like us

 will be there.

 

@@ -3531,24 +3526,24 @@ My batman has just returned to the guns from the wagon-lines, bringing me two
 letters and a post-card. They were most welcome. After reading them I went out

 into the moonlight to walk over to the guns, and, such is the nature of this

 country, though the journey was only 200 yards, I lost myself. Everything that

-was once a landmark is levelled flat—there's nothing but shell-holes covered

+was once a landmark is levelled flat—there’s nothing but shell-holes covered

 with tangled grass, barbed wire, exploded shell-cases, and graves. I can quite

-understand how men have wandered clean across No Man's Land and found

+understand how men have wandered clean across No Man’s Land and found

 themselves the guests of the Hun.

 

 I think I once mentioned the man we have cooking for our mess at present—how

 he was no good as a cook until he got word that his wife had been drowned in

 Canada; his grief seemed to give him a new pride in himself and since his

 disaster our meals have been excellent. This morning I found a curious

-document on my table, which ran as follows: "Sir, I kan't cock without stuf to

-cock with." I was at a loss to discover its meaning for some time. Why

-couldn't he cock? Why should he want to cock? How does one cock? And whether

-he could or couldn't cock, why should he worry me about it?

+document on my table, which ran as follows: “Sir, I kan’t cock without stuf to

+cock with.” I was at a loss to discover its meaning for some time. Why

+couldn’t he cock? Why should he want to cock? How does one cock? And whether

+he could or couldn’t cock, why should he worry me about it?

 

 Then the widower presented himself, standing sooty and forlorn in the trench

 outside the mess. The mystery was cleared up.

 

-The mess-cart is just up, and I'm going to send this off, that it may reach

+The mess-cart is just up, and I’m going to send this off, that it may reach

 you a day earlier.

 

 

@@ -3556,19 +3551,19 @@ LXIV
 

 France July 23, 1918

 

-I'm sitting in my "summer-house" in the trench. One side is unwalled and

+I’m sitting in my “summer-house” in the trench. One side is unwalled and

 exposed to the weather; a curtain of camouflage stretches over the front and

-disguises the fact that I am "in residence." For the last twenty-four hours

-it's been raining like mad, blowing a hurricane and thundering as though all

+disguises the fact that I am “in residence.” For the last twenty-four hours

+it’s been raining like mad, blowing a hurricane and thundering as though all

 the clouds had a sneezing fit at once. You can imagine the state of the

 trenches and my own drowned condition when I returned to the battery this

 morning from my tour of duty up front. It seems hardly credible that in so

 short a time mud could become so muddy. However, I usually manage to enjoy

-myself. Yesterday while at the O.P. I read a ripping book by "Q." with

+myself. Yesterday while at the O.P. I read a ripping book by “Q.” with

 almost—not quite—the Thomas Hardy touch. It was called The Ship of Stars, and

 was published in 1899. Where it fails, when compared with Hardy, is in the

 thinness of its story and unreality of its plot. It has all the characters for

-a titanic drama, but having created them, "Q." is afraid to let them be the

+a titanic drama, but having created them, “Q.” is afraid to let them be the

 brutes they would have been. How many novelists have failed through their

 determination to be quite gentlemanly, when merely to have been men would have

 made them famous! If ever I have a chance again I shall depict men as I have

@@ -3578,7 +3573,7 @@ their hearts.
 To-day has the complete autumn touch; we begin to think of the coming winter

 with its drenched and sullen melancholy—its days and nights of chill and damp,

 telescoping one into another in a grey monotony of grimness. Each summer the

-troops have told themselves, "We have spent our last winter in France," but

+troops have told themselves, “We have spent our last winter in France,” but

 always and always there has been another.

 

 Yet rain and mud and melancholy have their romance—they lend a blurred

@@ -3596,24 +3591,24 @@ Two hours elapsed; then through the loneliness one heard the lagging tramp of
 tired men, which came nearer and drew level. You saw them snowed on by the

 waning moon as they passed. You saw their rounded shoulders and the fatness of

 their heads—you knew that they were German prisoners. Limping in the rear, one

-arm flung about a comrade's neck, came our wounded. Just towards dawn the dead

+arm flung about a comrade’s neck, came our wounded. Just towards dawn the dead

 went by, lying with an air of complete rest upon their stretchers. It was like

 a Greek procession, frescoed on the mournful streak of vagueness which divides

 eternal darkness from the land of living men. Just so, patiently and

 uncomplainingly has all the world since Adam followed its appointed fate into

 the fold of unknowingness. We climb the hill and are lost to sight in the

-dawn. There's majesty in our departure after so much puny violence.

+dawn. There’s majesty in our departure after so much puny violence.

 

 And God—He says nothing, though we all pray to Him. He alone among monarchs

 has taken no sides in this war. I like to think that the Union Jack waves

 above His palace and that His angels are dressed in khaki—which is quite

-absurd. I think of the irresistible British Tommies who have "gone west," as

-whistling "Tipperary" in the streets of the New Jerusalem. They have haloes

-round their steel helmets and they've thrown away their gas-masks. But God

-gives me no licence for such imaginings, for He hasn't said a word since the

-first cannon boomed. In some moods one gets the idea that He's contemptuous;

+absurd. I think of the irresistible British Tommies who have “gone west,” as

+whistling “Tipperary” in the streets of the New Jerusalem. They have haloes

+round their steel helmets and they’ve thrown away their gas-masks. But God

+gives me no licence for such imaginings, for He hasn’t said a word since the

+first cannon boomed. In some moods one gets the idea that He’s contemptuous;

 in others, that He takes no sides because His children are on both sides of No

-Man's Land. But in the darkest moments we know beyond dispute that it is His

+Man’s Land. But in the darkest moments we know beyond dispute that it is His

 hands that make our hands strong and His heart that makes our hearts

 compassionate to endure. I have tried to inflame my heart with hatred, but I

 cannot. Hunnishness I would give my life to exterminate, but for the

@@ -3624,36 +3619,32 @@ murdered, are guilty of thieving life to the extent of having received and
 applauded the stolen goods.

 

 We had a heated discussion to-day as to when the war would be ended; we were

-all of the opinion, "Not soon. Not in less than two years, anyway. After that

-it will take another twelve months to ship us home." I believe that, and yet I

+all of the opinion, “Not soon. Not in less than two years, anyway. After that

+it will take another twelve months to ship us home.” I believe that, and yet I

 hope. Along all the roads of France, in all the trenches, in every gun-pit you

 can hear one song being sung by poilus and Tommies. They sing it while they

 load their guns, they whistle it as they march up the line, they hum it while

 they munch their bully-beef and hard-tack. You hear it on the regimental bands

 and grinding out from gramophones in hidden dug-outs:

 

+    “Over there. Over there.

+    Send the word, send the word over there,

+    That the Yanks are coming——”

 

-"Over there. Over there.

-

-Send the word, send the word over there,

-

-That the Yanks are coming——"

-

-

-Men repeat that rag-time promise as though it were a prayer, "The Yanks are

-coming." We could have won without the Yanks—we're sure of that. Still, we're

-glad they're coming and we walk jauntily. We may die before the promise is

+Men repeat that rag-time promise as though it were a prayer, “The Yanks are

+coming.” We could have won without the Yanks—we’re sure of that. Still, we’re

+glad they’re coming and we walk jauntily. We may die before the promise is

 sufficiently fulfilled to tell. What does that matter? The Yanks are coming.

 We shall not have died in vain. They will reap the peace for the world which

 our blood has sown.

 

-To-night you are in that high mountain place. It's three in the afternoon with

+To-night you are in that high mountain place. It’s three in the afternoon with

 you. I wish I could project myself across the world and stand beside you.

-Life's running away and there is so much to do besides killing people. But all

+Life’s running away and there is so much to do besides killing people. But all

 those things, however splendid they were in achievement, would be shameful in

 the attempting until the war is ended.

 

-Between writing this I've been making out the lines for the guns and running

+Between writing this I’ve been making out the lines for the guns and running

 out to fire them—so forgive anything that is disjointed.

 

 

@@ -3662,7 +3653,7 @@ LXV
 France July 29, 1918

 

 I have just had a very large batch of letters to read. I feel simply

-overwhelmed with people's affection. I have to spend every moment of my

+overwhelmed with people’s affection. I have to spend every moment of my

 leisure keeping up with my mighty correspondence. The mail very rarely brings

 me a bag which is totally empty. The American Red Cross in Paris keeps me in

 mind continually. I had thirty gramophone records and twelve razors from them

@@ -3674,45 +3665,45 @@ and butter first, cake last, is my rule.
 I must apologize for the slackness of my correspondence for the past few days,

 but two of them were spent forward while taking part in a raid, and the third

 at the observing post. It rained pretty nearly all the time and sleep was not

-plentiful. Yesterday I spent in "pounding my ear" for hours; to-day I'm as

+plentiful. Yesterday I spent in “pounding my ear” for hours; to-day I’m as

 fresh as a daisy and writing reams to you to make up for lost time.

 

-You'll be sorry to hear that a favourite little chap of mine has been

+You’ll be sorry to hear that a favourite little chap of mine has been

 seriously wounded and may be dead by now. A year ago, at the Vimy show, he did

 yeoman service, and I got him recommended for the Military Medal. He was my

-runner on the famous day. He's been in all sorts of attacks for over three

+runner on the famous day. He’s been in all sorts of attacks for over three

 years, and at last a stray shell got him. It burst about ten feet away,

 wounding him in the head, arm, and knee, besides nearly cutting off a great

 toe. His name was Joy. He lived up to his name, and was carried out on the

-stretcher grim, but bravely smiling. You can't dodge your fate; it searches

+stretcher grim, but bravely smiling. You can’t dodge your fate; it searches

 you out. You wonder—not fearfully, but curiously—whose turn it will be next.

-For yourself you don't much care; your regrets are for the others who are

-left. Still, don't you think that I'm going west, I have an instinct that I

+For yourself you don’t much care; your regrets are for the others who are

+left. Still, don’t you think that I’m going west, I have an instinct that I

 shall last to the end.

 

 I think I mentioned the pathetic note of the mess cook, which I found awaiting

-me one morning on the breakfast table: "I kan't cock without stuf to cock

-with." The history of our experiments in cooks would make a novel in itself.

+me one morning on the breakfast table: “I kan’t cock without stuf to cock

+with.” The history of our experiments in cooks would make a novel in itself.

 The man before the pathetic beggar was a miner in peace times; as a cook his

 meals were like charges of dynamite—they blasted our insides. The worst of

 them was that they were so deceptive, they looked innocent enough till it was

 too late to refuse them. You may lay it down as final that all cooks are the

-dirtiest men in any unit. The gentleman who couldn't "cock" earned for himself

-the title of the "World's Champion Long Distance Dirt Accumulator." I was

+dirtiest men in any unit. The gentleman who couldn’t “cock” earned for himself

+the title of the “World’s Champion Long Distance Dirt Accumulator.” I was

 present when the O.C. discharged him. He sent for the man, and was stooping

 forward, doing up his boot, when he entered. The man looked like the wrath of

 God—as though he had been embracing all the denizens of Hell. Without looking

-up the O.C. commenced, "Where did you learn to prepare all these tasty meals

-you've been serving us?"

+up the O.C. commenced, “Where did you learn to prepare all these tasty meals

+you’ve been serving us?”

 

-"I kan't cock without——"

+“I kan’t cock without——”

 

-"I know you can't cock," said the O.C. tartly; "you can't even keep yourself

-clean. All you know how to do is to waste good food. I'm sending you down to

-the wagon-lines, and if you're not washed by guard-mounting, I've given orders

-to have you thrown into the horse-trough."

+“I know you can’t cock,” said the O.C. tartly; “you can’t even keep yourself

+clean. All you know how to do is to waste good food. I’m sending you down to

+the wagon-lines, and if you’re not washed by guard-mounting, I’ve given orders

+to have you thrown into the horse-trough.”

 

-Exit the "cock."

+Exit the “cock.”

 

 Your letters mean so much to me. I feel that my returns are totally

 inadequate. Good-bye; some great news has come in and the major wants to

@@ -3723,19 +3714,19 @@ LXVI
 

 France July 30,1918

 

-I'm writing to you to-day, because I may be out of touch for a few days, as it

+I’m writing to you to-day, because I may be out of touch for a few days, as it

 looks as though I was going to get my desire—the thing I came back for. Any

-time if my letters stop temporarily, don't get nervous. Such things happen

+time if my letters stop temporarily, don’t get nervous. Such things happen

 when one is on active service.

 

-It's about two years to-day since I landed in England for the first time in

+It’s about two years to-day since I landed in England for the first time in

 khaki; since then how one has changed! I can scarcely recognise myself at all.

-It's difficult to believe that I'm the same person. Without exaggeration, the

+It’s difficult to believe that I’m the same person. Without exaggeration, the

 world has become to me a much jollier place because of this martial

-experience. I don't know how it is with you, but my heart has grown wings. One

+experience. I don’t know how it is with you, but my heart has grown wings. One

 has changed in so many ways—the things that once caused panic, he now

-welcomes. Nothing gives us more joy than the news that we're to be shoved into

-a great offensive. It's for each of us as though we had been invited to our

+welcomes. Nothing gives us more joy than the news that we’re to be shoved into

+a great offensive. It’s for each of us as though we had been invited to our

 own wedding. Danger, which we used to dodge, now allures us.

 

 I read a very true article the other day on the things which we have lost

@@ -3743,14 +3734,14 @@ through the war. We have lost our youth, many of us. We have foregone so many
 glorious springs—all the seasons have sunk their tones into the sombre

 brown-grey mud of the past four years. We have lost all our festivals of

 affection and emotion. Sundays, Christmases, Easters—they are all the same as

-other days—so many hours useful only for the further killing of men. "You will

-say," writes my author, "that the war, after all, will not last for ever, and

+other days—so many hours useful only for the further killing of men. “You will

+say,” writes my author, “that the war, after all, will not last for ever, and

 that the man and woman of average longevity will live through

-threescore-and-ten years of God's wonderful springs. That to a very minor

+threescore-and-ten years of God’s wonderful springs. That to a very minor

 extent is true. The war will not last for ever; but the memory of it, the

 suffering of it, the incalculable waste of it, will last for all that remains

-of our lives—which is 'for ever,' after all, so far as you and I are

-concerned." He goes on to say that there are years and years—but the years in

+of our lives—which is 'for ever,’ after all, so far as you and I are

+concerned.” He goes on to say that there are years and years—but the years in

 which a man and woman may know that they are alive are few—the years of love

 and of beauty.

 

@@ -3761,20 +3752,20 @@ worth, which we have won at the expense of our bodies. To me that outweighs
 all that we have lost. I spoke to you in a previous letter of the divine

 discontent which goads us on, so that when we have attained a standard of

 which we never thought ourselves capable, we envy a new and nobler goal, and

-commence to race towards it. In one of Q.'. books I came across a verse which

+commence to race towards it. In one of Q.’. books I came across a verse which

 expresses this exactly:

 

 

-    "Oh that I were where I would be!

+    “Oh that I were where I would be!

     Then would I be where I am not.

     But where I am there I must be;

-    And where I would be, I can not."

+    And where I would be, I can not.”

 

 

 Discontented, ungrateful creatures we are! And yet there is nobility in our discontent.

 

-By the way, over the doorway of my O.P. is chalked this sound advice—"Do unto

-Fritzie as he doth unto you. But do it first."

+By the way, over the doorway of my O.P. is chalked this sound advice—“Do unto

+Fritzie as he doth unto you. But do it first.”

 

 

 LXVII

@@ -3783,24 +3774,24 @@ France
 

 August 13, 1918

 

-I haven't seen a paper for nearly a fortnight, so don't know what news of the

+I haven’t seen a paper for nearly a fortnight, so don’t know what news of the

 Front has been published and can risk telling you nothing. Suffice it to say

-that I'm having the most choice experience that I've had since I took up

-soldiering. We are winged persons—the body is nothing; to use Homer's phrase,

-"our souls rush out before us." This is the top-notch of life; there was

+that I’m having the most choice experience that I’ve had since I took up

+soldiering. We are winged persons—the body is nothing; to use Homer’s phrase,

+“our souls rush out before us.” This is the top-notch of life; there was

 nothing like it before in all the ages. We triumph; we each individually

 contribute to the triumph, and, though our bodies are tired, our hearts are

-elated. We'll win the war for you and bring peace back; even the most dreary

+elated. We’ll win the war for you and bring peace back; even the most dreary

 pessimist must believe that now.

 

 I try to keep notes of the tremendous tragedies and glories which I witness

 hour by hour, so that one day I can paint the picture for you as it happened.

-All day I am reminded of that motto of the Gesta Romanorum, "What I spent, I

-had; what I saved, I lost; what I gave, I have." So many men have given in

+All day I am reminded of that motto of the Gesta Romanorum, “What I spent, I

+had; what I saved, I lost; what I gave, I have.” So many men have given in

 this war—given in the sense of giving all. I think it must be true of them

 wherever they are now, that they have in proportion to their sacrifice. It

-should be written on the white crosses above all our soldiers, "What He Gave,

-He Has." What we are trying to give is heaven to the world; it is just that

+should be written on the white crosses above all our soldiers, “What He Gave,

+He Has.” What we are trying to give is heaven to the world; it is just that

 those who fall should receive heaven in return.

 

 

@@ -3812,13 +3803,13 @@ August 14, 1918
 

 I am writing to you in a lull—I may not have another opportunity for days. In

 a battle one has no transport for conveying letters—only for ammunition,

-wounded, and supplies. I'm stunningly well and bronzed. The weather is royal

-and tropical and, best of all, the Hun's tail is down while ours is pointing

-heavenwards. One of my gunners was complaining this morning that it was "a

-hell of a war." It was the smell of dead cavalry horses that nauseated him.

-Another gunner cheered him up, "Where's the use of complaining, Bill? It's the

-only war we have." That's the spirit of our men. It may be a hell of a war,

-but it's the only one we have, so we may as well grin and make the best of it.

+wounded, and supplies. I’m stunningly well and bronzed. The weather is royal

+and tropical and, best of all, the Hun’s tail is down while ours is pointing

+heavenwards. One of my gunners was complaining this morning that it was “a

+hell of a war.” It was the smell of dead cavalry horses that nauseated him.

+Another gunner cheered him up, “Where’s the use of complaining, Bill? It’s the

+only war we have.” That’s the spirit of our men. It may be a hell of a war,

+but it’s the only one we have, so we may as well grin and make the best of it.

 In the past few days I have seen more than in all my former experience. I can

 visualize Waterloo now—and the last trump: the hosts of death deploying before

 my eyes. That one still walks the earth seems wonderful. God is very lenient.

@@ -3838,15 +3829,15 @@ more so than ever nowadays.
 

 You remember R.? A few days ago he was killed. He was just ahead of me, riding

 up the road. I did not see his face, but recognized his square-set figure and

-divisional patches. He's not had much of a run for his money, poor chap. It

+divisional patches. He’s not had much of a run for his money, poor chap. It

 was his first show, but he died game.

 

-How much longer have we got to go? It's like a long, long walk, with no

+How much longer have we got to go? It’s like a long, long walk, with no

 milestones, towards an unknown destination. If we only knew how much farther

 our goal lay, it would be easier. I dreamed last night of Kootenay, all green

 and cool and somnolent. It was rest, rest, rest. One gazed through the

 apple-trees to the quiet lake and felt happy in the too much beauty. But

-please don't worry about me.

+please don’t worry about me.

 

 

 LXX

@@ -3855,12 +3846,12 @@ France
 

 August 17, 1918

 

-I'm in the support trenches to-night carrying on with the infantry. This is my

+I’m in the support trenches to-night carrying on with the infantry. This is my

 third day and I am relieved to-morrow. Yesterday I had a gorgeous spree which

 I will tell you about some day. I was out in front of our infantry in an

 attack, scouting for the enemy. This war may be boring at times, but its great

 moments hold thrills which you could find nowhere else. It may sound mad, but

-it's extraordinary fun to be chased by enemy machine-gun bullets. I've

+it’s extraordinary fun to be chased by enemy machine-gun bullets. I’ve

 recently had fun of every kind.

 

 Once again death is a familiar sight—tired bodies lying in the August

@@ -3876,25 +3867,25 @@ I was relieved last night, and had a difficult walk back to the battery. There
 were several letters from you all awaiting me. How tired I was you may judge

 when I tell you that I fell asleep without reading them. For the first time in

 a fortnight I had my breeches off last night. Up forward one got drenched with

-sweat by day and lay sodden and itchy on the damp ground by night. But don't

-think we weren't cheerful—we were immensely happy. There's no game in the

+sweat by day and lay sodden and itchy on the damp ground by night. But don’t

+think we weren’t cheerful—we were immensely happy. There’s no game in the

 world like pushing back the Hun. I had another example of how we treat our

-prisoners. A young officer came in captive while I was shaving. "How long

-before we win?" I asked him. "We are going to vin," he replied. "If not, vhy

-because?" Our Tommies started kidding him. "Say, beau, you don't look much

-like winning now." And then they offered him water and food, although we were

+prisoners. A young officer came in captive while I was shaving. “How long

+before we win?” I asked him. “We are going to vin,” he replied. “If not, vhy

+because?” Our Tommies started kidding him. “Say, beau, you don’t look much

+like winning now.” And then they offered him water and food, although we were

 short ourselves and his whole deportment was insolent.

 

 During an attack, while I was within 200 yards of the advanced post and pinned

-under a barrage, a Canadian Tommy wormed his way towards me. "Say, sir, are

-you hungry? Have some maple sugar and cake?" Was I hungry! He had received a

+under a barrage, a Canadian Tommy wormed his way towards me. “Say, sir, are

+you hungry? Have some maple sugar and cake?” Was I hungry! He had received a

 parcel from Canada the night before which he had taken with him into the

 attack. There, amongst whizz-bangs and exploding five-nines, we feasted

 together, washing it all down with water from the bottle of a neighbouring

 dead Hun.

 

-You can't beat chaps who joke, think of home, go forward, and find time to

-love their enemies under shell-fire. They're extraordinary and as normal as

+You can’t beat chaps who joke, think of home, go forward, and find time to

+love their enemies under shell-fire. They’re extraordinary and as normal as

 the air.

 

 

@@ -3905,15 +3896,15 @@ France August 20, 1918
 To-day I have spent some time in composing recommendations for decorations for

 two of my signallers who were with me in my latest show. One of the lucky

 fellows came straight out of the death and racket to find his Blighty

-leave-warrant waiting for him. Not that I really envy him, for I wouldn't

+leave-warrant waiting for him. Not that I really envy him, for I wouldn’t

 leave the Front at this moment if there were twenty leave-warrants offered to

-me. I suppose I'm a little mad about the war.

+me. I suppose I’m a little mad about the war.

 

-I'm still very tired from my last adventure and am limping about with very

-sore feet—but I'm very happy. I begin to feel that we're drawing to the end of

+I’m still very tired from my last adventure and am limping about with very

+sore feet—but I’m very happy. I begin to feel that we’re drawing to the end of

 the war. The Hun knows now that the jig is up. He was going to have defeated

-us this summer while the Americans were still preparing—instead of that we're

-pushing him back. I don't think he will gain another square yard of France.

+us this summer while the Americans were still preparing—instead of that we’re

+pushing him back. I don’t think he will gain another square yard of France.

 From now on he must go back and back.

 

 This moving battle has been a grand experience; it enables you to see

@@ -3937,11 +3928,11 @@ the machine gunner out of action. That day when I was off by myself with my
 two guns, I fed my horses on the oats of the fallen cavalry and my men on the

 rations in the haversacks of the dead. In the ripe wheat the dying stared at

 us with uninterested eyes as we passed. The infantry going cheering by when we

-were firing, waved their hands to us, shouting, "That's the stuff, boys. Give

-'em hell!" We gave them hell, right enough.

+were firing, waved their hands to us, shouting, “That’s the stuff, boys. Give

+’em hell!” We gave them hell, right enough.

 

-I've come through without a scratch and now I'm off to bed. Don't worry if I

-don't write you—it's impossible sometimes, and I'll always cable through

+I’ve come through without a scratch and now I’m off to bed. Don’t worry if I

+don’t write you—it’s impossible sometimes, and I’ll always cable through

 London as soon as I can.

 

 

@@ -3951,10 +3942,10 @@ France
 

 August 22,1918

 

-I can't sleep to-night. It's nearly one. The candle lights up the mud walls

+I can’t sleep to-night. It’s nearly one. The candle lights up the mud walls

 and makes the other occupants of my dug-out look contorted and grotesque. They

 sigh and toss in their dreams. Now an arm is thrown out and a face is turned.

-They've been through it, all of them, in the past few days. They have a

+They’ve been through it, all of them, in the past few days. They have a

 haggard look. And somewhere in shell-holes, wheatfields, woods, they lie

 to-night—those others. Pain no longer touches them—their limbs have ceased to

 twitch and their breath is quiet. They have given their all. For them the war

@@ -3981,7 +3972,7 @@ us up in our scooped-out holes with your love, the way you used to before we
 began to adventure. Above all be proud of us, whether we stand or fall—so

 proud that you will not fret. God will let us be little again for you in

 Heaven. We shall again reach up our arms to you, relying on your strength. We

-shall be afraid and cry out for your comfort. We're not brave—not brave

+shall be afraid and cry out for your comfort. We’re not brave—not brave

 naturally; we shall want you in Heaven to tell us we are safe.

 

 So many thoughts and pictures come to me to-night. One is of a ravine I was in

@@ -3995,24 +3986,24 @@ our own dead are in sight and a cold anger is in our heart. The
 stretcher-bearers will be along presently—time enough for mercy when the

 battle is won! We ourselves may be dead before the sun has set. I know the

 anger of war now, the way I never did in the trenches. You can see your own

-killing. You can also see the enemy's work. And yet, through it all down come

+killing. You can also see the enemy’s work. And yet, through it all down come

 our wounded, supported by the wounded Huns.

 

-"Those chaps are very good to you," one of our officers said. The Tommy

-grinned. "They have to be. If they weren't, I'd let the daylight into them.

-I've a pocketful of bombs, and they know it." Well, that's one incentive to

+“Those chaps are very good to you,” one of our officers said. The Tommy

+grinned. “They have to be. If they weren’t, I’d let the daylight into them.

+I’ve a pocketful of bombs, and they know it.” Well, that’s one incentive to

 friendship, however reluctant.

 

 The Huns are brave—I know that now. They endure tests of pluck that are

 well-nigh incredible. We are not defeating craven curs. I can think of no one

 braver than the man who stays behind with a machine gun, fighting a rearguard

-action and covering his comrades' road to freedom. He knows that he will

+action and covering his comrades’ road to freedom. He knows that he will

 receive no quarter from our people and will never live to be thanked by his

 own. His lot is to die alone, hated by the last human being who watches him.

-They're brave men; they cease fighting only when they're dead.

+They’re brave men; they cease fighting only when they’re dead.

 

 What a contrast between love and hatred—dreaming of our mothers to the last

-and smashing the sons of other mothers. That's war!

+and smashing the sons of other mothers. That’s war!

 

 

 LXXIII

@@ -4022,20 +4013,20 @@ France
 August 22, 1918

 

 Here I am lying flat on my tummy in the grass and spying on the enemy 2000

-yards away. I shall be here for twenty-four hours. There's no sort of cover

-and the sun is scalding. Luckily we've found water in a captured village near

-by and I sent our linesmen to refill our bottles. There's a lull for the

+yards away. I shall be here for twenty-four hours. There’s no sort of cover

+and the sun is scalding. Luckily we’ve found water in a captured village near

+by and I sent our linesmen to refill our bottles. There’s a lull for the

 moment and we stretch ourselves out in weary contentment The body is a traitor

 to the spirit—it can become very tired.

 

 I begin to see the end of the war. I can feel it coming as I never did before

-since I struck France. The unbelievable truth begins to dawn on me that we'll

+since I struck France. The unbelievable truth begins to dawn on me that we’ll

 be coming back to you—that we shall wake up one morning to find that the world

 has no further use for our bombs and bayonets. Strange! After so much killing,

 to kill will be again a crime. We shall begin to count our lives in years

 instead of in days.

 

-How will the pictures one's memory holds seem then? I can see, as I saw the

+How will the pictures one’s memory holds seem then? I can see, as I saw the

 other day, a huge German lying on the edge of a wheatfield. His knees were

 arched. He was on his back. His head rolled wearily from side to side. The

 thing that fixed my attention was a rubber groundsheet flung hastily across

@@ -4054,9 +4045,9 @@ forward, Nature returns to her task of beautifying the world.
 

 How I would like to sit down and talk with you all. When the war is over I can

 see us going away to some quiet place and re-living the past and re-building

-the future with words. I may see you sooner than either of us expect; there's

+the future with words. I may see you sooner than either of us expect; there’s

 always the chance of a Blighty. So far, beyond an attack of trench-fever from

-which I've almost recovered, I've come through scatheless.

+which I’ve almost recovered, I’ve come through scatheless.

 

 By the time this reaches you I shall be looking forward to leave. Casualties

 have thinned out the numbers on the leave-list and I stand fairly high now. I

@@ -4070,10 +4061,10 @@ France
 August 30,1918

 

 This is only a brief note to say that all is well with me and to ask you not

-to worry. It's two years to-morrow since I first saw the Front—two centuries

-it seems. I'm different inside. I don't know whether my outside has changed

+to worry. It’s two years to-morrow since I first saw the Front—two centuries

+it seems. I’m different inside. I don’t know whether my outside has changed

 much—but I wish sometimes that I could be back again. I begin to be a little

-afraid that I shan't be recognizable when I return.

+afraid that I shan’t be recognizable when I return.

 

 The journalists have been very free in their descriptions of our doings—they

 have told you everything. If I told a tithe, my letter would not reach you.

@@ -4086,17 +4077,17 @@ France
 September 1, 1918

 

 This is just another little note to let you know that I am safe and well. I am

-allowed to say so little to you; that's one of the worst penalties of this

+allowed to say so little to you; that’s one of the worst penalties of this

 war—the silence. Yesterday your cable, sent in reply to mine and forwarded

 from London, arrived. My only chance of relieving your suspense when I have

 not been able to write for some time, is to get one of my English friends to

 cable to you.

 

-Did you see the good news concerning R. B.? He's got his V.C. for saving life

+Did you see the good news concerning R. B.? He’s got his V.C. for saving life

 under shell-fire in Zeebrugge harbour. His M.L. was hit fifty times. I

 remember the way his neighbours used to patronize him before the war. They all

 laughed when he went to California to study for an aeroplane pilot. They

-didn't try to join themselves, but his keenness struck them as funny. What

+didn’t try to join themselves, but his keenness struck them as funny. What

 could a man who was half-blind do at the war, they asked—a man who ran his

 launch into logs on the lake, and who crashed in full daylight when

 approaching a wharf? When he had been awarded his flying certificate at the

@@ -4106,24 +4097,24 @@ score of weak sight. His quixotic keenness made less keen spectators smile.
 Then, by a careless chance, he got himself accepted by the R.N.V.R. and was

 put on to a motor launch. Everyone pictured him as colliding with everything

 solid that came his way, and marvelled at the slipshod naval tests. But it

-wasn't his eyesight and limitations that really counted—it was his keenness.

-In two years he's a V.C., a D.S.O., and a Lieutenant-Commander. Before the war

-he was the kind of chap with whom girls danced out of kindness To-day he's a

+wasn’t his eyesight and limitations that really counted—it was his keenness.

+In two years he’s a V.C., a D.S.O., and a Lieutenant-Commander. Before the war

+he was the kind of chap with whom girls danced out of kindness To-day he’s a

 hero.

 

-We were discussing him out here the other day; he's the type of hero this war

+We were discussing him out here the other day; he’s the type of hero this war

 has produced—a man not strong physically, a man self-depreciating and shy, a

 man with grave limitations and very conscious of his difference from other

 men. This was his chance to approve himself. People laughed that he should

 offer himself as a fighter at all, but he elbowed his way through their

-laughter to self-conquest. That's the grand side of war—its test of internals,

+laughter to self-conquest. That’s the grand side of war—its test of internals,

 of the heart and spirit of a man! bone and muscle and charm are only

 secondary.

 

 The big things one sees done out here—done in the way of duty—and so quietly!

 Whether one comes back or stays, the test has made all the personal suffering

 worth while—for one hour of living to know that you have played the man and

-saved a fellow-creature's life. One never knows when these chances will come;

+saved a fellow-creature’s life. One never knows when these chances will come;

 they rush in on you unexpectedly and expect to find you ready. In the

 encounter the character built up in a lifetime is examined and reported on by

 the momentary result.

@@ -4132,7 +4123,7 @@ And yet how one suffers for the suffering he witnesses—the suffering of horses
 and Huns, as well as of the men on our own side. The silent, smashed forms

 carried past on the stretchers; the little groups of busy men among whom a

 shell bursts, leaving those who do not rise. And overhead the sky is blue and

-the wind blows happily through the sunshine. "Gone west"—that's all, to the

+the wind blows happily through the sunshine. “Gone west”—that’s all, to the

 land of departing suns. Some of us will stay to sleep among the gentlemen of

 France. In either event we are fortunate in having been given the privilege to

 serve our kind.

@@ -4144,17 +4135,17 @@ Prince of Wales Hospital, London, September 6, 1918
 

 Here I am once again in a clean white bed with the discreet feet of nurses,

 like those of nuns, making hardly any sound as they pass up and down the

-corridor. There's just one other officer in my room. His leg is full of

-machine-gun bullets, and, like myself, he's just arrived from France. I've not

+corridor. There’s just one other officer in my room. His leg is full of

+machine-gun bullets, and, like myself, he’s just arrived from France. I’ve not

 got used to this new security yet, this right to live, this ordered

 decency—all of which seems to be summed up in the presence of women. Less than

 three days ago I saw two of my gun-teams scuppered by shellfire and the horses

-rolling among the wounded men. I can't get the sight out of my mind. To be

+rolling among the wounded men. I can’t get the sight out of my mind. To be

 alive seems an unfair advantage I have taken.—And all the time I want to be

 back in the thick of it. It was so glorious—such a bon little war, as we say

 out there, while it lasted.

 

-You'll want to know what happened. On 2nd September at dawn we set out as the

+You’ll want to know what happened. On 2nd September at dawn we set out as the

 point of the attacking wedge to hammer our way to Cambrai. You will have read

 this, and more than this, already in your papers. After we had fired on the

 barrage for several hours, and our infantry had advanced, we began to move our

@@ -4169,7 +4160,7 @@ the centre team and scuppered the lot, wounding all the drivers and killing
 one of the gunners. We had got the guns into action, when another shell burst

 beside the left-hand gun, near which I was standing, wounding all the gun-crew

 except one man. I myself got a piece in the head, between the ear and the left

-temple. It was a lucky chance that I wasn't killed outright. The fragment of

+temple. It was a lucky chance that I wasn’t killed outright. The fragment of

 shell struck upwards and under my steel helmet, cutting the chin-strap and the

 brass link which holds the strap to the helmet. It was diverted by a rivet in

 the strap, so instead of going straight into my head, it glanced along the

@@ -4182,7 +4173,7 @@ curiosity—which is not allowed.
 But to return to my story. After the second shell had caught us and others

 were popping all about us, I made up my mind that the enemy had a direct line

 on us. I have since been told that he put on a strong counter-attack and bent

-our line back for a time, so that our artillery were very near up and it's

+our line back for a time, so that our artillery were very near up and it’s

 likely that he could observe us. I sent back for my teams after we had carried

 out our wounded, intending to drag the guns out farther to the right flank.

 Another gun-team was scuppered and all my gunners were knocked out but three

@@ -4197,7 +4188,7 @@ dead lying out on top; here a doctor and four Red Cross orderlies were working
 in silence. I was ordered to report at the next post back for an anti-tetanus

 injection, so I got on my horse and rode. At the next post they had no

 anti-tetanus, so I was put on a lorry and driven back to Arras. From there I

-went to the Casualty Clearing Station, where I was dressed and got two hours'

+went to the Casualty Clearing Station, where I was dressed and got two hours’

 sleep—from there I travelled on the Red Cross train to the Base, arriving at 6

 a.m., only eighteen hours from the time that I was in the fighting. The

 hospital I went to was the Number 20 General—the same one that I was in last

@@ -4213,7 +4204,7 @@ lady-clerks, W. sent me a suit of baby blue silk ones with thin white stripes
 in them—so now I am ready to receive ladies.

 

 3 p.m. I was X-rayed, and there is a splinter between the scalp and skull.

-Whether the skull is fractured I don't know; I think not, however, as I feel

+Whether the skull is fractured I don’t know; I think not, however, as I feel

 too well. What a contrast lying here in the quiet after so many night marches,

 so much secrecy, such tiger pounces forward in the dawn, such agony and

 courage and death. There were wounded men hobbling seven miles from the

@@ -4222,10 +4213,10 @@ packed with transports—ammunition, pontoons, rations—streaming forward,
 gunners and infantry marching up to the carnage with eager faces, passing the

 back-going traffic which was a scarlet tide of blood. It was worth living

 for—worth doing—that busting of the Hindenburg Line. I hope to be patched up

-in two months, so that I may be in on the final rush to the Rhine. I've only

+in two months, so that I may be in on the final rush to the Rhine. I’ve only

 been out of the fighting three days and I want to be in it again.

 

-Don't worry about me at all. I'm all right and brown and strong. Thank God I'm

+Don’t worry about me at all. I’m all right and brown and strong. Thank God I’m

 not dead yet and shall be able to fight again.

 

 Note.—Lieutenant Coningsby Dawson was wounded on 2nd September in the attack

@@ -4240,15 +4231,15 @@ London
 

 September 8, 1918

 

-I've returned from this offensive with a very healthy hatred of the Hun. One

+I’ve returned from this offensive with a very healthy hatred of the Hun. One

 of our tanks, commanded by a boy of twenty, got too far ahead and was

 captured. When the rest of the attacking line caught up, they found him

 stripped naked and bound to his tank—dead. The brutes had bombed him to death

 mother-naked. When I tell you that no prisoners were taken for the next

-twenty-four hours, I think you'll applaud and wonder why the twenty-four hours

-wasn't extended. The men said they got sick of the killing.

+twenty-four hours, I think you’ll applaud and wonder why the twenty-four hours

+wasn’t extended. The men said they got sick of the killing.

 

-Why we're decent to these vermin at all amazes me, until I remember that I

+Why we’re decent to these vermin at all amazes me, until I remember that I

 also am decent to them. I think the reason is that originally we set out to be

 good sportsmen and are ashamed of being forced into hatred. All the way down

 the line the German wounded received precisely the same treatment as our own

@@ -4287,7 +4278,7 @@ killed our Tommies. In contrast to this is an incident which occurred the
 night before our attack on the Hindenburg Line. A hare, frightened by

 shell-fire, came panting through our gun-position. Some of the fellows gave

 chase, till at last one fell on it and caught it. It started to cry like a

-baby in a heartrending sort of way. We hadn't had very much meat, and the

+baby in a heartrending sort of way. We hadn’t had very much meat, and the

 intention in catching it had been to put it in the pot; but there was no one

 who could face up to killing it—so it was petted and set free again in the

 wheat. Queer tender-heartedness on the part of men who next morning were going

@@ -4301,58 +4292,58 @@ London
 

 September 12, 1918

 

-I've a great piece of news for you. It's exceedingly likely that I shall visit

+I’ve a great piece of news for you. It’s exceedingly likely that I shall visit

 the States on the British Mission. This must read to you like moonshine—but

-it's a quite plausible fact. I shall not be allowed to go back to the Front

+it’s a quite plausible fact. I shall not be allowed to go back to the Front

 for three months, as it will probably be that time before I am pronounced fit

 for active service. It is suggested that during that time I come to the States

 to speak on Anglo-American relations. I feel very loath to postpone my return

 to the Front by a single day, and would only do so if I were quite sure that I

 should not be fit for active service again before the winter settles down,

-when the attack will end. I don't want to miss an hour of the great offensive.

+when the attack will end. I don’t want to miss an hour of the great offensive.

 If I agree to come to the States, I shall only do it on the pledge that I am

 sent straight back to France on my return. This would give me a right to speak

 to Americans as nothing else would. I could not speak of the war unless I was

-returning to it. I owe the Lord a death for every life of my men's that has

-been taken—and I want to get back to where I can pay the debt. But wouldn't it

-be ripping to have a few weeks all together again? Can't I picture myself in

+returning to it. I owe the Lord a death for every life of my men’s that has

+been taken—and I want to get back to where I can pay the debt. But wouldn’t it

+be ripping to have a few weeks all together again? Can’t I picture myself in

 my little study at the top of the house and in my old bedroom! I may even

 manage a Christmas with you!

 

 Having had my wound dressed and having togged myself up in my new uniform, I

 jumped into the inevitable taxi and went to lunch at the Ritz with some of the

 visiting American editors. It was delightfully refreshing to listen to Charlie

-Towne's, the editor of McClure's, wild enthusiasm for the courageous high

-spirits of England. "The streets are dark at night," he said, "but in the

-people's hearts there is more light than ever." Two stories were told,

+Towne’s, the editor of McClure’s, wild enthusiasm for the courageous high

+spirits of England. “The streets are dark at night,” he said, “but in the

+people’s hearts there is more light than ever.” Two stories were told,

 illuminatingly true, of the way in which the average Englishman carries on.

 There was an officer who had had an eye shot out; the cavity was filled with

 an artificial one. Towne felt a profound pity for him, but at the same time he

 was rather surprised to see that the chap wore a monocle in the eye that was

 sightless. At last he plucked up courage to ask him what was the object of the

-monocle. The chap smiled drolly. "I do it for a rag," he said; "it makes me

-look more funny."

+monocle. The chap smiled drolly. “I do it for a rag,” he said; “it makes me

+look more funny.”

 

 A Canadian Tommy, without any legs, was being wheeled down a station platform.

-Another wounded Tommy called out to him, "You're not on the staff, Bill. Why

-don't yer get out and walk?"

+Another wounded Tommy called out to him, “You’re not on the staff, Bill. Why

+don’t yer get out and walk?”

 

-"'Cause I'm as good as a dook now," the chap replied; "for the rest of me life

-I'm a kerridge gent."

+“'Cause I’m as good as a dook now,” the chap replied; “for the rest of me life

+I’m a kerridge gent.”

 

 The thing that seems to have impressed these American visitors most of all is

 the way in which our soldiers make adversity appear comic by their triumphant

 capacity for mockery.

 

-Towne, being a lover of poetry, was terrifically keen to visit Goldsmith's

-grave. I hadn't the foggiest idea where it was, but after lunch we set out in

+Towne, being a lover of poetry, was terrifically keen to visit Goldsmith’s

+grave. I hadn’t the foggiest idea where it was, but after lunch we set out in

 search of it. At last we found it in a shady backwater of the Inner Temple—a

-simple slab on which the only inscription was the name, "Oliver Goldsmith." I

+simple slab on which the only inscription was the name, “Oliver Goldsmith.” I

 know of only one parallel to this for illustrious brevity; a gravestone in

 Paris, from which even the Christian name is omitted and on which the solitary

-word "Heine" is written. I liked to see the poet from Broadway bare his head

-as he stood by the long-dead English poet's grave. Behind us in the Temple

-chapel the confident soprano of boys' voices soared. It was a grey-blue day,

+word “Heine” is written. I liked to see the poet from Broadway bare his head

+as he stood by the long-dead English poet’s grave. Behind us in the Temple

+chapel the confident soprano of boys’ voices soared. It was a grey-blue day,

 made tawny for brave moments by fugitive stabs of sunshine. Lime trees dappled

 the cold courtyard with shadows; leaves drifted down like gilded largesse. Old

 men, with dimming eyes and stooped backs, shuffled from stairway to stairway,

@@ -4360,7 +4351,7 @@ carrying heavy ledgers. The rumble of Fleet Street reached us comfortingly,
 like the sound of distant surf on an unseen shore. My thoughts wrenched

 themselves free from the scenes of blood and struggle in which I participated

 less than two weeks ago. Here, in that simple inscription, was the symbol of

-the one quality which survives Time's erasures—character which loved and won

+the one quality which survives Time’s erasures—character which loved and won

 love intensely.

 

 Queer letters you get from me! I write the way I feel from London or the

@@ -4400,31 +4391,31 @@ message:
 

                         GERMANY PLEADS FOR PEACE

 

-I am sorry to have to disappoint Germany, but the truth is I didn't blink an

+I am sorry to have to disappoint Germany, but the truth is I didn’t blink an

 eyelid or turn a hair. I was scarcely mildly interested. I gazed round the

 crowd; their eyelids had not blinked and their hair had not turned. The

-Kaiser's Big Bertha of peace had not roused them; she must have fired a dud.

+Kaiser’s Big Bertha of peace had not roused them; she must have fired a dud.

 Everyone looked quite contented and animated, as if the war was going to last

 for ever.

 

 My eye slipped down the two columns of close printing in which the mercy of

-the All Highest was revealed to the world. I learnt that the All Highest's new

+the All Highest was revealed to the world. I learnt that the All Highest’s new

 Imperial Chancellor was celebrating his new office by playing a little trick

 on his own credulity; he was pretending that by Christmas Germany would have

 sponged out all her debts of infamy with words. Prince Max of Baden was in

 such a hurry to bring good-will upon earth that he had cabled to President

 Wilson proposals for a lasting peace; he had gone to this trouble and expense

 not because of anything that was happening on the Western Front, but solely

-"in the interests of suffering humanity." Glancing at a parallel column I read

+“in the interests of suffering humanity.” Glancing at a parallel column I read

 words which would have led me to doubt the sincerity of any one less august:

-"Germans Defeated in All-day Battle. Tanks do Great Execution among Hun

-Infantry. 1000 Prisoners Taken."

+“Germans Defeated in All-day Battle. Tanks do Great Execution among Hun

+Infantry. 1000 Prisoners Taken.”

 

 Then I turned back to see what this spokesman of a nation of humanitarians had

 to say for himself. I learnt that Germany had always been keen on the League

 of Nations: that she was anxious, as she had always been anxious, to

 rehabilitate Belgium; that her armies were still invincible, and that the

-Western Front was still unbroken; that the Kaiser was God's latest revelation

+Western Front was still unbroken; that the Kaiser was God’s latest revelation

 of His own perfection and His magnanimous shadow upon earth.

 

 Liars! Blasphemous liars! How can one treat with a nation which has not even

@@ -4434,7 +4425,7 @@ ferocity for destruction. I know, for I have just come from before Cambrai.
 Cities are being levelled before they make their exit; civilian populations

 are being carried away captive; trains piled high with loot precede their

 departure; they leave behind them the desolation of death. While with

-"incomparable heroism" their armies are executing these brutalities, their

+“incomparable heroism” their armies are executing these brutalities, their

 Chancellor recalls us to a lost humanity and presupposes that we shall accept

 his professions at their face value.

 

@@ -4442,12 +4433,12 @@ I looked up from my paper at the Sunday crowd, chatting gaily as it passed
 through gaudy splendours into lunch. They were amazingly unmoved by anything

 that the German Chancellor had said. So far as their attitude betrayed them,

 he might never have become Chancellor. If I may state the case colloquially,

-they didn't care a damn. There were American officers newly landed, men with

+they didn’t care a damn. There were American officers newly landed, men with

 the Mons ribbon, who had been in the game from the crack of the first gun,

 wounded Johnnies like myself, wearing the blue armlet which denotes that you

 are still in hospital. One and all were seizing this jolly moment before they

 again caught sight of the trenches and carried on with pounding the Hun. They

-weren't going to spoil their leisure by discussing the perturbations of a

+weren’t going to spoil their leisure by discussing the perturbations of a

 German Chancellor.

 

 Peace! For the Hun there shall be no peace. For him, for the next hundred

@@ -4472,8 +4463,8 @@ nation. The time has long gone by for such generous discriminations; in four
 years of warfare these ferocious cruelties have been too frequent and

 organized for their odium to be borne by individual men. When Germany speaks

 of mercy it is as though a condemned murderer on the scaffold appealed for his

-reprieve on the grounds of Christ's commandment, "Love thy neighbour as

-thyself." Bullies grow fluent at quoting scripture only when they feel the

+reprieve on the grounds of Christ’s commandment, “Love thy neighbour as

+thyself.” Bullies grow fluent at quoting scripture only when they feel the

 rope about their necks; their use of scripture phrases at the eleventh hour is

 proof of cowardice—not of repentance.

 

@@ -4492,11 +4483,11 @@ for Peace; the men at the Front look to America to back them up in exacting
 the final penalty—they look to America above all the other Allies for firmness

 for the reason that she is not war-weary, and because millions of her men who

 are in khaki have yet to prove their manhood to themselves. America beyond all

-Germany's adversaries came into the war on indisputably righteous grounds: we

+Germany’s adversaries came into the war on indisputably righteous grounds: we

 look to her to insist on a meticulously righteous settlement. In the face of

 the enormities which have been perpetrated by the Hun armies from the first

-violation of Belgium's neutrality up to now, no vengeance could be made

-adequate. The entire history of Germany's method of making war is one of an

+violation of Belgium’s neutrality up to now, no vengeance could be made

+adequate. The entire history of Germany’s method of making war is one of an

 increasing ingenuity in devising new methods of making nations suffer while

 withholding the release of death. The ravishing of women, the shooting of old

 men, the sending of the girlhood of occupied territories into the shame of

@@ -4508,7 +4499,7 @@ minotaurs who surround him escape the gallows, justice becomes a travesty and
 there is no murderer, however diabolical his atrocities, who deserves to be

 electrocuted.

 

-With the turning of the tide in the Allies' favour the voice of France is

+With the turning of the tide in the Allies’ favour the voice of France is

 already making itself heard on the side of the argument for vengeance. Whoever

 forgets, France has her landscapes billowed into mire by shells, her gallant

 cities converted into monstrous blots of brick and dirt, always to remind her.

@@ -4524,19 +4515,19 @@ International law. First, against the person of the civilian; second, against
 the rights of movable property; third, against the rights of public and

 private property. In her own military manual, known as the German War Book,

 and regarded as her official guide for military conduct until this present

-war, she lays down that "the devastation of occupied territory, destruction of

+war, she lays down that “the devastation of occupied territory, destruction of

 property, carrying away of inhabitants into bondage or captivity, and the

 right of plundering private property, formerly permitted, can no longer be

 entertained. The inhabitants are no longer to be regarded, generally speaking,

-as enemies, and are not to be molested in life, limb, honour or freedom."

-Furthermore it states that "every insult, every disturbance against the

+as enemies, and are not to be molested in life, limb, honour or freedom.”

+Furthermore it states that “every insult, every disturbance against the

 domestic peace, every attack on family honour and morality, every unlawful and

 outrageous attack or act of violence, are just as strictly punishable as

-though they had been committed against the inhabitants of one's own land."

+though they had been committed against the inhabitants of one’s own land.”

 There is not a single one of the above rulings that Germany is not violating

 at this moment in her enforced withdrawal from France; and it is at this time

-that her Chancellor appeals for peace in "the interests of suffering

-humanity." Magnanimity! It is a fine, large-sounding word and one which it

+that her Chancellor appeals for peace in “the interests of suffering

+humanity.” Magnanimity! It is a fine, large-sounding word and one which it

 would be a disgrace to lose from our vocabulary; yet it is a word capable of

 much abuse if employed in our peace dealings with the enemy. The day for

 magnanimity has long gone by; in being magnanimous we are unjust to both our

@@ -4553,12 +4544,12 @@ that it will be accomplished, he will die without regret.
 

 We British and men of the Dominions did not always feel this way. When we

 entered the war we determined to remain gentlemen whatever happened. We

-weren't going to be vulgar and lose our tempers; we weren't going to be

+weren’t going to be vulgar and lose our tempers; we weren’t going to be

 un-sportsmanly and learn to hate. Though dirty tricks were played on us, we

 would still play fair. Our code of honour demanded it. There should be no

-retaliation. Then came the Germans' employment of gas, his flame attacks, his

+retaliation. Then came the Germans’ employment of gas, his flame attacks, his

 submarining of merchantmen, his bombing of hospitals and civilian towns. You

-can't play fair with an enemy who flies the flag of truce that he may shoot

+can’t play fair with an enemy who flies the flag of truce that he may shoot

 you in the back. Tit for tat was the only code of honour which came within the

 comprehension of such a ruffian. It took three years for us to stoop to the

 bombing of the Rhine towns. The wisdom of the step has been proved; the

@@ -4575,25 +4566,25 @@ fighting her or making peace with her: With whatever measure she metes, it
 should be measured to her again. Brute force is the only reasoning she

 understands.

 

-The Imperial Chancellor has appealed for peace "in the interest of suffering

-humanity." Even in his cry for mercy he speaks vaingloriously, boasting of the

-"incomparable heroism" of his mob of brutes who have made humanity suffer.

+The Imperial Chancellor has appealed for peace “in the interest of suffering

+humanity.” Even in his cry for mercy he speaks vaingloriously, boasting of the

+“incomparable heroism” of his mob of brutes who have made humanity suffer.

 

 In not one line of his appeal is there a hint of polite regret. By the time

 you read this letter, this particular peace overture will be ancient history,

 but there will be many more of them, each one more sentimental and frantic as

-our armies batter their way nearer to Germany's complacent smiling towns. As

+our armies batter their way nearer to Germany’s complacent smiling towns. As

 these peace overtures arrive, as they will almost daily, there is a saying of

-Richard Hooker's which I wish every American would repeat night and morning as

+Richard Hooker’s which I wish every American would repeat night and morning as

 a vow and prayer. It is a saying which was in my mind on the dawn of 8th

 August, when we sailed out into the morning mist on the great Amiens attack.

 It is a saying which was unconsciously in the mind of every British soldier;

 its stern righteousness explains our altered attitude and the Cromwellian

-strength with which we strike. "Lord, I owe thee a death," said Richard

+strength with which we strike. “Lord, I owe thee a death,” said Richard

 Hooker. Whether we be soldiers or civilians, we each one owe the Lord a Hun

 death for the accumulated horror that has taken place. Such blasphemies

-against God's handiwork cannot be wiped out with words. To make peace before

-the Hun has paid his righteous debt, is to shorten God's right arm and to make

+against God’s handiwork cannot be wiped out with words. To make peace before

+the Hun has paid his righteous debt, is to shorten God’s right arm and to make

 sacrifice seem trivial. We are not fighting to crush individuals or nations,

 but against a strongly fortified vileness and to prove that righteousness

 still triumphs in the world. If at the first whimpering our hearts are touched

@@ -4604,7 +4595,4 @@ slovenliness. God has given the Allies a task to accomplish; He has made us
 His avengers that, when our work is ended, He may create a new heaven upon

 earth.

 

-

-

-

 *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 52451 ***