e of mon sense can one feel surprise that war is ceaselessly talked of； often enough declared。 In days gone by； distance and rarity of munication assured peace between many realms。 Now that every country is in proximity to every other； what need is there to elaborate explanations of the distrust； the fear； the hatred； which are a perpetual theme of journalists and statesmen？ By approximation； all countries have entered the sphere of natural quarrel。 That they find plenty of things to quarrel about is no cause for astonishment。 A hundred years hence there will be some possibility of perceiving whether international relations are likely to obey the law which has acted with such beneficence in the life of each civilized people； whether this country and that will be content to ease their tempers with bloodless squabbling； subduing the more violent promptings for the mon good。 Yet I suspect that a century is a very short time to allow for even justifiable surmise of such an oute。 If by any chance newspapers ceased to exist 。 。 。
Talk of war； and one gets involved in such utopian musings！
VII
I have been reading one of those prognostic articles on international politics which every now and then appear in the reviews。 Why I should so waste my time it would be hard to say； I suppose the fascination of disgust and fear gets the better of me in a moment's idleness。 This writer； who is horribly perspicacious and vigorous； demonstrates the certainty of a great Eu