SCENES IN THE GREAT WAR
WHAT KING ALBERT DID FOR KINGSHIP
But there were flashes of almost divine light
in the black darkness of Belgium's tragedy,
and perhaps the brightest of them surrounded
the person of her King. What King Albert did
in those dark days of August 1914, to keep the
soul of his nation alive in the midst of the
immense sorrow of her utter overthrow his
nation alone can fully know. But we who are
not Belgians were thrilled again and again by
the inspired tones of a great Spirit speaking to
his subjects with that authority, dignity, and
courage which alone among free nations are
sufficient to unite the people to the Throne.
"A country which defends its liberties in the face of tyranny commands the respect of all. Such a country does not perish."
What King Albert did for Belgium in the stand he made against German aggression is partly known already, and will leave its record in history, but what he did at the same time for kingship throughout the world, as well as in his country, can only be realized by the few who are aware that almost at the moment of the outbreak of war the Belgian Courts (much to the unmerited humiliation of Belgium) were on the eve of such disclosures in relation to the life and death of the King's predecessor as would
