THE SPAN OF LIFE

It has been computed on presumably careful figures that the average officer of the fighting line in the war lasts but twenty-three days before he is killed or wounded.

Not with any feeling of weakness, nor any terror, will our young American officers go to the front. From the death of many the life of the nation may be conserved. Knowing that, they will not falter, though the time granted to them be short.

Yet for those men who are not called to go with the first chosen army, there must come a great measure of desolation at knowing how brief will be the service of these young men. There will not be one person in this wide nation who will not have a close friend leave at the first call. They who remain may trust, with that vague and lasting trust which is given to mortals, that those who are the crosest to them will some way be spared in the blind lot of battle. But such trust is sad and futile when we realize that though some may be granted a longer period, others will be cut short with a briefer. Many thousands make up an average. The average time of immunity is twenty-three days. For some it may be longer, for some shorter. What are a few days?

Twenty-three days is very short for those who had hoped to do great things in life.