Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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20 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN ments, and tlie necessity of guarding against the superficial in this phase of life is very apparent. Many explanations of this unrest which is sucli a great factor in world affairs just now, have been advanced. Some believe it to be only a natural result of war, a result which has followed every great war in history; others consider it to be the too rapid evolution of a new phase of life which, through the War, was forced upon the world before it was ready, either intellectually or commercially, to accept it; while a certain eminent French scientist declares the present un- rest to be due to bacteria which are engendered by hunger and ex- posure, and which have gradually spread over the world from those countries most oppressed and laid waste hy war. Many famous divines believe that the lessening of interest in church life, and the falling-away of the people from religion as a daily support have much to do with the present discontent. Whichever theory may be the correct one, it is widely known that the unrest is spreading through propaganda. The Bolshevist leaders are past rn asters in this work, and have sent out huge numbers of paid propagandists throughout Eur.ope, the United States and Can- ada. These Russian leaders realize too late that they hold false ideas, which, if fully carried out, would bring the world into a state of chaos; but, having gone so far, they must continue on their way. To stop would mean ruin to them, and the more corruption they can force upon the world, the longer will that world remain safe for them. The Irish Sinn Fein are also well-known propagandists. So clever are they that they have even misled a certain neighboring nation into sharing with them in their discontent against the British Government. It is plainly to be seen that this state of affairs cannot continue, and must be reckoned with at once. For the government to force an issue at the present would be foolhardy in the last degree, but propa- ganda can be fought by propaganda. The Government and secret service are fighting to check this insidious tide of propaganda which is corrupting the country ' s morale, and they can be greatly assisted in their work by all lovers of law and order. There is no time when it is not the duty ..of every British subject to speak up and defend the institutions of his country from the vicious attacks of the discontent- ed, and to help allay a harmful unrest. In this way we can all help to ensure the progress and prosperity of our Empire in this trying time. PHYLLIS HOLLINRAKE, Form Y.

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THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN 19 UNREST Since the signing- of tlie Armistice the problem most concerning the wo]-]d is tliat of the great unrest Avhicli is so prevalent in every country. Previous to the War the affaii ' s of the world, both socially and commei ' cially, were rapidly becoming woi ' se. Anarchism in Russia, and Socialism in other parts of the world, were spreading quietly but speedily; the cost of living was beginning to soar; while the working classes, urged on by Socialistic agitatoi ' s, were gradually pushing forward with a new-found and undreamed-of strength. Simultaneously with the outbreak of war came the first palpable signs of unrest. Millions of men were called to arms in those countries which were drawn into the conflict, but men were also needed to carry on the commerce of those countries at home, and, they were few in number in proportion to that need. These men saw their opportunity, and immediately took advantage of it. Unions were formed in every trade and, led on by paid agitators and discontented spiiits in their midst, who found I ' eady gi ' ound in which to sow theii seeds of dis- content, they pi ' oceeded to demand more and still more, — more wages, moi e free time and privileges, but always less work. The cleverer ones among these discontented spirits in time became fanatics, a re- sult which often follows a too speedy conversion. They became the enemies of law and order, and were filled with hatred for those whom they believed to be possessed of power or wealth. The Society of Russian Bolshevists, the I. W. AV. of the United States, the 0. B. U. of Canada, and the Irish Sinn Fein ai ' e conspicuous examples of this type of discontent. Among returned soldiers the dissatisfaction has been much less pronounced, although theii rapid ti ' ansition from the battle-field to home conditions has given them a reasonable excuse for i-estlcssness. These men have seen and endured enough fighting to pievent them from entertaining sei ' ious tlioughts of revolutionaiy disturbances. In society, as in commercial life, a general unrest has been mark- ed. During the War, the time and energies of girls and wome n were taken up by tlie enormous amount of war woi ' k which they had to do. Since the Armistice much of this work has been taken from them, and they are suddenly left with a gi ' eat deal of spare time. Quite natural- ly they feel that the blank must be filled in some way, and they tui ' n to any occupation or amusement which pi ' esents itself, or can ])e invented. The cessation of hostilities was the signal for society to take a new lease of life, with an ever-increasing number of amuse-

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THl ' ] BRANKSOME SLOGAN