A Woman and the War

Frances Evelyn (Daisy) Greville (1861 - 1938)

It is not without serious reflection that I have collected these thoughts in war time to offer in book form to those who may care to read and ponder them.

They were written for the most part on the spur of vital moments, when some of the tendencies of the evil times through which we are living seemed to call for immediate protest. I have felt more strongly than ever in the past two years that we are in danger of accepting as something outside the pale of criticism the judgments of those who lead, and sometimes mislead us. The support or hostility of the newspaper press—in some aspects the greatest distorting medium in the world—is still ruled by party considerations. Loyalty or ill-will to the men in office colours all the views of those who praise or blame, and it happens often that a good measure is damned for what is best or lauded for what is worst in it. Again, I have felt that while much of the fighting spirit of the country is subject to army discipline, the tendency of government has been to make helpless puppets of the citizens who remain behind the forces in the field. In the near future, if we would save what is left of our heritage of freedom, and would even extend the comparatively narrow boundaries that existed before the autumn of 1914, we must relieve the press of the self-conferred duty of thinking for us. We must not give our rulers a blank cheque; their best efforts tend more to rouse our suspicions than to compel our confidence.

Judging all the matters dealt with in these pages as fairly and honestly as I can, I have found myself repeatedly in opposition to the authorities. The legislation from which we have suffered since war began, the efforts to relieve difficult situations and prepare for obvious emergencies have savoured largely of panic and can boast no more than a small element of statesmanship. So I have protested and the protests have grown even beyond the limit of these book covers, while an ever-swelling letter-bag has told me that I have interpreted, however feebly, the thoughts, wishes, and aspirations of many thinking men and women. We are on the eve of events that will demand of evolution that it mend its paces or become revolution without more ado. The international crisis and the national makeshifts must have proved to the dullest that the world is out of joint.

I make no claim to traverse the whole ground, modesty forbids, and Mr. Zangwill has accomplished the task in his "War for the World," the most brilliant work that has seen the light since August, 1914. I have sought to point out where and why and how we are moving backwards. I can command no eloquence to gild my words, I cannot pretend to have more to say than will have occurred to every man and woman of advanced views and normal intelligence, but it does not suffice to think; one must make thought the prelude of action. Strong in this belief I have not hesitated to attempt something more than mere criticism.

I cannot wave flags, abuse enemies, or extol popular idols; and consequently those who read will please accept these and other limitations.

FRANCES EVELYN WARWICK.
- Summary by The preface

Genre(s): Philosophy

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface Astrid Weinmann
00:04:52
Play 01 Chapter 1: King Edward and the Kaiser Eleonora Bettenzoli
00:24:52
Play 02 Chapter 2: The Greatest Fight of All ToddHW
00:11:25
Play 03 Chapter 3: England's Drink Legislation Paul Hampton
00:10:52
Play 04 Chapter 4: War and Marriage CeCeCruz
00:09:11
Play 05 Chapter 5: Nursing in War Time jenno
00:13:33
Play 06 Chapter 6: Two Years of War—Woman's Loss and Gain jenno
00:11:28
Play 07 Chapter 7: Child Labour on the Land Eleonora Bettenzoli
00:14:20
Play 08 Chapter 8: Comrades KevinS
00:11:46
Play 09 Chapter 9: The Curse of Autocracy jenno
00:20:28
Play 10 Chapter 10: Woman's War Work on the Land Astrid Weinmann
00:28:03
Play 11 Chapter 11: German Women and Militarism Astrid Weinmann
00:21:42
Play 12 Chapter 12: Youth in the Shambles jenno
00:15:24
Play 13 Chapter 13: Thoughts on Compulsion Paul Hampton
00:11:13
Play 14 Chapter 14: Women and War jenno
00:14:43
Play 15 Chapter 15: Race Suicide jenno
00:25:02
Play 16 Chapter 16: The Lesson of the Picture Theatre Marya James
00:12:01
Play 17 Chapter 17: Truth will out Marya James
00:12:52
Play 18 Chapter 18: The Claim of All the Children ToddHW
00:18:07
Play 19 Chapter 19: The Prussian in Our Midst John
00:13:13
Play 20 Chapter 20: The Grown-Up Girls of England Marya James
00:10:38
Play 21 Chapter 21: The Social Horizon DeborahJoye
00:13:54
Play 22 Chapter 22: How Shall We Minister to a World Diseased? John
00:15:11
Play 23 Chapter 23: How I Would Work for Peace Jennifer Fournier
00:14:50
Play 24 Chapter 24: Lord French John
00:14:42
Play 25 Chapter 25: Lord Haldane: Some Recollections and an Estimate Ted Hanlon
00:09:22
Play 26 Chapter 26: Grounds for Optimism Ted Hanlon
00:12:15
Play 27 Chapter 27: Anglo-American Relations in Peace and War KevinS
00:18:24