So Canada, which abolished titles years ago (but has since
let a few come creeping back) is abolishing " Rule Britannia," at any rate so far as border cities, likely to be largely frequented by visitors from the United States, are concerned. And Canada is perfectly right. In any case there would be something a little vicarious in the proclamation by a Dominion whose navy consists of four destroyers and two mine-sweepers of Britannia's domination of the waves. In the second place it is at least arguable whether Britannia does in fact rule the • waves, and no one is anxious to put the matter to the test. In the third it would hardly be tactful to din the assertion into American ears even if it were true. " Rule Britannia," if sung at all, ought to be kept strictly for home consumption. To any foreigner it is bound to sound more arrogant even than " Deutschland fiber Alles "—which, rightly interpreted, is not arrogant at all. The waves, moreover, have made poor things of many eminent Britons. Cromwell was like a bilious baby when he crossed St. George's Channel to subdue the Irish. " The Lord-Lieutenant," wrote his chaplain, " was as sea-sick as ever I saw a man in my life."
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