"CONFOUND THEIR KNAVISH TRICKS"
Sta,—Janus, whom God save, describes the lines in the National Anthem, "Frustrate their politics, Confound their knavish tricks,"
as "contemptible." Why? Is it wrong to pray that knavish tricks, whether by enemies or others, shall be confounded? And if the politics are devious or devilish, or even no more than adverse to this nation's welfare, may we not justifiably pray that they shall be frustrated? I see nothing " con- temptible " in the prayer. I see everything that is right and proper. None but a fool would suppose that all activities by enemies are knavish and deserving of frustration, but what grounil is there for thinking that any such folly was in the mind of the author of the Ani lines so unjustly condemned? I never sang them so fervently as in the late world war, and I feel certain that Janus himself put plenty of gusto into his voice
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