The Spectator at war: Birthday wishes

From The Spectator, 3 October 1914: All Britain and all the Empire have during the week been congratulating Lord Roberts on his eighty-second birthday. His vigour, physical, intellectual, and moral, is marvellous. In spite of his years, he is able to give an enormous deal of help to the nation in its need. His suggestion for the supply of saddles and bridles was specially useful. But though there has been a good response, many more are needed. It is a disgrace just now to have a full saddle-room. The simplicity and nobility of Lord Roberts’s character and his unaffected goodness of heart recall to us once more the wonderful lines with which Dryden commemorated the virtues of another great soldier, Oliver Cromwell:

“His name a great example stands to show How strangely high endeavour may be blest Where piety and valour jointly go.”