The King in Yellow and Other Horror Stories

Toward the end of the year 1920 the Government of the United States hadpractically completed the programme, adopted during the last months ofPresident Winthrop's administration. The country was apparently tranquil.Everybody knows how the Tariff and Labour questions were settled. The warwith Germany, incident on that country's seizure of the Samoan Islands, hadleft no visible scars upon the republic, and the temporary occupation ofNorfolk by the invading army had been forgotten in the joy over repeatednaval victories, and the subsequent ridiculous plight of General VonGartenlaube's forces in the State of New Jersey. The Cuban and Hawaiianinvestments had paid one hundred per cent and the territory of Samoa waswell worth its cost as a coaling station. The country was in a superb state ofdefence.