If in the deeds to which it constrains men not all is evil, and if many a virtue shines out in connection with them, this is because man, savage and—I feel like saying—bestial as he may become, still never wholly ceases to be human, and in some way mitigates the harm which his own work inflicts. If war has done anything good in any respect, this has been done, one may say, in its own despite and contrary to its intent. Even if many instincts impel man to war, how much nobler are those that repel him from it! How august sounds the voice that would restrain him from it, in comparison to the angry shout that eggs it on! To-day I read the maxim of old Lao-Tse: “If two armies of equal strength are pitted against each other, the victory belongs to that one whose leader was the more merciful.” That is—unfortunately—not correct. But it is one of those human illusions that are more valuable than a truth, because they prove that man feels ruth at the use of arms, that his conscience is not easy even when he is compelled to use them, and that he seeks the basis for victory in some virtue, in some feeling that might absolve him. We promoters of peace, who work for it with glowing zeal, have in the last analysis no other object than this,—that man shall become _wholly human_. And, as I am in the habit of ultimately ending my letters to my friends, I make an end of this one. Have a little affection for your Bonghi After my trip to Berlin I received from Bonghi the following lines, this time written in French: Rome, April 26, 1892 I follow you and applaud you. You have everything that is necessary for the beneficent and intelligent part that you are playing. You have had the courage to go and plant our banner in Berlin, in the very fortress of our enemies. Write me, dear Baroness, as often as you can; you will be doing me a very great favor. A thousand greetings to your husband. Yours altogether R. Bonghi From the famous Russian folklorist and professor in Moscow University, Count Kamarofski, I had received an article for my review and the following letter: Moscow, May 18/30, 1892 Highly honored Lady: Accept my thanks for your letter and the pamphlets accompanying it. You are right: you are no stranger to me since I have learned to esteem you from your beautiful story, _Die Waffen nieder_. I am sending you herewith my lecture which I delivered in behalf of the famine-stricken, and give you permission to make such extracts from it as you may see fit. As for an original article for your review, I will get one ready as soon as I find the opportunity.