Arrival of the good tidings · Extracts from editorials in _Die Waffen nieder_ · Congratulatory letters from Moritz Adler, Dr. Karl von Scherzer, Björnstjerne Björnson, Balduin Groller, Professor Martens, Prince Dolgorukof, Vice Admiral Semsey, Hedwig Pötting, Kemény, Novikof, Henri Dunant · Objections of opponents I was sitting in the summerhouse one beautiful August day, waiting for the arrival of the mail. My Own was in the habit of going himself to the postman to get the letters and newspapers that he brought. This was to me always the most interesting hour of the day. This time he came back with flying steps and shining face and shouted, while still at a distance, “I am bringing the most magnificent, the most surprising news to-day....” “What is it? Have we made a ten-strike?” “Almost—listen! This is what some one wrote in last evening’s paper.” He sat down and read: “‘The maintenance of general peace and a possible reduction of the excessive armaments which weigh upon all nations—’” “That is what we are always saying,” I interrupted, “‘present themselves in the existing condition of the whole world as the ideal toward which the endeavors of all governments should be directed.’” “Should be, but are not—” “‘The present moment would be very favorable for seeking, by means of international discussion, the most effectual means of insuring to all peoples the benefits of a real and lasting peace,—’” “That article must be by Passy or one of our friends.” “What a clever guess!—‘and, above all, of putting an end to the progressive development of armaments.’” “Well, indeed—” “‘Hundreds of millions are devoted to acquiring terrible engines of destruction, which are destined to-morrow to lose all value in consequence of some fresh discovery in this field.’” “That is nothing new.” “‘National culture, economic progress, and the production of wealth are either paralyzed, or checked in their development. Economic crises, brought on in great measure by the system of developing armaments to the utmost, and the constant danger that lies in this massing of war material, are transforming the armies of our days into a crushing burden which the peoples have more and more difficulty in bearing.’” “That article must have been written by a social democrat!” “More clever than before!—‘It appears evident, then, that if this state of things is to be prolonged it will inevitably lead to the very catastrophe which it is desired to avert, and the very thought of whose horrors makes every man shudder.’” “Not _every_ man—” “‘To seek the means of warding off the calamities that are threatening the whole world is the supreme duty that is to-day imposed on all states.’” “Yes, if only the rulers of states thought so!” “Well, read for yourself—and rejoice!”