Memoirs of Bertha von Suttner: The Records of an Eventful Life (Vol. 2 of 2)Suttner, Bertha von
History
Memoirs of Bertha von Suttner: The Records of an Eventful Life (Vol. 2 of 2)
Suttner, Bertha von
Peace; Suttner, Bertha von, 1843-1914; Women -- Austria -- Biography
The next day I saw her in her own home, and found that it was a sort of
memorial temple to the departed; on all the walls there was nothing but
pictures painted by Marie Bashkirtseff, or representing Marie herself at
all periods of her life and in the most varying phases, always full of
beauty and charm. Neither could the sorrowful mother speak of anything
else than of her famous daughter.
A few days later I gave a lecture in Cannes. Luncheon on the _Arche de
Noé_; Italian singers on board; magnificent weather; guests Count
Rochechouart, the mayor, the president of the Nautical Club, Türr, and
another gentleman—I do not remember his name—with a brutal face. The
table talk turns on Dreyfus.
“I do not admit,” says Count Rochechouart, “that seven officers
condemned a comrade without being certain of their position.”
The Mayor: “Other people, not knowing the circumstances, have no right
to express an opinion.”
The Nautical President: “A dozen bullets ought to have been sent through
his body.”
Rochechouart: “I belong to only one league—it is impossible to be of
another—Déroulède’s.”
The Brutal Man: “Obviously; I should like to see you being anything
else.”
So these are my fellow-banqueters before a lecture on peace!
The lecture fell very flat. The hall was pretty empty. No enthusiasm. I
have not often made such a miserable speech. After the lecture, which
ended about four o’clock in the afternoon, we took a walk through the
wonderful city of gardens.
In Nice we were rejoiced by a call which brought back sweet
recollections of the beautiful days in the Caucasus. I read in the local
newspaper that Prince Lucien Murat and his wife, born Princesse de
Rohan, had come to make a visit to the Empress Eugénie in neighboring
Cimièz. I immediately wrote a note to my former little German pupil to
tell him that we were near at hand. The next day the young couple came
to see us. One cloud only darkened the delight of the reunion, namely,
the tragic death of Prince Achille Murat, Lucien’s father. The incident
was not mentioned.
On our return to Harmannsdorf our days were filled with preparations for
the journey to The Hague; I wrote numerous articles and sent letters to
all points of the compass. I had buried myself in Bloch’s great work and
had written him about it. In reply I received the following letter:
Warsaw, April 8, 1899
My dear Baroness:
Heartiest thanks for your kind lines. The service ascribed to me is,
however, only the result of the movement against war which has been
going on, and in which you personally, gracious Baroness, have taken
such an important part; and I must bear witness that your personal
talent, in my opinion, has accomplished more than all technical
arguments can possibly accomplish.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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