"DEAR SIR:--When you ask the most peaceable of Academicians whether he is an advocate of war, his answer is ready in advance: unfortunately, dear sir, you yourself regard as a dream the peaceful thoughts which at the present time inspire our magnanimous countrymen. "Ever since I have been living in the world, I have heard many private people express their indignation against this terrifying habit of international slaughter. All men recognize and deplore this evil; but how is it to be mended? People have very often tried to abolish duels,--this seemed so easy! But no! All the efforts made for the attainment of this end have done no good and never will do any good. "No matter how much may be said against war and against duelling at all the congresses of the world, above all arbitrations, above all treaties, above all legislations, will eternally stand man's honour, which has ever demanded duelling, and the national advantages, which will eternally demand war. "I none the less with all my heart hope that the Congress of Universal Peace will succeed in its very grave and very honourable problem. "Receive the assurance, etc. "K. DOUSSET." The meaning is this, that men's honour demands that people should fight, and the advantages of the nations demand that they should ruin and destroy one another, and that the attempts at stopping war are only worthy of smiles. Similar is the opinion of another famous man, Jules Claretie: "Dear Sir," he writes: "For an intelligent man there can exist but one opinion in respect to the question of peace and war. "Humanity was created that it should live, being free to perfect and better (its fate) its condition by means of peaceful labour. The universal agreement, for which the Universal Congress of Peace is asking and which it preaches, may present but a beautiful dream, but it is in any case the most beautiful dream of all. Man has always before him the promised land of the future,--the harvest will mature, without fear of harm from grenades and cannon-wheels. "But.... Yes, but! Since the world is not ruled by philosophers and benefactors, it is fortunate that our soldiers protect our borders and our hearths, and that their arms, correctly aimed, appear to us, perhaps, as the very best guarantee of this peace, which is so fervently loved by all of us. "Peace is given only to the strong and the determined. "Receive the assurance, etc. "J. CLARETIE." The meaning of this is, that it does no harm to talk of what no one intends to do, and what ought not to be done at all. But when it comes to business, we must fight. Here is another recent expression of opinion concerning war, by the most popular novelist of Europe, E. Zola: