Chapter I: Front Matter

DISARM! DISARM!

ADAPTED FROM THE GERMAN ROMANCE
“DIE WAFFEN NIEDER”
BY THE BARONESS BERTHA VON SUTTNER

BY

ANDREA HOFER-PROUDFOOT

_POPULAR EDITION_

HODDER AND STOUGHTON

LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO

_Printed in 1914_

CONTENTS

BOOK I

1859

CHAPTER I
PAGE
Girlish fancies—Enthusiasm for heroism—Education—Entering
society—At Marienbad—Love at first sight 3

CHAPTER II

Marriage—The first-born—War rumours—The ultimatum 10

CHAPTER III

Last hours—Public glad at prospect of war—The sad parting 19

CHAPTER IV

Women’s co-operation at home—Anxious for news from seat of
war—Austria’s bad luck—Patriotism and relief work—A friendly
visit—The fatal news 29

CHAPTER V

Early widowhood—Sorrow and solitude—I take up my studies
again—Broader conceptions 41

BOOK II

TIME OF PEACE

CHAPTER I

Society once more—Happiness returns—A second marriage suggested—My
younger sisters need a chaperone—Baron Tilling introduced—He
tells of Arno’s death 51

CHAPTER II

After the carnival—Father’s dinner-party—Toy soldiers—Tilling
again—The brave Hupfauf—Darwin 63

CHAPTER III

A cosy chat with Tilling—We misunderstand each other—The
attachment grows—Countess Griesbach—Jealousy overcome—Tilling
goes away—A touching letter—Death of Tilling’s mother 72

CHAPTER IV

Conrad and Lilli—Easter ceremonies—Tilling again—A visit and
interview—Disappointments and apprehensions—A conversation about
warfare—At last, an understanding 83

CHAPTER V

A ride in the Prater—At last an understanding—The family
reconciled to the engagement—Marriage and visit to Berlin—Life
in garrison—Christmas at Vienna—Rumours of war 98

BOOK III

1864

CHAPTER I

War imminent with Denmark—New Year’s Eve—Return to garrison—The
Schleswig-Holstein Campaign—Story of the quarrel 113

CHAPTER II

The course of war—Hostilities suspended and renewed—My husband
departs—The dead baby—Letters from the seat of
war—Recovery—Anxiety—Letters—Return of Frederick 124

CHAPTER III

Reunion and summer joys—Resolved to quit the service—Rudolf’s
training—The end of the war—Conditions of peace—Fresh cares and
ruined fortunes—My husband remains in the service 132

CHAPTER IV

Lilli and Conrad—Aunt Marie’s letter—Rumours of war with
Prussia—Negotiations and arguments—My father’s New Year’s
toast—Hopes and fears—The army mobilised—War declared—The
manifestos of both sides 138

BOOK IV

1866

CHAPTER I

The Austro-Prussian War—Frederick again to the front—The Red
Cross—Reports and Letters—The Custozza victory—Austria has
reverses in Bohemia—Discussion of the press 157

CHAPTER II

More and more reverses for Austria—A soldier’s abhorrence of
war—Poor Puxl—My husband’s letter declares that this is his last
campaign 163

CHAPTER III

Austria ruined at the battle of Koniggratz—Dr. Bresser with the
wounded—I go to the seat of war to search for my husband—The
scenes on the way—More horrors described—I meet Frau Simon—A
night journey—Am carried back to Vienna exhausted—Return to
Grumitz 174

CHAPTER IV

Restored happiness—Prussians still press toward Vienna—War
practically over—Quiet country life—Military school—My only
brother Otto—Description of flying troops—Peace in sight—Victory
of Lyssa—Our plans of retirement—Conrad comes home—He describes
his enthusiasm for war 195

CHAPTER V

The Prussians at Grumitz—Otto gets into trouble—A dinner with
friend and foe—Rosa and Prince Henry are engaged—The Prussians
leave and cholera breaks out in our midst—Servants are the first
victims, then sisters—The lover’s suicide—The only son dies,
father follows him, cursing war 210

CHAPTER VI

Summer in Switzerland—Researches in International
law—Seclusion—Frederick enters the peace army—Off to Berlin—The
battle-field of Sadowa—Francis Joseph weeps for his dead
soldiers 227

BOOK V

TIME OF PEACE

CHAPTER I

Visit to Berlin—Aunt Cornelia—Aunt Marie’s death—Vienna
again—Politics and conscription 237

CHAPTER II

New Year’s reflections—Distrust between the French and
Germans—Quiet again—Paris—Napoleon’s plan for
disarmament—Frederick’s work for peace—A daughter born—Happiness
and study—The gay world—War talk again—Repose in
Switzerland—Sylvia’s illness 245

BOOK VI

CHAPTER I

Paris in March 1870—War party pushes the Emperor—His plan of
disarmament dropped—Our new home in Paris—The French and German
question—Menace and rumours again—France makes demands and then
threats 261

CHAPTER II

War declared—Excitement in Paris—Which side?—We remain in Paris—A
little history—First days of war—Paris a fortress—A Republic
declared—My husband’s fate 265

EPILOGUE 291