Chapter L: Andreev,

K. ARSENIEV, I. BUNIN, U. BUNIN, I. BELOUSOV, M. GORKY, V. VERESAEV, A. GRUSINSKY, N. DAVYDOV, S. ELPATIEVSKY, I. IGNATOV, S. MELGUNOV, A. SERAFIMOVICH, N. TELESHOV, I. SHMELEV, N. MOROZOV, COUNT A.N. TOLSTOY, N. RUSANOV, F. KRIUKOV, A. GORNFELD, A. PIESHECHONOV, N. KAREYEV, F. BATUSHKOV, L. PANTELEYEV, N. KOTLIAREVSKY, V. MIAKOTIN, V. VODOVOSOV, P. SAKULIN, OLNEM-TSEKHOVSKAYA, A. KONI, W. KRANIKHFELD, B. LAZAREVSKY, P. POTAPENKO, TH. SOLOGUB, T. SCHEPKINA-KUPERNIK, W. BOGUCHARSKY, K. BARANTSEVICH, S. VENGEROV, P. MILIUKOV, A. PRUGAVIN, M. KOVALEVSKY, A. POSNIKOV, E. LETKOVA-SULTANOVA, D. OVSIANNIKO-KULIKOVSKY, A. REMEZOV, D. MEREZHKOVSKY, Z. HIPPICS, F. ZELINSKY, N. TCHAIKOVSKY, A. BLOK, E. TCHIRIKOV, A. PETRISCHEV, I. BIELOKONSKY, PRINCE A. SUMBATOV, W. FRITCHE, A. VESELOVSKY, W. NEMEROVICH-DANCHENKO, PRINCE E. TROUBETSKOY, I. SHPAZHINSKY, TH. KOKOSHKIN, COUNT E.L. TOLSTOY, N. TEMKOCSKY, M. ARTISIBASHEV, U. BALTRUSHAITIS, U. AICHENWALD, PRINCE D. SHAKHOVSKY, W. BRUSOV.

Evviva L'Italia

By William Archer

Mr. Archer's article praising the Italian decision and
purpose appeared originally in The London Daily News.

One of the most beautiful and memorable of human experiences is to start, one fine morning, from some point in German Switzerland or Tyrol and, in two or three days--or it may be in one swinging stretch--to tramp over an Alpine pass and down into the Promised Land below. It is of no use to rush it in a motor; you might as well hop over by aeroplane. In order to savor the experience to the full, you must take staff and scrip, like the Ritter Tannhaeuser, and go the pilgrim's way. It is a joy even to pass from the guttural and explosive place names of Teutonia to the liquid music of the southern vocables--from Brieg to Domo d'Ossola, from Goeschenen to Bellinzona, from St. Moritz to Chiavenna, from Botzen and Brixen to Ala and Verona. It is a still greater joy to exchange the harsh, staring colors of the north for the soft luminosity of the south, as you zigzag down from the bare snows to the pines, from the pines to the chestnuts, from the chestnuts to the trellised vineyards. And just about where the vineyards begin, you come upon two wayside posts, one of them inscribed "Schweiz" or "Oesterreich," the other bearing the magic word "Italia." If your heart does not leap at the sight of it you may as well about-turn and get you home again; for you have no sense of history, no love of art, no hunger for divine, inexhaustible beauty. For all these things are implicit in the one word, "Italy."

Alas! the charm of this excursion has from of old made irresistible appeal to the northern barbarian. That has been Italy's historic misfortune. For certain centuries, under the dominance of Rome, she kept the Goths and Huns and Vandals aloof by what is called in India a "forward policy"--by throwing the outworks of civilization far beyond the Alpine barrier. But Rome fell to decay, and, wave upon wave, the barbarian--generally the Teuton, under one alias or another--surged over her glorious highlands, her bounteous lowlands, and her marvelous cities. It is barely half a century since the hated Tedeschi were expelled from the greater part of their Cisalpine possessions; and now, in the fullness of time, Italy has resolved to redeem the last of her ravished provinces and to make her boundaries practically conterminous with Italian speech and race.

The political and military aspects of the situation have been fully dealt with elsewhere; but a lifelong lover of Italy may perhaps be permitted to state his personal view of her action. While the negotiations lasted, her position was scarcely a dignified one. It seemed that she was willing, not, indeed, to sell her birthright for a mess of pottage, but to buy her birthright at the cost of complicity in monstrous crime. Neither Italy nor Europe would have profited in the long run by the substitution of "Belgia Irredenta" for "Italia Irredenta." But now that she has repudiated the sops offered to her honor and conscience, her position is clear and fine. She has rejected larger concessions, probably, than any great power has ever before been prepared to make without stroke of sword; and she has thrown in her lot with the Allies in no time-serving spirit, but at a point when their fortunes were by no means at their highest. This is a gesture entirely worthy of a great and high-spirited people.

It is true that she had no guarantee for the promised concessions except the "Teutonica fides," which has become a byword and a reproach. But I am much mistaken if that was the sole or main motive that determined her resort to arms. She took a larger view. She felt that even if Germany, by miracle, kept her faith, the world, after a German victory, would be no place for free men to live in. She was not moved by the care for a few square miles of territory, more or less, but by a strong sense of democratic solidarity and of human dignity. After the events of the past ten months, she felt that, to a self-respecting man or nation, German hate was infinitely preferable to German love. It was, in fact, a patent of nobility.

And now that Italy is ranked with us against the powers of evil, it becomes more than ever our duty to strain every nerve for their defeat. We are now taking our share in the guardianship of the world's great treasure house of historic memories and of the creations of genius. We have become, as it were, co-trustees of an incomparable, irreplaceable heritage of beauty. Italy has been the scene of many and terrible wars; but since she emerged from the Dark Ages I do not know that war has greatly damaged the glory of her cities. She has not, of recent centuries, had to mourn a Louvain or a Rheims. But if the Teuton, in his present temper, should gain any considerable footing within her bounds, the Dark Ages would be upon her once more. What effort can be too great to avert such a calamity!

I am not by way of being versed in the secrets of Courts; but I recall today, with encouragement, a conversation I had some years ago with an ex-Ambassador to Italy (not a British Ambassador) who had been on intimate terms with the King, and spoke with enthusiasm of his Majesty's character. He told me of his bravery, his devotion to duty, his simple manners, his high intelligence. One little anecdote I may repeat without indiscretion. A Minister of Education said to my friend that when he had an interview with the King he felt like a schoolboy bringing up to an exacting though kindly master a half-prepared lesson; and when this was repeated to his Majesty, he smiled and said: "Ministers come and go, but I, you see, am always here." He merited far better than his grandfather (said my informant) the title of "il Re Galantuomo." Under such a Chief of State Italy may, with high hope and courage, set about her task of tearing away her unredeemed fringes from that patchwork of tyrannies known as the Austrian Empire.

Who Died Content!

[From the Westminster Gazette]

Rex and Wilfred Winslow were the first men who died on the
field of German South West Africa. The epitaph on the cross
on the grave ran thus:

"Tell England ye that pass this monument,
That we who rest here died content."

--DAILY NEWSPAPER.

Far the horizon of our best desires
Stretches into the sunset of our lives:
The wavering taper of the achieved expires,
And only the irrevocable will survives.
Content to die for England! How the words
Thrill those who live for England, knowing not
The stern, heroic passion that upgirds
The loins of such as, ardent, for her fought.
Content! It is a word that brooks no bounds,
If from the heights and depths it takes its name:
Upon the proud lips of great men it sounds
As if the clear note from the Heavens came;
A word that, sea-like, shrinks and grows again;
A little word on lips of little men!

JOHN HOGBEN.

"The Germans, Destroyers of Cathedrals"

By Artists, Writers, Musicians, and Philosophers of France

The subjoined extracts of official documents are translated
from a book published in Paris by Hachette et Cie., the full
title of which is "The Germans, Destroyers of Cathedrals and
of Treasures of the Past: Being a Compilation of Documents
Belonging to the Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine
Arts." The official documents are offered to "the literary
and artistic associations of foreign countries." The
editorial notes and comment are reproduced from the original
text.

To the Artistic and Literary Associations of Foreign Countries and to all Friends of the Beautiful, in order that the System of Destruction of the German Armies be brought to their knowledge, the present Memorial is offered by:

Mme. JULIETTE ADAM. PAUL ADAM. M. ANQUETIN. ANDRE ANTOINE, Founder of the Theatre Libre. PAUL APPELL, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, member of the Institute. MAURICE BARRES, Deputy, member of the Academie Francaise. ALBERT BARTHOLOME. JEAN BERAUD. TRISTAN BERNARD. ALBERT BESNARD, Director of the Academie de France at Rome, member of the Institute. PIERRE BONNARD. LEON BONNAT, member of the Institute, Director of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. EMILE-ANTOINE BOURDELLE. ELEMIR BOURGES, member of the Academie Goncourt. EMILE BOUTROUX, member of the Institute. ADOLPHE BRISSON, President of the Association de la Critique. ALFRED BRUNEAU. Dr. CAPITAN, Professor at the College de France, member of the Academie de Medecine. ALFRED CAPUS, member of the Academie Francaise. M. CAROLUS-DURAN, member of the Institute. GUSTAVE CHARPENTIER, member of the Institute. CAMILLE CHEVILLARD, Director of the Concerts-Lamoureux. PAUL CLAUDEL. GEORGES CLEMENCEAU, Senator, former President of the Council. ROMAIN COOLUS. ALFRED CORTOT. GEORGES COURTELINE. P.A.J. DAGNAN-BOUVERET, member of the Institute. CLAUDE DEBUSSY. Mme. VIRGINIE DEMONT-BRETON. JULES DESBOIS. LUCIEN DESCAVES, member of the Academie Goncourt. MAXIME DETHOMAS. AUGUSTE DORCHAIN. PAUL DUKAS. J. ERNEST-CHARLES, President of the Societe des Conferences Etrangeres. EMILE FABRE. EMILE FAGUET, member of the Academie Francaise. GABRIEL FAURE, member of the Institute, Director of the Conservatory of Music. CAMILLE FLAMMARION, President of the Societe Astronomique de France. ROBERT DE FLERS. ANDRE FONTAINAS. PAUL FORT. ANATOLE FRANCE, member of the Academie Francaise. A. DE LA GANDARA. FIRMIN GEMIER, Director of the Theatre-Antoine. ANDRE GIDE. CHARLES GIRAULT, member of the Institute. EDMOND GUIRAUD. LUCIEN GUITRY. EDMOND HARAUCOURT. LOUIS HAVET, member of the Institute. MAURICE HENNEQUIN, President of the Societe des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques. JACQUES HERMANT, President of the Societe des Architectes Diplomes par le Gouvernement. A.F. HEROLD. PAUL HERVIEU, member of the Academie Francaise. VINCENT D'INDY, Director of the Schola Cantorum. M. INGHELBREGHT. FRANCIS JAMMES. FRANTZ JOURDAIN, President of the Syndicat de la Presse Artistique, President of the Autumn Salon. GUSTAVE KAHN. VICTOR LALOUX, member of the Institute. HENRI LAVEDAN, member of the Academie Francaise. GEORGES LECOMTE, President of the Societe des Gens de Lettres. Mlle. MARIE LENERU. PIERRE LOTI, member of the Academie Francaise. MAURICE MAGRE. ARISTIDE MAILLOL. PAUL MARGUERITTE, member of the Academie Goncourt. HENRI MARTIN. M. MATISSE. MAX MAUREY. Mme. CATULLE MENDES. ANTONIN MERCIE, member of the Institute, President of the Societe des Artistes Francais. STUART MERRILL. ANDRE MESSAGER. OCTAVE MIRBEAU, member of the Academie Goncourt. CLAUDE MONET. Mme. DE NOAILLES. J.L. PASCAL, member of the Institute. EDMOND PERRIER, President of the Institute, Director of the Museum. GABRIEL PIERNE, Director of the Concerts-Colonne. M. PIOCH. CHARLES PLUMET. Mme. RACHILDE. J.F. RAFFAELLI. ODILON REDON. GEORGES RENARD, Professor at the College de France. JEAN RICHEPIN, member, of the Academie Francaise. AUGUSTS RODIN. ALFRED ROLL, President of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts. J.H. ROSNY, aine, member of the Academie Goncourt. EDMOND ROSTAND, member of the Academie Francaise. SAINT-GEORGES DE BOUHELIER. CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS, member of the Institute. GABRIEL SEAILLES. PAUL SIGNAC, President of the Societe des Artistes Independants. M. STEINLEN. FRANCIS VIELE-GRIFFIN. ADOLPHE WILLETTE.

* * * * *

To the Literary and Artistic Associations of Foreign Countries and to all Friends of the Beautiful:

"_... It is not true that our troops brutally destroyed Louvain. It is not true that we make war in contempt of the rights of mankind. Our soldiers commit neither undisciplined nor cruel acts...._"

_MANIFESTO OF THE GERMAN INTELLECTUALS._

"_If the savants make science what it is, science does not make the character of the savants what it is._"

_EDMOND PERRIER._

"_... Scientific barbarism_."

_EMILE BOUTROUX._

I.

If we were able--at this hour, when, through the act of the Teutonic Empire, the world may witness unnamable deeds--if we were able to cite the most odious of them, we should say that, after the massacre of innocent people and all the assaults on the rights of mankind committed by the German armies, the worst has seemed to us the shameless manner in which the superior intellects beyond the Rhine have dared to cover up these crimes. It is not that we ever believed that from any corner of Germany there could come to us an appearance of fellow-feeling, in these circumstances wherein no one has any other right than that of giving himself body and soul to his native land. We know that, before speaking for the universe, men threatened by the enemy should be faithful to their flag, in the face of everything and against everything--and with resolution. At no hour, therefore, have we thought that German savants and artists could raise their voice to repudiate their armies, when the latter were going to war with the object of further extending their empire. But, at least, they should keep silence, and before the horror of crimes to be judged especially by the tribunal of the elite they should not have shown their miserable enthusiasm. "You see," as a clear-sighted Dutch professor[5] has well written on this point, "if these intellectuals were not blinded they would rather have asked themselves if, in this war that stains Europe with blood, the Prussian military authorities were not losing for centuries the reputation of the great name of Germany." And suppose it were even a small matter if they had lost only the great name of Germany, that the epoch of Goethe, Kant, and Beethoven had covered with glory. But with it they have vilified as well the noble role of the philosopher, of the historian, of the savant, and of the artist. In truth they have betrayed their own gods, and the professions to which they belong can no longer be honored by them--so far as the question of conscience goes, at least. And as for the sacred thing called civilization, which is above our interests and our vanities of an hour, they may have served it usefully by their personal work in the past, but they were unequal to the task of remaining its protectors when their mere silence would perhaps have helped to save it.[6] They have thus shown that, with their more or less sparkling black eagles and under the bedizenment of their Court costumes, they are for the most part narrow fanatics or paid scribes whose pen is only a tool in the hands of their master of a day. It is not even sure whether through their cult of this "militarism," to which they have given the most shameful blind-signature, they have not hopelessly condemned it, by testifying that under the rule of the German sabre human thought has no other course than to humiliate itself!... But on the score of what they are worth in professional morality and courage, agreement is certain today, everywhere.

[Footnote 5: Professor Dake.]

[Footnote 6: On the score of certain names important in Germany--names not found under the manifesto of the Intellectuals--a question arises: Were they not solicited as well to cover up these crimes, or did they refuse? If the question were one of a simple memorial, carrying with it no abdication of conscience, this point would be without importance, for it would simply mean that a list, however long, could not bring together all the men of renown of a country, and omissions would often have to be laid to chance. But here a venomous manifesto was to be signed, made up of violent lies and of arbitrary theories; and with this in mind one may see a meaning in certain abstentions. Without any possible doubt they are the act of courageous men, who, feeling deeply where the truth is, will not ally themselves against it; and by their resistance they do it honor.]

Their great affair--and that of every thinking German--is to object, when spoken to of their crimes, either that they were born of necessity or that they did not take place. As against these allegations, unsupported by any proof, the most formal denials have officially been given. But to the latter we shall now add the true description of the facts. And we think that, in spite of the power and the dogmatic authority of its elite, the activity of its emissaries in all parts of the world, and, finally, all its vast apparatus of conquest--military and civil--Germany cannot long make its stand against the humble little truth, which advances, noiselessly but also fearlessly, with the tenacious light in its hand that it received from Reality--from unquenchable and ardent Reality.

We come to you armed with the facts. It is only these unanswerable witnesses that we have wished to oppose to the gratuitous affirmations of our colleagues beyond the Rhine. We might have taken you into the mazes of twenty frightful dramas, for _at every place where the German troops have advanced they have trodden under foot the rights of mankind and counted as nothing the civilization and the patrimony of nations_. We have thought it wiser to limit ourselves to the relation of certain events bearing the seal of certainty.

Not all the cities which may have suffered have as yet opened their gates to our brothers. Not being able to collect authentic testimony there we prefer, then, not to speak of them--for the moment. But in all those evacuated by the enemy, commissions[7] have hurried to ascertain the losses on the spot. It is from these legal examinations that we have written this report, which, in impartial fashion, makes you the judges.

[Footnote 7: Throughout this work we shall often have recourse to the reports of these commissions. At the end of the present volume will be found certain of these documents, unpublished till now.]

Unhappy cities have been tortured in body and soul, that is to say, in their population and in the works built by their hands, the immortal relics of the dead. Of the miseries the people have suffered it is not permitted us to speak. But as to those noble houses built with art which have been destroyed, as to those constructions erected by our ancestors for the edification of men of all classes, of all times, and all countries, which are today but ruins; as to those masterpieces in which all the elegant poetry of our race was realized and that belonged to the civilized world, of which they were a glory and an ornament, and which subsist as nothing but a mournful heap of debris--of these we are not bound to keep silent. But not one exaggerated word shall be uttered by us. The account we shall give is established by high testimony and by irrefutable documents.

But let us cease all this preparation and come to the events of Rheims.

(Page 59 of the book.)

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE.