Page:Above the battle.djvu/152

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Above the Battle

come. In the midst of the tempest which destroys all around us so many things which we consider worthy of eternal existence, the possibility of such action strengthens our courage and gives us hope that new bridges will be rebuilt, on which the men, who now find themselves separated, will once more be closely united in a common effort."

I dedicate these noble words to my friends amongst the people of France, who have so often, by letter or by message, declared to me their sympathy for such thoughts and their unchanging faith in humanity. I dedicate them to all in France who, even in these days, by their justice and goodness contribute to make their country loved, as much as she makes herself admired by her arms—to those who assure her of the name which I read with emotion on a postcard written yesterday, on his way to Geneva, by a badly wounded German who had been repatriated: the name of gutes Frankreich, "good France," or, as our tender-hearted old writers used to say, "Douce France."

R. R.

I take this opportunity of recommending to my French readers the publication of Mme.

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