Samuel L. Clemens, known better as his literary persona Mark Twain, had been invited by the Baronness to attend a meeting of the International Peace Society while touring Europe with his family. He wrote this letter in response, expressing disbelief that nations would ever be willing to work for peace. The letter is written on mourning stationery. Includes envelope. Transcription: Hotel Metropole, Feb. 17. Dear Madame: It is going to be difficult for me to get a day off from my work, still I mean to go to the meeting if I can ? not to help smoke the pipe of peace, but to meet you. I am indee
Samuel L. Clemens, known better as his literary persona Mark Twain, had been invited by the Baronness to attend a meeting of the International Peace Society while touring Europe with his family. He wrote this letter in response, expressing disbelief that nations would ever be willing to work for peace. The letter is written on mourning stationery. Includes envelope. Transcription: Hotel Metropole, Feb. 17. Dear Madame: It is going to be difficult for me to get a day off from my work, still I mean to go to the meeting if I can ? not to help smoke the pipe of peace, but to meet you. I am indeed in sympathy with the movement, but my head is not with my heart in the matter. I cannot see how the movement can troughly [truely] appeal to the selfishness of governments. It can appeal to the selfishness of nations, possibly, but nations have no command over their governments, & in fact no influence over them, except of a fleeting & rather ineffectual sort. If you could persuade the Powers to agree to settle their disputes by arbitration you would uncover their nakedness. You would never persuade them to reduce their vast armaments; & so, even the ignorant & the simple would then discover that the armaments were not created chiefly for the protection of the nations but for their enslavement. Sincerely yours Clemens / Title: Letter signed Samuel L. Clemens, Hotel Metropole, Vienna, to Baronness Bertha v. Suttner, February 17, 1898 . 17 February 1898. Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, 1835-1910
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