Meissonier, his life and his art . ^^:i-^- MEMORIES 309 This letter may be the last I shall be able to send you. To-morrow, doubtless, communication with Paris will be cut off, andwe shall be shut up in Metz. Poor France, poor beloved country,whither will this folly lead thee! Ah ! dear friend, to think ofhaving such an army,—so full of courage and high spirit, whichif properly led, could have carried all before it,—and letting it becut up piecemeal! We are all choking with rage. No words can. GONDOLIERS AT VENICE. (Water-colour.) describe our fury and despair. To see vacillation and delay,whe
Meissonier, his life and his art . ^^:i-^- MEMORIES 309 This letter may be the last I shall be able to send you. To-morrow, doubtless, communication with Paris will be cut off, andwe shall be shut up in Metz. Poor France, poor beloved country,whither will this folly lead thee! Ah ! dear friend, to think ofhaving such an army,—so full of courage and high spirit, whichif properly led, could have carried all before it,—and letting it becut up piecemeal! We are all choking with rage. No words can. GONDOLIERS AT VENICE. (Water-colour.) describe our fury and despair. To see vacillation and delay,when every moment is precious, to know we are merely guardingagainst a check here, by ourselves to another there, that thebest and noblest blood of our dear country is being spilt unavailinglyand ingloriously! The death roll is so long they dare notpublish it. Whole regiments go forth and never return. War isa science, truly, and people who have let long years go by forgettingor despising it, while their enemies have never ceased to studyit, should learn philosophy, at least, and not rush, all ignorant as they 310 MKISSONTER are, upon such mortal risks. Yes, yes indeed ! Long shall I re-member these terrible days at Metz, and the terrible ones which mustyet follow, alls ! for I do not see how we are to get away. 1 wantedto get on a horse and make for Verdun, Rheims, and Soissons,but I was assured it would be very imprudent, and that probablyskirmishers were out already, on all t
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