PROS AND CONS

Formal condolences and compliments often lack warmth and momentum. They are often short, stilted sentences that sound like they came from an ice bucket, not an inkwell. But today the expressions of sympathy which are flowing to us regarding the desolate catastrophe of Diksmuide are, although official, of a completely different nature. They are moving. They are saddened. They are sincere and touching. Why not say it? Why not write it down?...
In these painful circumstances, Italy showed itself to be particularly eager, particularly generous, friendly and devoted. She was not the outsider. She was the affectionate and sensitive sister. She mourned the unfortunate commander of Dixmude as she would have mourned one of her children in Rome or Venice. And isn't the gesture of the Sciacca fishermen magnificent and infinitely delicate? These poor people clubbed together to buy beautiful flowers with which they covered the coffin of the French officer. Is this not a precious and chosen thought? Should we not all send a big thank you to these brave people of Sicily, so fraternal and so tender?...
We were cruelly hit... But, at least, we were affectionately supported. The union was formed, beyond all borders, around our great and tragic misfortune. There was a universal heartbeat, a unanimous cry of pain. There was a moment of international pity, of international kindness, of international solidarity... We must note, with grateful emotion, these hours of piety...
It is always said that there is no long peace possible between peoples, that there is no lasting understanding to be hoped for between the different races of the round ball, because languages are not the same, neither morals, nor customs, nor heredities, nor brains, nor prejudices, nor interests... Yes. It's true... Men don't have the same head or the same skin everywhere... But it seems that they could have the same heart everywhere...

Maurice Prax.