Fortunately for civilization, the arts and sciences are not so jealous of boundaries, races or creeds. In this same province at Strasbourg, Louis Pasteur was a teacher, and the German author Goethe, a student. At some future date, men may find it more profitable to devote their time and energy to finding facts, and less to the destructive habit of centuries, fighting. After all, these 2000 years of war have settled absolutely nothing. I have great faith in the future, for while a Metz may be constantly at the mercy of power-seeking men and always subject to their selfish plans, the accumulated works of scientists, writers, and composers remain as a useful heritage long after the intrigues and ambitions of the warlords are gone and forgotten. ● |