Note 41 — PART SEVEN 1892–1898
Reading edition
An article by Björnson, in which he relates this anecdote: “A German lady betrothed to a German officer was making a journey through Norway. Certain persons were talking with her about the war that might soon break out over Alsace-Lorraine, and some one said it would be best if Alsace-Lorraine could dispose of itself in accordance with its own will. At this the German lady replied, ‘Rather than that, two million soldiers, my fiancé among them, should lie dead on the battlefield!’”