The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-23
copyrighted by the s. s Mcclure Co..
1899

Schceveningen, Holland. July 15.-An
English translation of NJ. Henri de
Bloch's great work on war has just
been secured for publication in Amer
lea.
Not the car. but NJ. de Blach, is the
father of the peace conference at The
Hague. 1t was my good fortune to see
him when he was on the very ground
and watched the tremendous result of
his life's labor.
NJ. &c Bloch is a man of 65. He is
short. He is fat. He is grey headed.
His beard is trimmed closely to his
chin. Great shaggy eyebrows overhanS
pair of piercing eyes. NJ. de Bloch.
when he becomes the least excited. is
fierce in appearance and in manner
He is the last man who would at those
times be taken for an advocate OF
peace. He is always excited when he
is talking.
Early in his youth he became i'm
pressed by the awful horrors of war.
he began to make study Of them.
He considered the cost of war in mis-
cry and in money, and he considered
its results. He found the two incom-
mensurate. He took up every phase of
arguments of men who had planned
means of preventing war. In those
days most of these men were dreamers
and their plans were wild and unprac-
teal. But Bloch did not despair.
He was fortunate and the world was
fortunate in that he was immensely
studies untrammeled by the limita-
tions of poverty. He devoted his time
to many important matters in his own
country and became loved and homo
ored throughout Poland and Russia.
But never for moment did he forget
his one mission-that of alternating the
horrors of war. He studied. studied.
studied. His work was unceasing. His
arguments were unending. From every
quarter of the earth he gathered ma
terial on the subject which always
filled his mind. At last. eight years
ago. ne had absolutely mastered his
great subject. He had not satisfied
himself with knowing all about modern
wars and their miseries: he had begun
at the beginning. His information con-
corning the early Greek and Roman /
wars was scarcely less complete than
the mass of material he had gathered |
the Franco Prussian and |
other great armed struggles of his own |
time.
AT last, eight years ago." he said TO !
me, Il found myself in position |
where l could really begin my work.
Everything I'D to that time had. been /
l then sat down and /
wrote my little book
The conversation took place in the 4
private dining room of NJ de BIoch'S /
suite in the Hotel d'Orange at SchOev- !
summer resort not far from
The Hague. This resort opens late in /
The season, and NJ. de Bloch had gone
here long before the place was actual
y ready to receive visitors He was
almost alone in the hotel. He had Just
finished his afternoon nap of three
hours, which, with four hours sleep
1t night. gives him his rest He was
Eating a most frugal supper-not at all
he kind of a meal which a great mil
ionaire would be expected to order.
''At last, eight years ago." ne re-
,eated, Il sat down and wrote my
title book"
NJ. de Bloch's English is somewhat
ifficu1t to understand at first He
peaks it in common with about ten
ther languages. of which French and
russian (his native language is mis-
avorite. His English accent is some
vnat gruff. in keeping with the fierce
Expression of his face. But there was :
othing gruff about the way he said:
Let me bring you a copy of my little
ook"
He left the room, and came back in