第51部分(第2/7 頁)

ongman　refers　was；　I　believe；　one　of　those　detailed　in　the　anonymous　letters。　Evidently　he　caused　it　to　be　inquired　into　and　found　that　it　was　baseless。

The　end　of　the　matter　was　that　I　went　through　the　tale　carefully；　modified　or　removed　certain　passages　that　might　be　taken　to　suggest　that　holy　matrimony　is　not　always　perfect　in　its　working；　etc。；　and　wrote　a　short　preface　which　may　now　be　read　in　all　the　copies　printed　since　that　date。

As　I　have　said；　the　incident　disturbed　me　a　good　deal；　and　more　or　less　set　me　against　the　writing　of　novels　of　modern　life。　It　is　very　well　to　talk　about　art　with　a　large　A；　but　I　have　always　felt　that　the　author　of　books　which　go　anywhere　and　everywhere　has　some　responsibilities。　Therefore　I　have　tried　to　avoid　topics　that　might　inflame　even　minds　which　are　very　ready　to　be　set　on　fire。

The　charge　has　been　brought　against　me　that　my　pages　have　breathed　war。　I　admit　it；　and　on　this　point　am　quite　unrepentant。　Personally　I　may　say　that　I　have　a　perfect　horror　of　war；　and　hope　that　I　may　not　live　to　see　another　in　which　my　country　is　involved；　for　it　seems　to　me　terrible　that　human　beings　should　destroy　each　other；　often　enough　from　motives　that　do　not　bear　examination。　Yet　there　is　such　a　thing　as　righteous　war；　and　if　my　land　were　invaded　I　should　think　poorly　of　anyone；　myself　included；　who　did　not　fight　like　a　wild…cat。　I　am　not　even　sure　that　I　would　not　poison　the　wells　if　I　were　unable　to　get　rid　of　the　enemy　in　any　other　way。　What　is　the　difference　between　killing　a　man　with　a　drug　and　killing　him　with　a　bomb　or　by　hunger　and　thirst？　Patriotism　is　the　first　duty；　and　the　thing　is　to　be　rid　of　him　somehow　and　save　your　country。　However；　this　is　a　question　on　which　I　will　not　enter。

For　the　rest　war　brin