TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
In the plain text version words in Italics are denoted by _underscores_.
The book cover was modified by the Transcriber and has been added tothe public domain.
A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenatedvariants. For the words with both variants present the one more usedhas been kept.
Obvious punctuation and other printing errors have been corrected.
THE HEART’S DOMAIN
BY GEORGES DUHAMEL
Author of “Civilization, 1914-1917,” etc.
TRANSLATED BY
ELEANOR STIMSON BROOKS
NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1919
[Pg vii]
Copyright, 1919, by
The Century Co.
Published, September, 1919
[Pg viii]
TO
MY SON BERNARD
[Pg x]
PREFACE
I am beginning a book with what sounds like avery ambitious title.
I wish to say at once that I have no qualificationsto discuss political, historical or economic matters.I leave to the scholars who are versed in these redoubtablequestions the task of explaining, skilfullyand definitely, the great misery that has befallen ourtime.
I thus at the same time renounce most of the opportunitiesand obligations of my title.
But I wish, with all my heart, to pursue with afew people of good will a friendly discussion the objectof which remains, in spite of all, the heart’s domain,or the possession of the world.
The possession of the world is not decided by guns.It is the noble work of peace. It is not involved inthe struggle which is now rending society.
Even so, men will find themselves engaged in anundertaking that will threaten to overwhelm themwith suffering and despair.
Fate has assigned to me during the war a placeand a task of such a character that misery has beenthe only thing I have seen; it has been my study[Pg xi]and my enemy every moment. I must be forgivenfor thinking of it with a persistence that is like anobsession.
The whole intelligence of the world is absorbed bythe enterprise and the necessities of the war; thereis little chance of rousing it now from this in favorof the happiness of the race, in favor of that happinesswhich is compromised for the future and destroyedfor the present. It is to the heart one mustaddress oneself. It is to all the generous heartsthat one must make one’s appeal.
So, if I am spurred by an ambition, it is to begthe world to seek once more whatever can lighten thepresent and the future distress of mankind, to seekthe springs of interest that exist for the soul in alife harassed with difficulties, perils and disillusionments