Collected Letters of Elisée Reclus

To Mrs Elie Reclus,

No date, 1871.

My dear Noémie,

My trip was long, tiring but it was without incidents. Arriving in Paris, we witnessed an horrible spectacle that consisted of our artillery convoy taking by the Prussians. Through the door of the train, a few of our privates were laughing with friends, our enemies. What a naivety to still believe in this ideal thing called a people!
Yours truly and tenderly.

Elisée.