INTRODUCTION V

powers, finally settled the daims of the œntestants. For over two centuries Alsace rémained a contented and loyal province of France, to whom her geographical position afforded, on the east, the scientific frontier of a natural boundary, the river Rhine. During the reign of Napoléon she was one of the most patriotic régions of France, and supplied that Emperor with more than her share of men for his unceasing wars. Indeed, she inspired what might be termed a cycle of Alsatian romances, which Emile Erckmann and J. F. Chatrian, collaborating for thirty years (1859- 1889) in a séries of immensely popular taies, wove about her loyalty and patriotism.

After the lightning campaign in which France was overwhelmed (18 70-1871), when Germany annexed the whole of Alsace, on the plea that thèse districts were originaUy German, and were only reverting to their rightful allegiance (see p. 81), feeling ran high among the natives. Thèse were called upon to choose (opter) between acceptance of the German rule and émigration. Many foUowed the latter course; but many others, either unable or unwilling to leave the soil into which they had struck deep roots, made it a patriotic duty to remain in the land of their birth, to keep alive, as far as in them lay, the memories and traditions of the past, and to live, law-abiding but unreconciled, under the rule of the conqueror.

Such circumstances lead fatally, in the course of time, to profound dissension. On the one hand, the elder génération and the more sentimental among the younger, still smarting under defeat, cherish passionately their love for the old country, for the old order, and bitterly resent aU thought of reconciliation to the new. On the other hand, the more energetic and bustling spirits, unwilling to resign themselves to a life of backward-looking regret, especially those who hâve not personally taken part in the actual struggle and bloodshed, are tempted to accept the inévitable, and to make