Aftersomefriendlytalk，allreturnedtotheroomsofthemasterofthehouse，whereteawasservedatalongtablefromthebubblingbrazenurn——thesamovar;andthoughthereweresometwentyorthirtyguests，nothingcouldbemoreinformal。Allwassimple，kindly，andunrestrained。
　　Myfirstquestionwasupontheconditionofthepeople。OurAmericanlegationhadcorrespondedwithCountTolstoiandhisfamilyastodistributingaportionofthefaminefundsentfromtheUnitedStates，hencethissubjectnaturallyaroseattheoutset。Hesaidthattheconditionofthepeasantswasstillverybad;thattheyhadverygenerallyeatentheirdraught—animals，burnedportionsoftheirbuildingstokeeplifeintheirbodies，andreducedthemselvestohopelesswant。OnmysuggestingthatthenewcommercialtreatywithGermanymighthelpmatters，hethoughtthatitwouldhavebutlittleeffect，sinceonlyasmallportionofthetotalproductofRussianagricultureisconsumedabroad。ThisledhimtospeakofsomeAmericansandEnglishmenwhohadvisitedthefamine—strickendistricts，and，whilehereferredkindlytothemall，heseemedespeciallyattractedbytheQuakerJohnBellowsofGloucester，England，theauthorofthewonderfullittleFrenchdictionary。ThisledhimtosaythathesympathizedwiththeQuakersineverythingsavetheirbeliefinproperty;thatinthistheywereutterlyillogical;thatpropertypresupposesforcetoprotectit。IremarkedthatmostAmericanQuakersknewnothingofsuchforce;thatnoneofthemhadeverseenanAmericansoldier，saveduringourCivilWar，andthatprobablynotoneinhundredsofthemhadeverseenasoldieratall。Heanswered，"Butyouforgetthepoliceman。"Heevidentlyputpolicemenandsoldiersinthesamecategory——asusingforcetoprotectproperty，andthereforetobealikeabhorred。
　　Ifoundthattohisdisbeliefinanyrightofownershipliterarypropertyformednoexception。Hetoldmethat，inhisview，hehadnorighttoreceivemoneyforthepermissiontoprintabook。
　　TothisInaturallyansweredthatbycarryingoutthisdoctrinehewouldsimplylavishlargesumsuponpublishersineverycountryofEuropeandAmerica，manyofthemrichandsomeofthempiratical;andthatinmyopinionhewoulddoamuchbetterthingbytakingthefullvalueofhiscopyrightsandbestowingtheproceedsuponthepeasantrystarvingabouthim。Towhichheansweredthatitwasaquestionofduty。TothisIagreed，butremarkedthatbeneaththislaythequestionwhatthisdutyreallywas。Itwasapleasuretolearnfromanothersourcethatthecountesstookadifferentviewofit，andthatshehadinsomewaysecuredtheproceedsofhiscopyrightsfortheirverylargeandinterestingfamily。LightwasthusthrownonTolstoi’sremark，madeafterward，thatwomenarenotsoself—sacrificingasmen;thatamanwouldsometimessacrificehisfamilyforanidea，butthatawomanwouldnot。
　　HethenwentontoexpressaninterestintheShakers，andespeciallyinFrederickEvans。Hehadevidentlyformedanideaofthemveryunlikethereality;infact，theShakerhisimaginationhaddevelopedwasasdifferentfromaLebanonShakerasaneaglefromaduck，andhisnotionoftheirinfluenceonAmericansocietywascomical。
　　HespokeatsomelengthregardingreligioninRussia，evidentlybelievingthatitspresentdominantformissoontopassaway。I
　　askedhimhowthenhecouldaccountforthefactthatwhileinothercountrieswomenaregreatlyinthemajorityatchurchservices，ineveryRussianchurchthemajorityaremen;andthatduringthethirty—fiveyearssincemylastvisittoMoscowthistendencyhadapparentlyincreased。Heanswered，"Allthisisonthesurface;thereismuchdeeperthoughtbelow，andthegreatwantofRussiaislibertytoutterit。"Hethengavesomeexamplestoshowthis，amongthemthecaseofagentlemanandladyinSt。Petersburg，whosechildrenhadbeentakenfromthemandgiventoPrincess————，theirgrandmother，becausethelatterisoftheOrthodoxChurchandtheformerarenot。IansweredthatIhadseenthechildren;thattheirgrandmotherhadtoldmethattheirmotherwasascreamingatheistwithnihilistictendencies，whohadleftherhusbandandwasbringingupthechildreninascandalousway，——teachingthemtoabjureGodandcursetheCzar;
　　thattheirfatherhadthoughtithisdutytogiveallhispropertyawayandworkasalaborer;thatthereforeshe——thegrandmother——hadsecuredanorderfromtheEmperorempoweringhertotakechargeofthechildren;thatIhadseenthechildrenattheirgrandmother’shouse，andthattheyhadseemedveryhappy。
　　Tolstoiinsistedthatthisstatementbythegrandmotherwassimplymadetocoverthefactthatthechildrenweretakenfromthemotherbecauseherbeliefwasnotoftheorthodoxpattern。MyopinionisthatTolstoiwasmistaken，atleastastothefather;
　　andthatthefatherhadbeenledtogiveawayhispropertyandworkwithhishandsinobediencetotheideassoeloquentlyadvocatedbyTolstoihimself。Unlikehismaster，thisgentlemanappearsnottohavehadtheadvantageofawifewhomitigatedhisideas。
　　Tolstoialsoreferredtothedifficultieswhichtranslatorshadfoundinsecuringpublishersforhismostrecentbook——"TheKingdomofGod。"OnmyassuringhimthatAmericanpublishersofhighstandingwouldcertainlybegladtotakeit，hesaidthathehadsupposedtheideasinitsocontrarytoopinionsdominantinAmericaastopreventitspublicationthere。
　　ReturningtothesubjectofreligioninRussia，hereferredtosomecuriousincongruities;as，forexample，theportraitofSocratesformingpartofareligiouspictureintheAnnunciationChurchattheKremlin。Hesaidthatevidentlysomemonk，whohaddippedintoPlato，hadthusplacedSocratesamongtheprecursorsofChrist。IcitedthereasonassignedbyMelanchthonforChrist’sdescentintohell——namely，thedesireoftheRedeemertomakehimselfknowntoSocrates，Plato，andthebestoftheancientphilosophers;andIcomparedthiswithLuther’sidea，socharacteristicofhim，thatChristdescendedintohellinordertohaveahand—to—handgrappleandwrestlewithSatan。ThisledTolstoitogivemeaRussianlegendofthedescentintohell，whichwasthat，whenChristarrivedthere，hefoundSatanforgingchains，butthat，attheapproachoftheSaviour，thewallsofhellcollapsed，andSatanfoundhimselfentangledinhisownchains，andremainedsoforathousandyears。
　　InregardtotheJews，hesaidthathesympathizedwiththem，butthatthestatementsregardingthepersecutionofthemweresomewhatexaggerated。Kennan’sstatementsregardingthetreatmentofprisonersinSiberiahethoughtoverdrawnattimes，butsubstantiallytrue。Heexpressedhissurprisethatcertainleadingmenintheempire，whomhenamed，couldbelievethatpersecutionandtheforciblerepressionofthoughtwouldhaveanypermanenteffectattheendofthenineteenthcentury。
　　HethendweltuponsundryevilconditionsinRussia，onwhichmycommentwasthateverycountry，ofcourse，haditsowngrievousshortcomings;andIcited，astoAmerica，theproverb:"Nooneknowssowellwheretheshoepinchesashewhowearsit。"AtthisheaskedmeaboutlynchlawintheUnitedStates，andexpressedhishorrorofit。Ishowedhimthatitwastheinevitableresultofawretchedlaxityandshamhumanityintheadministrationofourcriminallaw，whichhadledgreatbodiesofpeople，moreespeciallyintheSouthernandextremeWesternpartsofthecountry，toreverttonaturaljusticeandtakethelawintotheirownhands;andIcitedGoldwinSmith’sprofoundremarkthat"someAmericanlynchingsareproofsnotsomuchoflawlessnessasofarespectforlaw。"
　　Heaskedmewhere，besidesthis，theshoepinchedintheUnitedStates。Itoldhimthatitpinchedinvariousplaces，butthatperhapstheworstpincharisesfromtheprematureadmissiontofullpoliticalrightsofmenwhohavebeensobenumbedandstuntedintellectuallyandmorallyinothercountriesthattheirexerciseofpoliticalrightsinAmericaisfrequentlyaninjury，notonlytoothers，buttothemselves。InproofofthisIcitedthecaseofthecrowdswhomIhadseensomeyearsbeforehuddledtogetherinNewYorktenement—houses，preyeduponbytheirliquor—sellinglandlords，theirfamiliesperishingoftyphoidandsmallpoxonaccountofthenegligenceandmaladministrationofthelocalpoliticians，butwho，asarule，werealmostifnotquitereadytomobandmurderthoseofuswhobroughtinanewhealthboardandabetterorderofthings;showinghimthatforyearstheveryclassofpeoplewhosufferedmostfromtheold，vilestateofthingsdidtheirbestbytheirvotestokeepinpowerthemenwhomaintainedit。
　　Wethenpassedtothesubjectofthetrans—SiberianRailway。Inthisheseemedinterested，butinavaguewaywhichaddednothingtomyknowledge。
　　AskingmeregardingmyformervisittoMoscow，andlearningthatitwasduringtheCrimeanWar，hesaid，"AtthattimeIwasinSebastopol，andcontinuedthereasasoldierduringthesiege。"
　　Astohisrelationswiththeimperialgovernmentatpresent，hesaidthathehadbeenrecentlyelectedtoalearnedsocietyinMoscow，butthattheSt。Petersburggovernmenthadinterferedtostoptheelection;andheaddedthateverymorning，whenheawoke，hewonderedthathewasnotonhiswaytoSiberia。
　　Onmyleavinghim，bothheandthecountessinvitedmetomeetthemnextdayattheTretiakofMuseumofRussianPictures;andaccordingly，onthefollowingafternoon，ImetthematthatgreatestofallgalleriesdevotedpurelytoRussianart。Theywereaccompaniedbyseveralfriends，amongthemalittleknotofdisciples——youngmencladinsimplepeasantcostumelikethatwornbythemaster。ItwasevidentthathewasanacknowledgedlionattheoldRussiancapital，forasheledmeabouttoseethepictureswhichhelikedbest，hewasfollowedandstaredatbymany。
　　PointingouttomesomemodernreligiouspicturesinByzantinestylepaintedfortheCathedralofKieff，hesaid，"Theyrepresentaneffortasfutileastryingtopersuadechickenstoreentertheegg—shellsfromwhichtheyhaveescaped。"Henextshowedmetworeligiouspictures;thefirstrepresentingthemeetingofJesusandPilate，whenthelatterasked，"Whatistruth？"Pilatewasdepictedasarotund，jocose，cynicalmanoftheworld;Jesus，asastreetpreacherinsordidgarments，withunkempthairflowingoverhishaggardface，——apeasantfanaticbroughtinbythepolice。Tolstoishowedanespecialinterestinthispicture;itseemedtorevealtohimtherealsecretofthatfamousquestionanditsanswer;thequestioncomingfromthemightyoftheearth，andtheanswerfromthepoorandoppressed。
　　TheotherpicturerepresentedtheCrucifixion。Itwaspaintedinthemostrealisticmannerpossible;nothingwasidealized;itwasevenmorevividlyrealisticthanGebhardt’spictureoftheLord’sSupper，atBerlin;sothatitatfirstrepelledme，thoughitafterwardexercisedacertainfascination。ThatTolstoiwasdeeplyinterestedwasclear。Hestoodforatimeinsilence，asifmusinguponallthatthesacrificeonCalvaryhadbroughttotheworld。Otherrepresentationsofsimilarscenes，intheconventionalstyleoftheoldermasters，hehadpassedwithoutaglance;butthisspectacleoftheyoungGalileanpeasant，withunattractivefeatures，sordidgarb，poverty—strickencompanions，andrepulsivesurroundings，torturedtodeathforpreachingthe"kingdomofGod"tothepooranddown—trodden，seemedtoholdhimfast，andashepointedoutvariousfeaturesinthepictureitbecameevenmorecleartomethatsympathywiththepeasantclass，andayearningtoenterintotheircaresandsorrows，formtherealgroundworkofhislife。
　　HethentookmetoasmallpictureofJesusandhisdisciplesleavingtheupperroomatJerusalemaftertheLastSupper。This，too，waspaintedinthemostrealisticmanner。Thedisciples，simple—mindedfishermen，rudeinfeaturesanddress，wereploddinghomeward，whileChristhimselfgazedatthestarsanddrewtheattentionofhisnearestcompanionstosomeofthebrightest。Tolstoiexpressedespecialadmirationforthispicture，sayingthatattimesitaffectedhimlikebeautifulmusic，——likemusicwhichdrawstears，onecanhardlytellwhy。Itwasmoreandmoreevident，ashelingeredbeforethisandotherpicturesembodyingsimilarideas，thatsympathyforthosestrugglingthroughpovertyandwanttowardabetterlifeishismasterpassion。
　　Amongthepictures，nottobeclassedasreligious，beforewhichhethuslingeredwerethoserepresentingthearrestofanihilistandthereturnofanexilefromSiberia。Bothwerewellpainted，andbothrevealedthesamecharacteristic——sympathywiththepoor，evenwithcriminals。
　　Someofthemorefamoushistoricalpicturesinthecollectionhethoughtexaggerated;especiallythoserepresentingthefuryoftheGrandDuchessSophiainhermonasteryprison，andtheremorseofIvantheTerribleaftermurderinghisson。
　　Tomysurprise，heagreedwithme，andevenwentbeyondme，inratinglandscapeinfinitelybelowreligiousandhistoricalpainting，sayingthathecaredforlandscape—paintingonlyasaccessorytopicturesrevealinghumanlife。
　　Amonggenrepictures，wehaltedbeforeonerepresentingapeasantfamilygroupedaboutthemother，who，withasacredpicturelaiduponherbreast，aftertheRussianmanner，wasdyingoffamine。
　　Thisalsoseemeddeeplytoimpresshim。
　　Westoppednextbeforeapictureofaladyofhighbirthbroughtbeforetheauthoritiesinordertobesent，evidentlyagainstherwill，toaconvent。IcitedthesimilarstoryfromManzoni’s"PromessiSposi";but，tomysurprise，heseemedtoknowlittleofthatmostfascinatingofhistoricalromances。ThisledtoadiscussioninwhichhesaidhehadoncelikedWalterScott，buthadnotreadanythingofhisformanyyears;andheseemedinterestedinmystatementthatalthoughalwaysanespecialadmirerofScott，Ihadfounditalmostimpossibletoinducetheyoungergenerationtoreadhim。
　　StoppingbeforeapictureofPetertheGreat’sfatalconferencewithhissonAlexis，inreplytomyremarkuponthemarvelthataprinceofsuchgeniusasPetershouldhaveappearedatMoscowintheseventeenthcentury，hesaidthathedidnotadmirePeter，thathewastoocruel，——administeringtortureanddeathattimeswithhisownhands。
　　WenexthaltedbeforeapicturerepresentingthehorribleexecutionoftheStrelitzes。Isaidthat"suchpicturesprovethattheworlddoes，afterall，progressslowly，inspiteofwhatpessimistssay，andthatinordertorefutepessimistsonehasonlytorefertotheimprovementsincriminallaw。"Tothisheagreedcordially，anddeclaredtheabolitionoftortureinprocedureandpenaltytobeonegreatgain，atanyrate。
　　WespokeofthepresentconditionofthingsinEurope，andItoldhimthatatSt。Petersburgtheopinionverygeneralamongthemorethoughtfulmembersofthediplomaticcorpswasthatwarwasnotimminent;thattheCzar，havinghimselfseenthecrueltiesofwarduringthelatestruggleintheBalkans，hadacquiredaninvinciblerepugnancetoit。Heacquiescedinthis，butsaidthatitseemedmonstroustohimthatthepeaceoftheempireandofEuropeshoulddependuponsoslenderathreadasthewillofanyoneman。
　　OurnextwalkwastakenacrosstheriverMoskwa，ontheice，toandthroughtheKremlin，andaswewalkedtheconversationfelluponliterature。AstoFrenchliterature，hethoughtMaupassantthemanofgreatesttalent，byfar，inrecentdays，butthathewasdepravedandcenteredallhisfictioninwomen。ForBalzac，Tolstoievidentlypreservedadmiration，buthecaredlittle，apparently，forDaudet，Zola，andtheircompeers。
　　AstoAmericanliterature，hesaidthatTourgueneffhadoncetoldhimthattherewasnothinginitworthreading;nothingnewororiginal;thatitwassimplyacopyofEnglishliterature。TothisIrepliedthatsuchcriticismseemedtomeveryshallow;
　　thatAmericanliteraturewas，ofcourse，largelyagrowthoutoftheparentstockofEnglishliterature，andmustmainlybejudgedassuch;thattoaskinthehighestAmericanliteraturesomethingabsolutelydifferentfromEnglishliteratureingeneralwaslikelookingfororangesuponanapple—tree;thattherehadcomenewvarietiesinthisgrowth，manyofthemoriginal，andsomebeautiful;butthattherewasthesamesap，thesamelife—currentrunningthroughitall;andIcomparedthetreatmentofwomaninallAnglo—Saxonliterature，whetherononesideoftheAtlanticortheother，fromChaucertoMarkTwain，withthetreatmentofthesamesubjectbyFrenchwritersfromRabelaistoZola。TothisheansweredthatinhisopinionthestrengthofAmericanliteraturearisesfromtheinherentAnglo—Saxonreligioussentiment。HeexpressedalikingforEmerson，Hawthorne，andWhittier，butheseemedtohavereadatrandom，notknowingatallsomeofthebestthings。HespokewithadmirationofTheodoreParker’swritings，andseemedinterestedinmyreminiscencesofParkerandofhisacquaintancewithRussianaffairs。HealsoreveredandadmiredthecharacterandworkofWilliamLloydGarrison。HehadreadLongfellowsomewhat，butwasevidentlyuncertainregardingLowell，——confusinghim，apparently，withsomeotherauthor。AmongcontemporarywritersheknewsomeofHowells’snovelsandlikedthem，butsaid:"LiteratureintheUnitedStatesatpresentseemstobeinthelowesttroughoftheseabetweenhighwaves。"HedweltontheflippanttoneofAmericannewspapers，andtoldmeofaninterviewerwhocametohiminbehalfofanAmericanjournal，andwantedsimplytoknowatwhattimehewenttobedandrose，whatheate，andthelike。
　　Hethoughtthatpeoplewhocaredtoreadsuchtrivialitiesmustbeveryfeeble—minded，buthesaidthattheEuropeanpressis，onthewhole，justasfutile。OnmyattemptingtodrawfromhimsomestatementastowhatpartofAmericanliteraturepleasedhimmost，hesaidthathehadreadsomepublicationsoftheNewYorkandBrooklynSocietyforEthicalCulture，andthatheknewandlikedthewritingsofFelixAdler。Ithenaskedwho，inthewholerangeofAmericanliterature，hethoughttheforemost。Tothishemadeananswerwhichamazedme，asitwouldhaveastonishedmycountrymen。Indeed，didtheeternalsalvationofalloureightymillionsdependuponsomeoneofthemguessingthepersonhenamed，weshouldallgotoperditiontogether。ThatgreatestofAmericanwriterswas——AdinBallou！Evidently，someofthephilanthropicwritingsofthatexcellentMassachusettscountryclergymanandreligiouscommunisthadpleasedhim，andhencecametheanswer。
　　Thenextdayhecameovertomyhotelandwewentoutforastroll。AswepassedalongthestreetsInoticedespeciallywhatIhadremarkedduringourpreviouswalks，thatTolstoihadalargequantityofsmallRussiancoinsinhispockets;thatthiswasevidentlyknowntotheswarmsofbeggarswhoinfesttheKremlinandthepublicplacesgenerally;andthathealwaysgavetothem。
　　Onmyspeakingofthis，hesaidhethoughtthatanyone，whenaskedformoney，oughttogiveit。Arguingagainstthisdoctrine，IsaidthatintheUnitedStatestherearevirtuallynobeggars，andImighthavegoneontodiscussthesubjectfromthepolitico—economicalpointofview，showinghowsuchindiscriminatealmsgivinginperpetualdribletsissuretocreatetheabsurdandimmoralsystemwhichoneseesthroughoutRussia，——hordesofmenandwomenwhoareabletotakecareofthemselves，andwhooughttobefarabovebeggary，cringingandwhiningtothepassers—byforalms;butIhadcometoknowthemanwellenoughtofeelsurethatapolitico—economicalargumentwouldslideoffhimlikewaterfromaduck’sback，soIattemptedtotakehimuponanotherside，andsaid:"IntheUnitedStatestherearevirtuallynobeggars，thoughmycountrymenare，I
　　reallybelieve，amongthemostcharitableintheworld。"Tothislaststatementheassented，referringinageneralwaytoourshipmentsofprovisionstoaidthefamine—strickeninRussia。
　　"But，"Iadded，"itisnotourcustomtogivetobeggarssaveinspecialemergencies。"IthengavehimanaccountofcertainAmericanchurchorganizationswhichhadestablishedpilesoffire—woodandthereforeenabledanyable—bodiedtramp，bysawingorcuttingsomeofit，toearnagoodbreakfast，agooddinner，and，ifneeded，agoodbed，andshowedhimthatAmericansconsideredbeggarynotonlyagreatsourceofpauperism，butasabsolutelydebasingtothebeggarhimself，inthatitputshimintheattitudeofasuppliantforthatwhich，ifheworksasheought，hecanclaimashisright;thattomethespectacleofCountTolstoivirtuallyposingasasuperiorbeing，whilehisfellow—Russianscamecrouchingandwhiningtohim，wasnotatalledifying。Tothisviewofthecasehelistenedverycivilly。
　　IncidentallyIexpressedwonderthathehadnottraveledmore。Hethenspokewithsomedisapprobationoftravel。Hehadlivedabroadforatime，hesaid，andinSt。Petersburgafewyears，buttherestofhislifehadbeenspentmainlyinMoscowandtheinteriorofRussia。Themorewetalkedtogether，themoreitbecameclearthatthislaststatementexplainedsomeofhismaindefects。OfalldistinguishedmenthatIhaveevermet，Tolstoiseemstomemostinneedofthatenlargementofviewandhealthfulmodificationofopinionwhichcomefrommeetingmenandcomparingviewswiththemindifferentlandsandunderdifferentconditions。ThisneedisallthegreaterbecauseinRussiathereisnoopportunitytodiscussreallyimportantquestions。Amongthewholeonehundredandtwentymillionsofpeoplethereisnopublicbodyinwhichthediscussionoflargepublicquestionsisallowed;thepressaffordsnorealopportunityfordiscussion;
　　indeed，itismorethandoubtfulwhethersuchdiscussionwouldbeallowedtoanyeffectiveextenteveninprivatecorrespondenceoratone’sownfireside。
　　IrememberwellthatduringmyformerstayinSt。Petersburg，peoplewhocouldtalkEnglishattheirtablesgenerallydidsoinorderthattheymightnotbetraythemselvestoanyspywhomighthappentobeamongtheirservants。
　　Stillworse，noone，unlessamemberofthediplomaticcorpsorspeciallyprivileged，isallowedtoreadsuchbooksornewspapersashechooses，sothateventhisaccesstothethoughtsofothersisdeniedtotheverymenwhomostneedit。
　　LikesomanyothermenofgeniusinRussia，then，——andRussiaisfertileinsuch，——Tolstoihashadlittleopportunitytotakepartinanyrealdiscussionofleadingtopics;andtheresultisthathisopinionshavebeendevelopedwithoutmodificationbyanyrationalinterchangeofthoughtwithothermen。Undersuchcircumstancesanyman，nomatterhownobleorgifted，havinggivenbirthtostrikingideas，coddlesandpetsthemuntiltheybecomethefull—grown，spoiledchildrenofhisbrain。Hecanatlastseeneitherspotnorblemishinthem，andcomesvirtuallytobelievehimselfinfallible。ThischaracteristicIfoundinseveralotherRussiansofmarkedability。Eachhaddevelopedhistheoriesforhimselfuntilhehadbecomeinfatuatedwiththem，anddespisedeverythingdifferingfromthem。
　　Thisisamaincausewhysundryghastlycreeds，doctrines，andsects——religious，social，political，andphilosophic——havebeendevelopedinRussia。Oneofthesereligiouscreedsfavorsthemurderofnew—bornchildreninordertosavetheirsouls;anotherenjoinsghastlybodilymutilationsforasimilarpurpose;othersstillwouldplungetheworldinflamesandbloodforthedifferenceofaphraseinacreed，oravowelinaname，orafingermoreorlessinmakingthesignofthecross，orforthisgarmentinaritual，orthatgestureinaceremony。
　　Insocialcreedstheyhavedevelopednihilism，whichvirtuallyassumestherightofanindividualtositinjudgmentuponthewholehumanraceandcondemntodeatheveryotherhumanbeingwhomaydifferinopinionorpositionfromthisself—constitutedjudge。
　　Inpoliticalcreedstheyhaveconceivedthemonarchastheall—powerfulandirresponsiblevicegerentofGod，andalltheworldoutsideRussiaasgivenovertoSatan，forthereasonthatithas"rejectedthedivineprincipleofauthority。"
　　Invariousbranchesofphilosophytheyhavedevelopeddoctrineswhichinvolvetherejectionofthebesttowhichmanhasattainedinscience，literature，andart，andareturntobarbarism。
　　Inthetheoryoflifeanddutytheyhavedevisedapessimisticprocessunderwhichthehumanracewouldceasetoexist。
　　Everyoneofthesetheoriesistheoutcomeofsomeoriginalmindofmoreorlessstrength，discouraged，disheartened，andoverwhelmedbythesorrowsofRussianlife;developingitsideaslogicallyandwithoutanypossibilityofadequatediscussionwithothermen。Thisaloneexplainsafactwhichstruckmeforcibly——thefactthatallTolstoi’sloveofhumanity，realthoughitcertainlyis，seemsaccompaniedbyadepreciationoftheideas，statements，andproposalsofalmosteveryotherhumanbeing，andbyvirtualintoleranceofallthoughtwhichseemsintheslightestdegreedifferentfromhisown。
　　ArrivingintheKremlin，hetookmetotheChurchoftheAnnunciationtoseetheportraitofSocratesinthereligiouspictureofwhichhehadspoken;butweweretoolatetoenter，andsowenttothePalaceoftheSynod，wherewelookedatthepictureoftheTrinity，which，byadevicefrequentlyusedinstreetsigns，represents，whenlookedatfromoneside，thesufferingChrist，fromtheothertheHolyGhostintheformofadove，andfromthefronttheAlmightyasanoldmanwithawhitebeard。WhatTolstoithoughtofthedoctrinethusillustratedcameoutinasubsequentconversation。
　　Thenextdayhecameagaintomyroomsandatoncebeganspeakinguponreligion。Hesaidthateverymanisreligiousandhasinhimareligionofhisown;thatreligionresultsfromtheconceptionwhichamanformsofhisrelationstohisfellow—men，andtotheprinciplewhichinhisopinioncontrolstheuniverse;thattherearethreestagesinreligiousdevelopment:first，thechildhoodofnations，whenmanthinksofthewholeuniverseascreatedforhimandcenteringinhim;secondly，thematurityofnations，thetimeofnationalreligions，wheneachnationbelievesthatalltruereligioncentersinit，——theJewsandtheEnglish，hesaid，beingstrikingexamples;and，finally，theperfectedconceptionofnations，whenmanhastheideaoffulfillingthewilloftheSupremePowerandconsidershimselfaninstrumentforthatpurpose。Hewentontosaythatineveryreligiontherearetwomainelements，oneofdeceptionandoneofdevotion，andheaskedmeabouttheMormons，someofwhosebookshadinterestedhim。Hethoughttwothirdsoftheirreligiondeception，butsaidthatonthewholehepreferredareligionwhichprofessedtohavedugitssacredbooksoutoftheearthtoonewhichpretendedthattheywereletdownfromheaven。OnlearningthatIhadvisitedSaltLakeCitytwoyearsbefore，hespokeofthegoodreputationoftheMormonsforchastity，andaskedmetoexplaintheholdoftheirreligionuponwomen。IansweredthatMormonismcouldhardlybejudgedbyitsresultsatpresent;that，asawhole，theMormonsare，nodoubt，themostlaboriousanddecentpeopleintheStateofUtah;butthatthisistheirheroicperiod，whenoutsidepressurekeepsthemfirmlytogetherandarousestheirdevotion;thatthetruetestwillcomelater，whenthereislesspressureandmoreknowledge，andwhentheyoungmenwhoarenowarisingbegintoaskquestions，quarrelwitheachother，andsplitthewholebodyintosectsandparties。
　　ThisledtoquestionsinregardtoAmericanwomengenerally，andhewishedtoknowsomethingoftheirconditionandprospects。I
　　explainedsomefeaturesofwoman’sconditionamongus，showingitsevolution，firstthroughthebettermentofherlegalstatus，andnextthroughprovisionforheradvancededucation;buttoldhimthatsofaraspoliticalrightsareconcerned，therehadbeenverylittlepracticaladvanceintheentireEastandSouthofthecountryduringthelastfiftyyears，andthatevenintheextremeWesternStates，wherewomenhavebeengivenpoliticalrightsanddutiestosomeextent，theconcessionshavebeenwaveringanddoubtful。
　　Atthis，hetookuphisparableandsaidthatwomenoughttohaveallotherrightsexceptpolitical;thattheyareunfittodischargepoliticalduties;that，indeed，oneofthegreatdifficultiesoftheworldatpresentliesintheirpossessionoffarmoreconsiderationandcontrolthantheyoughttohave。"Gointothestreetsandbazaars，"hesaid，"andyouwillseethevastmajorityofshopsdevotedtotheirnecessities。InFranceeverythingcentersinwomen，andwomenhavecompletecontroloflife:allcontemporaryFrenchliteratureshowsthis。Womanisnotman’sequalinthehighestqualities;sheisnotsoself—sacrificingasman。Menwill，attimes，sacrificetheirfamiliesforanidea;womenwillnot。"Onmydemurringtothislatterstatement，heaskedmeifIeverknewawomanwholovedotherpeople’schildrenasmuchasherown。Igladlyansweredinthenegative，butcitedFlorenceNightingale，SisterDora，andothers，expressingmysurpriseathisassertionthatwomenareincapableofmakingascompletesacrificesforanygoodcauseasmen。Ipointedtothepersecutionsintheearlychurch，whenwomenshowedthemselvessuperiortomeninsufferingtorture，degradation，anddeathinbehalfofthenewreligion，andaddedsimilarinstancesfromthehistoryofwitchcraft。Tothisheansweredthatinspiteofallsuchhistory，womenwillnotmakesacrificesoftheirowninterestforagoodcausewhichdoesnotstrikinglyappealtotheirfeelings，whilemenwilldoso;thathehadknownbuttwoorthreereallyself—sacrificingwomeninhislife;andthatthesewereunmarried。Onmysayingthatobservationhadledmetoaverydifferentconclusion，hisindictmenttookanotherform。Heinsistedthatwomanhangsuponthepast;thatpublicopinionprogresses，butthatwomenarepronetoactontheopinionofyesterdayoroflastyear;thatwomenandwomanishmentakenaturallytooldabsurdities，amongwhichhementionedthedoctrinesoftheTrinity，"spiritism，"andhomeopathy。AtthisIexpressedabeliefthatif，insteadofeducatingwomen，asBishopDupanloupexpressedit，"inthelapofthechurch（surlesgenouxdel’eglise），"weeducatetheminthehighestsense，inuniversities，theywilldevelopmoreandmoreintellectually，andsobecomeacontrollingelementintheformationofabetterrace;that，asstrongmengenerallyhavestrongmothers，thebettereducationofwomanphysically，intellectually，andmorallyisthetruewayofbetteringtheraceingeneral。Inthisideaheexpressedhisdisbelief，andsaidthateducationwouldnotchangewomen;thatwomenareillogicalbynature。AtthisIcitedanexampleshowingthatwomencanbeexceedinglylogicalandcloseinargument，buthestilladheredtohisopinion。OnmymentioningthenameofGeorgeEliot，heexpressedalikingforher。
　　Onournextwalk，hetookmetothefuneralofoneofhisfriends。Hesaidthattolookuponthedeadshouldrathergivepleasurethanpain;thatmementomoriisawisemaxim，andlookinguponthefacesofthedeadagoodwayofputtingitinpractice。Iaskedhimifhehadformedatheoryastoafuturelife，andhesaidinsubstancethathehadnot;butthat，aswecameatbirthfrombeyondtheformsofspaceandtime，soatdeathwereturnedwhencewecame。Isaid，"Youusetheword’forms’intheKantiansense？""Yes，"hesaid，"spaceandtimehavenoreality。"
　　Wearrivedjusttoolateatthehouseofmourning。Thedeadmanhadbeentakenaway;butmanyofthosewhohadcometodohimhonorstilllingered，andwereevidentlyenjoyingthe"funeralbakedmeats。"Therewereclearsignsofacarousal。Thefriendswhocameouttomeetushad，mostofthem，flushedfaces，andoneyoungmaninmilitaryuniform，comingdownthestairs，staggeredandseemedlikelytobreakhisneck。
　　Tolstoirefusedtogoin，and，asweturnedaway，expresseddisgustatthewholesystem，saying，aswellhemight，thatitwasutterlybarbarous。Heseemeddespondentoverit，andItriedtocheerhimbyshowinghowthesamecustomofdrinkingstrongliquorsatfuneralshad，onlyafewgenerationssince，prevailedinlargedistrictsofEnglandandAmerica，butthatbetterideasoflivinghadsweptitaway。
　　Onourwaythroughthestreet，wepassedashrineatwhichamobofpeasantswereadoringasacredpicture。Hedweltonthefetishisminvolvedinthis，andsaidthatJesusChristwouldbeinfinitelysurprisedandpainedwerehetoreturntoearthandseewhatmenwereworshipinginhisname。Headdedastoryofaconvertedpaganwho，beingaskedhowmanygodsheworshiped，said:"One，andIatehimthismorning。"AtthisIcitedBrowning’slinesputintothemouthofthebishopwhowished，fromhistomb，"Toheartheblessedmutterofthemass，AndseeGodmadeandeatenalldaylong。"
　　Iremindedhimofhisdefinitionofreligiongivenmeononeofourpreviouswalks，andherepeatedit，declaringreligiontobethefeelingwhichmanhasregardinghisrelationtotheuniverse，includinghisfellow—men，andtothepowerwhichgovernsall。
　　TheafternoonwasclosedwithavisittoaRaskolnik，orOldBeliever，andofallourexperiencesthisturnedouttobethemostcurious。TheRaskolniks，orOldBelievers，composethatwide—spreadsectwhichbrokeofffromthemainbodyoftheRussianChurchwhenthepatriarchofMoscow，Nikon，intheseventeenthcenturyattemptedtoremovevarioustextualerrorsfromtheBibleandceremonialbooks。Thesebookshadbeencopiedandrecopiedduringcenturiesuntiltheirconditionhadbecomemonstrous。Throughamistakeofsomecarelesstranscriber，eventhenameofJesushadbeentravestiedandhadcometobespelledwithtwoe’s;thecrudestabsurditieshadbeencopiedintothetest;importantpartshadbecomeunintelligible;andthetimehadevidentlyarrivedforarevision。Nikonsawthis，andingoodfaithsummonedscholarsfromConstantinopletopreparemorecorrecteditions;buttheserevisedworksmetthefatewhichattendssuchrevisionsgenerally。Thegreatbodyofthepeoplewereattachedtotheoldforms;theypreferredthem，justasinthesedaysthegreatbodyofEnglish—speakingProtestantsprefertheKingJamesBibletotheRevisedVersion，eventhoughthelattermayconveytothereadermorecorrectlywhatwasdictatedbytheHolySpirit。Thefeelingofthemonks，especially，againstNikon’snewversionbecamevirulent。Theyraisedsostronganoppositionamongthepeoplethatanarmyhadtobesentagainstthem;atthesiegeoftheSolovetskMonasterytheconflictwaslongandbloody，andasaresultalargebodyofpeopleandclergybrokeofffromthechurch。OfcoursethemorethesedissentersthoughtuponwhatNikonhaddone，themoreutterlyevilheseemed;butthiswasnotall。AlargepartofRussianreligiousduty，sofarasthepeopleareconcerned，consistsinmakingthesignofthecrossonalloccasions。BeforeNikon’stimethishadbeendonerathercarelessly，but，hopingtoimpressareligiouslesson，heorderedittobemadewiththreeextendedfingers，thusremindingthefaithfuloftheTrinity。AtthistheRaskolniksinsistedthatthesignofthecrossoughttobemadewithtwofingers，andoutofthisdifferencearosemorebitternessthanfromallothercausesputtogether。Fromthatdaytothisthedissentershaveinsistedonenjoyingtheprivilegeofreadingtheoldversionwithallitsabsurdities，ofspellingthewordJesuswithtwoe’s，ofcrossingthemselveswithtwofingers，andofcursingNikon。