ThisparticularRaskolnik，orOldBeliever，towhomTolstoitookme，wasaMuscovitemerchantofgreatwealth，livinginasuperbvillaontheoutskirtsofthecity，withalargeparkaboutit;
theapartments，forsizeandbeautyofdecoration，fitforaroyalpalace——theceilingscoveredwithbeautifulfrescos，andtheroomsfullofstatuesandpicturesbyeminentartists，mainlyRussianandFrench。Hewasamanofsomeeducation，possessedalargelibrary，lovedtoentertainscientificmenandtoaidscientificeffort，andmanagedtokeepongoodtermswithhismorefanaticalcoreligionistsononesideandwiththegovernmentontheother，sothatinemergencieshewasanefficientpeacemakerbetweenthem。Wefoundhimakindly，gentleoldman，withlong，whitehairandbeard，andheshoweduswithevidentpleasuretheprincipalstatuesandpictures，severaloftheformerbeingbyAntokolski，thegreatestcontemporaryRussiansculptor。Inthesumptuousdining—room，inwhichperhapsahundredpersonscouldsitattable，hedrewourattentiontosomefinepicturesofItalianscenesbySmieradsky，and，afterpassingthroughtheotherrooms，tookusintoacabinetfurnishedwiththerarestthingstobefoundintheOrientalbazaars。Finally，heconductedusintohisprivatechapel，where，ontheiconostas，——thescreenwhich，inaccordancewiththeGreekritual，standsbeforethealtar，——thesacredimagesoftheSaviourandvarioussaintswererepresentedsomewhatdifferentlyfromthoseintheRusso—GreekChurch，especiallyinthattheyextendedtwofingersinsteadofthree。TothisdifferenceI
calledhisattention，andheatoncebeganexplainingit。Soonhegrewwarm，andfinallyfervid。Saidhe:"Whydowemakethesignofthecross？WedoittocommemoratethecrucifixionofourblessedLord。Whatiscommemoratedatthecrucifixion？Thesacrificeofhistwonatures——thedivineandthehuman。Howdowemakethesign？Wemakeitwithtwofingers，thus"——accompaniedbyagesture。"Whatdoesthisrepresent？Itrepresentswhatreallyoccurred:thesacrificeofthedivineandthehumannatureofourLord。HowdotheOrthodoxmakeit？"Herehisvoicebegantorise。
"Theymakeitwiththreefingers"——andnowhisindignationburstallbounds，andwithatremendousgestureandalmostascreamofwrathhedeclared:"andeverytimetheymakeittheycrucifyafresheveryoneofthethreepersonsoftheholyandundividedTrinity。"
Theoldman’svoice，sogentleatfirst，hadsteadilyrisenduringthiscatechismofhis，inwhichhepropoundedthequestionsandrecitedtheanswers，untilthislastutterancecamewithanoutcryofhorror。Thebeginningofthiscatechismwasgivenmuchafterthemannerofaboyrecitingmechanicallytheponsasinorum，buttheendwaslikethetestimonyofanancientprophetagainstthesinswhichdoomedIsrael。
ThislastburstwasevidentlytoomuchforTolstoi。Hesaidnotawordinreply，butseemedwrappedinoverpoweringthought，andanxioustobreakaway。WewalkedoutwiththeoldRaskolnik，andatthedoorIthankedhimforhiskindness;buteventhere，andallthewaydownthelongwalkthroughthepark，Tolstoiremainedsilent。Aswecameintotheroadhesuddenlyturnedtomeandsaidalmostfiercely，"Thatmanisahypocrite;hecan’tbelievethat;heisashrewd，long—headedman;howcanhebelievesuchtrash？Impossible！"AtthisIremindedhimofTheodoreParker’sdistinctionbetweenmenwhobelieveandmenwho"believethattheybelieve，"andsaidthatpossiblyourRaskolnikwasoneofthelatter。Thischangedthesubject。HesaidthathehadreadParker’sbiography，andlikeditallsaveonething，whichwasthathegaveapistoltoafugitiveslaveandadvisedhimtodefendhimself。ThisTolstoicondemnedonthegroundthatwearenottoresistevil。ItoldhimoftheadviceIhadgiventoDobroluboff，averywinningRussianstudentatCornellUniversity，whenhewasreturningtoRussiatopractisehisprofessionasanengineer。ThatadvicewasthatheshouldbearinmindBuckle’sideaastotheagencyofrailwaysandtelegraphsinextendingbettercivilization，anddevotehimselftohisprofessionofengineering，withthecertaintythatitsultimateresultwouldbetoaidintheenlightenmentoftheempire;butnever，onanyaccount，toconspireagainstthegovernment;
tellinghimthathemightbesurethathecoulddofarmorefortheadvancementofRussianthoughtbybuildingrailwaysthanbyenteringintoanyconspiracieswhatever。Tolstoisaidtheadvicewasgood，butthathewouldalsohaveadvisedtheyoungmantospeakouthisideas，whatevertheymightbe。Hesaidthatonlyinthiswaycouldanyadvanceeverbemade;thatonemainobstacleinhumanprogressisthesuppressionoftherealthoughtsofmen。
Iansweredthatallthishadafinesound;thatitmightdoforCountTolstoi;butthatayoung，scholarlyengineerfollowingitwouldsoonfindhimselfinaplacewherehecouldnotpromulgatehisideas，——guardedbyCossacksinsomeremoteSiberianmine。
Hespokeofyoungprofessorsintheuniversities，oftheirdifficulties，andoftherisktotheirpositionsiftheyspokeoutatall。IaskedhimiftherewasanyliberalityorbreadthofthoughtintheRusso—GreekChurch。Heansweredthatoccasionallyapriesthadtriedtounitebroaderthoughtwithorthodoxdogma，butthateverysuchattempthadprovedfutile。
FromParkerwepassedtoLowell，andIagaintriedtofindifhereallyknewanythingofLowell’swritings。Heevidentlyknewverylittle，andaskedmewhatLowellhadwritten。Hethensaidthathehadnolikingforverse，andheacquiescedinCarlyle’ssayingthatnobodyhadeversaidanythinginversewhichcouldnothavebeenbettersaidinprose。
Adayortwolater，onanotherofourwalks，Iaskedhimhowandwhen，inhisopinion，adecidedadvanceinRussianlibertyandcivilizationwouldbemade。Heansweredthathethoughtitwouldcomesoon，andwithgreatpower。Onmyexpressingtheopinionthatsuchprogresswouldbetheresultofalongevolutionaryprocess，withaseriesofactionsandreactions，asheretoforeinRussianhistory，hedissented，andsaidthatthechangeforthebetterwouldcomesoon，suddenly，andwithgreatforce。
Aswepassedalongthestreetshewas，asduringourpreviouswalks，approachedbymanybeggars，toeachofwhomhegaveaslongashismoneylasted。Hesaidthathewasaccustomedtotakeaprovisionofcoppermoneywithhimforthispurposeonhiswalks，sinceheregardeditasadutytogivewhenasked，andhewentontosaythathecarriedtheideasofarthatevenifheknewthemanwantedthemoneytobuybrandyhewouldgiveittohim;butheaddedthathewoulddoallinhispowertoinducethemantoworkandtoceasedrinking。Idemurredstronglytoallthis，andextendedtheargumentwhichIhadmadeduringourpreviouswalk，tellinghimthatbysuchgivinghedidtwowrongs:
first，tothebeggarhimself，sinceitledhimtocringeandlieinordertoobtainasafavorthatwhich，ifhedidhisdutyinworking，hecouldclaimasaright;and，secondly，tosocietybyencouragingsuchamultitudetopreyuponitwhomightbegivingitaidandstrength;andIagaincalledhisattentiontothehordesofsturdybeggarsinMoscow。Heansweredthattheresultsofouractionsinsuchcasesarenotthemainthing，butthecultivationofproperfeelingsinthegiverisfirsttobeconsidered。
Ithenaskedhimabouthismanuallabor。Hesaidthathishabitwastoriseearlyandreadorwriteuntilnoon，thentotakehisluncheonandashortsleep，andafterthattoworkinhisgardenorfields。Hethoughtthisgoodforhimoneveryaccount，andhereinwefullyagreed。
OnourreturnthroughtheKremlin，passingtheheapsandrowsofcannontakenfromtheFrenchin1812，IaskedhimifhestilladheredtothelowopinionofNapoleonexpressedin"WarandPeace。"Hesaidthathedid，andmorethaneversincehehadrecentlyreadabookonNapoleon’srelationstowomenwhichshowedthathetookthelowestpossibleviewofwomankind。IthenaskedhimifhestilldeniedNapoleon’smilitarygenius。Heansweredthathecertainlydid;thathedidnotbelieveintheexistenceofanysuchthingasmilitarygenius;thathehadneverbeenabletounderstandwhatismeantbytheterm。Iasked，"HowthendoyouaccountfortheamazingseriesofNapoleon’ssuccesses？"Heanswered，"Bycircumstances。"Irejoinedthatsuchanexplanationhadthemerit，atleast，ofbeingshortandeasy。
Hethenwentontosaythatbattlesarewonbyforceofcircumstances，bychance，byluck;andhequotedSuvarofftothiseffect。HelikedLanfrey’s"HistoryofNapoleon"andTaine’sbookontheEmpire，evidentlybecausebotharedenunciatoryofmenandthingshedislikes，butsaidthathedidnotbelieveinThiers。
WecamefinallyundertheshadeofthegreattowerandintothegatewaythroughwhichNapoleonenteredtheKremlin;andtherewepartedwithaheartygood—bye。
Thequestionhasbeenaskedme，atvarioustimessince，whether，inmyopinion，Tolstoiisreallysincere;andallusionhasbeenmadetoabookpublishedbyaladywhoclaimstohavebeenincloserelationswithhisfamily，whichwouldseemtorevealatheatricalelementinhiswholelife。Tothismyanswerhasalwaysbeen，andstillis，thatIbelievehimtobeoneofthemostsincereanddevotedmenalive，amanofgreatgeniusand，atthesametime，ofverydeepsympathywithhisfellow—creatures。
Outofthischaracterofhiscomehistheoriesofartandliterature;and，despitetheirfaults，theyseemtomemoreprofoundandfar—reachingthananyputforthbyanyothermaninourtime。
Thereisinthem，forthecurrentcantregardingartandliterature，asound，sturdy，heartycontemptwhichbracesandstrengthensonewhoreadsorlistenstohim。Itdoesonegoodtohearhisquietsarcasmsagainstthewholefin—de—sieclebusiness——the"impressionism，"the"sensationalism，"thevaguefutilitiesofeverysort，the"greatpoets"wallowinginthemudofParis，the"greatmusicians"makingnighthideousinGermanconcert—halls，the"greatpainters"ofvariouscountriesmixingtheircolorswithasmuchfilthasthepolicewillallow。Hiskeenthrustsattheseincarnationsoffollyandobscenityinthelastquarterofthenineteenthcentury，andespeciallyatthosewhoseektohidethepovertyoftheirideasintheobscurityoftheirphrases，encourageonetothinkthatinthenextgenerationthedayofsuchpretenderswillbedone。Hisprophesyingagainst"artforart’ssake";hisdenunciationofartwhichsimplyministerstosensualpleasure;hisridiculeofartwhichcanbediscernedonlyby"peopleofculture";hisloveforartwhichhasasense，notonlyofitspower，butofitsobligations，whichputsitselfattheserviceofgreatandworthyideas，whichappealstomenasmen——inthisheisoneofthebestteachersofhistimeandoffuturetimes。
Yetherecomeinhisunfortunatelimitations。Fromhissubstitutionsofassertionforinference，andfromtheinadequacyofhisviewregardingsundrygrowthsinart，literature，andscience，arisesendlessconfusion。
ForwhowillnotbeskepticalastothevalueofanycriticismbyamanwhopourscontemptoverthepicturesofPuvisdeChavannes，stigmatizesoneofBeethoven’spurestcreationsas"corrupting，"
andcallsShaksperea"scribbler"！
Nothingcanbemoregenuinethanhismanner:thereisnoposing，noorating，nophrase—making;aquietearnestnesspervadesallhisutterances。Thegreatdefectinhimarises，asIhavealreadysaid，fromapeculiarityinthedevelopmentofhisopinions:
namely，thatduringsolargeapartofhislifehehasbeenwonttodiscusssubjectswithhimselfandnotwithothermen;thathehas，therefore，cometoworshipidolsofhisowncreation，andoftenveryunsubstantialidols，andtolookwithmisgivinganddistrustontheideasofothers。VeryrarelyduringourconversationsdidIhearhimspeakwithanyrealenthusiasmregardinganyhumanbeing:hisnearestapproachtoitwaswithreferencetothewritingsoftheRev。AdinBallou，whenhedeclaredhimtheforemostliterarycharacterthatAmericahasproduced。Aresultofallthisisthatwhenheisdrivenintoacornerhislogicbecomessosubtleastobeimperceptible，andheisverylikelytotakerefugeinparadoxes。
Attimes，aswewalkedtogether，hewouldpourforthastreamofreasoningsolucid，outofdepthssoprofoundandreachconclusionssocogent，thatheseemedfairlyinspired。Atothertimeshewoulddevelopalineofargumentsooutworn，andarriveatconclusionssoinane，thatIcouldnotbutlookintohisfacecloselytoseeifhecouldbereallyinearnest;butitalwaysborethatsameexpression——forbiddingtheslightestsuspicionthathewasutteringanythingsavethatwhichhebelieved，atleastforthetimebeing。
Astothemoralside，thestreamofhisthoughtwasusuallylimpid，butattimesitbecameturbidandhisbetterideasseemedtofloatonthesurfaceasiridescentbubbles。
Hadhelivedinanyothercountry，hewouldhavebeenapowermightyandpermanentininfluencingitsthoughtandindirectingitspolicy;asitis，histhoughtwillpassmainlyastheconfused，incoherentwailandcryofagiantstrugglingagainsttheheavyadversecurrentsinthatvastoceanofRussianlife:
"Thecryofsomestrongswimmerinhisagony。"
TheevolutionofTolstoi’sideashasevidentlybeenmainlydeterminedbyhisenvironment。DuringtwocenturiesRussiahasbeencomingslowlyoutofthemiddleages——indeed，outofperhapsthemostcruelphasesofmediaevallife。Herhistoryis，initsdetails，discouraging;herdailylifedisheartening。Eventheaspectsofnaturearetothelastdegreedepressing:nomountains;nohills;nohorizon;novarietyinforests;asoilduringalargepartoftheyearfrozenorparched;apeoplewhoseupperclassesaremainlygivenuptopleasureandwhoselowerclassesaresunkinfetishism;alltheirpoetryandmusicintheminorkey;oldoppressionsofeverysortstilllingering;nohelpinsight;and，tousetheirowncry，"GodsohighandtheCzarsodistant。"
When，then，agreatmanarisesinRussia，ifhegiveshimselfwhollytosomewell—definedpurpose，lookingtoonehighaimandrigidlyexcludingsightorthoughtoftheoceanofsorrowabouthim，hemaydogreatthings。IfhebeSuvarofforSkobelefforGourkohemaywingreatbattles;ifhebeMendeleieffhemayreachsomeepoch—makingdiscoveryinscience;ifhebeDerjavinehemaywriteapoemlikethe"OdetoGod";ifhebeAntokolskyhemaycarvestatueslike"IvantheTerrible";ifhebeNesselrodehemayholdallEuropeenchainedtotheideasoftheautocrat;ifhebeMiloutineorSamarineorTcherkasskyhemaydevisevastplanslikethosewhichenabledAlexanderIItofreetwentymillionsofserfsandtosecuremeansofsubsistenceforeachofthem;ifhebePrinceKhilkoffhemaypushrailwaysystemsoverEuropetotheextremesofAsia;ifhebeDeWittehemayreformavastfinancialsystem。
ButwhenastronggeniusinRussiathrowshimselfintophilanthropicspeculationsofanabstractsort，withnochanceofdiscussinghistheoriesuntiltheyarefull—grownandhavetakenfastholduponhim，——ifhebeamanofsciencelikePrinceKropotkin，oneofthemostgiftedscientificthinkersofourtime，——theresultmaybeawildrevolt，notonlyagainstthewholesystemofhisowncountry，butagainstcivilizationitself，andfinallytheadoptionofthetheoryandpracticeofanarchism，whichlogicallyresultsinthedestructionoftheentirehumanrace。Or，ifhebeanaccomplishedstatesmanandtheologianlikePobedonostzeff，hemayreasonhimselfbackintomediaevalmethods，andendeavortofetterallfreethoughtandtocrushoutallformsofChristianityexcepttheRusso—Greekcreedandritual。Or，ifhebeamanofthehighestgeniusinliterature，likeTolstoi，whosenativekindlinessholdshimbackfromtheextremesofnihilism，hemayrearafabricheaven—high，inwhichtruths，errors，andparadoxesarepileduptogetheruntilwehaveanewTowerofBabel。Thenwemayseethismanofgeniusdenouncingallscienceandcommendingwhathecalls"faith";
urgingareturntoastateofnature，whichissimplyRousseaumodifiedbymisreadingsoftheNewTestament;repudiatingmarriage，yethimselfmosthappilymarriedandthefatherofsixteenchildren;holdingthataeschylusandDanteandShaksperewerenotgreatinliterature，andmakingAdinBalloualiteraryidol;holdingthatMichelangeloandRaphaelwerenotgreatinsculptureandpainting，yetinsistingonthegreatnessofsundryunknownartistswhohavepaintedbrutally;holdingthatBeethoven，Handel，Mozart，Haydn，andWagnerwerenotgreatinmusic，butthatsomeunknownperformeroutsideanyhealthfulmusicalevolutionhasgivenusthemusicofthefuture;declaringNapoleontohavehadnogenius，butpresentingKoutousoffasamilitaryideal;loathingscience——thatorganizedknowledgewhichhasdonemorethanallelsetobringusoutofmediaevalcrueltyintoabetterworld——andextollinga"faith"whichhasalwaysbeenthemosteffectivepretextforbloodshedandoppression。
Thelong，slow，every—dayworkofdevelopingabetterfutureforhiscountrymenistobedonebyothersfarlessgiftedthanTolstoi。Hisparadoxeswillbeforgotten;buthisdevotedlife，hisnoblethoughts，andhisloftyidealswill，ascenturiesrollon，moreandmoregivelifeandlighttothenewRussia。
CHAPTERXXXVIII
OFFICIALLIFEINST。PETERSBURG—1892—1894
ThedifficultiesofastrangerseekinginformationinRussiaseemattimesinsurmountable。Firstoftheseisthegovernmentpolicyofsuppressingnews。Foreignjournalscometoordinarysubscriberswithparagraphsandarticlesrubbedoutwithpumiceorblottedoutwithink;consequentlyourRussianfriendswerewonttovisitthelegation，seekingtoreadinourpaperswhathadbeenerasedintheirown，andmakingthemostamusingdiscoveriesastothestupidityoftheofficialcensorship:
paragraphsperfectlyharmlessbeingfrequentlyblottedout，andreallyseriousattacksonthegovernmentunnoticed。
Verystriking，asshowingcontroloverthenewspaperpress，wasanoccurrenceduringmyfirstsummeratHelsingfors。Onedayourfamilydoctorcamein，andreportedarumorthataniron—cladmonitorhadsunk，thenightbefore，onitswayacrossthegulffromReval。Soonthestorywasfoundtobetrue。Asquadronofthreeshipshadstarted;hadencounteredasquall;andinthemorningoneofthem——anold—fashionediron—cladmonitor——wasnowheretobeseen。Shehadsunkwithallonboard。Considerablespeculationconcerningthematterarose，andsundryveryguardedremarkswereventuredtotheeffectthattheauthoritiesatCronstadtwouldhavebeenwiserhadtheynotallowedtheshiptogooutinsuchaconditionthatthefirstsquallwouldsendhertothebottom。Thisdiscussioncontinuedforaboutaweek，whensuddenlytheproperauthoritiesservednoticeuponthepressthatnothingmoremustbesaidonthesubject。
Thismandatewasobeyed;thematterwasinstantlydropped;
nothingmorewassaid;and，ayearortwoafterward，onmyinquiringofAdmiralMakharoffwhetheranythinghadeverbeendiscoveredregardingthelostshipanditscrew，heansweredinthenegative。
Butmoreseriouseffortsthantheseweremadetocontrolthought。
Thecensorshipofbookswasevenmorestrongly，and，ifpossible，morefoolishly，exercised。Atanyofthegreatbookshopsonecouldobtain，atonce，theworstpublicationsoftheParispress;
butthereallysubstantialandthoughtfulbookswerecarefullyheldback。TheaverageRussian，inordertoreadmostofthesebetterworks，mustbespeciallyauthorizedtodoso。
Ihadapracticalopportunitytoseethesysteminoperation。
Beingengagedonthefinalchaptersofmybook，andneedingsundryscientific，philosophical，andreligioustreatises，suchascanbeboughtfreelyineverycityofWesternEurope，IwenttotheprincipalbooksellerinSt。Petersburg，andwastoldthat，byvirtueofmydiplomaticposition，Icouldhavethem;butthat，inordertodoso，Imustwriteanapplication，signingitwithmyownname，andthatthenhewouldsellthemtomewithinafewdays。Thistookplaceseveraltimes。
Stillanotherdifficultyisthat，owingtolackofpublicity，thetruthcanrarelybefoundasregardsanyburningquestion:intheprevailingatmosphereofsecrecyandrepressionthesimplestfactsareoftencompletelyshutfromtheforeignobserver。
Owingtothelackofpublicdiscussion，Russiaistheclassicgroundofmythandlegend。Oneseesmythsandlegendsgrowingdaybyday。ThelegendregardingthecureoftheArchbishopofSt。
PetersburgbyFatherIvanofCronstadt，whichIhavegiveninapreviouschapter，isanexample。Thesamegrowthoflegendisseenwithregardtoevery—daymatters。Forexample，onemeetshalfadozenpeopleatfive—o’clockteainaRussianhouse，andoneofthemsays:"HowbadlytheEmperorlookedatcourtlastnight。"Anothersays:"Yes;hisliverisevidentlyoutoforder;
heoughttogotoCarlsbad。"Anothersays:"Ithinkthatspecialpainsoughttobetakenwithhisfood，"etc。，etc。Peoplethenscatterfromthistea—table，andinadayortwoonehearsthatsufficientprecautionisnottakenwiththeEmperor’sfood;thatitwouldnotbestrangeifsomenihilistshouldseektopoisonhim。AdayortwoafterwardonehearsthatanihilistHAS
endeavoredtopoisontheEmperor。Thelegendgrows，detailsappearhereandthere，andfinallytherecomeinthenewspapersofWesternEuropefullandcarefulparticularsofathwartedplottopoisonhisMajesty。
NottheleastoftheembarrassmentswhichbesetanAmericanministerinRussiaisonewhicharoseatvarioustimesduringmystay，itssourcebeingthegenerouspromptnessofourpeopletotakeasgospelanystoryregardingRussianinfringementofhumanrights。Oneortwocaseswillillustratethis。
Duringmysecondwinter，despatchesbymailandwirecametomethickandfastregardingtheallegedbanishmentofanAmericancitizentoSiberiaforpoliticalreasons;andwiththesecamepetitionsandremonstrancessignedbyhundredsofAmericansoflightandleading;alsonewspaperarticles，manyandbitter。
OnmakinginquiriesthroughtheRussiandepartmentsofforeignaffairsandofjustice，IfoundthefacttobethatthisinjuredAmericanhadbeen，twentyyearsbefore，aRussianpoliceagentinPoland;thathehadstolenfundsintrustedtohimandhadtakenrefugeinAmerica;that，relyingontheamnestyproclaimedattheaccessionofthelateEmperor，hehadreturnedtohisoldhaunts;
thathehadbeenseized，becausetheamnestydidnotapplytothecategoryofcriminalstowhichhebelonged;thathehadnotbeensenttoSiberia;thattherewasnothoughtofsendinghimthere;
butthattheauthoritiesproposedtorecoverthemoneyhehadstoleniftheycould。Anothercasewastypical:OnedayanexcellentEnglishclergymancametomeingreatdistress，statingthatanAmericancitizenwasimprisonedinthecity。I
immediatelyhadthemanbroughtbeforeajustice，heardhistestimonyandquestionedhim，publiclyandprivately。Hesworebeforethecourt，andinsistedtomeinprivate，thathehadneverbeforebeeninRussia;thathewasanAmericancitizenbornofaSwedishfatherandanAlaskanmotherupononeoftheAlaskanislands;andheshowedapassportwhichhehadobtainedatWashingtonbymakingoathtothateffect。OntheotherhandappearedcertainofficersoftheRussiannavy，inexcellentstanding，whosworethattheyknewthemanperfectlytobeaformeremployeeoftheirengineeringdepartmentandadeserterfromaRussianshipofwarintheportofSt。Petersburg。ItwasalsoasomewhatsignificantfactthathespokeRussianmuchbetterthanEnglish，andthatheseemedtohaveaknowledgeofRussianaffairsveryremarkableforamanwhohadneverbeeninRussia;buttoaccountforthisheinsisteduponthestatementastohisbirthinAlaska。Appearanceswerecertainlyverystronglyagainsthim，andhewasremandedtoawaitmoretestimonyinhisfavor;butthenextthingIheardwasthathehadescaped，hadarrivedinNewYork，wasposingasamartyr，hadgraciouslygrantedinterviewstovariousrepresentativesofthepress，andhadtherebystimulatedsomeverylurideditorialsagainsttheRussianGovernment。
AnothercasewasthatofaRussianwho，havingreachedtheUnitedStates，burdenedthefilesoftheStateDepartmentandofthelegationwithcomplaintsagainsttheAmericanministerbecausethatofficialdidnotsendouttheman’swifetohim。Theministerhad，indeed，forwardedthenecessarypassports，butthedifficultywasthattheGermanauthoritieswouldnotallowthewomantoenterGermanywithoutshowingherselftobeinpossessionofmeanssufficienttopreventherbecomingapubliccharge;andtheseherhusbandcouldnot，orwouldnot，send，insistingthatnowthathewasnaturalizedhehadarighttohavehiswifebroughttoAmerica。
IhavenoapologytomakefortheRussiansystem——farfromit;
butIwouldstate，intheinterestofinternationalcomity，thatitisbestforAmericansnottobetoopromptinbelievingallthestoriesofallegedsufferersfromRussiandespotism，andespeciallyofthosewhowishtousetheirAmericancitizenshipsimplyinordertoreturntoRussiaandenjoybusinessadvantagessuperiortothoseoftheirneighbors。
Thattherearemanymeritoriousrefugeescannotbedenied;butanyonewhohaslookedoverextraditionpapers，asIhavebeenobligedtodo，andseenpeopleposingasRussianmartyrswhoarecomfortablycarryingoninNewYorkthebusinessofcounterfeitingbank—notes，andunctuouslythankingGodintheirlettersfortheirsuccessinthebusiness，willbeslowtojoinintheoutcriesofrefugeesofdoubtfulstandingclaimingtobesufferingpersecutiononaccountofrace，religion，orpoliticalopinion。
NorareRussian—AmericanstheonlypersonswhowearyanAmericanrepresentative。OnemorningacardwasbroughtinbearinganundoubtedAmericanname，andpresentlytherefolloweditatallraw—bonedmanwithlongflaxenhair，whobeganoratingtomeasfollows:"Sir，youareanambassadorfromthePresidentoftheUnitedStates;IamanambassadorfromGodAlmighty。IamsentheretosavetheEmperor。Heisagoodman;heisfollowedupbybadmenwhoseekhislife;Icansavehim;Iwillbehiscup—bearer;IWILLDRIVEHISTEAM。"ThislatterconceptionoftheEmperor’smeansoflocomotionstruckmeasnaive，especiallyinviewofthefactthatnearmyhousewasanimmensestructurefilledwithmagnificenthorsesfortheEmperorandcourt——averitableequinepalace。"Yes，"saidmyvisitor;"IwilldrivetheEmperor’steam。Iwantyoutointroducemetohimimmediately。"MyanswerwasthatitwasnotsoeasytosecureapresentationtotheEmperor，offhand;thatconsiderabletimewouldbenecessaryinanycase。Tothismyvisitoranswered:"I
mustseehimatonce;IaminvitedtocomebytheEmpress。"Onmyaskingwhenhereceivedthisinvitation，hesaidthatitwasgivenhimonboardthesteamerbetweenNewYorkandHamburg，herMajestyandherchildrenbeingtheonlyotherpassengersbesideshimselfinthesecond—classcabin。TothisIsaidthattheremustcertainlybesomemistake;thatherMajestyrarely，ifever，traveledonpubliclinesofsteamers;thatifshehaddoneso，shecertainlywouldnothavebeenapassengerinthesecondcabin。TothisheansweredthathewasabsolutelycertainthatitwastheEmpresswhohadgivenhimtheinvitationandurgedhimtocomeandsavetheEmperor’slife。Onmyaskinghimthedateofthisinvitation，helookedthroughhisdiaryandfoundit。Atthis，sendingforafileoftheofficialnewspaperofSt。
Petersburg，IshowedhimthatonthedaynamedherMajestywasreceivingcertainofficialsatthepalaceinSt。Petersburg;
whereathemadeananswerwhichforthemomentthrewmecompletelyoffmybalance。Hesaid，"Sir，IhavelivedlongenoughnottobelieveeverythingIseeinthenewspapers。"
IquietedhimasbestIcould，butonreturningtohishotelheindulgedinsomeveryboisterousconduct，oneoftheminorfeaturesofwhichwasthrowingwaterinthefacesofthewaiters;
sothat，fearinglestactionslikethisandhisloudutterancesregardingtheEmperorandEmpressmightgethimintotrouble，I
wroteafriendlylettertotheprefectofSt。Petersburg，statingthecase，andaskingthat，ifitwasthoughtbesttoarresttheman，heshouldbeplacedinsomecomfortableretreatfortheinsaneandbewellcaredforuntilIcouldcommunicatewithhisfriendsinAmerica。Accordingly，adayortwoafterward，ahandsomecarriagedroveuptothedoorofhishotel，bearingtwokindlygentlemen，whoinvitedhimtoaccompanythem。TakingitforgrantedthathewastobeescortedtothepalacetomeethisMajesty，hewentwithoutmakinganyobjections，andsoonfoundhimselfincommodiousroomsandmostkindlytreated。
Itbeingdiscoveredthathewasanexcellentpianist，agrandpianowassuppliedhim;andhewasveryhappyinhismusicalpractice，andinthethoughtthathewaslodgedinthepalaceandwouldsooncommunicatehismessagetotheEmperor。AtvarioustimesIcalleduponhimandfoundhimconvincedthathisgreatmissionwouldsoonbeaccomplished;butafteraweekortendayshebegantohavedoubts，andsaidtomethathedistrustedtheRussiansandwouldprefertogoonanddeliveramessagewithwhichhewaschargedtotheEmperorofChina。Onmyshowinghimsundrydifficulties，hesaidthatatanyratetherewasoneplacewherehewouldcertainlybewellreceived——MarlboroughHouseinLondon;thathewassurethePrinceofWaleswouldwelcomehimheartily。Atlast，meanshavingbeenobtainedfromhisfriends，I
soughttoforwardhimfromSt。Petersburg;but，asnosteamersthencewouldtakealunatic，IsentmyprivatesecretarywithhimtoHelsingfors，andthencesecuredhispassagetoAmerica。
Averycuriousfeatureinthecase，astoldmeafterwardbyagentlemanwhotraveledinthesamesteamer，wasthatthisAmericandelightedthecompanydayafterdaywithhismusic，andthatnooneeversawanythingoutofthewayinhisutterancesorconduct。Heseemedtohaveforgottenallabouthisgreatmissionsandtohavebecomeabsorbedinhispiano。
AmongthethingstowhichspecialandcontinuedattentionhadtobegivenbythelegationwastheChicagoExposition。Iwasnaturallydesiroustoseeitasuccess;indeed，itwasmydutytodoeverythingpossibletopromoteit。ThemagnificentplanswhichtheChicagopeoplehaddevelopedandwerecarryingoutwithsuchwonderfulenergyinterestedthinkingRussians。Butpresentlycameendeavorswhichmighteasilyhavebroughtthewholeenterpriseintodisrepute;forsomeofthecrankishpersonswhoalwayshangontheskirtsofsuchenterpriseshadbeenallowedtouseofficialstationery，andtheyhadbegunwritingletters，andeveninstructions，toAmericandiplomaticagentsabroad。
ThefirstofthesewhichattractedmyattentionwasonerequestingmetoasktheEmpresstowriteabookintheshapeofa"ReportonWomen’sWorkinRussia，"carefulinstructionsbeinggivenastohowandatwhatlengthshemustwriteit。
Aletteralsocamefromoneofthesequasi—officialsatChicago，notrequesting，butinstructing，metoasktheEmperortoreporttohisbureauontheconditionoftheempire;funnilyenough，this"instruction"wasevidentlyoneofseveral，andtheyhadbeengroundoutsocarelesslythattheonewhichIwasinstructedtodelivertotheEmperorwasaddressedtothe"KingofHolland。"
ItwasthusmadeclearthatthisimportantpersonageatChicago，whousurpedthefunctionsoftheSecretaryofState，hadnoteventakenthetroubletofindoutthattherewasnosuchpersonasa"KingofHolland，"thepersonagewhomhevaguelyhadinmindbeing，nodoubt，theQueenRegentoftheNetherlands。
Soontherefollowedanotherofthesequasi—instructions，showinganothertypeofcrankishness。Beginningwiththeweightystatementthat"theschool—boysofeverycountryarethefuturemenofthatcountry，"itwentonwithadeclarationthatithadbeendecidedtoholdaconventionoftheschool—childrenoftheworldatChicago，inconnectionwiththeExposition，andendedbyinstructingmetoinvitetoitsdeliberationstheschool—childrenofRussia。OfcourseItookespecialcarenottocommunicateanyofthesethingstoanyRussian:tohavedonesowouldhavemadetheExposition，insteadoftheadmiration，thelaughing—stockoftheempire;butIwrotealettertotheassistantsecretaryofstate，Mr。Quincy，whopresentlyputanendtothesevagaries。
OneisgreatlystruckinRussiabythenumberofableandgiftedmenandwomenscatteredthroughRussiansociety，andattheremarkableoriginalityofsomeofthem。ThecausesofthisoriginalityItouchinmychapteronTolstoi。
Itwasadutyaswellasapleasureformetokeepupmyacquaintancewithpersonsworthknowing;and，whilemanyofthevisitsthusmadewereperfunctoryandtedious，somewereespeciallygratifying。Myrulewas，afterofficehoursintheafternoon，togetintotheopensledge;tomakemyvisits;andasaresult，ofcourse，toseeandhearavastdealoffrivolityandfutility，but，fromtimetotime，moreimportantthings。
TheentertainmentsgivenbywealthyRussiannoblestothediplomaticcorpswerebynomeanssofrequentorsolavishasofold。Tworeasonswereassignedforthis，onebeingtheabolitionoftheserfsystem，whichhadimpoverishedthenobility，andtheotherthefactthattheEmperorAlexanderIIIhadsetthefashionofpayinglessattentiontoforeignersthanhadformerlybeenthecustom。