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。