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the man of greatest talent； by far； in recent days； but that he
was depraved and centered all his fiction in women。 For Balzac；
Tolstoi evidently preserved admiration； but he cared little；
apparently； for Daudet； Zola； and their compeers。
As to American literature； he said that Tourgueneff had once told
him that there was nothing in it worth reading； nothing new or
original； that it was simply a copy of English literature。 To
this I replied that such criticism seemed to me very shallow；
that American literature was； of course； largely a growth out of
the parent stock of English literature； and must mainly be judged
as such； that to ask in the highest American literature something
absolutely different from English literature in general was like
looking for oranges upon an apple…tree； that there had come new
varieties in this growth； many of them original； and some
beautiful； but that there was the same sap； the same life…current
running through it all； and I compared the treatment of woman in
all Anglo…Saxon literature； whether on one side of the Atlantic
or the other； from Chaucer to Mark Twain； with the treatment of
the same subject by French writers from Rabelais to Zola。 To this
he answered that in his opinion the strength of American
literature arises from the inherent Anglo…Saxon religious
sentiment。 He expressed a liking for Emerson； Hawthorne； and
Whittier； but he seemed to have read at random； not knowing at
all some of the best things。 He spoke with admiration of Theodore
Parker's writings； and seemed interested in my reminiscences of
Parker and of his acquaintance with Russian affairs。 He also
revered and admired the character and work of William Lloyd
Garrison。 He had read Longfellow somewhat； but was evidently
uncertain regarding Lowell；confusing him； apparently； with some
other author。 Among contemporary writers he knew some of
Howells's novels and liked them； but said： 〃Literature in the
United States at present seems to be in the lowest trough of the
sea between high waves。〃 He dwelt on the flippant tone of
American newspapers； and told me of an interviewer who came to
him in behalf of an American journal； and wanted simply to know
at what time he went to bed and rose； what he ate； and the like。
He thought that people who cared to read such trivialities must
be very feeble…minded； but he said that the European press is； on
the whole； just as futile。 On my attempting to draw from him some
statement as to what part of American literature pleased him
most； he said that he had read some publications of the New York
and Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture； and that he knew and
liked the writings of Felix Adler。 I then asked who； in the whole
range of American literature； he thought the foremost。 To this he
made an answer which amazed me； as it would have astonished my
countrymen。 Indeed； did the eternal salvation of all our eighty
millions depend upon some one of them guessing the person he
named； we should all go to perdition together。 That greatest of
American writers wasAdin Ballou！ Evidently； some of the
philanthropic writings of that excellent Massachusetts country
clergyman and religious communist had pleased him； and hence came
the answer。
The next day he came over to my hotel and we went out for a
stroll。 As we passed along the streets I noticed especially what
I had remarked during our previous walks； that Tolstoi had a
large quantity of small Russian coins in his pockets； that this
was evidently known to the swarms of beggars who infest the
Kremlin and the public places generally； and that he always gave
to them。
On my speaking of this； he said he thought that any one； when
asked for money； ought to give it。 Arguing against this doctrine；
I said that in the United States there are virtually no beggars；
and I might have gone on to discuss the subject from the
politico…economical point of view； showing how such
indiscriminate almsgiving in perpetual driblets is sure to create
the absurd and immoral system which one sees throughout
Russia；hordes of men and women who are able to take care of
themselves； and who ought to be far above beggary； cringing and
whining to the passers…by for alms； but I had come to know the
man well enough to feel sure that a politico…economical argument
would slide off him like water from a duck's back； so I attempted
to take him upon another side； and said： 〃In the United States
there are virtually no beggars； though my countrymen are； I
really believe； among the most charitable in the world。〃 To this
last statement he assented； referring in a general way to our
shipments of provisions to aid the famine…stricken in Russia。
〃But；〃 I added； 〃it is not our custom to give to beggars save in
special emergencies。〃 I then gave him an account of certain
American church organizations which had established piles of
fire…wood and therefore enabled any able…bodied tramp； by sawing
or cutting some of it； to earn a good breakfast； a good dinner；
and； if needed； a good bed； and showed him that Americans
considered beggary not only a great source of pauperism； but as
absolutely debasing to the beggar himself； in that it puts him in
the attitude of a suppliant for that which； if he works as he
ought； he can claim as his right； that to me the spectacle of
Count Tolstoi virtually posing as a superior being； while his
fellow…Russians came crouching and whining to him； was not at all
edifying。 To this view of the case he listened very civilly。
Incidentally I expressed wonder that he had not traveled more。 He
then spoke with some disapprobation of travel。 He had lived
abroad for a time； he said； and in St。 Petersburg a few years；
but the rest of his life had been spent mainly in Moscow and the
interior of Russia。 The more we talked together； the more it
became clear that this last statement explained some of his main
defects。 Of all distinguished men that I have ever met； Tolstoi
seems to me most in need of that enlargement of view and
healthful modification of opinion which come from meeting men and
comparing views with them in different lands and under different
conditions。 This need is all the greater because in Russia there
is no opportunity to discuss really important questions。 Among
the whole one hundred and twenty millions of people there is no
public body in which the discussion of large public questions is
allowed； the press affords no real opportunity for discussion；
indeed； it is more than doubtful whether such discussion would be
allowed to any effective extent even in private correspondence or
at one's own fireside。
I remember well that during my former stay in St。 Petersburg；
people who could talk English at their tables generally did so in
order that they might not betray themselves to any spy who might
happen to be among their servants。
Still worse； no one； unless a member of the diplomatic corps or
specially privileged； is allowed to read such books or newspapers
as he chooses； so that even this access to the thoughts of others
is denied to the very men who most need it。
Like so many other men of genius in Russia； then；and Russia is
fertile in such；Tolstoi has had little opportunity to take part
in any real discussion of leading topics； and the result is that
his opinions have been developed without modification by any
rational interchange of thought with other men。 Under such
circumstances any man； no matter how noble or gifted； having
given birth to striking ideas； coddles and pets them until they
become the full…grown； spoiled children of his brain。 He can at
last see neither spot nor blemish in them； and comes virtually to
believe himself infallible。 This characteristic I found in
several other Russians of marked ability。 Each had developed his
theories for himself until he had become infatuated with them；
and despised everything differing from them。
This is a main cause why sundry ghastly creeds； doctrines； and
sectsreligious； social； political； and philosophichave been
developed in Russia。 One of these religious creeds favors the
murder of new…born children in order to save their souls； another
enjoins ghastly bodily mutilations for a similar purpose； others
still would plunge the world in flames and blood for the
difference of a phrase in a creed； or a vowel in a name； or a
finger more or less in