按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
an explanation had the merit； at least； of being short and easy。
He then went on to say that battles are won by force of
circumstances； by chance； by luck； and he quoted Suvaroff to this
effect。 He liked Lanfrey's 〃History of Napoleon〃 and Taine's book
on the Empire； evidently because both are denunciatory of men and
things he dislikes； but said that he did not believe in Thiers。
We came finally under the shade of the great tower and into the
gateway through which Napoleon entered the Kremlin； and there we
parted with a hearty good…bye。
The question has been asked me； at various times since； whether；
in my opinion； Tolstoi is really sincere； and allusion has been
made to a book published by a lady who claims to have been in
close relations with his family； which would seem to reveal a
theatrical element in his whole life。 To this my answer has
always been； and still is； that I believe him to be one of the
most sincere and devoted men alive； a man of great genius and； at
the same time； of very deep sympathy with his fellow…creatures。
Out of this character of his come his theories of art and
literature； and； despite their faults； they seem to me more
profound and far…reaching than any put forth by any other man in
our time。
There is in them； for the current cant regarding art and
literature； a sound； sturdy； hearty contempt which braces and
strengthens one who reads or listens to him。 It does one good to
hear his quiet sarcasms against the whole fin…de…siecle
businessthe 〃impressionism；〃 the 〃sensationalism；〃 the vague
futilities of every sort； the 〃great poets〃 wallowing in the mud
of Paris； the 〃great musicians〃 making night hideous in German
concert…halls； the 〃great painters〃 of various countries mixing
their colors with as much filth as the police will allow。 His
keen thrusts at these incarnations of folly and obscenity in the
last quarter of the nineteenth century； and especially at those
who seek to hide the poverty of their ideas in the obscurity of
their phrases； encourage one to think that in the next generation
the day of such pretenders will be done。 His prophesying against
〃art for art's sake〃； his denunciation of art which simply
ministers to sensual pleasure； his ridicule of art which can be
discerned only by 〃people of culture〃； his love for art which has
a sense； not only of its power； but of its obligations； which
puts itself at the service of great and worthy ideas； which
appeals to men as menin this he is one of the best teachers of
his time and of future times。
Yet here come in his unfortunate limitations。 From his
substitutions of assertion for inference； and from the inadequacy
of his view regarding sundry growths in art； literature； and
science； arises endless confusion。
For who will not be skeptical as to the value of any criticism by
a man who pours contempt over the pictures of Puvis de Chavannes；
stigmatizes one of Beethoven's purest creations as 〃corrupting；〃
and calls Shakspere a 〃scribbler〃！
Nothing can be more genuine than his manner： there is no posing；
no orating； no phrase…making； a quiet earnestness pervades all
his utterances。 The great defect in him arises； as I have already
said； from a peculiarity in the development of his opinions：
namely； that during so large a part of his life he has been wont
to discuss subjects with himself and not with other men； that he
has； therefore； come to worship idols of his own creation； and
often very unsubstantial idols； and to look with misgiving and
distrust on the ideas of others。 Very rarely during our
conversations did I hear him speak with any real enthusiasm
regarding any human being： his nearest approach to it was with
reference to the writings of the Rev。 Adin Ballou； when he
declared him the foremost literary character that America has
produced。 A result of all this is that when he is driven into a
corner his logic becomes so subtle as to be imperceptible； and he
is very likely to take refuge in paradoxes。
At times； as we walked together； he would pour forth a stream of
reasoning so lucid； out of depths so profound and reach
conclusions so cogent； that he seemed fairly inspired。 At other
times he would develop a line of argument so outworn； and arrive
at conclusions so inane； that I could not but look into his face
closely to see if he could be really in earnest； but it always
bore that same expressionforbidding the slightest suspicion
that he was uttering anything save that which he believed； at
least for the time being。
As to the moral side； the stream of his thought was usually
limpid； but at times it became turbid and his better ideas seemed
to float on the surface as iridescent bubbles。
Had he lived in any other country； he would have been a power
mighty and permanent in influencing its thought and in directing
its policy； as it is； his thought will pass mainly as the
confused； incoherent wail and cry of a giant struggling against
the heavy adverse currents in that vast ocean of Russian life：
〃The cry of some strong swimmer in his agony。〃
The evolution of Tolstoi's ideas has evidently been mainly
determined by his environment。 During two centuries Russia has
been coming slowly out of the middle agesindeed； out of perhaps
the most cruel phases of mediaeval life。 Her history is； in its
details； discouraging； her daily life disheartening。 Even the
aspects of nature are to the last degree depressing： no
mountains； no hills； no horizon； no variety in forests； a soil
during a large part of the year frozen or parched； a people whose
upper classes are mainly given up to pleasure and whose lower
classes are sunk in fetishism； all their poetry and music in the
minor key； old oppressions of every sort still lingering； no help
in sight； and； to use their own cry； 〃God so high and the Czar so
distant。〃
When； then； a great man arises in Russia； if he gives himself
wholly to some well…defined purpose； looking to one high aim and
rigidly excluding sight or thought of the ocean of sorrow about
him； he may do great things。 If he be Suvaroff or Skobeleff or
Gourko he may win great battles； if he be Mendeleieff he may
reach some epoch…making discovery in science； if he be Derjavine
he may write a poem like the 〃Ode to God〃； if he be Antokolsky he
may carve statues like 〃Ivan the Terrible〃； if he be Nesselrode
he may hold all Europe enchained to the ideas of the autocrat； if
he be Miloutine or Samarine or