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the Grand Duchess Sophia in her monastery prison； and the remorse
of Ivan the Terrible after murdering his son。
To my surprise； he agreed with me； and even went beyond me； in
rating landscape infinitely below religious and historical
painting； saying that he cared for landscape…painting only as
accessory to pictures revealing human life。
Among genre pictures； we halted before one representing a peasant
family grouped about the mother； who； with a sacred picture laid
upon her breast； after the Russian manner； was dying of famine。
This also seemed deeply to impress him。
We stopped next before a picture of a lady of high birth brought
before the authorities in order to be sent； evidently against her
will； to a convent。 I cited the similar story from Manzoni's
〃Promessi Sposi〃； but； to my surprise； he seemed to know little
of that most fascinating of historical romances。 This led to a
discussion in which he said he had once liked Walter Scott； but
had not read anything of his for many years； and he seemed
interested in my statement that although always an especial
admirer of Scott； I had found it almost impossible to induce the
younger generation to read him。
Stopping before a picture of Peter the Great's fatal conference
with his son Alexis； in reply to my remark upon the marvel that a
prince of such genius as Peter should have appeared at Moscow in
the seventeenth century； he said that he did not admire Peter；
that he was too cruel；administering torture and death at times
with his own hands。
We next halted before a picture representing the horrible
execution of the Strelitzes。 I said that 〃such pictures prove
that the world does； after all； progress slowly； in spite of what
pessimists say； and that in order to refute pessimists one has
only to refer to the improvements in criminal law。〃 To this he
agreed cordially； and declared the abolition of torture in
procedure and penalty to be one great gain； at any rate。
We spoke of the present condition of things in Europe； and I told
him that at St。 Petersburg the opinion very general among the
more thoughtful members of the diplomatic corps was that war was
not imminent； that the Czar； having himself seen the cruelties of
war during the late struggle in the Balkans； had acquired an
invincible repugnance to it。 He acquiesced in this； but said that
it seemed monstrous to him that the peace of the empire and of
Europe should depend upon so slender a thread as the will of any
one man。
Our next walk was taken across the river Moskwa； on the ice； to
and through the Kremlin； and as we walked the conversation fell
upon literature。 As to French literature； he thought Maupassant
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 t