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be judged by its results at present； that； as a whole； the
Mormons are； no doubt； the most laborious and decent people in
the State of Utah； but that this is their heroic period； when
outside pressure keeps them firmly together and arouses their
devotion； that the true test will come later； when there is less
pressure and more knowledge； and when the young men who are now
arising begin to ask questions； quarrel with each other； and
split the whole body into sects and parties。
This led to questions in regard to American women generally； and
he wished to know something of their condition and prospects。 I
explained some features of woman's condition among us； showing
its evolution； first through the betterment of her legal status；
and next through provision for her advanced education； but told
him that so far as political rights are concerned； there had been
very little practical advance in the entire East and South of the
country during the last fifty years； and that even in the extreme
Western States； where women have been given political rights and
duties to some extent； the concessions have been wavering and
doubtful。
At this； he took up his parable and said that women ought to have
all other rights except political； that they are unfit to
discharge political duties； that； indeed； one of the great
difficulties of the world at present lies in their possession of
far more consideration and control than they ought to have。 〃Go
into the streets and bazaars；〃 he said； 〃and you will see the
vast majority of shops devoted to their necessities。 In France
everything centers in women； and women have complete control of
life： all contemporary French literature shows this。 Woman is not
man's equal in the highest qualities； she is not so
self…sacrificing as man。 Men will； at times； sacrifice their
families for an idea； women will not。〃 On my demurring to this
latter statement； he asked me if I ever knew a woman who loved
other people's children as much as her own。 I gladly answered in
the negative； but cited Florence Nightingale； Sister Dora； and
others； expressing my surprise at his assertion that women are
incapable of making as complete sacrifices for any good cause as
men。 I pointed to the persecutions in the early church； when
women showed themselves superior to men in suffering torture；
degradation； and death in behalf of the new religion； and added
similar instances from the history of witchcraft。 To this he
answered that in spite of all such history； women will not make
sacrifices of their own interest for a good cause which does not
strikingly appeal to their feelings； while men will do so； that
he had known but two or three really self…sacrificing women in
his life； and that these were unmarried。 On my saying that
observation had led me to a very different conclusion； his
indictment took another form。 He insisted that woman hangs upon
the past； that public opinion progresses； but that women are
prone to act on the opinion of yesterday or of last year； that
women and womanish men take naturally to old absurdities； among
which he mentioned the doctrines of the Trinity； 〃spiritism；〃 and
homeopathy。 At this I expressed a belief that if； instead of
educating women； as Bishop Dupanloup expressed it； 〃in the lap of
the church （sur les genoux de l'eglise）；〃 we educate them in the
highest sense； in universities； they will develop more and more
intellectually； and so become a controlling element in the
formation of a better race； that； as strong men generally have
strong mothers； the better education of woman physically；
intellectually； and morally is the true way of bettering the race
in general。 In this idea he expressed his disbelief； and said
that education would not change women； that women are illogical
by nature。 At this I cited an example showing that women can be
exceedingly logical and close in argument； but he still adhered
to his opinion。 On my mentioning the name of George Eliot； he
expressed a liking for her。
On our next walk； he took me to the funeral of one of his
friends。 He said that to look upon the dead should rather give
pleasure than pain； that memento mori is a wise maxim； and
looking upon the faces of the dead a good way of putting it in
practice。 I asked him if he had formed a theory as to a future
life； and he said in substance that he had not； but that； as we
came at birth from beyond the forms of space and time； so at
death we returned whence we came。 I said； 〃You use the word
'forms' in the Kantian sense？〃 〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃space and time
have no reality。〃
We arrived just too late at the house of mourning。 The dead man
had been taken away； but many of those who had come to do him
honor still lingered； and were evidently enjoying the 〃funeral
baked meats。〃 There were clear signs of a carousal。 The friends
who came out to meet us had； most of them； flushed faces； and one
young man in military uniform； coming down the stairs； staggered
and seemed likely to break his neck。
Tolstoi refused to go in； and； as we turned away； expressed
disgust at the whole system； saying； as well he might； that it
was utterly barbarous。 He seemed despondent over it； and I tried
to cheer him by showing how the same custom of drinking strong
liquors at funerals had； only a few generations since； prevailed
in large districts of England and America； but that better ideas
of living had swept it away。
On our way through the street； we passed a shrine at which a mob
of peasants were adoring a sacred picture。 He dwelt on the
fetishism involved in this； and said that Jesus Christ would be
infinitely surprised and pained were he to return to earth and
see what men were worshiping in his name。 He added a story of a
converted pagan who； being asked how many gods he worshiped；
said： 〃One； and I ate him this morning。〃 At this I cited
Browning's lines put into the mouth of the bishop who wished；
from his tomb；
〃To hear the blessed mutter of the mass；
And see God made and eaten all day long。〃
I reminded him of his definition of religion given me on one of
our previous walks； and he repeated it； declaring religion to be
the feeling which man has regarding his relation to the universe；
including his fellow…men； and to the power which governs all。
The afternoon was closed with a visit to a Raskolnik； or Old
Believer； and of all our experiences this turned out to be the
most curious。 The Raskolniks； or Old Believers； compose that
wide…spread sect which broke off from the main body of the
Russian Church when the patriarch of Moscow； Nikon； in the
seventeenth century attempted to remove various textual errors
from the Bible and ceremonial books。 These books had been copied
and recopied during centuries until their condition had become
monstrous。 Through a mistake of some careless transcriber； even
the name of Jesus had been travestied and had come to be spelled
with two e's； the crudest absurdities had been copied into the
test； important parts had become unintelligible； and the time had
evidently arrived for a revision。 Nikon saw this； and in good
faith summoned scholars from Constantinople to prepare more
correct editions； but these revised works met the fate which
attends such revisions generally。 The great body of the people
were attached to the old forms； they preferred them； just as in
these days the great body of English…s