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A day or two later； on another of our walks； I asked him how and
when； in his opinion； a decided advance in Russian liberty and
civilization would be made。 He answered that he thought it would
come soon； and with great power。 On my expressing the opinion
that such progress would be the result of a long evolutionary
process； with a series of actions and reactions； as heretofore in
Russian history； he dissented； and said that the change for the
better would come soon； suddenly； and with great force。
As we passed along the streets he was； as during our previous
walks； approached by many beggars； to each of whom he gave as
long as his money lasted。 He said that he was accustomed to take
a provision of copper money with him for this purpose on his
walks； since he regarded it as a duty to give when asked； and he
went on to say that he carried the idea so far that even if he
knew the man wanted the money to buy brandy he would give it to
him； but he added that he would do all in his power to induce the
man to work and to cease drinking。 I demurred strongly to all
this； and extended the argument which I had made during our
previous walk； telling him that by such giving he did two wrongs：
first； to the beggar himself； since it led him to cringe and lie
in order to obtain as a favor that which； if he did his duty in
working； he could claim as a right； and； secondly； to society by
encouraging such a multitude to prey upon it who might be giving
it aid and strength； and I again called his attention to the
hordes of sturdy beggars in Moscow。 He answered that the results
of our actions in such cases are not the main thing； but the
cultivation of proper feelings in the giver is first to be
considered。
I then asked him about his manual labor。 He said that his habit
was to rise early and read or write until noon； then to take his
luncheon and a short sleep； and after that to work in his garden
or fields。 He thought this good for him on every account； and
herein we fully agreed。
On our return through the Kremlin； passing the heaps and rows of
cannon taken from the French in 1812； I asked him if he still
adhered to the low opinion of Napoleon expressed in 〃War and
Peace。〃 He said that he did； and more than ever since he had
recently read a book on Napoleon's relations to women which
showed that he took the lowest possible view of womankind。 I then
asked him if he still denied Napoleon's military genius。 He
answered that he certainly did； that he did not believe in the
existence of any such thing as military genius； that he had never
been able to understand what is meant by the term。 I asked； 〃How
then do you account for the amazing series of Napoleon's
successes？〃 He answered； 〃By circumstances。〃 I rejoined that such
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 tur