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difference of a phrase in a creed； or a vowel in a name； or a
finger more or less in making the sign of the cross； or for this
garment in a ritual； or that gesture in a ceremony。
In social creeds they have developed nihilism； which virtually
assumes the right of an individual to sit in judgment upon the
whole human race and condemn to death every other human being who
may differ in opinion or position from this self…constituted
judge。
In political creeds they have conceived the monarch as the
all…powerful and irresponsible vicegerent of God； and all the
world outside Russia as given over to Satan； for the reason that
it has 〃rejected the divine principle of authority。〃
In various branches of philosophy they have developed doctrines
which involve the rejection of the best to which man has attained
in science； literature； and art； and a return to barbarism。
In the theory of life and duty they have devised a pessimistic
process under which the human race would cease to exist。
Every one of these theories is the outcome of some original mind
of more or less strength； discouraged； disheartened； and
overwhelmed by the sorrows of Russian life； developing its ideas
logically and without any possibility of adequate discussion with
other men。 This alone explains a fact which struck me
forciblythe fact that all Tolstoi's love of humanity； real
though it certainly is； seems accompanied by a depreciation of
the ideas； statements； and proposals of almost every other human
being； and by virtual intolerance of all thought which seems in
the slightest degree different from his own。
Arriving in the Kremlin； he took me to the Church of the
Annunciation to see the portrait of Socrates in the religious
picture of which he had spoken； but we were too late to enter；
and so went to the Palace of the Synod； where we looked at the
picture of the Trinity； which； by a device frequently used in
street signs； represents； when looked at from one side； the
suffering Christ； from the other the Holy Ghost in the form of a
dove； and from the front the Almighty as an old man with a white
beard。 What Tolstoi thought of the doctrine thus illustrated came
out in a subsequent conversation。
The next day he came again to my rooms and at once began speaking
upon religion。 He said that every man is religious and has in him
a religion of his own； that religion results from the conception
which a man forms of his relations to his fellow…men； and to the
principle which in his opinion controls the universe； that there
are three stages in religious development： first； the childhood
of nations； when man thinks of the whole universe as created for
him and centering in him； secondly； the maturity of nations； the
time of national religions； when each nation believes that all
true religion centers in it；the Jews and the English； he said；
being striking examples； and； finally； the perfected conception
of nations； when man has the idea of fulfilling the will of the
Supreme Power and considers himself an instrument for that
purpose。 He went on to say that in every religion there are two
main elements； one of deception and one of devotion； and he asked
me about the Mormons； some of whose books had interested him。 He
thought two thirds of their religion deception； but said that on
the whole he preferred a religion which professed to have dug its
sacred books out of the earth to one which pretended that they
were let down from heaven。 On learning that I had visited Salt
Lake City two years before； he spoke of the good reputation of
the Mormons for chastity； and asked me to explain the hold of
their religion upon women。 I answered that Mormonism could hardly
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