LE LONG DU SENTIER 



and the dullness of existence, but the 

 national vodka gives oblivion at a ter- 

 rible cost. The Church strives to stay 

 the traffic, licit and illicit, but like all 

 churches, in all lands, it is losing its 

 power ; not yet perhaps in a purely re- 

 ligious aspect, but in the paternal con- 

 trol which, in general, it has most bene- 

 ficently exercised over the people. The 

 question as to what will take its place is 

 a vast and troubling one. It will not be 

 another church, in any sense in which 

 that word is used to-day. 



Here and elsewhere I am venturing 

 opinions in unqualified form opinions 

 that I know to be violently dissented 

 from. It may be that they have some 

 value as coming from one without re- 

 ligious or political affiliations, or this 

 may at once deprive them of all value. 

 They are honestly held, and no apology 

 is offered, but it is fair to say that they 

 are limited by observation, and that 

 observation has been directed to the 



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