WITH COUNT TOLSTOI. 107 



the few and the poverty of the many open the people's 

 eyes to the fact that banks and government treasuries 

 are robber's caves, in which is hoarded the money 

 that has been taken from the people. 



The Count, however, didn't think the equalization 

 of property will be brought about by violence, but by 

 a general moral awakening. Millionaires will become 

 convinced that they have no right to the property that 

 they now regard as their own, and will give it up ; just 

 as he would be willing to move off the family estate at 

 Yasnia Polyana. America, he thought, will one day 

 set the example. England will follow ; then Russia. 

 The thinkers of Russia, he said, are already seriously 

 studying the problem of doing away with the private 

 ownership of land. 



One could not talk with Tolstoi for any length of 

 time without the subject of religion coming to the 

 fore. Only foolish people, he said, trouble their heads 

 about whether there is or is not a personal God ; or 

 whether Christ was or was not more than human. We 

 have our conscience for our guidance, and the only 

 thing is to do right. People are mistaken in doing 

 good here in the hope of future reward. This is the 

 essence of selfishness. It prostitutes the best in hu- 

 manity to the level of commerce. There is no merit 

 in making a bargain by which you are to receive a 

 ruble some time in the future in return for giving a 

 poorer brother a kopeck or a crust of bread to-day. 

 This is not charity, but usury pure and simple. In 

 Russia the best Christians are those who never go to 

 church. Priests, ministers, and churches the Count 

 holds in scant esteem. The priests he considered as 



