The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

with remarkable precision all sorts or
trihes which are altogether unnoticed
by anybody else. And he is forever
searching, examining these invisible
beetles. these microbes inhabiting the
soul Of man. He does not go anywhere;
he keeps moving about on one and the
same place; he looks around on all
sides; he feels the sell like q blind man.
but he cannot step forward. He is
blinded by his mind This is a very
widespread disease in Russia-blind-
ness OF the soul because of the sharp
ness Of sight Of the mind"
No other illustrations are neces-
sary." exclaimed Shebuyev, who was
listening to the conversation with
strained attention. II have said al
ready that there is live and healthy
foundation in this very paradoxical
idea of yours"
"Shi" hissed Surkey. with mock
horror on his round face. You again
agree with me? You must under
stand-oh, unfortunate suicide!-that
this is not customary here!"
Leave off your pranks," Vladimir
This is very important. Please, Akin
AndFeyevicll.' 49,
Shevuyev seated himself in the arm
chair and began, apparently trying to
soften his voice and choosing his
words cautiously
Il agree with you, and 1 suppose
everybody viii agree with you, that
an excessively developed intellect al
ways weakens the immediate emotion.
Still more, it often nibbles the very
instinct of life. And, do you know.
it is bad II there is no balance in
man, If he is inwardly so distorted
that he painfully yearns for something
-yearns because his mind has begun
an intense struggle with his emotion?
1T is not true that life is dark, that
there are only wounds and groans and
misery and tears in life! In its very
darkness there is something noble and
beautiful Among its wounds there
are noble wounds, received in strug-
giles for human rights. for broadening
for mankind the roads leading to light
and freedom, Amid its means re-
sound the noble oaths of defeated he
roes; they resound and cali for
vengeancei In the stream of tears
there are also the tears of JOY. There
is in life everything that man may
wish 10 find in it. and in man is the
power TO create that which cannot be
found in life, This power is not suffi-
cient for to-day. but it will develop
tomorrow Life is beautiful. life is
a magnificent, an indomitable move.
ment toward universal bliss and hap
piness.
When 1 was Is years old my mas
ter, an illiterate peasant and drunk
ard, used to call me over and make me
tell him now the earth moves around
the sun. was proud of my knowl-
edge then-there was nothing better
than that in my life. And as I was
telling him about the earth was car
ried away with enthusiasm until L al
most forgot myself; / forgot who l
was and where was. But in the mo-
ments of my greatest enthusiasm my
master interrupted me rudely and
sneeringly and sent me Off TO feed the
hogs. There were seven of them; they
were enormous and hungry and ter
ribly angry because of the darkness in
the stall. They rushed upon me as
soon as sthey smelt the feed, they threw
me down and almost crushed me with
their heavy bodies"
That will do! Oh, please, that will
doI" cried varvara Vasilyevna-
Don't be afraid. Don't cry so loud
lyi Life is nevertheless beautiful 1
have come from below, from the bot
tom OF life, where filth and darkness
reign supreme; where man is still half
brute: where life is nothing save toll
for the sake of bread. There it flows
on slowly, in a dark, thick stream, but
even there priceless gems Of mag
naninity, of wisdom, OF heroism gilt
ter in the sun: and there is also love
there, and beauty. Wherever there is
man there is also goodness, 1t is in
small grains, yes! But It's therei And
not all the seeds perish; they VIII grow
and blossom and bear their fruit to life.
Oh. they'll bear fruit They will! Be-
lieve me that man bears God within
him everywhere. and wherever he may
be and whatever he may be he will re-
main man-superior TO anything on
earthi 1 have paid dearly for my
right to believe this, YesI But there
fore have this right for all my life.