The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-28

ture is that Kropotkin wrote it. To
read an account of the great Russians
by a great Russian is a big privilege, and
so much does the nihilist Philosopher re-
veal his own greatness by his criticisms
and appropriations that we cannot regret
the item of himself being left out from
the list Of subjects studied. Some of the
fine things he gives from himself Incl
dentaIly are about idealism. with which
his own nature is abundantly blessed
He explains how in great Russian lit
erature realistic description must be sub
servient to idealistic aim and speaking
of the years when one strives to get rid
of the imperfections of boyhood and girl
hood he says the only proper way is to
open before the young mind new, broad
horizons; TO free il from superstition and
fears; to grasp mans position amidst ma
ture and mankind; and especially to feel
al one with some great cause and to
nurture ones forces with the view of
being able some day to struggle for that
cause. Idealism-that is, the capacity of
coneeiving poetical love toward some
thing great and to prepare for it's the
only sure preservation from all that de-
stroys the vital forces of man: vice. dis
sipation and so on
Probably no other mind and heart
could have been so much desired by us
TO give US a concise study of Russian
letters up to date. The only other who
could have spoken so interestingly Is
Tolstoy, and that would not do, for
Tolstoy is too big to be left out of
the book as a study by a great man
not himself. Kropotkins work will
certainly incite desire to look. more
deeply into the great things of Rus
sian literature. He knows well the
art of quotation, and the brief extracts
he gives from the master writer's
quickly arouse appetite to read their
novels, short stories and philosophical
criticisms.
Only briefly can some of the greater
writers studied in this volume be men
toned OF Turgueneff, whom Kropot-
kin estimates the greatest novelist of
his century, we are told: Tn common
with all great writer's, Turgueneff
combined the qualities of a pessimist
and lover of mankind and
that he knew the. human heart deeply,
especially the heart of young girl
when she awakes to higher feelings
and ideas, and that awakening takes.
without her realizing it, the shape of
love"
Concerning the wit and humor of
Gogol's novels: 1T is the good
hearted laughter of young man who
himself enjoys the fullness of life
and himself laughs at the comical no.
sitions in which he has put his he
roes." And then comes a quotation
from the poet. Pushkin, about Goeol's
productions: Behind his Iaughter
you feel his unseen tears"
Fine, almost lovingly fine. is tho an
preciative sketch of the remarkable
poet, Nekrasoff. who was the poet SUI
perlatfve above all others in singing
his love and respect for his mother,
He was fed continually on black mis-
cry. For three years he was hungry
every day living on bread s.In
whatever Nekrasoff wrote there is an
inner force, and this force suggests
to him images which are rightly con-
sidered the pearls of Russian poetry"
In the very interesting account of Toll
stby's works the author says: HE has
fearlessly stated the moral aspects of all
the burning questions of the day, in a
form so deeply impressive that whoever
has read any one of his writings can no
longer forget these questions or set them
aside. In millions OF copies his works
are read in all languages. Tolstoy is now
the most loved mantle most touchingly
loved man-in the world"
Best of all things in the book is The
study of that Maxim Gorkiy who has so
suddenly established a literary reputa-
ton. He is estimated as a great artist
and a poet, and he has found at last
that happy combination of realism with
idealism for which the Russian folk-nov-
elists have been striving for SO many
years" One of the great things about
Gorkiy is the new trumpet note Of cour-
age and energy he puts into Russian lit
erature and gives to all his readers. He
cannot stand whining. Take this one
sentence about one of his tramp charac-
ters, miserably poor. but making no vir-
tue of his heIplessness: He dreams of
the moment when we once the poor
shall vanish, after having enriched the
Croesuses with the richness of the spirit
and the power Of life.
CAdcclure. Phillips & Co.. New York. SD