Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/149

Rh and answers, "The personification of activity," "The apostle of bigness," "The worshipper of success," not for its own sake, but as a means to the attaining of higher ideals. The author describes our countrymen as utilitarian idealists,—men who have a clear sense of reality, and a saving sense of humor.

From this standpoint of common sense, the great ideal is "the square deal, both ways." How this ideal will, in time, bring us to true comprehension of the term equality (which may be defined as a square deal, both ways) is suggested in the work.

After comparing our ideals with those of England, and with those of the Orient, the author states that "Education is the American passion,"— the teacher is the starting point.

The chapter that will be of especial interest to Russians in this country is the one dealing with the American attitude to the immigrant. This section contains a discussion of the forces that make our country a great assimilator. An unusually interesting feature of this book is the summary of a symposium conducted by the author on the question of American Ideals. One hundred answers to this vital question are analyzed and tabulated, and the findings are highly important. One is glad to learn, in these troublous times, that our final ideals are peace and humanity. These are the great hopes of our land, which, as the author says, is "the providential Republic."   

