Page:Tolstoy - The Russian Revolution.djvu/70

54 "Why? We have neither land nor work, and the Government throttles the people, without sense or reason."

And, interrupting one another, they began to tell how the Cossacks flogged the people with their heavy whips; how the police seized people haphazard, and shot people in their own houses, who had done nothing wrong.

On my arguing that an armed rebellion was a bad and irrational affair, the dark one smiled and quietly replied: "We are of a different opinion."

When I spoke of the sin of murder, and about the law of God, they exchanged glances, and the darker one shrugged his shoulders.

"Does the law of God say they are to be allowed to exploit the proletariat?" replied he. "That used to be so, but now people understand better, and it can't go on "

I brought them out some booklets, chiefly on religious subjects. They glanced at the titles and were evidently not pleased.

"Perhaps you don't care for them; if so, don't take them."

"No! why not?" said the darker one, and, putting them into the breasts of their blouses, they took their leave.

Though I have not been reading the papers, yet from the talk of my family, from letters I receive, and from accounts given by visitors, I knew what had been going on in Russia recently; and just because I do not read the papers, I knew particularly well of the amazing change that has latterly taken place in the views held by our society and by the people, a change which amounts to this, that whereas formerly people considered the Government to be necessary, now all, except a very few, consider the activity of the Government to be criminal and wrong, and put the blame for all the disturbances on the Government alone. That is the opinion of professors, postal officials, authors, shopkeepers, doctors and workmen alike. This feeling was strengthened by the dissolution of the first Duma, and has reached its highest point as a result of the cruel measures the Government has lately adopted.

I knew this. But my talk with these two men had a great effect on me. Like the shock which suddenly turns freezing liquid