Page:Zelda Kahan - The Life and Work of Friedrich Engels (1920).pdf/52

 48 At most they thought it might perhaps come in a few centuries. In the meantime it was pleasant to meet similar Socialists of other countries, and whilst expressing loud international sentiments, they yet kept a very warm corner of their hearts for their own fatherland.

Small wonder that the first real test found them wanting, and that the logic of events is simply brushing them aside in favour of an international of action—a Communist International imbued with the real spirit of Marx's and Engels' teaching, and such an one as they would have been the first to welcome in the present revolutionary epoch in which we are now living.

We should remember in this connection that whilst Marx was originally, before the event, against the Communist coup of 1871, because he did not think conditions were ripe for it, yet when once the step was taken, he and Engels threw aside all criticism, rallied to its side enthusiastically, gave it every possible support and encouragement, and when it was over studied carefully all the lessons that could be derived from it. How different is the attitude of many "Socialists" of to-day towards Russia!

And now in conclusion we must say a few more words as to Engels—the man. About his personal life we shall say little more. Whilst he, too, knew what it was to be in straitened circumstances, yet there were not in his life those terribly poignant pathetic times of suffering which we know Marx and his family had to go through during their life of exile in London.

That he was a remarkably clear thinker, that he had a most original mind, and that quality of taking infinite pains to study and thoroughly master every problem and subject which interested him—which appertains to every true genius—that we have already seen above.

In addition to his knowledge of history and philosophy, he made a searching study of the natural sciences, of military science and of comparative philology. Like Marx, he was a good linguist. He knew ten languages, and at the age of seventy he learnt Norwegian so as to read Ibsen in the original. His personal appearance is described thus by Lessner, who knew him well. "Engels' personal appearance was quite different from that of Marx. Engels was tall and slender, his movements quick and impulsive, his language short and to the point, his bearing erect and with a soldierly effect. He was of a lively nature with an effective wit, and everyone who came into contact with him could feel at once that he had to deal with an unusually intellectual man."

This description is borne out by a letter of Mrs. Marx to Sorge, written January 21, 1877, in which, after telling him all the latest news of her daughters and their families, and so forth, she also speaks about Engels: "Our friend Engels is getting on as well as ever. He is always