Pestsov liked thrashing an argument out to the end, and was not

satisfied with Sergey Ivanovitch's words, especially as he felt

the injustice of his view.

"I did not mean," he said over the soup, addressing Alexey

Alexandrovitch, "mere density of population alone, but in

conjunction with fundamental ideas, and not by means of

principles."

"It seems to me," Alexey Alexandrovitch said languidly, and with

no haste, "that that's the same thing. In my opinion, influence

over another people is only possible to the people which has the

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higher development, which..."

"But that's just the question," Pestsov broke in in his bass.

He was always in a hurry to speak, and seemed always to put his

whole soul into what he was saying. "In what are we to make

higher development consist? The English, the French, the

Germans, which is at the highest stage of development? Which of

them will nationalize the other? We see the Rhine provinces have

been turned French, but the Germans are not at a lower stage!" he

shouted. "There is another law at work there."

"I fancy that the greater influence is always on the side of true

civilization," said Alexey Alexandrovitch, slightly lifting his

eyebrows.

"But what are we to lay down as the outward signs of true

civilization?" said Pestsov.

"I imagine such signs are generally very well known," said Alexey

Alexandrovitch.

"But are they fully known?" Sergey Ivanovitch put in with a

subtle smile. "It is the accepted view now that real culture

must be purely classical; but we see most intense disputes on

each side of the question, and there is no denying that the

opposite camp has strong points in its favor."

"You are for classics, Sergey Ivanovitch. Will you take red

wine?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch.

"I am not expressing my own opinion of either form of culture,"

Sergey Ivanovitch said, holding out his glass with a smile of

condescension, as to a child. "I only say that both sides have

strong arguments to support them," he went on, addressing Alexey

Alexandrovitch. "My sympathies are classical from education, but

in this discussion I am personally unable to arrive at a

conclusion. I see no distinct grounds for classical studies

being given a preeminence over scientific studies."

"The natural sciences have just as great an educational value,"

put in Pestsov. "Take astronomy, take botany, or zoology with

its system of general principles."

"I cannot quite agree with that," responded Alexey Alexandrovitch

"It seems to me that one must admit that the very process of

studying the forms of language has a peculiarly favorable

influence on intellectual development. Moreover, it cannot be

denied that the influence of the classical authors is in the

highest degree moral, while, unfortunately, with the study of the

natural sciences are associated the false and noxious doctrines

which are the curse of our day."




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