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nger equal before God。 Their God is interested only in the strong； and favors them with his support so that they may dare anything。 Those born weak must either submit or disappear。 Neither are nations equal； but are divided into leaders and inferior races whose destiny is to be sifted out and absorbed by their superiors。 Since God has thus ordained； it is unnecessary to state that the grand world…leader is Germany。〃
Argensola here interrupted to observe that German pride believed itself championed not only by God but by science； too。
〃I know that；〃 interposed the Russian without letting him finish 〃generalization； inequality； selection； the struggle for life； and all that。 。 。 。 The Germans； so conceited about their special worth； erect upon distant ground their intellectual monuments； borrowing of the foreigner their foundation material whenever they undertake a new line of work。 A Frenchman and an Englishman； Gobineau and Chamberlain； have given them the arguments with which to defend the superiority of their race。 With the rubbish left over from Darwin and Spencer； their old Haeckel has built up his doctrine of 'Monism' which； applied to politics； scientifically consecrates Prussian pride and recognizes its right to rule the world by force。〃
〃No； a thousand times no！〃 he exclaimed after a brief silence。 〃The struggle for existence with its procession of cruelties may be true among the lower species； but it should not be true among human creatures。 We are rational beings and ought to free ourselves from the fatality of environment； moulding it to our convenience。 The animal does not know law； justice or compassion； he lives enslaved in the obscurity of his instincts。 We think； and thought signifies liberty。 Force does not necessarily have to be cruel； it is strongest when it does not take advantage of its power； and is kindly。 All have a right to the life into which they are born； and since among individuals there exist the haughty and the humble； the mighty and the weak； so should exist nations； large and small； old and young。 The end of our existence is not combat nor killing in order that others may afterwards kill us； and； perhaps； be killed themselves。 Civilized peoples ought unanimously to adopt the idea of southern Europe； striving for the most peaceful and sweetest form of life possible。〃
A cruel smile played over the Russian's beard。
〃But there exists that Kultur； diametrically opposed to civilization； which the Germans wish to palm off upon us。 Civilization is refinement of spirit； respect of one's neighbor； tolerance of foreign opinion； courtesy of manner。 Kultur is the action of a State that organizes and assimilates individuals and communities in order to utilize them for its own ends； and these ends consist mainly in placing 'The State' above other states； overwhelming them with their grandeuror what is the same thing with their haughty and violent pride。〃
By this time； the three had reached the place de l'Etoile。 The dark outline of the Arc de Triomphe stood forth clearly in the starry expanse。 The avenues extended in all directions； a double file of lights。 Those around the monument illuminated its gigantic bases and the feet of the sculptured groups。 Further up； the vaulted spaces were so locked in shadow that they had the black density of ebony。
Upon passing under the Arch； which greatly intensified the echo of their footsteps； they came to a standstill。 The night breeze had a wintry chill as it whistled past； and the curved masses seemed melting into the diffused blue of space。 Instinctively the three turned to glance back at the Champs Elysees。 They saw only a river of shadow on which were floating rosaries of red stars among the two long； black scarfs formed by the buildings。 But they were so well acquainted with this panorama that in imagination they mentally saw the majestic sweep of the avenue； the double row of palaces； the place de la Concorde in the background with the Egyptian obelisk； and the trees of the Tuileries。
〃How beautiful it is！〃 exclaimed Tchernoff who was seeing something beyond the shadows。 〃An entire civilization； loving peace and pleasure； has passed through here。〃
A memory greatly affected the Russian。 Many an afternoon； after lunch； he had met in this very spot a robust man； stocky； with reddish beard and kindly eyesa man who looked like a giant who had just stopped growing。 He was always accompanied by a dog。 It was Jaures； his friend Jaures； who before going to the senate was accustomed to taking a walk toward the Arch from his home in Passy。
〃He liked to come just where we are now！ He loved to look at the avenues； the distant gardens； all of Paris which can be seen from this height； and filled with admiration； he would often say to me； 'This is magnificentone of the most beautiful perspectives that can be found in the entire world。' 。 。 。 Poor Jaures！〃
Through association of ideas； the Russian evoked the image of his compatriot； Michael Bakounine； another revolutionist； the father of anarchy； weeping with emotion at a concert after hearing the symphony with Beethoven chorals directed by a young friend of his； named Richard Wagner。 〃When our revolution comes；〃 he cried； clasping the hand of the master； 〃whatever else may perish； this must be saved at any cost！〃
Tchernoff roused himself from his reveries to look around him and say with sadness：
〃THEY have passed through here！〃
Every time that he walked through the Arch； the same vision would spring up in his mind。 THEY were thousands of helmets glistening in the sun； thousands of heavy boots lifted with mechanical rigidity at the same time； horns； fifes； drums large and small； clashing against the majestic silence of these stonesthe warlike march from Lohengrin sounding in the deserted avenues before the closed houses。
He； who was a foreigner； always felt attracted by the spell exerted by venerable buildings guarding the glory of a bygone day。 He did not wish to know who had erected it。 As soon as its pride is flattered； mankind tries immediately to solidify it。 Then Humanity intervenes with a broader vision that changes the original significance of the work； enlarges it and strips it of its first egotistical import。 The Greek statues； models of the highest beauty； had been originally mere images of the temple； donated by the piety of the devotees of those times。 Upon evoking Roman grandeur； everybody sees in imagination the enormous Coliseum； circle of butcheries； or the arches erected to the glory of the inept Caesars。 The representative works of nations have two significationsthe interior or immediate one which their creators gave them； and the exterior or universal interest； the symbolic value which the centuries have given them。
〃This Arch；〃 continued Tchernoff； 〃is French within； with its names of battles and generals open to criticism。 On the outside； it is the monument of the people who carried through the greatest revolution for liberty ever known。 The glorification of man is there below in the column of the place Vendome。 Here there is nothing individual。 Its builders erected it to the memory of la Grande Armee and that Grand Army was t