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 grandeur--or 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.