problem of free will by stoutly declaring, "I know I'm free and
there's an end on't," would have had an interesting time among the
Slavs.

It is rather fortunate that the Russian love of theory is so often
accompanied by the paralysis of will power, otherwise political crimes
would be much commoner in Russia than they are. The Russian is
tremendously impulsive, but not at all practical. Many hold the most
extreme views, views that would shock a typical Anglo-Saxon out of his
complacency; but they remain harmless and gentle theorists. Many
Russians do not believe in God, or Law, or Civil Government, or
Marriage, or any of the fundamental Institutions of Society; but their
daily life is as regular and conventional as a New Englander's.
Others, however, attempt to live up to their theories, not so much for
their personal enjoyment, as for the satisfaction that comes from
intellectual consistency. In general, it may be said that the Russian
is far more of an extremist, far more influenced by theory, than
people of the West. This is particularly true of the youth of Russia,
always hot-headed and impulsive, and who are constantly attempting to
put into practice the latest popular theories of life. American
undergraduates are the most conservative folk in the world; if any
strange theory in morals or politics becomes noised abroad, the
American student opposes to it the one time-honoured weapon of the
conservative from Aristophanes down,--burlesque. Mock processions and
absurd travesties of "the latest thing" in politics are a feature of
every academic year at an American university. Indeed, an American
student leading a radical political mob is simply unthinkable. It is
common enough in Russia, where in political disturbances students are
very often prominent. If a young Russian gives his intellectual assent
to a theory, his first thought is to illustrate it in his life. One of