as a pretext for it—is very like this: An old man, infirm and childish, brought up in the traditions of a false honour, challenges, for the settlement of some misunderstanding, a young man, in full possession of his powers, to a boxing match. And the young man, who, from his antecedents and professed sentiments, ought to be immeasurably above such a settlement of the question, accepts the challenge. Armed with a casse-tête, he then throws himself upon this infirm and childish old man, knocks out his teeth, breaks his ribs, and afterwards enthusiastically relates his great deeds to a large audience of young men like himself, who rejoice and praise the hero who has thus maimed the old man.
Such is the nature of the first war, which is occupying the attention of the whole Christian world. Of the other no one speaks; hardly anyone knows about it.
This second war may be described as follows: The people of every nation are being deluded by their rulers saying to them, "You, who are governed by us, are all in danger of being conquered by other nations; we are watching over your welfare and safety, and consequently we demand of you annually some millions of roubles—the fruit of your labour—to be used by us in the acquisition of arms, cannon, powder, and ships for your defence; we also demand that you yourselves shall enter institutions, organised by us, where you will become senseless
