“If it means anything,” said Peter.
The youngster reflected.
“I wonder, is there really this Russian idea? I don’t believe very much in these national ideas.”
“Say national character then. This city with its endless crosses is so in harmony with Russian music, Russian art, Russian literature.”
“Any city that had to be built here would have to look more or less like this,” said Peter.
“If it were built by Americans?”
“If they’d lived here always,” said Peter. “But we’re arguing in a circle. If they’d lived here always the things that have made the Russians Russians, would have made them Russians. I’ve gone too far. Of course there is a Russian character. They’re wanderers, body and brain. Men of an endless land. But——”
“Well?”
“Not much of a Russian idea to it.... I don’t believe a bit in all these crosses.”
“You mean as symbols of an idea?”