"Ah! And so here there is brought to my attention one of those subterranean sources of public opinion in Russia, which I have so long sought."
"Of course. The universities form at least one of the main channels."
"And you consider the next generation to be thoroughly impregnated with ideas of independence?"
"Thoroughly."
To the question with which I always parted from my authorities—that is, what he believed the immediate future contained for Russia—this professor, whose department I am not at liberty to indicate, but of whom I can say that he is particularly well informed, gave the following answer:
"We are exhausted. The transition to the financing of railroads, tariff legislation, the tightening of screws of taxation bring in money for a while, but no real power. We are on the brink of a crisis. I believe that the war will greatly accelerate and force us to discount our coupons.[9] Then, in my opinion, it cannot be long before a sort of national assembly is called. This is my belief and my hope. Conditions of excitement like the present ones at our universities cannot be long endured under any circumstances. In one way or another a change must take place, and we must hold fast to the hope of better things."
FOOTNOTES:
[8] The Russian is liberal until his thirtieth year—and then he joins the rabble.
[9] Den Coupon zu kürzen.