The English Government has announced an amnesty for all its deserters. And they, lucky men, without looking back, hurry with enthusiasm to enrol themselves into the ranks of the Army that is fighting. What a wonderful measure! How admirably it illustrates English people’s understanding the way to avail themselves of the patriotism of their nation!

Yes, indeed in all reality. Else why place in the number of the inevitable sacrifices of war, in the very first ranks, what is undoubtedly the very flower of its army?

Whole volumes could be written about the subject of insane political passions, and, speaking generally, it is easy to write about passions, even if they are not entirely political. Why, in truth the time has not long passed since nearly half Russia was man, frequently offering grave sacrifices to its madness. In England people often spoke of this in my hearing, so that involuntarily I began to dream about the establishment of a Society, whose object should be the return to Russia, and to the pathway of truth, of penitent political delinquents. Unfortunately the realization of such a dream is attended with invincible difficulties. I was alone, no help to be had from anywhere, while for the founding of such a beneficent Society, why! there was need not only of many people, but of people discreet, prudent, good, and ardently devoted to their aim, and who moreover were sufficiently intelligent not to fall into fraudulent snares. In spite of my lack of success, I continue to believe confidently that there are some people, especially at the present moment, who would be happy not only to defend Russia, but even to sacrifice their own lives.

The English Government, obviously, resolved upon a daring step, but it is already beginning to justify itself by the enormous number of people who are enrolling themselves in the ranks of the British Army. It is more natural to us, Slavs, to be captivated at the present moment by this war, than it is for the cool-headed people of Great Britain. This national enthusiasm, which has sobered and united all Russia into one great, mighty whole, has already manifested itself in a far more powerful form than one could have expected.

I was in Moscow, when our Emperor’s mighty word sounded forth for the defence of little Serbia. I was driving near the Tver Boulevard, when there rapidly rushed past me a crowd of a thousand people with a sort of incoherent cry, and I thought with horror that a certain restaurant was about to be attacked. “Whatever is all this?” I asked the passers-by. “What is the restaurant to them? Is is possible that they want to get drunk?” “I! no; they want to call out the orchestra; they want some music, in order to sing the Anthem.”

I stopped. And in the very deed the orchestra revealed itself to them and began to play “God Save The Tsar,” and all the crowd began to sing. Overjoyed and deeply moved I followed it a little war. Everybody sang, everybody cried “Hurrah,” everybody prayed, and some made the Sign of the Cross. The crowd kept continually growing and growing. Such scenes repeated themselves every day, and in different quarters of the town. They kept on asking for the orchestra and presently there was general singing and prayers with Signs of the Cross.

One day in the evening, a crowd of many thousands had assembled at The Church of The Saviour, requesting that a Te Deum should be sung. When the priest appeared with The Cross, the crowd sank down on their knees. Such moments it is hardly possible for one ever to forget. Yes, and praise be to God when everything good in life is remembered with affection.

They say, that things went on even more majestically and grandly in Petrograd. This is entirely natural. And it is not the fault of dear, orphan, Moscow, that at the present moment she did not have the chance of standing all the time in the first place. When the nation sees its Emperor personally, hears his kind, mighty, voice, his captivating word, and his cheering speech, Moscow sets a price on her joy no less than Petrograd and gives proof of it to the uttermost of her strength. The Russian nation becomes animated in all sincerity and rushes on to the sacrifice of all its interests.

Is it possible in these circumstances to talk about cool-headed reserved, feeling?

So I take the liberty to repeat my convictions. Large bands of Patriots are already in existence “to Our Glory and the Confusion of our Enemy,” but incorporated in these bands is a new element of sincerely penitent men; in it too, undoubtedly new strength will manifest itself, as well as feelings of unbounded gratitude at the possibility not only “Of being of some little service to Russia,” but also of sacrificing their lives for her.

Thereupon let me add one further remark: Can it be that perhaps we presume to forget The Divine Word about Compassion to those who repent?