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A PLEA FOR INTELLECTUAL COALESCENCE 147
valuable results for the ultimate object of preparing the
youth for his proper place in the world. Russians are often
highly educated intellectually, but they are lacking somehow
in balance of character.
Sports and the inculcation of the sporting spirit is another
side of the question. Up to the present, sports are very little
known, and equally little appreciated, in Russia, but after
the war this will change, as the example of Great Britain has
taught a useful lesson. It was chiefly due to the sporting
spirit of the nation that Great Britain was able to improvise
an army of many millions. In Russia military training was
considered superior to sporting games. But if, as every one
hopes, this war is to put an end to militarism, it will become
necessary to adopt a system which, while possessing all the
advantages of military training, has none of its drawbacks.
Games are indeed in many ways preferable to military
training, especially from the point of view of the development of
initiative and character.
On the other hand, by a study of Russian literature and
character Englishmen might conceivably benefit. Russians
are more sympathetic in their attitude towards foreign
nationalities, the historic development of their country has
led them to be more appreciative of foreign nations than the
English. Owing to the geographical position of their island
and the remarkable successes they have achieved, the English
have in the past paid too little attention to the methods and
experiences of other nations. The war has been a revelation
to England, and at the same time an invaluable lesson from
which she will derive immense benefit in the future. Her
eyes have been opened to the necessity for getting into closer
industrial and intellectual touch with other nations, and
above all with her Allies. Amongst these Russia stands in
the first rank owing to her actual and potential commercial,
industrial, and intellectual wealth.
Russian and British intellectuality could supplement and
to a certain extent correct each other to great advantage,
more especially as to their respective mental attitudes when
forming a judgment. The English mind is more positive
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