But because he now had more leisure than formerly, he began seriously to think of another subject--The People. When he crossed a plain which had no interest for a geologist, he thought of their sufferings. When he walked from one gravel pit to another, he mused on their downtrodden hopes. Sometimes the hammer would pause in mid-air before it struck the chisel, because the naturalist was dreaming of these plundered beings. After collecting an immense amount of evidence, he anticipated what keen joy he would have in analysing and arranging it for publication; but then another feeling would assert itself--what right had he to this happiness when all around him were men and women and children struggling and slaving for a bit of mouldy bread? Yes, yes, Kropotkin was thinking about the hungry people. It was in the autumn of 1871, as he looked over the hillocks of Finland, and saw with his scientific eye the ice accumulating in the archipelagos at the dawn of mankind, that he received this telegram from the Geographical Society: "The council begs you to accept the position of secretary to the society." At last Kropotkin was in a position to realise his old dream, but he pondered much before answering, for he now dreamed a new dream--how to lighten the burdens of the overworked people. A voice in the wind said, "To work for Science is great." Then another voice spoke saying, "To toil for Humanity is greater." So Kropotkin wired, "Most cordial thanks, but cannot accept." The chisel of the geologist slipped from his fingers, and from that day on Peter Kropotkin carried in his upraised hand a burning torch for the weary people. FOOTNOTES: [10] By P. Kropotkin: "A Journey from the Trans-Baikal to the Amur by Way of Manchuria," in the "Russian Messenger," June 1865. [11] Not even Kropotkin's enemies have denied his scientific ability. Zenker, in his unfair and unsympathetic book on "Anarchism" says, "The dreaded Anarchist Kropotkin is and always has been active as a writer of geographical and geological works, and enjoys a considerable reputation in these sciences, apart from his activity as a Socialist teacher and agitator." The conservative Hon. Andrew D. White in his "Autobiography" calls him "one of the most gifted scientific thinkers of our time." The unbelievably cruel Pobedonostzeff--who would gladly have used the thumb-screws on him--refers to him as "a learned geographer and sociologist." THE NIHILISTS "He is a nihilist." "What!" cried his father. As to Paul Petrovitch, he raised his knife, on the end of which was a small bit of butter, and remained motionless. "He is a nihilist," repeated Arcadi. "A nihilist," said Nicholas Petrovitch. "This word must come from the Latin _Nihil_, nothing, as far as I can judge; and consequently it signifies a man who ... who recognizes nothing?" "Or rather who respects nothing," said Paul Petrovitch; and he began again to butter his bread.