Realism in France was certainly a necessary protest, partly against unbridled Romanticism, but chiefly against the elegant art which glided on the surface and refused to glance at the often most inelegant motives of elegant acts--the art which purposely ignored the often horrible consequences of the so-called correct and elegant life. For Russia, this protest was not necessary. Since Gógol, art could not be limited to any class of society. It was bound to embody them all, to treat them all realistically, and to penetrate beneath the surface of social relations. Therefore there was no need of the exaggeration which in France was a necessary and sound reaction. There was no need, moreover, to fall into extremes in order to free art from dull moralisation. Our great realist, Gógol, had already shown to his followers how realism can be put to the service of higher aims, without losing anything of its penetration or ceasing to be a true reproduction of life. FOOTNOTES: [12] There is a good English translation of _The Inspector-General_, from which, with slight revision, I take the following passage. _The Postmaster_ (_reads_): “I hasten to inform you, my dear friend, of the wonderful things which have happened to me. On my way hither an infantry captain had cleared me out completely, so that the innkeeper here intended to send me to jail, when, all of a sudden, thanks to my St. Petersburg appearance and costume, all the town took me for a Governor-General. Now I am staying at the Gorodníchiys’! I have a splendid time, and flirt awfully with both his wife and his daughter.... Do you remember how hard up we were, taking our meals where we could get them, without paying for them, and how one day, in a tea-shop, the pastry-cook collared me for having eaten his pastry to the account of the king of England?[13] It is quite different now. They all lend me money, as much as I care for. They are an awful set of originals: you would split of laughter. I know you write sometimes for the papers--put them into your literature. To begin with, the Governor is as stupid as an old horse....” _The Governor_ (_interrupting_): That cannot be there! There is no such thing in the letter. _Postmaster_ (_showing the letter_): Read it, then, yourself. _Governor_ (_reads_): “As an old horse....” Impossible! You must have added that. _Postmaster_: How could I? _The Guests_: Read! read! _The Postmaster_ (_continues to read_): “The Governor is as stupid as an old horse”.... _Governor_: The deuce! Now he must repeat it--as if it were not standing there already! _Postmaster_ (_continues reading_): Hm, Hm, yes! “an old horse. The postmaster is also a good man.”... Well, he also makes an improper remark about me.... _Governor_: Read it then. _Postmaster_: Is it necessary? _Governor_: The deuce! once we have begun to read it, we must read it all through.