A GATHERING IN CHISWICK
As my first actual acquaintance with Anarchists was effected in
Nekrovitch's house, it will not be out of place for me to give a slight
sketch of the gatherings held there and of my host himself.
An interminably dreary journey by tram and rail, omnibus and foot, the
latter end of which lay along a monotonous suburban road, brought you
to the humble dwelling of the famous Nihilist. Here from time to time
on Sunday evenings it was my wont to put in an appearance towards ten
or eleven, for the journey was deceptively long from Fitzroy Square,
and Nekrovitch, like most Russians, was himself of so unpunctual and
irregular a nature, that he seemed to foster the like habits in all his
friends. The nominal hour for these social gatherings to commence was
eight, but not till past nine did the guests begin to assemble, and
till midnight and later they would come dribbling in. Only one
conscientiously punctual German was ever known to arrive at the
appointed hour, but the only reward of the Teuton's mistaken zeal was to
wait for hours in solitary state in an unwarmed, unlighted room till his
host and fellow-guests saw fit to assemble.
The meeting-room, or parlour, or drawing-room in Nekrovitch's house was
by no means a palatial apartment. Small and even stuffy to the notions
of a hygienic Englishman, and very bare, scanty in furniture, and yet
poorer in decoration, this room bore evidence to its owners' contempt
for such impedimenta, and their entire freedom from slavery to household
gods. It was evidently the home of people used to pitching their tent
often, and to whom a feeling of settled security was unknown. But its
occupants usually made up for any deficiencies in their surroundings.
The company was always of a very mixed cosmopolitan character--Russian
Nihilists and exiles, English Liberals who sympathised with the Russian
constitutional movement, Socialists and Fabians, Anarchists of all
nationalities, journalists and literary men whose political views were
immaterial, the pseudo-Bohemian who professes interest in the "queer
side of life," all manner of faddists, rising and impecunious musicians
and artists--all were made welcome, and all were irresistibly attracted
towards the great Russian Nihilist.
The most notable figure in this assembly, and he certainly would
have been in most assemblies, was Nekrovitch himself. Nekrovitch was
essentially a great man; one of those men whom to know was to admire and
to love; a man of strong intellect, and of the strong personal magnetism
which is so frequently an adjunct of genius. Physically he was a huge
powerful man, so massive and striking in appearance that he suggested
comparison rather with some fact of nature--a rock, a vigorous forest
tree--than with another man. He was one of those rare men who, like
mountains in a landscape, suffice in themselves to relieve their
environments, whatever these may be, from all taint of meanness. He
stood out from among his guests the centre of conversation, of feeling,
and of interest. He was almost invariably engaged in eager conversation,
pitched in a loud tone of voice, broken at intervals when he listened
to the other disputants, while puffing the cigarettes which he was
constantly rolling, and looking intently out of his deep-set penetrating
eyes.
Nekrovitch's wife, a Russian like himself, had been a student of
medicine at the Russian University until, along with her husband, she
had been compelled to take flight from the attentions of the Russian
police. She was a curly-headed brunette, with bright hazel eyes and a
vivacious manner; a very intelligent and highly "simpatica" woman, as
the Italians would put it.
Round Nekrovitch there always clustered an eager crowd of admirers and
intimates, discussing, disputing, listening, arguing. They were mostly
foreigners, of the shaggy though not unwashed persuasion, but two
English faces especially attracted notice. One belonged to a young
woman, still on the right side of thirty, dressed without exaggeration
in the aesthetic style, with a small but singularly intellectual head
and an argumentative manner, whom I knew as Miss Cooper. The other was
a man of some thirty-seven years, with auburn hair, which displayed a
distinct tendency to develop into a flowing mane; tall, slim, and lithe
of limb, with a splendid set of teeth, which showed under his bushy
moustache whenever his frank, benevolent smile parted his lips. He was
somewhat taciturn, but evidently tenacious; a glance at his spacious
forehead and finely-shaped head revealed a man of mind, and the
friendly, fearless glance of his eyes betokened a lovable nature,
though, as he listened to his opponents or answered in his low
distinct voice, there was an intensity and fixedness in their depth not
incompatible with the fanatic.
This Dr. Armitage was one of the most noticeable figures in the English
Anarchist movement, and it was with him that I first discussed Anarchist
principles as opposed to those of legal Socialism. Nekrovitch and others
often joined in the discussion, and very animated we all grew in the
course of debate. Nekrovitch smiled sympathetically at my whole-hearted
and ingenuous enthusiasm. He never made any attempt to scoff at it or to
discourage me, though he vainly attempted to persuade me that Anarchism
was too distant and unpractical an ideal, and that my energies and
enthusiasm might be more advantageously expended in other directions.
"Anyway," he once said to me, "it is very agreeable to a Russian to see
young people interested in politics and political ideals. It reminds him
of his own country."
Among the other Anarchists who frequented Nekrovitch's house was the
Anarchist and scientist, Count Voratin, a man who had sacrificed wealth
and high position and family ties for his principles with less fuss
than another rich man would make in giving a donation to an hospital. He
seemed always absolutely oblivious of his own great qualities, as simple
and kindly in manners as a _moujik_ but with a certain innate dignity
and courtliness of demeanour which lifted him above most of those with
whom he came in contact. I nourished an almost passionate admiration
for Voratin as a thinker and a man, and his writings had gone far
to influence me in my Anarchist leanings. Never shall I forget the
excitement I felt when first I met him at Nekrovitch's house. I
reverenced him as only a youthful disciple can reverence a great leader.
From Armitage and Nekrovitch I heard much from time to time of another
Russian Anarchist, Ivan Kosinski, a man actively engaged in the
Anarchist propaganda all over Europe. He was much admired by them for
his absolute unswerving devotion to his ideas. A student and a man of
means, he had never hesitated between his interests and his convictions.
He had come into collision with the Russian authorities by refusing to
perform military service. In prison he would not recognise the right
of judges and jailers, and had consequently spent most of his time in
a strait waistcoat and a dark cell. His forte was silence and dogged
unyielding obstinacy. On escaping from Russian prisons he had gone to
America: he had starved and tramped, but he had never accepted any
sort of help. How he lived was a mystery to all. He was known to be
an ascetic and a woman-hater, and had been seen at one time selling
fly-papers in the streets of New York. In revolutionary circles he was
looked up to as an original thinker, and it was rumoured that he played
a leading part in most of the revolutionary movements of recent years.
He was also engaged on a life of Bakounine which was to be the standard
work on the famous revolutionist, for which purpose he was always
reading and travelling in search of material.
And at last one evening Nekrovitch announced that Kosinski was expected.
I had heard so much about this man that I spent my whole evening in a
state of suppressed excitement at the news. For many months past I had
sympathised with the Anarchist principles, but I had taken no particular
steps towards joining the party or exerting myself on its behalf. I was
waiting for some special stimulus to action. Half unconsciously I found
myself wondering whether Kosinski would prove this.
I had passed a pleasant evening in the little Chiswick house between
the usual political and ethical discussions and the usual interesting or
entertaining company. I had assisted at a long discussion between Miss
Cooper and Dr. Armitage, which, commencing on the question of Socialism,
had gradually deviated into one on food and dress reform, a matter upon
which that lady held very strong views. I had felt a little irritated at
the conversation, for I entertained scant sympathy for what I regarded
as hygienic fads; and the emphasis with which the lady averred that she
touched neither flesh nor alcohol, and felt that by this abstinence she
was not "besotting her brain nor befouling her soul," amused me much.
Dr. Armitage, to my surprise, expressed some sympathy with her views,
and treated the question with what I considered undue importance. This
discussion was brought at last to a termination by Miss Cooper breaking
off for a meal (she always ate at regular intervals), and retiring into
a corner to consume monkey-nuts out of a hanging pocket or pouch which
she carried with her.
The evening advanced, and I began to despair of Kosinski's ever
arriving. Every time there was a knock at the door, I wondered whether
it was the much-expected Anarchist, but I was repeatedly disappointed.
Once it was the musical infant prodigy of the season whose talents had
taken London by storm, another time it was a Nihilist, yet another a
wild-looking Czech poet. One loud rat-tat made me feel certain that
Kosinski had arrived, but I was again disillusioned, as an aesthetic,
fascinating little lady made her entry, dragging triumphantly in tow
a reluctant, unengaging and green-haired husband. Nekrovitch gave me a
significant glance. "So sorry to be so late," the little lady began in
a high-pitched voice, "but I had to attend a meeting of our society
for the distribution of sanitary dust-bins; and Humphry got quite
disagreeable waiting for me outside, although he was well wrapped up in
comforters and mits. My dear Anna (this to Madame Nekrovitch), _do_
tell him that he is most absurd and egoistic, and that it is his duty to
think less of personal comfort and more of humanity."
At this last word the injured Humphry, who had approached the fire, and
was attempting to thaw his nose and toes, gave utterance to a suppressed
groan; but a cup of steaming tea and some appetising buttered toast
diverted his spouse's thoughts, and she was soon deep in a confidential
chat with Anna.
At last, long after eleven, appeared the new-comer of whom I had heard
so much. I must confess that my preconceived notions (one always has
a preconceived notion of the appearance of a person one has heard much
spoken of) fell to the ground. I had imagined him dark and audacious,
and I saw before me a tall, big, well-built man, with a slight stoop
in his shoulders, fair of skin, with a blonde beard and moustache,
lank long hair, a finely-cut, firm-set mouth, and blue dreamy eyes,
altogether a somewhat Christ-like face. He was clad in a thick, heavy,
old-fashioned blue overcoat with a velvet collar, which he refused
to remove, baggy nondescript trousers, and uncouth-looking boots.
He saluted his host and hostess in an undemonstrative style, bowed
awkwardly to the other guests, and settled down to crouch over the fire,
and look unostentatiously miserable.
From the first moment Kosinski interested me. His manners were not
engaging; towards women especially he was decidedly hostile. But
the marked indifference to opinion which his bearing indicated, his
sincerity, his unmistakable moral courage, perhaps his evident aversion
to my sex, all had for me a certain fascination.
I felt attracted towards the man, and was pleased that a discussion on
Anarchism with Armitage at last afforded me an opportunity of exchanging
a few words with him--even though on his side the conversation was not
altogether flattering to myself. It happened in this way.
Nekrovitch, Armitage, and myself had, according to our wont, been
discussing the great Anarchist question. For the hundredth time the
Russian had endeavoured to persuade us of the truth and the reason of
his point of view.
"So long as men are men," he maintained, "there must be some sort of
government, some fixed recognised law--organisation, if you will, to
control them."
"All governments are equally bad," answered the doctor. "All law is
coercion, and coercion is immoral. Immoral conditions breed immoral
people. In a free and enlightened society there would be no room for
coercive law. Crime will disappear when healthy and natural conditions
prevail."
And Nekrovitch, perceiving for the hundredth time that his arguments
were vain, and that Armitage was not to be moved, had left us to
ourselves and gone across to his other guests. Doctor Armitage, always
eager for converts, turned his undivided attention to me.
"I hope yet to be able to claim you for a comrade," he said: "you are
intelligent and open-minded, and cannot fail to see the futility of
attempting to tinker up our worn-out society. You must see that our
Socialist friends have only seized on half-truths, and they stop short
where true reform should begin."
"I can quite see your point of view," I replied; "in fact I am more than
half a convert already. But I should like to know what I can do. I
have been interested now in these problems for a year or two, and must
confess that the electioneering and drawing-room politics of Fabians and
Social Democrats are not much to my taste; in fact I may say that I
am sick of them. A few men like our friend Nekrovitch, who ennoble any
opinions they may hold, are of course exceptions, but I cannot blind
myself to the fact that ambition, wire-pulling, and faddism play a
prominent part in the general proceedings. On the other hand you seem
to me to sin in the opposite direction. No organisation, no definite
programme, no specific object!--what practical good could any one like
myself do in such a party?"
The doctor smiled a quiet smile of triumph as he proceeded to overthrow
my objections: "Why, the very strength of our party lies in the
fact that it has not what you are pleased to call an organisation.
Organisations are only a means for intriguers and rogues to climb to
power on the shoulders of their fellow-men; and at best only serve
to trammel initiative and enterprise. With us every individual enjoys
complete liberty of action. This of course does not mean to say that
several individuals may not unite to attain some common object, as is
shown by our groups which are scattered all over the globe. But each
group is autonomous, and within the group each individual is his own
law. Such an arrangement, besides being right in principle, offers
great practical advantages in our war against society, and renders it
impossible for governments to stamp us out. Again, as to our lack of
programme, if a clear grasp of principle and of the ultimate aim to be
attained is meant, it is wrong to say we have no programme, but, if you
mean a set of rules and formulas, why, what are they after all but a
means of sterilising ideas? Men and their surroundings are unceasingly
undergoing modification and change, and one of the chief defects of all
governments and parties hitherto has been that men have had to
adapt themselves to their programmes, instead of their programmes to
themselves. We make no statement as to specific object: each comrade has
his own, and goes for it without considering it necessary to proclaim
the fact to the whole world. Now you ask me how you could help this
movement or what you could do, and I have no hesitation in saying, much.
Every revolution requires revolutionists, we need propagandists, we need
workers, we need brains and money, and you have both."
"So you think that one ought to place one's property at the service of
the Cause, and that thus one is doing more good than by helping in the
ordinary way?"
"Why, of course, the revolutionist aims at eradicating the causes of
poverty and vice, whereas benevolence, by making it just possible for
people to put up with their circumstances, only strengthens the chains
which hold mankind in slavery."
We had unconsciously raised our voices in the heat of discussion, and
Kosinski, who had caught our last observations, broke in unexpectedly.
It was the first time he had opened his mouth to any purpose, and he
went straight to the point: "It is you bourgeois Socialists, with your
talk of helping us, and your anxiety about using your property 'to
the best advantage,' who are the ruin of every movement," he said,
addressing me in an uncompromising spirit. "What is wanted to accomplish
any great change is enthusiasm, whole-hearted labour, and where that is,
no thought is taken as to whether everything is being used to the best
advantage. If you are prepared to enter the movement in this spirit,
without any backward notion that you are conferring a favour upon any
one--for indeed the contrary is the case--well and good: your work will
be willingly accepted for what it is worth, and your money, if you have
any, will be made good use of; but if not, you had better side with your
own class and enjoy your privileges so long as the workers put up with
you."
These outspoken remarks were followed by a momentary silence. Mrs.
Trevillian looked dismayed; Miss Cooper evidently concluded that
Kosinski must have dined on steak; Dr. Armitage agreed, but seemed to
consider that more amenity of language might be compatible with the
situation. Nekrovitch laughed heartily, enjoying this psychological
sidelight, and I, who ought to have felt crushed, was perhaps the only
one who thoroughly endorsed the sentiment expressed, finding therein
the solution of many moral difficulties which had beset me. Kosinksi was
right. I felt one must go the whole length or altogether refrain from
dabbling in such matters. And as to property I again knew that he was
right; it was what I had all along instinctively felt. Private property
was, after all, but the outcome of theft, and there can be no virtue in
restoring what we have come by unrighteously.
Small things are often the turning-point in a career; and, looking back,
I clearly see that that evening's discussion played no small part in
determining my future conduct. I was already disposed towards Anarchist
doctrines, and my disposition was more inclined towards action of any
order than towards mere speculation. I was the first to speak. "Kosinski
is quite right; I am the first to recognise it. Only I think it a little
unfair to assume me to be a mere bourgeois, attempting to play the part
of lady patroness to the revolution. I am sure none who know me can
accuse me of such an attitude."
Kosinski grumbled out a reply: "Well, of course I may be mistaken; but
I have seen so many movements ruined by women that I am rather
distrustful; they are so rarely prepared to forgo what they consider the
privileges of the sex--which is but another phrase for bossing every one
and everything and expecting much in return for nothing; but of course
there may be exceptions. Perhaps you are one."
Nekrovitch laughed aloud: "Bravo, bravo, you are always true to
yourself, Kosinski. I have always known you as a confirmed misogynist,
and I see you still resist all temptations to reform. You carry
boorishness to the verge of heroism."
The hours had slipped by rapidly, and Mrs. Trevillian took the hint
which her spouse had long tried to give by shuffling restlessly in his
seat and casting side glances at the clock which pointed to half-past
one. She rose to go. "We really must be leaving--it is quite late, and
Humphry is never fit for anything unless he gets at least six hours'
sleep. Good-bye; thanks for such a pleasant evening," and she bustled
out, followed by her husband. I rose to follow her example and, turning
a deaf ear to Nekrovitch, who remarked, "Oh, Isabel, do stay on; it is
not yet late, and as you have lost your last train it is no use being
in a hurry," I shook hands with my friends, including Kosinski, who had
once more subsided into a corner, and left, accompanied by Dr. Armitage,
who offered to walk home with me.
We walked rapidly on through the keen night air. I felt excited and
resolute with the feeling that a new phase of existence was opening
before me. Dr. Armitage at last spoke. "I hope, Isabel"--it was usual in
this circle to eschew surnames, and most of my friends and acquaintances
called me Isabel in preference to Miss Meredith--"I hope, Isabel, that
you will come to our meetings. I should like you to know some of our
comrades; there are many very interesting men, quite original thinkers,
some of them. And I think human beings so often throw light on matters
which one otherwise fails to grasp."
"I should much like to," I replied, "if you can tell me how and when;
for I suppose one requires some sort of introduction even to Anarchist
circles."
"Oh, that is easy enough," he replied. "I have often mentioned your
name, and the comrades will be very glad to see you; we make no sort of
mystery about our meetings. There will be a meeting at the office of
our paper, the _Bomb_, next Saturday. Do come. The business on hand will
perhaps not interest you much, but it will be an opportunity for meeting
some of our men, and I shall be there."
"Oh, I shall be so glad to come!" I exclaimed. "What will you be
discussing?"
"Well, to tell the truth, it is a somewhat unpleasant matter," replied
the doctor with some hesitation in his voice. "There have been some
strange reports circulating about the Myers case, and we are anxious
to get at the truth of the business. It may strike you as a rather
unsuitable introduction, but come nevertheless. The movement is always
in need of new blood and fresh energies to keep it from narrowing its
sphere of activity, and it is well that you should know us as we are."
"Very well, I will come if you will give me the direction."
"Let us say nine o'clock at the office of the _Bomb_ in Slater's Mews,
---- Street; you will find me there."
"Agreed," I replied, and conversation dropped as we walked rapidly
along. I was much occupied with my own thoughts and Dr. Armitage was
noted for his long periods of silence. At last we reached my doorstep. I
fumbled for my latch-key, found it, and wished my friend good-night. We
shook hands and parted.