ABSTRACT
Eminent in different departments of literature might be quoted, entertaining similar ideas as to the antagonism which it is asserted exists between socialism and culture. For in the socialist community, where all work and where labour hours are reduced to a minimum. When culture shall have accomplished its work of harmoniously perfecting Humanity in all directions and developing all its powers this gulf no doubt will be bridged over. The materialistic individualism of the revolution clings to the leading spirits of the social revolution, nay, the extreme socialists, the professors of the Nihilistic Creed, as described by Tourgenieff. "The growth of any real art, culture, or sentiment, in the slimy ooze of greed and profit mongering" is impossible, says Mr. Belfort Bax. A short examination of a few specimens of socialist Belles-Lettres may help, therefore, in determining to some extent what its claims are as the promoter of culture.
