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MANY NATIONALITIES 55
By demeanour and character these students
much in
so fresh.
of Anatoha College unconsciously illustrated
the history of their several races.
Greeks and Armenians numbered three- fourths of
the whole ; the Russians, few more than a score, but
these were the bold enterprising spirits. They were
open - faced, hearty, free - spoken, careless, and had
things pretty well their own way among their fellows.
As students they had no great reputation, though
English, the subject which had brought them here from
their own schools, they acquired with amazing readiness.
More than anything else they were Russian
patriots, with their country as no dim uncertain figure.
They came from an outlying province, acquired not
so long ago by force of arms, but regarded themselves
Russian as much as any could do who came
from the heart of the Empire. They showed also the
assimilating power of Russia, for one told me he was
a Greek by blood, and spoke of another who was Armenian
; but on both had settled the consciousness of a
greater citizenship. The College authorities welcomed
these Russian lads for the spirit and independence
they displayed, hopeful of the example benefiting
other students deficient in such characteristics.
The Armenian students ever seemed uncertain of
how they stood ; what they should do ; what not do.
They regarded with jealousy the arrival of fresh
Russians and any increase of Greeks,—as if the
College were, in a sense, their own preserve. Their
manner was defensive, but defensive apparently without
spirit. Yet again and again they have demonstrated
that this outward seeming altogether belies
their courage, and that in reserve is a grimly steadfast
mood in which they become capable of anything.
One of the College regulations is that no student
may belong to a revolutionary society ; another prohibits
the possession of firearms. Both regulations
are necessary, and both have failed in their purpose
from time to time. During the period w^hen Armenian
revolutionary societies were active they secured