The roads that have been walked are few,
Mistakes that have been made are many.

All America is a greedy maw. There cities have been built. Instead of our remote wild expanses, there, on almost every strip, the field is cut through by rails With a chain of stone rivers—highways. And along the stone rivers without dust, and along the rails without the groaning of sleepers, both expresses and automobiles, in the foaming lather of petrol from their speed, race on, counting the dollar by the second. There is no place here for dreams and chimeras; the time of those years has long since roared away. Nothing but couriers, couriers, couriers, brokers, brokers, brokers... From the Jew to the Chinese, sharper and gentleman — all are entered in a single column, alike — as business men. Upon top hats, chapeaux, and caps, the rain of shares whistles and pours. Here are your world-chains, here is your world-wide knavery. If you wish to vomit up your soul here, they will think you either stupid or drunk. Here it is — the World Exchange! Here they are — the scoundrels of all countries. | «Страна негодяев» (1924), pt. 2, translated by ChatGPT (6 July 2026)-->