Their own language, it is said, is so difficult that they have no difficulty in acquiring others.

This common belief requires, as it seems to me, some explanation.

That highly educated Russians are better linguists than the educated classes of Western Europe there can be no possible doubt, for they almost always speak French, and often English and German also.

The question, however, is whether this is the result of a psychological peculiarity, or of other causes.

Now, without venturing to deny the existence of a natural faculty, I should say that the other causes have at least exercised a powerful influence.