New-York tribune., 1886-04-25

and maintains n rude but not undignifed tndepon-
dence among its mountains Naturally enough tho
hero falls in love with Cossack girl, savage
beantv ignorant as tho cattle she tends, proud ana
shv The gradual approach OF these two, the
hesitations of tho Russian youth. his medtatiors.
his introspectivo disposition. tho growth anu
decline of the frtaton,-for ii is nothing more,-are
all recorded with the simple directness and serious
ness which give so strong an appearance oil reality
to Tostoi's books There are several weli-drawn
secondary characters in the story, the old hunter
Jerochka being specially careful and interesting
study. The descriptions of scenery are. as always
with this author graphic and picturesque Inc
flavor of the book is distinctly fresh and pleasant,
and there is no effort to obtain any sensational
erIects 1t is simply an incident in the We OF
yonng man moro prone to reflection than his con-
temporaries, and therefore less ready to act. lie
GOES so far to propose to the Cossack beauty by
whose exterior he is fascinated; but when her
race instincts and tendencies get the better OF her
fancied affection for him. and he goes away IN
GLOOM it is not doubtful that he will recover from
this light heart -wound and that he will soon learn
to congratulate himself upon his escape from what
would probably have been fatal mistake.
The Scenes of the Siege of Sebastopo" arc also
taken from TOlstois personal experience. lie
served in the Crimea in 1S5lj5j, and he has here
put OH canvas wonderful pictures OF the
Russian side of the great SIEGE The people intro
duced are, he says, heroes, bnt very ordinary
men. with very ordinary feelings and virtues. They
are nearly all soldiers, of necessity We see them
serving in the batteries sometimes exhibiting great
bravery sometimes afraid of the rain of sholls and
bullets; plotting promotions. watching one
another iealously, gambling and drinking, taking
the constant deaths of comrades indiferenty.
doing their duty in an automatic way; rather
stolid and phegmatic people. but very genuine and
eminently fitted for the rough work in hand. The
effect of use in modifying ideas Of bravery is well
shown. Tho young officers are often eager to
receive their "baptsm of fire." and think 1T
meritorious to visit the most exposed batteries
But they get over that kind of vanity, and tho
veterans do not hesitate to take the utmost
possible care Of themselves, though they arc mono
the less ready to encounter all risks hen there is
necessity for exposure The second sketch OF the
sIege sSebastopOl in May, 1863" is naturally
goomier than the first tor it ends with the evacu-
alton of the fortress. Tolstoi has given 1T a sad
tone throughout, by making tho principal person.
ages two brothers-oDe q veteran and the other an
enthusiastic boy Just iO;ned.-bOth OF whom are
killed in the last operations OF the campaign
Never. indeed has the hldeOusness OF war Deeh
more strongly shown than in these nnpretentlous
and restrained sketches. It's brutaliZlng Inhncncc
upon those engaged in it Is indirectly but plainly
indicated. The peculiar sense oi inpelmanencc
and insecurity which adects all the relations OF ne
in n bcsegcd city into whose streets and houses te
shells are continually plungrng is repeatedly made
apparent The tremendous din OF the boihDati-
ment the arduousness of the service IN the
trenches the frighttul mortality. the badness OF
the supplies, the pervadng dirt ana slencn, the
horrible scenes in the hospitals, all combine to
make a sort of nightmare. The actors therein move
about half unconsciousiy, caring little what
happens next, having exhausted their power OF
suffering and apprehension. as men are SAID to 40
when the expectancy of the trial over ana capltal
sentence pronounced, they resume Tranquility "
which they have long been strangers ,
The suggestion of all Tostoi's books IS that
there Is something besides life worth living tor lt
Is this idea, not always expressed, but almost
always indicated that gives bis REALISM so whole Whole
some aud inyigorating a tone Loia, OIL me othcr
hand seems to intimate not only that Ihs Iile Is
everything bat that it is 80 full OF .eNll ana
anguish so deformed and tortured. so void OF sab
stantial contents that IL only be- regarded as
dark and hOrcless mystery. The reality ol suueI-
ing and sorrow both authors seek 10 Icp O;Gc win
fdelity but while the one views the w'rid rs an
NcelJana. and can see only the grim facts OF the
graves and skulls in the others eyes me same
world appears a Garden OF Gethsenane, and beyond
tine pain and sacrifice. the bereavement ana ulSap-
pontment hc marks the opening ua"h oi Z"
lVtr day