The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-28

halos of glory, and of enchanting tones.
o, my friend, we are the fragments Of
a vase broken long ago." When at last
fatal disease renders it impossible
for him to seek his native land, he is in
greater agony of homesickness than
ever. While strong he had made yearly
| journeys to Russia, and had even writ
ten the most of his books there, un-
known to the critics, who cruelty blamed
him for deserting his country; but now,
when he could no longer travel, he was
wretched indeed, and wore out his
heart in vain regrets. 1t is sad sight
to see one who has apparently had all
that the world can give for Turgenief's
life was abundantly successful, as the
world counts success feeling such ut
ter desolation of spirit; and it reminds
us of that other great soul, Goethe, also
conspicuous example of the worlds
favoritism, who, at eighty-two, declared
that in his long life he had not been
happy quarter Of an hour all told.
Verify fame and the worlds applause
seem but poor things in the light Of the
experience of these great men. Are
genius and true happiness utterly in
compatible, we question; and is it bet
ter to be born with dull understand
ing and spirit that never soars2 Both
these men appeared to the outward
world to be happy, nghtrhearted, even
gay. Turgenief is said to have enchant-
ed people with his conversation, which
was passionate, brilliant, even lyrical"
and to have been the most charming Of
every day companions. Let us hope
that his gloom was only thing Of
words, and that he really found much
that was happy and satisfying in life as
whole.
No glimpse even, at Russian litera-
ture would be complete without men,
tion of Count Tolstoi, some of whose
works are now accessible to readers in
this country, and whose career seems
to possess remarkable fascination for
the public mind. He is the central fig
ure in Russian literature to-day, al
though he has given up the writing of
books and is devoting himself to life
of good works on his estate in the coun-
try. Clad like muzhik, he wields the
scythe or drives the plow, and breaches
his new evangel of communism. He
would have stripped himself of all
his property but for the rights Of his
family. AS it is, he lives the life of
peasant, amid the luxury of others,
and proclaims his Religion" to all who
come within the circle of his influence.
Tolstoi was born in 1928, and reckons
among his ancestors one of the best SER
vitors of Peter the Great, Count Piati
Tolstoi. He studied at the University
of Kazon, and afterwards entered upon
military life. Hewas shutup in Sevas
tapol during the seige, and was greatly
distinguished for his bravery. He first
startled the reading world with his
"Cossacks," written after stay of
some time with brother in the Cau-
casus, and after that his other works
appeared in quick succession. The Cos
sacks narrowly escaped the hands of
the Censor, and created a sensation
from the first. The two great novels of
his maturity are War and Peace, and
Anna Karenina. They are of great
length, War and Peace having not less
than eighteen hundred pages. 1t is
broad study of Russian life, more es-
pecially aristocratic life during the first
quarter of this century, particularly at
the time Of the invasion. Its power
and brilliancy have been described by
French critics as truly Shakespearian.
Anna Karenina is probably more fas-
cinating romance, the story moving
more rapidly, and the Characterization
being equally powerful. After the ap-
pearance of this great book, which was
received with the most unbounded en-
thusiasm, Tolstoi abandoned the writ
ing of novels. He began his work as a
teacher. He wrote "My Confession"
''My Religion, ,"and" Commentary on the
Gospels" These books are q socialistic
and communistie Interpretation of the
Gospel. The book called My Religion is
forbidden in Russia, and yet it is circu-
lated from hand to hand, and is exert
ing powerful influence.
The Russian people have great ten