Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-08-16
THE "KREUTZER SONATA


Garden Of Eden. An exempifcaton of this truth
has been the case OF Tolstoi's 'Kreutzer Sonata,
few days ago in New York City, the street fakirs
had for their stock in trade hundreds of copies Of
this book, and as fast they could hand them out
and make change the passing throng purchased
The fakr himself had banner on his back and
also breast-plate, en- which was Inscribed, "Sup-
pressed by the Gar Of Russia and the Postmaster
General of the United States"
What more was needed? Nothing, forsooth
That was advertisement enough.
But the street fakir might have added another
sentence on his banner. He might honestly have
announced, "And in the interests of social purity"
Doubtless Tostoi is the greatest social purity
no. Christian purity-enthusiast in the world to-
day. The field is very wide for such reformers as
he-a fact of which he seems cognizant, Judging
from the sweeping nature of his imputations.
The "Kreutzer Sonata" shocks the sensibilities
with its truth. Here is man turned States evil
dence against his own sex. What wonder repre-
sentatives Of that same sex wish to suppress him.
But he is an old man, and he proposes to give
people something to think about after he is gone.
He certainly has most unhappy way of looking
at life, which contains very many beauties as well
as the blemishes he dwels upon.
Had the sentiments of Christian purity he ex-
pounds been given to the world by woman, they
would have been called the woman's impractical
way of looking at life. AS they come from man,
and vice is depicted in such startling language by
one who claims he knows, the "Kreutzer Sonata"
appears to be long, low, inartculate wall against
a system of affairs that has existed since the world
began His ideas eliminate in the adjustment Of
the marriage relation and every mortal living the
life of the ceibate. In his essay on marriage he
confesses that he was amazed at the conclusion to
which his reasoning led, but the conclusion was as
it was, and he proposed to stand by it. Then he
saw the humiliation of the human race, but he
was in no wise terrified by this result. So while
Tolstoi proposes to improve upon the Creators
plan for this temporary life eeting and wishes to
clothe mortals with quality which we are taught
to believe belongs to the state Of Immortality, his
deductions seem to be at fault somewhere, and he
will do well to begin over again with the problem
and see il he cannot strike another road leading
to more probable point.
However, his strong right arm enlisted in the
interests of social purity can do great work his
well-aimed blows from the shoulder will cause the
foundation of the present system Of social irpurty
to trembe, and while the stronghold may never be
overthrow completely, the presence Of resist
ing power must be recognized
Here is one passage:
oWhen | think of the men Of fashion, military
men, professional men,-I myself, who have on
our consciences so many terrible crimes against
women, and yet have the aldacity to marry at
thirty. / am astounded we go into drawngroom
or to ball, clean shaved and scented, with exqu-
site linen, in evening dress or uniform, as models
Of purity Shame! shame! A time will come
when ali these pretenses will be unveiled"
II the "Kreutzer Sonata" could be read by the
mothers of the land it would be WELL 1t might
settle in their minds conviction that there is such
thing possible as holding her sons to the same
code Of morals she gratis into the lives OF her
daughters Strange, is it not, that we women
must needs be taug ht sef-respect But that IS {,
the quality which the world stands most in need