New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25
TOLSTOTS NEW WORKS.
A VAGUE TEACHING.

leo Tostoi:- Translated Nv r., :: Dillon, PHI D..
12mO, pp. 10 John ". Lowell 60.
TIE FRUITS or CG.LTrEE \ Comedy in Four Acts
By Count Leo Tol>0l. Translated by George
schumm Boston: benjamin X. Tucker.
Count Tostoi is still engaged in furhcring his
peculiar ideas Of religious education. and his
efforts 70 cast his Theological pamphlets in at
tractive forms are having rather curious results
One Of the characteristics of his crusade against
the civilization OF tie il that il becomes more
vague and ndeterminatc the more il is Il scusscd
At the same time the teacher grows more dOgmatic
Having taken ssue with his fcow-men every
where 10 the kind Of life most conducive t.
spiritual development. he has quite natura ly-
and perhaps uncOnSc Ously assumed the attitude
of suplcmc interpreter of the Gospel In every
other page Of his recent works the law is laid
down as TO the precise meaning Of what Chris,
said on this that subject and as 10 the exact
manner in which His bchcst; should be- carried
out. The book entitled Work While We Have
the Light pnrpcrls 10 hc founded strictly upon
tie Gospel narrative. and TO represent faithfully
primitive Christianity. II is, however. difficult
u seize the purpose OF the author In his intro
duciOn he represents discussion among mOdcrns
upon life. in which all of them are made u admit
that they are not living wOrthily, while none OF
them are willing 10 change their mode Of life
Each has what he or she considers good reasons
for puting of amendment and the scene ell ses
with a critical summing mp by ore of the audience
vino draws from what has been said this general
conclusion: 1t appears, therefore, that no one
should lead a good, upright, spiritual life.-thc
utmost people may do is to discourse about itn
The body Of the book is occupied with an allc-
gorical story set in the time Of Traian II is con.
corning the experiences of n cultured and wealthy
Roman named julius, who is led u interest him
self in the Christians. and is drawn TO their
doctrines wherein certain Pamphlius initiates
him julius is not of the stuff whereof martyr,
are made. He listens and is Interested and his
reflections, when alone after one Of his interviews
with Pamphilius, modern enough and simple
enough TO have been conceived by some pions
compiler of Sunday school literature There is no
local color in them whatever unless we may
charge to local color and easy credulity of the
pagan Enthusiastically characteristic Of
the age in which he is supposed t. have lived
Pamphilius, however, can hardly he acquitted Of
the practice of magic arts for he is represented as
quoting giibly books which were not written in
the first century, and which if they then existed
at all can only have done so in flagmentary
and disjointed form Yet Pamphilius is familiar
with the latest rccension Of these documents, and
has every passage Of them at his tongues end
As 70 the manner OF the discourse between Julius
and Pamphilius, il is 10 be noted that throughout
both interocutors assume the supreme authority
Of the doctrine Of Pamphlets; no doubt an easy
method cf escaping difficulties, but scarcely
probable attitude of mind on the part OF scepti-
cal Roman. Eamphilius is forced 10 admit that
Christian Commun .sln has not produced exactly
the results expected from II. and this gives Julius
the opportunity 10 back out from his original
proposal 10 join the Christians. He will wait
no observes. until the Christians have learned 10
obey their own laws. Manifcsty he might have
waited until the present dav. supposing that he