New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-15
4 LECTURE on RUSSIAN NOTEL1STS.
PROFESSOR BoYEsEN BEFORE THE PSI UPs1LoN
CLUB.

PROFESSOR BoYEsEN BEFORE The PSI UPs1LoN
CLUB
A lecture was delivered last night before the mem
hers OF the Psi Epsilon Club, no. 33 West fory-sec
ond-st BY Professor Hialmar IIio>h Boyesen' Inc
srbiect uas Russian Novelists and Nhilsts.' Pro
fesor Boyesen told how he had become famiiar WIN
the latter through his acquaintance with the iorme
and also showed how under the e1lsung sys"ms VI
poice espionage and press censorship III RUSSIA was
not only natural but almost inevitable for writer 10
be forced into becoming Nihilist.
lie mentioned one instance, when be sa"
Russian who, he first supposed from his appearance'
was at least sixty years DID, but WIN
was really only twenty seven. lie had been one o
twelve students who had asked and received per
mission from the TO appear before him to present
pe,tion on the part Of their fellow students humoy
protesting against the unjust acts OF one OF the
university officials They admitted TO the
Wallace and suddenly, after vanly waiting for nall an
hour to see the Gar the doors were locked and they
were arrested and imprisoned In separate forfesses
not as o punishment. for they had done no hlng Out
merely cas- warning to Others This man Lao oeeh
mpnsoned for seven years during which every crnety
men could devise wreaked on him. Even tne
light was shut or and he lived total darkness, so
that when he came out his eyes were white and ne
was utterly broken down. with the former brillahcy
OF his mind supplantri by stupid, dull torpof ana
the frame OF an athlete wasted 10 that OF an old man.
As an evidence Of the perfection 10 which the ponce
system has been brousht in Russia Professor Boye;en
told of his experience In 1876. when Bsyard Taylor
who was then Minister in Berlin endeavored 20 get him
a passport He called on the Russian Minister sew
.rsI times and at last the Minister said b Mr. Taylor
would advise your friend not 70 Insist on gong 70
Russia sWhyi" asked BayaJ Taylor. WELL dld
he not write an article In The Galaxy and also give
an interview In The Tribune, regarding affairs in Rus
-la, Under the circumstances, should very strongly
advise him to stay out Of Russia
HIS remarks about Russian novclsts were confined
to Turgenier. Gorol and Tostoi. lie dwelt longer
m Trseneff than on the others, and he had been
Intimately ACQUAINTED with him, his "reminiscences
we're particularly interesting. lie told Of the way
Turg-nier had published his articles serfdOm, one
by one, In leading Russian papers In Moscow ct.
PETERSBURG Kicv, Archangel. etc. sngly the ar
ces seemed innocent 10 the censors ard we're passed
without question. But after they had all been
printed Tursenef collected them and published the
book which ended s.rfdom in Russia. After the Gar
freed the serfs he invited Turgenef. who was then
IN Paris to visit him. Tursenief complied
and said to the Gar when lie met him I:
Let me thank your Majesty for your great and
human act
" IL not ], but you, answered the Gar, WIN
freed the serfs.7
Turcenief in the hours Of black meanchOlia which
50 often overcame him. often referred to this as
light that guided him 20 think that he had done some
coed Summing him up. the lecturer said he was a
great strong man. with great failings and great
virtues a man who worthy to rank with the
great
In strong contrast TO him. said Professor Boyesen
was Tostoi. A man In whom the Slav predominaed VINO
preached the gospel Of nonresstance, when was ai'e
ali the gospel Of seshness, as took no account oi
| The cruelies wreaked ones fellows: - =,
"What face Tolstoi has exclaimed ne, = n Won1er-
full strong face filed with qnutterable dumb woe,
Al you can understand his book when you nave
sern that face and not till then. refer 10 Ills
| .Kreutzer Sonata