The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-26
A LECTURE ON TOLSTO|,
DR.. KrauSkopf Talks of the
Great Russian Re-
former.
Unjust Discrimination Against Jews
Of All Classes In the Domains
Of the Gear.

The Rev. DR.. Joseph Krauskopf of New
York, traveller and lecturer, talked to a
large and appreciative audience last even
ing at the Temple Emanuel on can
Evening With Tolstoi."
DR.. Krauskopf travelled good many
miles and saw a good many interesting
things before he reached the estates of the
great Russian reformer near Moscow, and
of these travels and observations he
spoke at length leading up to the
main subject of his lecture. "On
my way over" said he, "a lurch of the
steamer threw me into the arms of man
whom 1 afterward learned was the Russian
Minister to Mexico. This simple accident
led to a pleasant acquaintance, and 1
finally In the course of our conversation
preached the subject of my visit to Russia
and the status of the Russo-Jewish ques-
ton in general. The gentleman doubted
whether | would be admitted to Russian
territory at all; but advised me to write
letter to the Minister of the Interior from
my first landing place, explaining my mis-
sion and seeking admittance to the coun-
try.
''He deplored the sad condition of the
Jews in Russia, but declared that it was
not the fault of the Government IN
every other country said the Minister,
the Jew identifies himself socially and
politically with the better elements of So
ciety. In Russia there are five millions of
these people and their clannish propensities
keep them together AMI always a lower
element.
when / heard this great diplomat
speak thus I was rather discouraged for a
time. and then it occurred to me that he
had perhaps obtained his views through an
inverted official lens. My object was to
plead with the Russian Government on
INl e L. II
Jew myself and knowing the Russian
laws relating to the admission of for
eigners of my faith, went to Washington
to lay my mission before the Presi-
dent and Secretary of State. I was
kindly received and assured by Mr..
Gresham that everything possible would
be done for me. He introduced me to the
Russian ambassador, who positively re-
fused to ask his Governmental for passport.
Mr.. Gresham then cabled the Russian
Government asking permission for me to
visit the country, and this answer came
promptly: The Russian Government
deeply regrets the impossibility of acced-
ing to the request of the Secretary of State
of the United States of America
"When / read this dispatch / was more
determined than ever to visit Russia. Ny
next move was to get two bills introduced
in Congress, one in the Senate and one in
the House, which called for an abrogation
American citizen being denied permission
to travel in Russia. Then the press of
the country took up nv fight, and such
storm was raised that l sailed away with
the conviction that my reception in the
| land of the Car would be respectful if not
cordial. | was right. Every door in Rus
STA was open to me from palace to hovel,
and everywhere | was treated with the
| most distinguished consideration I STAYED
three days in st. Petersburg and then
moved on to Moscow, from which point /
addressed letter to Count Tolstoi asking
for brief interview. In due time l re-
| ceived an answer, written by his daugteI.
! in which she stated that her father would
| see me and give me a little of his time, re-
| greeting that he was very busy in the hay
| ing field.
-Four hours by rail from Moscow
brought us Il was accompanied by friend)
| to the town of Tulu, which is only about
| two hours ride from the estates of Tolstoi
1t was about o'clock when we arrived,
| and lnquirlng from peasant for the object
of our visit we were directed to group of
| laborers, in the midst of which was Tolstoi
| himself, the man who is feared in ali the
| palaces of Russia, anathemized in all the
cathedrals and worshiped in all the
| cottages.
"My stay was one of the pleasantest
| events of my life and made an impression
| upon me that | shall never forget. This
man-wlth his intellectual and spiritual
force, his wonderful learning of men and
events. his deep veneration for labor and
| his love for the common people, with his
| coarse crash clothing-was the only man
that has made me ever feel ashamed
of wearing decent clothes. As l sat
| at his table and partook of his coarse fare
he was the only man that has ever made
me feel ashamed OF having delicacies on
my own table. His home life is beautiful.
have always wondered how prophet of
old looked. | have seen Tolstoi and
know. | have wondered all my life long
how Jesus or a Paul labored. / have
seen TolStoi and | know