The herald., 1896-07-03
LEADING FRENCHWRITERS
Leo Toistoi, the Great Russian Novelist, Olives
His Opinion OF Them

TOULA, June 3.-The picturesque
undulating landscape between Moscow
and Toula, the residence of Count Leo
Tolstoi, will act as a specific on the most
misanthropic of tourists. l had not
moment of ennui. though the distance is
$50 versts, and it took my train six hours
to cover it,
Two ancient towers mark the enhance
to the park of the Tolstoi villa. Long
ago they were connected by heavy
swinging doors. They would be of little
use today All the world is at home
everywhere nowadays" says Tolstoi,
and Tolstois is open to ALL" Here the
latchstring is always on the outside
Back of the left tower is a lake abound
ing with fish, over which superannuated
heavy boughed trees bend their old
trunks. The grass is left to grow as it
pleases. and we are greeted by sweet
voiced nightingales as we pass through
thick bushes of white lilacs.
The Countess Tolstoi greets us heart
lily on the threshold of her modest home.
Welcome to Yasnaia Poliana." cried
the countess. The count is not far
away. He will be here in a few minutes,
as tea is ready"
Presently Mile. Tatiana Tolstoi en-
ters, holding spade in her hand. 1 am
introduced to a young lady of 20. She
speaks French without any accent. 1
II
tongues. Besides being her fathers
amanuensis, she paints and loves horti-
cultural labor.
After visit to the building which
Mile. Tolstoi uses as a hospital for the
sick of the village and environs, we re-
turn to the villa, as the sun had already
disappeared beneath the scarlet horizon.
We meet Count Tolstoi in the park on
his return from new factory which he
has recently erected for the purpose of
furnishing useful employment to num-
Der of the older peasants. After Vigor
GUS handshake, he surprises me by say
ing that his health is failing and that he
is still suffering from last years attack
of influenza. All the while my finger
bones ache severely.
1t is o'clock and l am invited to take
supper with the family. Count Tolstoi
has eight children-three girls of which
the youngest is in her tenth year, and
five boys. They are not all at the table,
some of the plates being surrendered to
guests.
The count has not a kind word for
Ibsen, and literally tore him to pieces.
After upbraiding our young aspirantS
to literary distinction for their fiippant
style and throwing a host of his contem-
poraries, whom he called "decadent jour-
nalists," overheard, we came to our men
and women of international fame
A bright smile lighted up his face at
the mention of Victor Hugo. "Oui, oui,"
he said. Il have profound admiration
for your grand poet. 1 have never met
Alexandra Dumas, fills, but have read
most of his works. and 1 have always
read them with infinite pleasure. To
peruse one of his books is positive de-
light to me. When he died." he added,
in his brief. honest way, =" l felt that
had lost a dear friend"
You had another great, very great,
writer; he is also among the departed.
I mean Maupassant He towers high
above any of your great lights There
are few deep observers like him today
and his style has the right sound. l say
he was greater than all, greater than
Greater than Flaubert?"
ITO be srue."
and than Zola?"
Eyes, greater than lola. I like his
Germinal, a pretty sketch indeed and
his La Terre is suggestive and deeply
instructive. The peasant constitutes
three-fourths of humanity, and through
him human nature is best portrayed.
But La Bette Humane! What mon
strosity! The other efforts of lola
have not found worthy to read to the
end. When | came to the hundredth
page of Lourdes stopped abruptly, and
have also discarded Rome. l think his
reputation is waning. He is now dill
gent and patient scribler, VOLTA tout"
With but little exception Tolstoi ap-
piled the same severe judgment to all
French literature. He felt bound to
acknowledge the thigh talent of NJ
Alphonse Daudet; he held the Essays
on Psychology and the new essays of M.
Paul Bourget in high esteem. The lat
ter's portrayals of Taine and of Dumas
nls had touched his fancy. But his Rom
ans he admired less "Bourget is full of
spirit" he added, 81. e.. he has his head