The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-25

does not own six rubles. No fine palaces
adorns ais estate. Instead hidden among
the woods. is a terribly plain tWo-story
brick house, with not a sign OF Ornamen-
Is considerably to one side Of the center.
giving the no -se a one-sided look. This
main entrance does not deserve SUCH
dlgn1ned title Strangers IN making their
first visit to Tolstoi invariably take it for
the kitchen door and go around to the back
OF the house, only to find a still less preten-
lous entrance place.
The interior Of the house Is consistent
with the exterior. Plainness almost to the
point Of discomfort marks every room
Chairs are few. and they are Of the sim
are simply portraits Of men Wnom ne
great reformer admires- Many Of the
floors are guiltiess Of rugs OF carpets ana
the tables are Of plain white wood
Tolstoi's dress IN the country is always
the same. It consists Of heavy caltskin
shoes. loose. shapeless trousers OF coarse
homespun linen, a white cotton undersnirt
without collar or necktie, an old slouen
hat. coarse gray blouse. or tuntc, belted
around the waist with a thick leather strap
HIS BEDROOM AND STUDY.
His own room contains an iron bed, a
w 9..T and table. Here he wrote =,
Anna Karenina." 1.-THE Death OF Ivan IL
Itch. "Katia.'' "The Cossacss.' Peace
and War The Hreutzer Sonata, % Child
hood. MY Religion" and the other worka
which viii make his fame as enduring as the
world
In this house his wife and FIVE children
and several devoted followers live. eight or
nine months in the year. All Of these fol-
low in the footsteps Of the father and leader.
The children, even the young ladies'. work
in the fields alongside the rough and kindly
peasant women. Wherever help is need
ed. they go and give it. no matter how
arduous the labor may he.
The peasant folk regard Count Tolsto as
one of them selves. not as q great and pow
eTful landowner. They shake hands with
him and talk over their little domestic cares
with the certainty Of receiving kindly inter
est and advice. If their shoes need mend
ing they leave them at his house. knowing
that he will sit up half the night to put new
soles and new heels on them If the widow.
living in the nearby cottage. is unable to at
Count and he goes there and labors until tho
work is done. IF three or four send ct TIE
came tine the children and the followers
divide the work between them
Time after time the unfortunate in the
Siberian mines have sent most harrowirs
proofs of their awful suferings and mise y
70 him. in the hope that they would cause
him to drop his doctrine Of Dou--eeistancr
and lead a revolt with his powerful influence
and strong personality. Their sufferinga
bring tears to his eyes, but he has never
abandoned his doctrine.
He says 1.-The whole history of the world
I IS history of violence and you can. ar
course. cite violence in support OF violence;
but 90 You not see shat there is In hum
society IN endless variety Of opinions as %
what constitutes wrong and oppression. ard
that If you once concede the right OF any
nl7n to resort to violence to resist what he
regards as wrong. he being the judge. you
authorize every other man TO enforce his
'ninions in the same way. and you have
universal reign Of violence o.
If Tolstoi be banished and his restraini0g
hand torn from the lever Of revolt. ths
wisdom Of the two previous Czars IN their
liberation Of him may be proven