The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-21
Constructed on Lines Laid Down
by Tolstoi.
KREUTZER SONATA
Furnishes the Basis of Her
Most Daring Work.
Illustrations Will be Made by
Her Husband.

The work is now almost complete.
In an interview Princess Troubezkoy
said: My new book is to be my greatest
effort. 1t will be more startling that The
Quick or the Dead and infinitely more
interesting. 1t is really practical DEM
onstration of Tolstois teachings in The
Kreutzer Sonata"
The princess is not yet entirely recov-
cred from her illness, but it gaining all
the time. Her bad health was caused, it
is said, by the severe criticisms made up
on her other book, 1.-The Quick or the
Dead
My story is finished she said 'ta1l but
the rewriting and the naming. It was
begun three weeks ago. The first chapter
1 am revising, the second is complete, and
the third I have under way"
I'm the early autumn it will be in the
hands of the publishers. The prince and
I are going to New York then for awhile.
We going to have studio and will
remain some months.
You know the prince will play part
in my new book-he will illustrate it-and
very beautifully.
He has two sketches finished, of
my hero walking through the wood read
ing, another of the heroine seated at the
piano playing the first presto of Beethov-
ems 'Kruetzer Sonata
me, one an impressionistic head, while in
our English cottage last year; the other
full length, seated on a balcony rail out
side the drawing room. And you know 1
am something of an artist myself Here
is my picture of the prince and by and
bye 1 hope to illustrate my books
Outlining the plan and theme of her
forthcoming book the princess said: Il
have made a study of Tolstofs works for
r
conceived the story about Marc Zeuska'
and 'Petronel' 1t is the story of a young
man whose mother is a Virginian and
whose father is a Pole. He was born and
bred in Europe His name is Mare Ecu
ska. He is not supercilious, but slightly
exalted
He has tired of life, but has not drunk
deeply of it. He has become disciple of
Tolstoi; zeuska has imbibed freely of Toll
stois philosophy The 'Kreutzer Sonata
has impressed him profoundly, and he
solves to make it the guide for his life.
He has reached a few conclusions.
First of all, he has solemnly promised
himself that he will never marry. He has
determined to continue the life of contin-
ence which he has practiced. He has
planned an altruistic existence.
1.-The story opens with the arrival of
Zeuska in Virginia to take possession of
the estate left him by his mother. His
chief object in taking control of the
tate is to better the condition of the ne
groes and poor whites who dwell upon it.
But we are creatures of circumstances,
and Mare is one of No sooner does be
set foot upon his own land that he meets
Petrone1. She is a product of the sofia
Virginian-and it is a good1y heritage to
be so born. Her home has always been
in the Blue Ridge mountains. She is the
step-daughter of Zeuska's uncle. Each
had heard of the other.
''Zeuska's train is late, and, not finding
trap at the station, he walks up through
the mountains to Kingsweather his moth
ers old home. A sudden rainstorm over
takes him and he seeks shelter in old
poplar tree, where his mother used to
read and work when a girl, and of which
she had often told him. Her father had
built a wooden stairway and a little rail-
ed platform for her in this tree, and it is
while waiting here that Zeuska sees
Petronel coming down the long avenue in
the rain toward him.
so begins my story and their love
story. Zeuska finds in the mountain
maiden the cherished ideal of his youth.
In her he sees the phantom of girlish
grace that has since haunted his day
dreams. and ofttimes played havoc with
the intentions of his newest and other
self.
He CANDLES with fate.
plays losing game.
Love wins.
marc marries Petrone1.
''zeuska does not give up Tolstoi.
HE models his married life upon his
masters creed.
HE makes the 'Kreutzer Sonata the
family Bible.
What happens after all that is still my
secret and theirs
The real story has to do with his Strug
giles to pursue the Tolstoi doctrine after
marriage and as the teacher has it, free
themselves from sim
1t is a daring book, in every touch Of
which is manifest the keen, incisive intel
lect the delicate, descriptive faculty and
infinite constructive skill of it's author.
The prelude of the princess book is the
picture of Zeuska's childhood-of the
origin and embryo state of this being up
on whom Tolstoi's theory of self-depriva-
ton is to be tried-on paper. Tolstof has
said: 1.-The children of human beings are
brought up for all the world like the
young of animals and in overfed
children, in overfed animals, sensual
fty is engendered early
Here is the sketch of Zeuska's mother
and the son, as it is in the book: ''She
lived in a sort of waking dream of what
she called the other world where all
would be love. peace, joy, purity, music:
where the Christ would be sun and
moon, lighting that new earth of those
who dwelt in it. and whose souls would
be clad in forms beautiful rainbows,
no more pa1pable than the wind, yet by ,
some miracle obeying many laws that
govern the flesh and blood.
For as she used to say to her little
son, you know. darling, master ate a