New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-19
A FRIEND OF TOLSTOI
NJ TCHERTKOFF ON THE RUSSIAN pc
FORMERS PRIVATE LIFE


Of Croyd But the inside very differss.
from the conventional interiors of its neghbors
The stairs were cdTpetieSS, and the room xha,-
we sat was monkish in its simplicity An IT,
bedstead occupied one corner; the floor WAS M
covered even by rug. The few articles Of IN.
niture were all of the planest wood. unpantaS
and unvarnished. Near the window were two
big deal tables containing in orderly arrav =
number of Russian and English books ana
papers. Before one Of the tables sat w. Tchar,
koff a tall bearded young looking man atiiraa
in a shapeless moujks snIock. yet with the ir
removable stamp Of the Russian aristocrat UPON
him Some members Of our Foreign Office wi,
remember NJ. r ertkof as a brilliant and fash
ionable young officer of the Russian Guards VII.
spent some time in London eighteen years agc
as a member Of the suite Of his uncle Count
Schouvaloff, who was then Russian Ambassado,
here. Since that time his life has greatly AL
tered Like another of his uncles. VI Pasch
kof the leader Of the Russian Evangelicals he
tired of fashion and society resigned his com
mission and threw in his lot with the boo,
Finding in Tolstoi one Of like mind. he became
his helper, working ardenty 70 spread the
knowledge Of, and 10 prove the practicable, OF
the Christian teaching as expressed in TOlstop,
writings Recently, in consequence OF his and u
endeaVOr he made to induce the young En-
peror to check the prosecuting zeal Of NJ Pobe.
donostseff the reformcr exiled from Russia
hence his presence in Croydon
What truth is there NJ. Tchertkon. asked
"in the rumors that have recently been circu-
lated that the Car intends TO exile To- tOi?'
1.-THE rumors are not apparently true. md they
have probably arisen because proceedings have
been taken against some of TolStOfs friends
But the Emperor has no intention Of eX ng Tol.
stoi himself. probably thinking that if lis were
done it would immensely Increase his uiiuence
and lead people to look on him as martyr
Tostoi has requested the authorities 20 proceed
against him. His books as you probably know
are not allowed TO be openly circulate IN Rus
STA, although they are largely read mere in
manuscript and in printed copies that Snug.
gled in. Some time ago a workingmau p one OF
RnGGian Dl ask
ing whore he could see copies OF some Of his
works. When the wOrkingman had sen a third
letter Of inquiry Tostoi remembered tina in that
town there was young woman phys an, not
a revoutionist by any means but no had
some copies Of his works. He wrote 20 man
telling him that il he called on this Is she
would probably he able 10 show him hat he
wanted The letter was opened by the zee be-
fore II reached the lady. and they arr "a hep
md threw her into prison. She had zen in
prison before for short tim" on accour- ~ an.
other kind Of error on the part 81 thu iOvern-
ment. and. being or a weak ana YER ervous
temperament. became historical. I hun
herself against the walls Of her cell a was
brought almost 70 the point # madn This
having previously been the case mad. TOls,o
especially anxious for her. and he wro.. y two
of tho Minister'S, asking why people whr had his
books should he punished while he o.. author
Of the books was allowed n go fro. n hin
books regarded harmful. why 4 they
not punish him. But the authorities ade no
response
TOLsTOTS PRIVATE LIFE
1t is sometimes said VI. Tchertkof. at Tol.
stoi WINE preaching simplicity and pJyerty.
lives IN the utmost luXury-is this true
Il know the rumor. for il is freely -apeated
all over Russia. But TO understand the truth
you must be acquainted with Toistois lost pri-
vate and intimate affairs. He is not alone; ne il
a married man. he married when he -nOught
very differently on social questions T. that he
does now and his wife does not at all erare hs
social views. He prefers simplicity. ou, he feels
that 1t would be unjust FOR him 10 force % fam
ily TO live in the way that he thinks t.s, n.
handed the bulk Of his property over u MS wife
many years ago, but even II he had not done 50
she could If she wished. easily have sotained
from the authorities an order 70 this effect His
wife maintains her house in the ordinary style
OF Russians Of her class. but 70 TolSt0 an this
luxury Is abhorrent and painful He likes no
personal share in II. and lives as a guest in the
house OF his wife; although he nav sir at the
dinner table. on which there are many vi4nds hr
confines himself u his own simple vc-atarian
diet: he does everything for himself: ra leans
his own room and employs no servant % wait
upon him"
Pardon the interruption VI Tcha-tl y but
does he really keep his room clean and W
We'll. perhaps If you saw the room 500. would
say that il did not look As tiiy nigh,
like-TOlstoi has not the spirit ~ ,lv and
does not trouble 70 nav" all his things " ar.
ranged many of us prefer. but that 1urss
IS 4 matter ~ temperament"
DOCS h" still engage in manual w0-
Yes. Having no farm = his own. annot
till his own soil. 50 h. goes ana helps r0orer
neighbors 20 plough the land ana sow seed
He also employs himself IN hootmaking ! can
put together n pair Of shoes Then h ages
in choppiug wood for Tho stoves and hop
ping FOR a Russian fire is very o. rom
what YOU do here. for wood is used .~ .sia IN
considora bio quantities as fuel Tn var 0ther
ways he works with his hands IL gives
several hours each day 20 writing"
Are his family altogether out - 1athy
with him"