The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-10
A FRIEND OF ToLSTOI.
M. Tchertkoff on the Russian Re-
formers Private Life.

The room in which our interview took
place was plainly that of an ascetic
The house stood on its own grounds, in
one of the Drettiest parts of Croydon
But the inside was very different from
the conventional interiors of it's neigh
bors. The stairs We're carpetless. and
the room where we sat was monkish in
its simplicity. An iron bedstead occu-
pied one corner: the floor was uncov-
cred, even by rug. The few articles
of furniture were all of the plainest
wood, implanted and unvarnished Near
the window were two big deal tables
containing in orderly array a number
Russian and English books and papers.
Before one of the tables sat M Tchert-
koff, tall, bearded, young-looking
man, attired in a shapeless moujik s
smock, yet with the irremovable stamp
of the Russian aristocrat upon him
Some members of our Foreign Office will
remember NJ. Tchertoff as a brilliant
and fashionable young officer of the
Russian Guards, who spent some time
in London eighteen years ago as a mem
Der of the suite of his uncle, Count
SchouvalOff, who was then Russian EN-
bassador here. Since that time his life
has greatly altered. Like another of
his uncles, NJ. Paschkoff the leader of
the Russian Evangelicals, he tired of
fashion and society, resigned his COM
mission and threw his lot with the poor.
Finding in Tolstoi one of like mind, he
became his helper, working ardently to
spread the knowledge Of. and to prove
the practicability of, the Christian
teaching as expressed in Tolstoi's writ
ings. Recently, in consequence of this
and of an endeavor he made to induce
the young Emperor to check the perse-
cutting zeal of NJ. Pobedonosteff, the re-
former was exiled from Russia, hence
his presence in Croydon
What truth is there NJ. Tchertkoff, -
1 asked. lin the rumors that have re-
Gently been circulated that the Gar in
tends to exile Tolstoi?"
THE rumors are not apparently true.
and they have probably arisen because
proceedings have been taken against
some of Tolstoi's friends. But the En-
peror has no intention of exiting Toll
stoi himself, probably thinking that if
this were done it would immensely in
crease his influence and lead people to
look on him as martyr. Tolstoi has
requested the authorities to proceed
against him. His books, as you prob
ably know, are not allowed to be openly
circulated in Russia, although they are
largely read there in manuscript and in
printed copies that are smuggled in.
Some time ago workingman in one of
the large Russian towns wrote to Toll
stoi, asking where he could see copies
of some of his works. When the work
ingman had sent a third letter of in
quiry Tolstoi remembered that in that
town there was a young woman physi-
clan, not revolutionist by any means.
but who had some copies of his works.
He wrote to the man, telling him that if
he called on this lady she would prob
ably be able to show him what he want
ed. The letter was opened by the police
before it reached the lady, and they
arrested her and threw her into prison.
She had been in prison before for a
short time on account of another kind
of error on the part of the Government.
and, being Of a weak and very nervous
temperament, became hysterical. would
hurl herself against the walls of her cell.
and was brought almost to the point
OF madness. This, having previously
been the case, made Tolstoi especially
anxious for her, and he wrote to two
of the Ministers. asking why people who
had his books should be punished. while
he. the author of the books, was allowed
to go free. If his books were regarded
as harmful, why did they not punish
him? But the authorities made no re-
sponse.''
1T is sometimes said, NJ. Techertkoff.
that Tolstoi, while preaching simplicity
and poverty, lives in the utmost luxury
lis this true?"
Il know the rumor, for it is freely re-