Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-02
&.A4.~Z..

Princeton University.

l. Perhaps the one book that in the
shortest possible time will present TO
the ordinary reader who knows little
about Tolstoi 4 good idea of Tolstois
life and work and doctrines is "Recoi-
lections of Count Leo Tolstoi," by c. A.
Bchrs-trans;lnted from the Russian by
G. IL. Turner, and published by Heine-
mann. London. in 1893. NJ Behrs is
Count Tolstoi's brother-in-law, the
count having in 1862 married his sister.
In his youth he was an enthusiastic
disciple of the counts, and if in ma
ture age he has become less enthusl-
astic it has been from no lack of affec-
ton or lack of appreciation of the
counts character, but simly because no
has recognized that the great teachers
later views are not sufficiently practical
to be followed without some modiiica-
ton.
.. Tolstoi Is very Kindergarten
author. and perhaps the truest picture
of his personality. or, rather. of his
individuality. is to be obtained from
reading his works. Three of his works
although he calls them novels" arc
in reality memoirs" AS his translator
says, That they reflect the man and
his mental and moral youth there can
be no doubt" But inasmuch as they
do not always strictly conform to tho
isitto lHtJ Dc lUheH ME nj lr&
except by those who have Il sufficient
knowledge of the facts to discriminate
between what is real and what Is In
tentionaliy imaginative. For this reas-
on Isabel f. Hapgood, In her transa-
ton of these memoirs Ct. y. Crowell &c
Coz preliNes to the translation n short
but carefully compiled biography.
3. Two later works. MY Religion
CT. y. Crowell & Coz and My Confess
e..
Tolstoi's later views-views. it will be
remembered, that differ very materially
from his earlier views (although he
would scarcely confess 1t himself, they
no doubt are a direct and natural de-
velopment from those earlier views).
Tolstoi says in his preface to My Re-
ligion" QSSD: II have not always
been possessed of the religious ideas set
forth in this book. Five years ago
faith came to me and my whole life
underwent Il sudden transformation"
QUESTIONS.
1.Tolstoi served as defender Of
'bastopol in the Crimean war what
was the name OF the book, published
just after that war. which first brought
his name forward before his country
men as an author?
2. In 1886 Tolstoi published two parts
of the memoirs" mentioned above,
and these made him famous. What Two
parts were they?
3. In 1860 appeared that remarkable
series of historical romances which
first began to give Tolsto n European
reputation. What is the general name
of this series of brilliant romanccs?
What hero in these romanccs is gene
rally considered to be an outobiograph-
ical study?
i. Tolstoi says in his MY Religion"
that for thirty-tive years he was
"nihilist.' In what sense does he use
the word, when he says this?
D. The foundation of Tolstoi's creed
is the gospel law of love to our neigh
bors. On this law his entire system is
constructed. 1t is summed up in three
general rules or principles" What are
these three general rules or principles?
What well-known and much-read novel
OF his has for it's theme the enforcement
of the third of these principles?
6. In what novel of his has Tolstoi de-
scribed to us. with minute detail" how
he sought and obtained the hand of his
own wife?
Z. Because of unhappy domestic ex-
periences Of husband and wife in 1.-THE
kreutzer Sonata" it has sometimes
been asserted that Tolstoi's relations
with his own wife have beer unhappy.
What Is the truth of the matter as to
Tolstoi's domestic life?
s. What we'll known Russian noble Ia
n convert to Tolstois views and has
practically shown himself to be such?
In what recent phiianthropic enterprise
has this nobleman been engaged?