Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-21

| say. that was ever crank, but he Is
one of the first water. There is nc
question that he has done great
deal Of good by his writings; that by
exposing the wrongs of the peasants
he has compelled the government tc
adopt important reforms. but men
nave been great philanthropists and
served their country and mankind
and still used bath tubs and dressed
in civilized clothing. Tolstoi's early
books are brilliant; his pictures OF
Russian life are graphic and accurate
he is master in the Interpretation
of the weaknesses and vices of man.
kind. but his teachings are immoral
| and pernicious and his utterances
are frequently blasphemous. Some
of his books are as bad as books can
be, but there is no question of their
dramatic force and literary merit.
Tolstoi has recently been very i'll
at Yassraya Polyena. his country
place near Moscow, and for several
weeks it was thought that he could
not possibly recover During this
time his wife. who has been devoted
to him. although he publicly rejects
the sanctity of the marriage relation.
was making preparations to save his
soul. but could not find any priest who
would give him the sacrament. His
books have been tabooed by the
church because of blasphemy. and
he has retaliated by attacking the
clergy as fiercely as he has attacked
the state. And. like many such men,
rba,, Nh he 10
look around for shelter His match
less Imagination must have pictured
the horrors and torments that are
awaiting him beyond the great river
If he crosses it without the passport
of the Russian church; although. now
that he has recovered. he denies all
responsibility for the anxieties and
the solicitude of his wife.
Tolstoi is not the only infidel who
has sought the shelter of the cross
during his last hours. Not many
years ago there was II wicked ruler
in Soutn America who did every
thing man in his position could pos
sibly do 10 injure and defeat the
cause OF religion. He robbed the
sanctuary and tortured innocent help
less nuns, and as long as he had
strength to speak his words were
blasphemous: but when the under
taker threw back the blankets that
covered his cold flesh they found
crucify clutched in his right hand.
Mrs. Tolstoi. as she prefers to be
called, although she is countess,
was greatly distressed when she
found that the local priests would not
agree to administer the extreme unc-
tion to her husband, although she
must have anticipated 1t, because her
preparations were begun so early, and
appealed to Metropolitan Antonius,
the head Of the Greek denomination
in Russia He replied that the
church could not receive her husband,
nor could the sacrament be admin
lister to him until he had repented
and done penance for his sins. That
made her angry. and she wrote
DO You suppose that | cannot find
one priest, at least. who is good
enough to attend my husband in his
dying hours, or one bad enough that
can buy with money to administer
the sacrament and read the orthodox
service over his remains?"
Count Tolstoi has declared that
the church is useless to mankind,
and does more injury than good by
teaching the people to be towards
and superstitious in their fear of
death and the hereafter" replied the
metropolitan. Then why does he and
you show so much anxiety and take
so much trouble in soliciting for him
that which he processes to despise?"
Fortunately it was not necessary
to bring the matter to test. Count
Tolstoi has recovered from his i'll
ness, although he is much epfeebled
and has become very infirm. The
peasants idolize him, and they GER
tainly would have made great deal
of trouble If the clergy of the estab-
lished church uad refused to take
care of his soul during his last hours,
for there is no country in which the
rites of religion are deemed so essen
tial to happiness here and hereafter.
The government ignores Tolstoi and
takes no notice of his attacks, al
though. as l have said. several re-
iDI Ills nave uHuouptSuiy DCCl GU
under the sting of his lash. Until the
incident | have recited, the church
has ignored him also FOR similar rea-
sons. The priests do not wish to con
tribute to his popularity or bring
upon themselves the odium that
would certainly attend controversy,
for, however strong may be the at
tachment of the peasants to their re-
ligion and their confidence in the In
fallibility of the church, their admira-
ton for Tolstoi, as their friend and
benefactor, man who has descended
from the high places of the nobility
to live in the soil with themselves, to
share their sorrow and their joys, to
eat of their crust and to wear their
clothing. stands second in their ven
Grafton only to the great Redeemer.
Since Tolstoi has recovered he has
commenced new novel. with the
title "Old Men, He says that it was
insDired during his recent Illness