The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-18
PROF. EVERETT OF BROWN
DELIVERS LECTURE ON TOLSTOI.

pie upon his estates, and to literature.
War and Peace began to appear towards
the end OF the sixties, I'm the Russian
Messenger The publication of Anna ka-
renine began I'm the same magazine In
1875. Its writing closed his distinctly liter
airy career.
'Tolstors inner life its motives and
problems are disclosed TO us In All unusual
degree in his novels. III we may trust the
critics the story or Anna Karenine' pre-
sents a picture OF Tolstoi prior TO the
radical change in his views.
But study OF the New Testament and
particularly OF the Sermon on the Mount
aroused a new train OF thought which en-
tirely destroyed his devotion TO the
church. There came 10 him the firm con-
viction that instead of representing the
teaching OF Jesus the churches had Tor
centuries misrepresented II. The process
of his attempted return TO the spirit OF
primitive Christianity he has traced for
us I'm his work entitled. My Religion
He finds that the essence of the teach
ing OF Jesus may be reduced to five com
mandments: Q. Abstain from anger;
ca, be chaste: CD. swear not. which is less
a prohibition OF profanity than or @ oatns
one places ones conduct in the control OF
others; W. resist not eyiL command
ment which forbids all use OF force
against men who inture one, and lS, love
all men. even your enemies-the great
commandment by the fulfillment of
which one keeps the whole law
genius which led Buddha, a Socrates
and Jesus himself to act unhesitatingiy up
to the fun measure of their insight Ac-
cordingly Tolstoi changed his mode or life.
He ate only the simplest food and became
in fact. vegetarian. He gave up the use
of stimulants and tobacco.
''He dressed in the cheapest manner ana
gave n large portion OF his property TO
the PEASANTS. Instead Of avoiding nara
and rough labor he worked with the peas
ant in the fields. lie now allowed him
self onlyi few hours each day for intel
lectual work. And instead OF writing
novels for the upper classes he devoted
himself to the writing OF short stories for
the people and to the exposition OF his
moral and religious views.
has been Re surrection. which was begun
several years ago. but not put into final
form until 1893 when Ii was published for
the benefit of the prosecuted sect OF the
Caucasus known as the Donkobors. TO
one who knows the freedom with which
Count Tolstoi has expressed all manner Of
sentiments both political and religious
which are directly opposed TO the avowed
principles OF the Russian government IL
must he somewhat surprising that he has
He. himself. once told a visitor that every
morning when he awoke he wondered that
he was rot on his way 10 Siberia.
''The reason for his exemption from
more serious persecution Is doubtless
found I'm the fact that az world figure
he has been so prominent In the eyes of
other nations that the Russian govern
ment has considered II wise not TO touch
him personally. but TO content itself with
prohibiting some OF his books. mutilating
others and banishing several of the people
who have labored for his cause
In closing Professor Everett touched up
on Tolstofs scorn for science and other
OF his unusual theories.