The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04

| / trust he will understand this: The real.
| prime need of the human race is, that its
heart awake, that it return to the wor-
| ship of God, that is good.
Goodness, sometimes spelled Goodness,
must be mans star in life. must be his
guide and only concern. When goodness
rules, all will be we'll"
you have little use for science, then ?'
asked a Moscow professor, who was in
the party.
II think science superfuous to a large
extent replied Tolstoi, "superfiuous de-
spite its pretensions and promises Rea-
son: Science does not and cannot improve
mans morals. Life. it is to-day, is
a unite of wickedness and lies, a reform
must come or what is called civilization
must perish. But neither science nor in
telligence' can bring about the necessary
reform-only the masses can do that If
1t were otherwise. the situation confront
ing us to-day would be even more appalling.
Remember Russia contains 100000 intel
ligent people against 12OeOO,OOO of the UNI
tutoredl
Public morality cannot be improved lest
the masses resolve on self-improvement,
lest they recognize the evils of their way
and elect to begin life anew-on different
plan. Civilization, civilization" cried Toll
stoi, ''it is sickening to contemplate what
passes under that name. Twenty PAGES
from the peaceful home you will find a
gendarme. a murderous sword at his side.
rifle swung over his shoulder, revolver
in his belt. And as you travel towards
Moscow, or towards any other part of the
, globe. you will meet troops of young men
being drilled for slaughter, or actually en-
gagged in that civilized occupation. Speeches
from the throne, or addresses of that kind
delivered in republics, tell but of strife and
hatred. of brutal forces and bloodshed.
Your intelligence people use their intelli-
gence mainly for purposes of destruction
| "A group of happy islands civilized with
| fire and sword, millions OF people instructed
in the use OF intoxicants, drugs and fire.
arms, that is l suppose the latent hopes and
/ ideals OF the masses. These hopes and
| ideals eliminate in peaces in a life without
| shadows and cold, without sufferings. and
without despair. A life full of light and
| joy"
Tolstoi wished everybody goodnight and
withdrew. At the eve of his seventeenth
birthday, he looks the prototype of healthy
old age. With his moral beauty mental
| strength and independence, he convinced
us all that he meant what he said. He
bore the costs OF conversation almost
alone, yet there was no sign OF WEAKNESS.
neither did anyone in the big room feel as
If the old man had tried to press his views
on him or her.
When Tolstoi went out, 1 noticed for the
first time that he is not a giant: while he
was talking L thought he was at least six
feet. five. AS matter of fact, he is of
medium height heavily built. lean and
muscular. Despite his great age he holds
himself erect and his walk. mode OF speak
| ing and gestures very vivacious. If
he errs in what he teaches-and many be-
| lieve he does-his error is due to over
confidence He thinks too highly of men.
Jasnaja Poljana is an ideal home for the
| fall season; full OF peace and quiet joys.
| Tolstoi is well and happy. Il love every
| thing l see," he said. MY family the
| field, the birds, the children. the animals
| and the peasants. i am almost ashamed
| that suffered so little in this life But let
| IL be known TO my friends all over the
world. that l am doing exceptionally well
| for an old one
VLADIMIR MIRsKY:
Jasnaja Poljana. Sept. ..