The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-17
IOWA MAN VISITED
COUNT TOLSToI
Prof. Edward A. Steiner o,
GrinneII Spent Some Time
on Estate.
RUSSIANS REVERE HIM
Much That: Is Written About the Grea,
Patriarch Is Not True, Nor as In
teresting as the Things That
Are True.

Are True.
Grinnell, Ia, July 49, Professor Ed.
ward A. Steiner of Iowa college, who
mas been in Europe for some months
on q leave of absence, has returned to
this country. While abroad he spent
considerable time on the Russian es-
tates of Count Leo Tolstoi, and he
talks most interestingly Of the great
Russian.
professor Steiner spent some time on
the estate of Count Tolstoi and with
the members of Tolstoi circle. Pro-
fessor Steiner told yesterday Of some
interesting experiments there.
"Tolstoi's estate, Yasnaya Poiyana,
Is about twelve miles by rail from
Moscow he said. "Tolstoi was ex-
c~eedingly i'll when I arrived and had
been removed upstairs from the quar-
tiers which he had long occupied, a sort
aof hove like room on the lowest floor
OF the house. A physician lived with
him. He recovered soon, but he re-
mains, and will doubtless always re-
MAN,, a broken down man, who will DO
confined much to his house and will
v again be able to work in the
fields, as has long been his custom.
Soon after my arrival, three spirit
ualistic students came from England,
who were DESTROYS Of converting Toll
,stoi to spiritualism. They We're not at
all welcome, but they lived in the
house and were well treated, just as
everyone is who goes to see Tolstoi.
Tolstoi was in Moscow, and
these three men fastened themselves
upon Tolstoi and gave him no rest Cor
two days and two nights. They
worked very hard over him with their
ideas of conversion. and T01StOi talked
as hard as his health would permit to
convert them to his ideas. The strug-
gle was still on when the countess re-
turned and put them out Of the house.
Tolstoi's Influence.
II took trips to Moscow and studied
of people in the city, with the idea
of finding out from them what in1u-
ence the efforts of Tolstoi in their be-
half had upon them. One incident is
enough to show the result. Moscow
is one of the most pious cities in the
world. AT every corner there are holy
pictures and statues, at which the
citizens reverently stop n bow. Thu
driver of my cab noticed on my first
day of Investigation, passed by these
pictures unnoticed.
"'Why don't you cross yourself?' ]
asked.
"'Tolstoi said we must not he an
swered.
so I knew that the influence of Toll
stoi had reached the cab drivers OF
Moscow. at least.
From my residence on the Tolstoi
estate, I am convinced hat the count
knows everything that goes on in Rus
STA. There is not a revolutionary
scheme, I am sure, that any one is
Matching that Tolstoi does not hear
about. All manner of men are eager
to submit ideas of violence to him and
they go to see him in droves and tell
him their most secret thoughts with
out hesitation. But he sends them all
away after he has reasoned with them
and has told them that they must not
resort to violence, because the kingdom
Of God is within them. There is no
telling how many revolutionary out
breaks he has averted.
"The ToIstoi Circle"
Much has been said about the Toll
stoi circle in Moscow. and much that is
no at all true. The Tolstoi circle Is
not a society at all. 1t is merely a lot
of men drawn together, who are try
ing to live up to T%olstoi's ideas in
some way.
They are musicians, bankers, art
lists and business men of all kinds who
nave formed a sort of brotherhood that
has neither organization nor name.
Some have followed Tolstoi so far as
to give up everything they have in life
to the poor. Others have accepted his
views in q modified form, but all OF
them are strong Tolstoians.
THE Jewish problem cannot be tolG
In an interview. In a small part O.
Russia, in the cities, there are crowd
ed together 5000 900 Jews, who cannot
be farmers. who cannot own soil, VIII
are excluded from certain professions
and certain businesses. and who are
really held prisoners. There are al
least 10000 Jews In one Russian CITY
and two-thirds of them never know
where tonlorrow's bread is COMING
from.
In Kishinef, when I arrived. the
drivers almost tore me to pieces, So
eager were they for work of some kind.
A big, strong mar will work all day for
an amount equal to - cents: and he
will carry a heavy burden from one
end of the city to another for about {
cents. This Jewish problem is a big,
fostering sore. There is more hunger
typhus among the Jews in Russia than
anywhere else in the world.
The hatred of the Jews is not the
fault Of the Russian people; they are
not to blame; it is the Russian govern
mena. The government is anxious now
to keep the Jew as a scapegoat. The
Russian peasants are getting socialistic
ideas; they are getting ready for a rev.
olution. Never was there such a crit
ical time in Russia as now, and the gov
knows it, SO it seeks to divert
the peasant from the real sinner as
much as possible, and Sticking him on
the Jews"
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