The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-07

chief, lie served for some days in the
tarrihle Fourth Baston, to which he con-
ducts his reader and shows him war.
grim. stern and inexorable: War stripped
Of its gay trappings and Its martial mu-
sic with only It's cold, naked renlltles
left Tolstoy was also present at the tlnal 4
assault on Sevastopal, which ne vivieily
describes in language which mas causea
him to BIO designated as @ master OF tn e
psychology of war.
Tolstoy, who was greatly dissatisfied
with the work done by some translators
an his Resurrection = is greatly pleased
by8the successful outcome of Mr.. and MRS
Maute's effort in the present Instance
to put his language into corresponding
English, forceful, simple and direct WITH
out the least perversion or extravaganza
In style. -.
as-ita sketches are admitted to 'compre-
het,d with merciless amplitude the whole
NJ mosphere Of war" a sketch called
."rho Death Of Praskouhin" is introduced
here as conveying q better idea or FOL
stov,s work than anything which can pc
written:
The Death Of Praskouhin.
When Praskouhin, walking beside
A1ihalof after Kalougin left them. had
inst begun to revive somewhat on ap-
nronchinc q safer place, he suddenly saw
a bright light flash up behind him, and
heard the sentinel shout "Mortar!p and
a soldier3walking behind him say, .uhats
coming straight for the bastion!
NIihaylof looked around. The bright spot
seemed to have stopped at its zen ~, IN
tho position which makes It absolutely
impossible to define its direction. But
| that only lasted moment; the; bomb
| coming faster and faster, nearer ana
nearer. SO that the sparks OF It's fuse
we're already visible and the fatal whistle
audible-descended towards the center OF
tho battalion.
Lille down!'' shouted some one.
Mlhaylof and Praskouhin lay flat on
| the ground. Praskouhin closing his eyes.
! only heard how the bomb crashed down
on to the hard earth close BY. a second
uassed which seemed an hour; the bomb
had not exploded. Praskouhin was afraid;
perhaps he had played the coward for
| nothing. Perhaps the bomb had fallen
i far away, and 1t only seemed to him
! that its fuze was fixing close BY. lie
| opened his eyes, and was pleased to see
Mihaylof lying immovable at his feet.
But at that moment he caught sight OF
the glowing fuse of the bomb, which was
spinning on the ground not yard on.
Terror-cold terror, excluding every other
thought and feeling. seized MS
whole being. lie covered his race with ms
| hands.
Another second passed-a second dur
ING which; a whole world of feelings,
! thoughts, hopes and memories flashed
before his Imagination.
.Whom will 1t kll-AIihaylof or me? OF
both Of us? And If it's me. where? In the
head? then I'm done for; and II In the
4, log. they'll cut it off G'll certainly ask
for chloroform), and l may survive "
But perhaps only Mihaylof will be killed
then 1 shall relate how We were goinl
side by side. and how nc was Killed, ano
I was splashcd with his blood. NO. lt's
nearer. 1t Will bel.
Then he remembered the twelve roubles
he owed Mihaylof. remembered also
debt in Petersburg that should have beer
paid long ago, and the gypsy song ls
Had sung that evening. The woman M
loved rose in his Imagination, wearing
a cap with lilac ribbons; he rccolectet
n man who had nsulted him five years
|. ago, and whom he had not paid out; ant
vet inscparable from all these, and from
!, thousands Of other recollections. tho pres
eut thought the expectation OF death, az
, not leave him for moment. 'Perhaps !
won't explode" and with desperate dc
cision he wished to open his eyes. Blu
: through the still closed lids, and with
: terrible crash something struck him !
the middle of the chest. lie jumped u
= and began to run, but stumbling over tn
sabre that got between his legs, he fe!
~ on his side.
= 'Thank. God, I'm only bruised" wn
his first thought, and he wished to touc
J., his chest with his hand; but his arm
. seemed tied to his sides, and 1t felt as
vice were Squeezing his head. Soldier
= fitted past him. and he counted ther
:, unconsciously-"one two, three soldiers
and there's an officer with his cloa
- tucked up" he thought. Then lightin
~ flashed before his eyes, and he wondere
~ whether the shot was fired from morta
y, or cannon. "A cannon. probably. An
~ there's another shot, and here are MOI
y. soldiers-five. six seven soldiers; the
y, all pass by" lie was suddenly siezed vii
~ fear that they would crush him. lie wish
8, ed to shout that he was hurt, hut Ii
~ mouth was SO dry that his tong,
tha oP