The Washington times., 1905-08-27
PRACTICAL SIDE
OF SIMPLE LIFE
TolstOy House Managed in
London by SisterhOOd.
PASTOR STOKES ROMANCE
Memoirs of Father Gapon Please.
Scotch Fish Girls Enter
tanned.

LONDON, Aug. 26.-Among the many
developments of the Simple Life theory
the most practical is that which has
just been opened in a fine old seven
teenth century house, renamed Tolstoy
House.
1t is managed by sisterhood and the
presiding gttius is Sister Honnor, known
10 the world as Miss Honnor Morton,
ana formerly a member of the London
school board. 1t is well known that Tolls
toy will take no remuneration for his
writings, but he consented that the
profits of his book, -Resurrectior,'
should pay the emigration expenses of
the Doukhobors.
There was, however. a balance over
and above the sum needed, and this was
given to float Miss Morton's scheme.
The sisterhood devote themselves to the
care OF blind, deaf. and crippled chill
dren, who are br ought from the slums of
London for change and country air.
The members of the sisterhood wear
picturesque brown gowns, folded ker-
chiefs and no shoes and stockings. The
ordinary diet is vegetarian. but those
sisters who are not converted to this
form of living are allowed meat The
garden supplies fruit and vegetables.
The rules are very simple.
The ladies do their own work. are for
hidden to wear jewelry or ornaments,
are requested to bring as few personal
possessions as possible. never to grum-
BILE TO take all complaints to the sister
in charge. and one hour each day must
be spent in meditation or the study of
selected books.
But the most difficult of the rules ap-
he 70 a1r1 icl,- RI -, t1<
observance book. where the sisters vol
their development and record the vari-
Gus VOWS they have made against par
ticular snares of modern life
Many, il appears, have already signed
a vow to oppose all extravaganza and
multiplication of daily wants, but as
yet, L understand, not one of these
earnest Tolstoyites has had the streng IN
of mind TO sign VOW, on which much
stress is laid and which runs as fol-
lows: I'VE forbid ourselves all scan
dal and evil speaking" The atmosphere
of the house is singularly peaceful in
spite of their reluctance to be commit
ted TO no strife of tongues
The house itself is charming. with old
oak and simple furniture, and outside
are the beautiful hills and fir woods of
Sussex.
We are sometimes tempted to believe
that modern life can in no way re-
semble our fairy tales, and yet the
story of Cinderella itself can hardly
emulate the romance which has been
the sepsation of the London Ghetto
The history of Mr. and Mrs. Phelps
Stokes is too well known in America
to need repetition Mr.. Stokes, the son
OF banker, and the descendant of
colonial governors. a graduate of Yale,
and well known in New York society.
married Miss Rose Pastor, a Jewish
girl of Russian descent who attended
the Hebrew Free School, in Petticoat
lane. East London, until she was
twelve years old; and afterward. when
the family migrated to Cleveland, Ohio
obtained work as a cigarette maker
But she had that aspiring nature
which is not daunted by circumstance
In 1902 she came TO New York, where
she secured a position on the Jewish
Daily News, and here it was that she
interviewed Mr.. Stokes at the Univer-
sity Settlement on behalf of her news
paper. where he. like many other young
university men, was endeayoring TO
aIIeiiorate the poverty-stricken condi-
East Side of New York
The result of this interview was that
the fairy tale began-that the young
man fell in love with the young woman;
that they were engaged TO be married
and settled to give all their lives for
the poor. For to help others is our
idea of luxury. and we feel that there
is room for u.s." said the bridegroom
the his
And they certainly fulfilled their in
tentions- Instead OF avoiding the
grimy surroundings OF her youth, they
returned at once 10 the East End 81
am deeply interested said Mrs Stokes
Ito see the old places and the old peo-
pie Of Whitechapel-"
Much preparation was made for their
reception by many friends, but they
managed to reach the dingy street with.
out anyone being the wiser. The uncle
whom she went TO find is a bootmake Ell
by trade, ana was much pleased and
impressed that his niece Rose should
care TO visit him.
In characteristic Eastern fashion, ht
said: ''It Is a wonderful thing TO hap
pen, but all things happen as they wer,
ordained. Twenty-three years ago
came from Poiand. and 1 have been in
this neignborhood ever since; once II
was scarcely safe TO walk down this
street. but 1t IS very different now"
/ can imagine that a man and woman
% filed with the knowledge of the
needs of the people, and so full Of en-
thusiasm to help them, will be of rea
use TO the world.
All London has been occupied with the
reception OF the French feet, and never
/ believe, has a more magnificent sight
been seen than the meeting of the
great navies in English waters; the
Channel feet. gay with flags. the dane
ing yachts from Cowes. and the British
battieships were a picture never TO be
forgotten
The international courtesies and com
pliments which passed between King
and admiral came like a message OF
hope on the centenar- OF Trafalgar. II
was a day memorable for all time. not
only for the picturesque sight. never
before excelled on sea for real mag
nif1cence. but also as marking the har-
naony OF two great nations. which will