Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
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m USSIA is known to the rest of the
IL world by two stupendous facts-the
IN Kremlin and Tolstoy.
The Kremlin, with all its churches and
palaces, its giant bell and its giant can
non, symbolizes Russia's past. Tolstoy,
with his aspirations and inconsistencies,
his unrest and mysticism, symbolizes
Russia's present.
Many think he is like John the Bap-
tist-a voice in the wilderness predicting
Russia's future. Undoubtedly he feels
himself called as a reformer. When he
visited the Wartburg, where the Bible
was translated into German, he wrote
into his diary only three words: Luther
is greatp' Many think he is the political,
religious, social and artistic Luther of
Russia.
On the other hand, there are those
who believe he is insane. The same the
ory has been advanced about the Apostle
Paul, the prophet Manomet and the lib
orator John Brown. Lombroso goes so
far as to connect all genius with in
sanity.
Whatever view one might take, Tolstoy
is a stupendous fact; his philosophy a vol
canic force. If a crank, he is the Co
lossus Of cranks. He is the one Russian
who has conquered Japan. His works
have even been translated into Siamese.
He is the best-known literary figure In
the world today. Poseur or apostle, faker
or philosopher, he is the most illustrious
Iunatic at large The Inconsistencies of
his life the absurdtties of his doctrine
are patent TO all; here is an anarchist
who teaches nonresistance, an aristocrat
who follows the plow; yet his greatness
and influence none will question, for he
thinks with a sledgehammer, and his
works are read In frivolous Paris the
same as in fanatical Persia.
writing of Half a Century.
Since Ibsen died he has been the only
author of worldwide fame. His great
novel, "War and Peace" whose 1000
pages seem like Sarmatian steppes to
American readers accustomed to short
bites, Is regarded by the Russians as their
"Iliad." 1t depicts the principal events
OF Napoleon's invasion, the burning Of
Moscow, the retreat Of the ''grande
armee." 1t shows a Napoleon far different
from the traditional MAN Of Destiny"
1t is full of horror and pity, like the
battle-pictures of the painter Verest-
chagin. 1t has done much to create the
sentiment in favor Of universal peace; In
fact, 1t is not unlikely that the Czar
called the famous conference at The
Hague under the influence of Tolstoy's
pen. Flaubert, the great French novelist,
after reading War and Peace" ex-
claimed: "C'est du Shakespeare" which
a.. reI,
calls Shakespeare "repulsive and tedious
Others Of Tolstoy's books have attained
equal celebrity and wide circulation.
"Anna Karenina" does for the life of the
family, the conflicts of individual souls,
what "War and Peace" does for the
throes of nations. Anna is a woman who
stoops to degradation and ultimately dies
by suicide. The curious courtship of Levin
and Kitty, as described In this novel, is
the counterpart of Tolstoy's own love af-
fair with Sofia Baer, who became his
wife. He proposed to her in the same
manner, writing down with chalk the
first letters of the words In his sentences
and letting her guess them.
His last great novel, Resurrection"
pictures the repentance and expiation of
a. man who has sinned deeply. 1.-THE
Kreutzer Sonata" a sex problem novel
cite, stirred the whole world and OBJ
tained wide circulation In America be-
cause John Wanamaker, as postmaster
general, refused to let 1t pass through the
mails.
He has written plays also, this many
sided Tolstoy. ''The Power of Darkness"
is the most gruesome concoction ever
brewed for the Gneater. After seeing it
or reading it one can say, with Macbeth:
II have supped with full horrors" Every
manner Of base passion and vile deed has
been put into the hell-broth, from incest
to infanticide, with wife-beating and hus-
band-polsoning to add variety
MY Religion" whats to Be Done?"
and what Is Art?" represent other
phases of his writings-in theology, So
ciology and esthetics. He is a universal
preacher, champion OF dozen different
fads and reforms-one who thinks he
knows everything and curses all he can
not understand, be 1t Wagner or Shake
speare, science or art, marriage or prop
erty.
TOlstoy the Man.
These writings Of his have attained an