Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-02-01
TOLSTO| NEAR THE END.
GREAT RUSSIAN NOVELIST AND So
CIAL REFORMER REPORTED DY-
ING AT ST. PETERSBURG.
HIS CAREER is HISTORIC.
Gave Up Land and Titles and Devoted
Life and Pen to Betterment of So
cial and Religious Conditions.

ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 29.-Count
Tolstoi, the novelist and social reformer,
is dying.
Many literary men and members of
society have addressed inquiries regard
ing the count to his residence at Yasnya
Poliana.
Career of Social Reformer.
Count Tolstoi was born at Yasnaya
Poliana, August %. 1923. His great an
cestor was Peter Tolstoi the friend of
Peter the Great. AS a youth Tolstoi at
tended the University of Kazan, and at
the age of % he entered the army and
went with his brother to the Caucasus.
He fought in the Crimean war, and at
its close resigned his commission and de-
voted himself to literature.
Though his writings kept him busy he
nevertheless found time to working out
numerous schemes for the betterment OF
the condition of the Russian masses. He
organized peasant schools on a new and
original educational basis, co-operated
in the improvement of cheap popular
publications, organized relief for the
famine sufferers of Middle Russia in the
early nineties, and ten years ago re-
nounced all his property in copyright,
lands and money in order that the peo-
pie might be benefited.
Begins His Great Work.
"Anna Karenina," written in 1876, is
pronounced Tolstoi's masterpiece. Of
Anna herself George Meredith says she
is the most perfectly depicted female
character in all fiction. Prior to writing
Anna Karenina," Tolstoi brought out
vasion of Russia by Napoleon.
After writing Anna Karenina" Tolls
tot gave himself up to social problems.
with the hope of supplying mankind
with a better moral and religious philoso-
ply than that which now obtains in the
world 'Kreutzer Sonata" appeared in
1890, presenting certain theory of
Christians in America that it was
''raided' by the authorities.
THE Kingdom of God Within U.s.
written i'll 1898, was passionate de
Tense OF Tolstois favorite doctrines. 1t
borders on sensationalism in its out
spoken, fearless attacks on all social
conventionalities. Other well known
works of Tolstoi are: '"The Slavery of
Our Times" '"The Christian Teaching"
RESURRECTION" THE Death of Ivan
Ilyitch," What is Religion?" and THE
Power of Darkness"
Religion as He Saw It.
From the early 7O's Tolstoi has been a
most prolific writer. His writings consist
of novels. STORIES works, essays and az
ticles of an advanced, radical and Chris
tan character, on religious, ethical,
philosophical, economical, political and
social problems
Tolstoi believes in the literalness OF
the words of Jesus. He held that the
only rule of life is the precise living up
to the maXims of the Sermon on the
Mount.
,
tion," Count Tolstoi expressly denied
some of the doctrines of the orthodox
state church of Russia. In consequence
he was communicated by the holy
synod, which in March, 1901, issued a
formal announcement, as follows:
In it's soicitude for the children of the
orthodox church, to guard them from being
led into corruption and in order to save
those who have gone astray, the holy
synod has deliberated upon the anti-Chris..
Count Leo Tolstoi and has deemed it ex-
pedient, in order to preserve the peace of
the church, to issue a circular dealing with
the hereSieS of Count Leo TolStoi. The
circular is as follows:
Prayed for the Count.
Count Leo Tolstoi, to the grief and horror
of the whole orthodox world, has, by speech
and writing increasingly striven to separate
himself from all communion with the ortho
doX church, and this not only clandestinely
but openly, and in the knowledge of all per-
sons All attempts to dissuade him from
this conduct have proved without avail
Consequently the orthodox church no longer
considers him to be one of it's members
and cannot regard him as such as long as
he does not repent and does not become
reconciled to the church.
We, therefore, place on record his apos-
tasy from the church and pray, the Lord
to restore him to comprehension of the
truth. We pray Thee, therefore, o merci-
ful God, who does not desire the death of
Il sinner. to hear US, have mercy on him
and restore him to Fly holy church
Amen.