The Washington herald., 1907-07-16

seat at Yasnaya Poilana, In the govern
ment Of Tula
Tolstoi az an author and philosopher. is
probably the best known OF all the Cars
subjects.
Foremost Russian.
Count Leo TolsJoi was probably the
l foremost Russian Of his time. Despite
peculiar contradictions IN his character
and almost complete change OF philoso-
| ply toward middle life, he stood forth
as the leader Of social reform in Russia.
Born August 2s. IS2s, at Yasnaya POI
llama, his ancestral estate. he was edu-
Gated at Kazan University. and his young
manhood was that Of the usual young
Russian nobleman.
Il has been stated that he was first led
into a change Of life, out Of which grew
his interest in social reform, by q char
acteTistic instance OF the nobleman's dis
regard for the lower classes
The story is that be was attending
bTillLut ball in ST. Petersburg one night
and left his coachman seated on the box
Of his sleigh in the bitter cold Of the
Russian winter, while he enjoyed the
warmth and gayety inside. and upon
coming out in the early morning hours
to be driven home. found the peasant a
corpse.
Was Distinguished officer.
He served with distinction as an Of
ficer of the Russian army in the Crimean
war. but later became a bitter enemy of
warfare and all that it implies. being as
radical as an orthodox Quaker in his op-
position to force.
He was the instigator OF many instltu-
tions for social reform in his native coun-
try. but his activity in the interests of
the lower classes and the theories that
he evolved concerning social equality. to-
gether with his anti-monarchic tendencies.
caused him 10 arouse the distrust Of the
government, and he retired to Yasnaya
Poliana. where he took up literature as
a pursuit. not for his private gain or as
n means Of exploiting romance. but, like
Dickens, with the object of eradicating
some Of the evils which he saw about
him.
ne uctu nearly every lOffn OA literary
composition and his works show an ever
changing attitude toward the conditions
he aimed TO ameliorate
This spirit of change reached a crisis I'm
1878, when he himself passed through a
religious crisis. Thereafter his theories
as expounded in his writings became more
radical.
Figure "A Familiar One.
Every one is familiar with his patri-
archal figure, clothed in peasant dress
and represented IN photographs as plow-
ing in his fields. sitting in his bare study,
writing. or in company with his own
peasants. from whom he was distinguish
ed only by his intellect. He made him
self one of them and even went so far as
TO renounce his title to his ancestral es-
tates, his copyrights. and everything that
is usually considered property. COmmun-
ism in the broad sense was the spirit of
his social system. and he earned not
only the antagonism of the government.
but also that of the church through his
unbridled criticism of its officials, high
and low. and its dogmas.
He was communicated by the Russian
synod IN 1901 and prohibited from receiv-
ing or partaking of any of the church
It VIII be interesting to note
whether he is buried with church rites.
as, unless the church authorities refent.
he cannot even be buried IN consecrated
ground.
He married in 1851 and was fortunate
in his selection, as all who are familiar
with his affairs declare that but fer his
wife's thrift and ability his large fa-nily
would have long ago been thrown upon
charity or have become a burden upon
the state, so radically did he carry out
mis- theories.