The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-08
TOlStOi and the Russians.

uIeSS delivered by Dr. van Ness at the COlumDE
Theater in Boise early this week. If Count Tolsto
has those usual instincts of humanity which cause
him to feel degree of pride over eulogy pronounced
upon his life, he would have received great de-
gree of satisfaction could he have heard the splendid
tribute to his efforts by Dr. Van Ness before an APP
preciative Idaho audience.
DIR. Van Ness is a gentleman of culture skill and
refinement, and possesses great oratorical if not
dramatic powers. In the descriptive speciality he is
especially strong, while in his recital of important
details connected with his trip to Russia, he
makes keen deductions to conditions there in COM
parison with conditions in America The Doctors
power his audience is great credit TO him, and
his address of an hour and a half closed too soon
for all of his auditors.
His description of the dome of ST. Isaac's Cathe-
dral in St Petersburg, which is covered with gold
leaf, the inner portion of it set with jewels the
heroic dimensions of the building and its cost,
and the time expended in its construction the inspec
ton on the arrival at St. Petersburg the Russian
police, their size and dress the vehicles to convey
people about the city; the fortress church, and in
it the sarcophagus of Alexander; the assassination
of Alexander II; the confession and execution of
Sophia, all tend to give clear idea of St.
Petersburg and of the moral and social plane of the
people of that community about which so much has
been said of late.
While the Doctor was being hurriedly carried
through the city of ST. Petersburg, and his driver
paying sort of attention to the passers-by making
it incumbent upon them to get of the way or be
run over, he remarked to his guide upon the reck-
lessness of their pace, to which the driver replied
eve must get there" This answer of the guide was
explained by Dr. Van Ness as the keynote to the
estimate of the ordinary Russian for human life 1t
mattered not if pedestrian was killed or manned
for 70 +1,a +1,o
for the nobility to "get there"
He gave most graphic description of his railroad
trip from St. Petersburg to Moscow, picturing the
train entirely modern, as much so as the great
trains of the continent He told of an inhibition
placed upon travellers the day he was to go from
Moscow to Tua because of the fact that the Cover
nor-General of Moscow had issued an order setting
aside the train for himself giving appreciation of
the different castles in Russia and the which
the people take of these classes. The Doctor had
to take the train from Moscow, which was set aside
for the Governor Generals exclusive use, or miss
his appointment with Tolsoi His guide told him
now impossible it was for him to do so, at which
lie to the occasion and demanded of his guide
hat the explanation of his appointment with Tolstoi
md that he divine from America, be laid be-
ore the railroad authorities His guide followed
lis instructions, and the situation related to the
General who hearing it, ordered the authorities to
Omit the Doctor as his guest from Moscow to lula
The deduction the Doctor made from this incident
yas that Russian ever looked at you on level
,ou either his superior and entitled to the most
istngushed consideration; or you are beneath him,
be trodden under foot.
Tolstoi resides in the country, miles from
ula and the Doctors picture of the rough ride be-
veen these places was most interesting and laugh
DE He arrived at the home of the famous bene-
ctor quite early in the morning, and found him