The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-08-22
.IOLSTO| IS
GETTING OLD
GREAT RUSSIAN COMMONER WILL
BE EIGHTY ON
FRIDAY.
PETERSBURG,

Throughout Russia preparations are
going forward for great demonstrations
on the occasion of the S0th birthday of
Count Leo Tolstoi, the great torch
bearer" which falls on next Friday.
The Union Of True Russian People,
composed principally of priests and
reactionaries who are anxious to pre-
serve the despotic regime in the land of
the ear. are threatening a counter de-
monstration. The authorities fear that
trouble may result from clashes be-
tween the admirers and the enemies of
Tolstoi
TolstOi recently issued a condem-
natory screed, directed at the Russian
government and church, in which he
depicted in words that burned the ter
rible conditions now existing in this
unhappy country, and which have
transformed the empire into one vast
slaughter pen. This article, entitled,
L cannot be silent" demonstrated the
truth of the assertion that Tolstoi is
the only Russian who dares to tell the
truth. More powerful even than the
car, and with the public opinion of all
civilized nations behind him, the VEN
cradle torch bearer speaks his mind
land the government he attacks is
forced to listen in impotent silence.
The Orthodox church dignitaries
have issued a warning against the
participation of church members in the
Tolstoi celebrations of the coming
week. In all of the orthodox churches
of Russia tomorrow the priests will
read prayers beseeching the deity to
turn TOlstoi from his evil ways and
to bring about his return to the church.
This action of the church is the sub
ject of much scoffng in all the more
independent journals of the empire
most of which are agnOstic in tend
ency, since the church has always
! taken sides with despotism
Count Tolstoi will spend his birth
day quietly at his home in Yasnaya
Polyana, where he will receive dele
cations of the foremost literary men of
! Russia and Europe The telegraph au-
thorities are expecting a perfect flood
| of congratulatOry messages from all
over the world next Friday and have
made preparations to handle them.
Count TolstOi has recently declared
to friends that he does not expect to
live much longer and that his only re-
greet is that he cannot die a martyr
for the Russian people. While he has
broken with the Orthodox church and
with all orthodox forms of religion. he
maintains his belief in immortality. Il
know with certainty that i'm diving l
shall be happy and that | shall enter a
world more real
Count TOlstoi thus sums ND his an
uclpatlons OF death, in reply to a
friend who congratulated him upon
his approaching eightieth birthday. All
earthly life, he says, is a dream and
death the true awakening. He awaits
that awakening with happiness. Elabo-
rating on this idea, he says:
Our earthly life is one of dreams
of another and more real life and that
other life is a dream of vet another.
and so on ad infinitum even to the last
life, the life of God,
OF death at different ages and I'M
der different circumstances. he SAYS:
Death in youth is as when a man
is awakened before he has slept full
measure. Death in old age is as when
man wakes of his own accord after a
good sleep. Suicide is as a nightmare
which a man banishes by remembering
that he is asleep. He makes an effort,
and wakes"
Count Tolstoi has. it is announced.
written a new novel, which, however
will only be published after his death.
1t is entitled Father Sergius." from
its hero, a young guard officer, who
retires from the world and becomes a
monk on learning of the unchastity of
the young girl with whom he had fall
len in love.
He becomes famous for sanctity, but
is subjected to repeated worldly temp
tations, finally yields to a tempest of
sensual passions, and after killing the
victim of his lust leaves the monastery
to become a wanderer on the earth.
The study Of the moral struggle OF
the monk and of the confiding faith OF
the peasants thronging to the shrine
Of the holy man give, it is said, oppor-
tunity for mastery Tolstoian descrip-
tion.
Il st. Vincent's Academy.
mill