The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-07
TOLSTO| TALKS IF
 LITERARY PEOPLE Aged and Brilliant Writer Is
 Still Hard At Work LITERATURE IS DECAOENT Tolstoi Laments the Present Condition of Literature In Russia and Speaks Very Warmly of Several Promi-
 nent American Writers.
LITERATURE IS DECAOENT

Yasnaya, Poliana, Saturday, August 22-- Owing to the authors own wishes the attitude of part of the Orthodox Rus sian church and other causes, the cele- bration of Count Tostoi's eightieth birth day anniversary, September g, has lost almost entirely Its originally contemplated importance and scope. No progress has been made with the projected fund for the publication of a jubilee edition of Tol- stofs works and the purchase of the Tol- stoi estate for the peasantry, the pro- posed international pilgrimage to Yas- raya Poliana has long since been aban- doned, and instead of any central ob- servance of the day at Yasnaya Poliana, jubilee. services have been arranged in the principal cities of Russia in addition to many municipalities and pubic organ izatons have appropriated funds for schools, libraries and similar institu- tlons that bear the name of Russia's celebrated writer. There will be no for nal observance of the event at Yasnaya Polfana, even the presentation of con- gratulations by deputation of the peas- ants of the neighborhood having been dis couraged and the family of Tolstoi have made known his wishes that there be no intrusion on his privacy on his birth- day.
 Tolstoi's Health Good.
 Tolstoi, in spite of his advanced age, is in good general health, though he has re- gently been confined to his room by va rious enlargements of the veins of the leg, brought on by an imprudent plunge in a cold stream. This has not interfered with his literary work nor given rise to special anxiety, his physicians explaining that 1t was a passing malady. The cor respondent of the Associated Press found him sitting In his study propped up in a large arm chair, a writing table with piles of manuscript before him. The mag nificent head, with it's flowing wealth of beard and hair made familiar. by en- graving and portrait, marked his years. but his eyes are clear and bright and the firm, steady voice gave no hint of age.
 Around him the study walls were hung with photographs, many portraits of his family and contemporary Russian writers and portraits of Russian peasant scenes by the young painter, Orloff; photographs of Henry George, Ernest Crosby and Will liam Jennings Bryan, the only foreign faces seen, hanging prominently before him.
 Present Work.
 l Tolstoi eagerly explained the nature of l his present work, re-edting and en- largement of his Course of Reading" compilation of the sayings of great philosophers and writers, ancient and modern, combined with his own ref1ec- 1 tions to form a more detailed and inti- mate account of his philosophy than has | before appeared. Two volumes, earlier printed, have been rewritten and the third is near completion. Tolsto spoke with the greatest affection of this work, the Benjamin of my labors," evidently the closest to his heart of all his books, re- | gretting that no English translation of the earlier volumes had appeared. | With touch of sadness he said: There are many other things I should like to do, but I have not time. l feel l that this must be my last work Inspired by associates, Tolstoi occasion ally writes on political subjects, two open
  and the literary censorship in Russia have recently been published in America. | He asked several questions about their effect, and when informed of new series of fines imposed on St. Petersburg papers | for publishing the second letter. re- | marked:
 | "Ah, formerly they used to pay me for publishing my writings, now they pay the 1 government"
 Talk of Americans. ' Drifting to a general literary discussion, 1 Tolstoi seemed to feel that the glories of i literature, foreign as well as Russian, were of the past. Great literature, he held, must spring from the people, be part of some great national movement, | its writers drawing strength of the peo- | ple's strength, while the present trend | was toward artificiality and surface ob- servations. He lamented the present de- l cadence of Russian literature. inspired | by immortality and impurity, and saw no hope in any of the present school of Russian writers; no new men of promise. {, Of American writers, he spoke with es- | teem of Emerson, Henry George and Err l nest Crosby and asked with interest of the newer men appearing in America and l the forces they represent About Jack | London he asked several questions. | Howells, he dismissed with a word Then breaking into a grieved arraignment of | war and soldery Tolsto likened the sol- dier to the hangman each killing by or- | der the one executing his countrymen, | the other foreigners.
 Tolstoi showed unwillingness to discuss 1 his coming jubilee and made 1t evident | that a public celebration of his birthday | was dstasteful both from personal ] grounds and the fear of arousing strife and i'll feeling among the members of l the orthodox church, by which he was ex- | communicated.
 | Tolstoi's household is now composed of the countess, his unmarried daughter, | Alexandra, who has devoted her life to l him, and is in closer accord with his ] ideas and beliefs than probably any other i person; a medical attendant, who is also a close friend and young secretary. [ His son-in-law Prince Obolensky, and his sons are frequent visitors at Yasnaya Polana, and number of associates and followers reside in the nearby summer colony of Zasyeika