The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-08-27
TOLSTOI ROASTS
SMART SOCIETY
New Novel Deals With Pres
ent Day Conditions

London. Aug. IT. Russian refugees
and thousands OF literary men and
political radicals VIII tomorrow cele-
brate the eightieth birthday OF Count
Leo Tolstoi with a great meeting
which will probably be the most en-
thusiastic tribute ever paid In London
to a literary man. Preparations for
the great occasion have been going
forward for months and tomorrow g
elimination viii be veritable public
upheaval OF love and admiration for
the great Russian novelist Hundreds
of messages OF congratulation, signed
by, the most famous names in English
literature and politics, viii be sent
from London to the venerable man
who rules intellectual Russia by the
power OF his pen and who looms above
the czar as giant above a pygnny
In connection with the Tolstoi birth
day celebration, IL is stated that
new novel has been completed by the
great Russian and will make its ap-
pearance Immediately after his death,
The manuscript Of the book has been
read by an English friend OF Tolstoi.
who states that IT is perhaps the most
terrible arraignment of smart society
ever written Dealing with the frail-
ties and follies OF fashionable women
and the primal sins and passions of
men, 1t is declared to be even more
powerful than Anna Karenina" and
The Kreutzer Sonata"
Father Sergius' is the title of the
new novel, which will only see the
light of day after the eyes of the au-
thor have been closed forever IT is
the story of a wealthy guardsman,
prominent" in St Petersburg society.
who becomes engaged to a typical
society girl of the Russian capital.
For a time the course of true love
runs smoothly and the guardsman is
serenely happy In the thoughts Of a
happy future Shortly before the mar
riage. however, the young man dis
covers that the maiden, while pre-
tending extreme innocence and de-
claring that she loves only her be-
trothed, has been carrying on clan
destine affair" with Russian court
parsonage and that her innocence is
only an affectation covering depths
of depravity The rage of the young
man at this tragic ending of his
dreams of welded bliss affords OPP
portunity for fierce Tolstoian casti-
cation OF society women with the in
timation that the girl is but type
common among the feminine devotees
of smart society everywhere.
Utterly disgusted with the world and
its ways, the officer throws up his
commission In the army. enters a
monastery. takes the cowl and as
sumes the name of Sergius.
Here the bruised heart of the novice,
reposed in cloistral peace. and his soul
filed with the noble thoughts and
spiritual influxes, which language is
powerless. to express and music only
family suggests, gradually recovers
sympathy with all creatures Com
rnuning thus with the soul of the uni
verse the jealous monk thirsts for
higher spiritual perfection and finally
quitting the monastic family retires
to a lonely hermitage and sylvan
meditation
Here he vies with the ancient In
dian anchorites in feats of self morti-
hcation,. followed by moods OF ecstatic
rapture. swellings of spirit and con-
sciousness of the godlike power within
him. The fame of his holy life is
bruited abroad. and peasants begin
to speak of him in awe as wonder
working saint. Nowhere in the book
Is Tolsto!'s artistic power so marvel
ously displayed as in these conversa-
tions among peasants.
The second part of the novel opens
with description of picnic ar
ranged by youthful city pleasure
xwytsA 1a - EoEv&
hearts, are whirled along in three-in-
hands to the accompaniment of the
horses sjlvery bells, past the golden
1omed monastery, past the sylvan re-
cess in which the holy hermit is ever |
doing penance. They discuss his ro- |
mantle story, his fierce love of self
inflicted suffering, his inyulnerab bility |
10 the shafts Of temptation.
One blithe and pretty lady is scorn- |
.ully skeptical as to the monks in. I
declares that she could |
easily entice him from his pedestal OF |
sanctity and have him at her feet IL
she wished.
Her male companion. a lawyer,
challenges her to make good her
BOAST, offering a heavy wager that /
;he will fail
The lady then descends alone from
he three in hand, wanders along the
'ringe of the forest, and, profiting by
/ fall Of fine rain, knocks at the door
If the hermit's hut entreating the in
nate to give her temporary refuge.
The ensuing scenes of temptation
ire most artistic and powerful; for
Example, that in which, under the pre-
ext Of wet garments, the lady pro-
leeds to change them, while Sergius,
With tflrobbing heart and swimming
read, feels the awakening Of passion
hat was not dead. but sleeping. and,
naddened by the fear lest it should,
Ike an evil spirit, possess and sway
lin, he seizes hatchet, and chops
'ff a finger.
The fair tenptress. horror stricken.
lees from the austere hermitage
hedding tears of shame as she de-
,arts
Meanwhile, the fame Of the holy
nan spreads over a wider area Even
he inhabitants OF distant cities hear
II the pious anchorite. who is endowed
vita holy powers and miraculous fac
llties. The sick and suffering are
ent to him for physical healing and
piritual comfort n
Among Others merchant takes his
weak minded daughter that the saint
Y man may intercede for her with
Sod. The young, we'll formed ait
ractive maiden IL then left In the cell
II the anctorite, who has undertaken