Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06
T0LST0| NEAR EIGHTY
Birthday September 9 to Be
Quietly Observed.
AUTHOR NOW Is INVALID
Imprudent Plunge Into Cold Stream
Has Injured Him.
HARD AT WORK EVERY HOUR
Jubilee Services to Be Held in Rus
sian Cities in Honor of Ami
versary of Birth.
AUTHOR NOW is INVALID
HARD AT WORK EVERY HOUR

NASNAGA POLIANA. huSsld iHuSH''I
Glowing to the authors own WISHES the
attitude of part of the Orthodox RUSSIAN
Church. and other causes, the celebration
of Count Tolstois eightieth birthday ami
versary September 9, has lost almost en-
tirely its originally contemplated 1mpor-
lance and scope.
No progress has been made with the
projected fund for the publication OF a
jubilee edition of Tolstols works and the
purchase of the Tolstoi estates for the
peasantry: the proposed international Pill
srimage to Yasnaya Poliana has long
since been abandoned, and instead of any
central observance of the day at Yasnaya
Poliana jubilee services have been ar
ranged in the principal cities of Russia.
In addition many municipalities and
public organizations have appropriated
funds for schools, libraries and similar
institutions that bear the name or Rus-
sia's celebrated writer. There will be no
formal observance of the event at YaSna-
va Poliana. even the presentation or con-
gratulations by a deputation of the pea
SAINTS of the neighborhood having peef
discouraged. and the family of Tolsto1
has made known his wishes that there be
no intrusion on his privacy on his birth
day.
Invalid Through Imprudence.
Tolstoi, in spite of his advanced age. is
in good general health, though he has
recently been confined to his room by
varicose enlargement of the veins of the
leg brought on by an imprudent plunge
in a cold stream This has not inter
fered with his literary work nor given
rise to special anxiety, his physician ex-
planning that it was passing malady.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press found him sitting in his study,
mr. in a
writing table with orderly piles OF manu-
script before him.
The magnificent head. with it's flowing
wealth of beard and hair, made familiar
by ensraving 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
his family and contemporary Russian
writer's and reproductions of Russian
peasant scenes by the young painter Or
loft. photographs of Henry George, Ernest
Crosby and William Jennings Bryan, the
only foreign faces seen, hanging promi-
nently before him.
Tolstoi eagerly explained the nature of
his present work. a re-editon and en-
largement of his Course of Reading"
compilation of the sayings of great phil
Osophers and writers, ancient and mod
ern combined with his own reflections,
to form a more detailed and intimate ac-
count of his philosophy than has before
appeared.
Two volumns, earlier printed, have been
rewritten. The third is near completion.
Tolstoi spoke with the greatest affec-
| ton of this work, the Benjamin Of my
laborS," evidently the closest to his heart
of all his books, regretting that no Eng
lish translation of the earlier volumes
had appeared. He added with touch of
sadness:
Many Things Left Undone.
There are many other things 1 should
like to do, but 1 have no time. / feel
that this must be my last work.
Inspired by associates. Tolstoi OCCASION
ally writes on political subjects, two open
letters protesting against death sentences
and the literary censorship in Russia hav-
ling recently been published in America.
He asked several questions about their
effect. When informed of a new series
Of fines imposed on ST. Petersburg pa
pers for publishing the secret letter, he
remarked:
"Ah formerly they used to pay me for
publishing my writings. Now they pay
the government"
Drifting to a general literary discussion,
Tolstoi said it seemed that the glories of
were of the past The great literature,
he held, must spring from the people, be
part of some great national movement,
lts writers drawing strength from the
was toward artificialty and surface OBJ
Servation.
He lamented the present decadence of
Russian literature, inspired by immoral
ity and impurity and saw no hope in
any of the present school Of Russian
writer's, no new men of promise.
or American writer's he spoke with es-
TEEN of Emerson, Henry George and Err
nest Crosby, and asked with interest of
the newer men appearing i'll America and
the forces they represent. About Jack
London he asked several questions. How
ell he dismissed with a word. Then,
breaking into a grieved arraignment of
war and soldery, Tolstoi likened the SOL
der to the hangman, each killing by or
der, the one executing his countrymen,
| the other foreigners.
Tolstoi showed unwilingness to discuss
| his coming jubilee and made it evident
that the public celebration of his birthday
was distasteful, both from personal mod
| esty and the fear OF arousing strife and
III feeling among the members Of the or
| thodox church, by which he was excom-
municated.
| Tolstois household is now composed of
the countess his unmarried daughter,
Alexandra, who has devoted her life to
him and is in closer accord with his ideas
and beliefs than probably any other per-
son: a medical attendant who is also a
| close friend, and a young secretary.
Tolstoi Receives Many Visitors.
| His son-in-law, Prince Obolensky, and