Evening journal., 1910-12-19
=.~ HOT unz1CE
SAYS hui HUUSE
LIFE IS In PERIL
Felix Adler Pleads for a Re-
turn to SimpIiCity--MakeS
TOIStOi a Model
PEASANT LIFE HELD AS
EXAMPLE For AMERICANS


existence-stihing, unDearable wrong
from many standpoints and far too
complex. There ought to be reVer-
sion TO simple conditions. A social
status which provides increasing lux
uries to those who are elevated by
wealth, position. and other iaise
standards is untenable-
These declarations of faith were
made bv Prof. Felix Adler Of New
York in an address on Tolstoi deliv-
cred before members Of the Chicago
Fth,cal society at Music hall, ia the
Fine Arts building.
Because people generally nave come
TO recognize the truth Of this position
Tolstoi's voice, he said, hau peen
heard the world around.
Demands simpler Life.
we must have sounder ana
simpler plan of living said froi.
Adler. "In spite Of all the spienuor
of the cities, In spite OF all the energy,
the life, the brilliance, and the spirit
of such great centers OF population rs
Chicago and New York, we know that
the ideas Of city life are wrong our
civilization has attained TO strenuous
proportions II is TOO rabiu. we
must go back TO a contentment porh
of more sedate things
Is a peculiar fact that every now
and then the world gets terrified at
the complcxity of its civilization. The
people shiver with apprehension and
voice is heard crying out against
the march of social progress.
80 Il was with Tolstoi. He came
10 believe that the conditions In which
he existed were wrong. He did not
know what TO do after that conclusion
had been reached. For over year
he thought of suicide. He played fast
and loose with the idea. Then he
made up his mind that he ought TO
die by his own hand, but he did not
have the courage to take-the step.
Then he branded himself a coward.
Found Answer In Peasantry.
"A great light came to him In a pc.
culiar way. He began to study the
peasantry. He discovered that the
people of the fields toiled increasingly.
lie believed that work was surcease
from stress of mind He forced him
self 10 work hard at digging. He
wore the clothes Of the humble peas
ant He noticed that the peasant did
not resist and Tolstoi at once took
up the doctrine OF nonresistance. He
believed that one should turn the
other cheek after an adversary had
smote him upon one.
"Tolstoi believed that contentment
and peace rested with the simple life,
he primeval life. He confessed that
to as boy carried a medallion OF
Rousseau about his neck. and that
had read every one OF the works
10 the great French writer. The
enchman preached the doctrine Of
a return TO nature or primeval things
He painted the primeval existence In
colors that were far too rosy.
Reason for His Anarchy.
"Tolstoi's ideas of anarchy were
prompted because OF what Tolstoi
knew Of government Let me tell you
what his government was. In a GER
tain town there lived a lord who held
title TO cast acres Of land About
him were peasants who held small
pieces of property. and they had also
the use of pasturage. Finally the
lord determined TO build a dam that
would flood the pasture of the poor
people. They protested. The case
went to a court Of justice. and the
improper decision rendered gave the
landlord permission to construct the
dam. Then an appeal was made to a
higher court, and the higher court
sustained the decision OF the lower.
Men were set to work to construct
the dam. But the women of the peas
antry took pitchforks and drove the
dam builders away. To punish the
peasants, it was ordered that one
woman should be taken from each
house and should be sent to prison
This the men would not stand for, and
they strove to protect hteir wives and
sisters.
Men Stripped and Beaten.
Then the military was called out
aud the men were driven into a corral
bounded on all sides by the soldiery
One at a time the men were led to
a bench in the center OF the inclosure.
They were tied to this and then strip
ped. The strong convicts were called
into service, and these whipped the
men who had rebeiled against the
theft OF their property. When the
first man had been whipped fifty
lashes the doctors examined him and
SAID mat ne was unconscious and that
death probably would come should the
beating be continued. Despite this
warning the soldier IN charge ordered
twenty more lashes 10 be applied. And
this was done with all the rest.
This was the government agaips,
which Tolstol has rebelled.
This world Is tired of war anf
strife. This feeling is general. ToI
stoi made mistakes. We cannot ac
cept maany Of the things which h,
said, He vas often in error Bu
it is because OF the fact that we ar
tired of war that his utterances ii
favor Of peace and the nonresistan
attitude are received all over tn
world like a draft to the thirsty frou
a cool mountain spring.
Explains Remark on Carnegie.
II have been quoted as speakin
siishungly of the Carnegie fund 10
4 the suppression of war. That is nc
true. could not speak slightingl
Of anything that tended toward peace
But feel that money alone canno
accomplish the end of war. 1t mus
be something far greater than none
alone"
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