The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-21
That Is What Russians
Say About the Dead
Tolstoi.
CROWDS THRONG
DEATH CHAM BER
None Is Excluded from Last
View of Authors Loved Feat
ures-Dies Without Church,
Although Abbot Waited
and Hoped to the
Very Last.

Astapova, November 20.-The crowd
that gathered around the hut where
Count Leo Tolstoi lay dying in the
early Sunday morning hours awaited
breathlessly the verdict of DR.. Thtchu-
rovsky and DR.. Usoff. two of the lead
ing heart specialists of Moscow who
had been hurriedly called into consul
tation. The former had carried Tolstoi
safely through a similar crisis in 1901
| in Crimea, and the hopes OF the people
rested on him.
The examination was brief. lasting
less than half an hour. Tolstoi failed
to recognize either of the physicians.
and asked. WHO are these strangers?"
When informed, he said: What fine
men"
In spite OF their natural reluctance
to spread discouraging reports, the con-
sulting physicians could not see their
I.way to hold out a ray of hope. How
ever, they helped to lessen the pain OF
the aged patient. whose parting hours
were mercifully free from physical
suffering.
| His heart succumbed shortly after
he had issued from under the influence
| of an injected stimulant. de died
without regaining consciousness. In
! the interval between the last two at
| tacks of cardiac failure the patient
seemed to be comfortable and his face
| was clear of pain.
/ Throughout heart-breaking night a
motley crowd made up of the most
varied elements imaginable. pressed
around the low hut There We're dis.
| tant relatives of the aged author, Tol-
| stoians, villagers and many churchmen
among them Abbot Yarsofonius, who
! did not lose hope until the end of see.
| ing Tolstoi and extending to him tht
olive branch on bshntr es the church.
4 All alike stood spellnound, knowinE
that natchless personality was de:
| parting as the Sunday dawn dispelleC
the foggy raw November night. Vir-
tually the whole population OF Asia
pova was there Then a voice from
the, hut came quietly: Leo Nicholae'
sounds of sobbinE..
There was moment OF silence
Then every head was barred and ther'
4 One called out: His heart was burs
by his unbounded love for humanity,
and this and similar phrases ran from
mouth to mouth through the weepint
Russians gathered there.
4. Later in the day all the peasants IL
the district locked here. None wa
excluded from the death chamber
through which there was a constan
school children The chamber is deco
rated with pine branches
The body has been embalmed ant
will be transferred to Yasnaya Polfana
All his editors have been given permis
4 sion u photograph the body If the.
i wish NJ Gunzberg, the sculptor, vii
take death mask.
1t is stated that Tolstoi expressed
wish to be buried on the hill at Vas
maya Poliana, where he played as
child. but that the funeral should b
a simple one, without ceremonial o
i fowers The family, however. ha
agreed not to interfere with any hon
ors that the public may desire to pay
Friends of the dead writer have start
ed a movement for the acquisition o
the house where he died as nationa
memorial.
Grand Duke Nicholas Michaelivitc
has sent a message to Countess Tolsto
saving: MY whole soul is with yo
and your family at this sad moment.
Numerous other kilograms of sympa
thy have come from organizations an
| AZ lc