The Washington times., 1910-11-21
Count Lived In Humble
Home AS Teacher and
Tiller of the Soil.
WRITINGS FREE
TO PUBLISHERS
Quits College for Mental Freedom,
Serves As Soldier, and Refuses
Many HOnors From World.

Leo TCIstoy, the great Russian re-
former, was born on August 8, 1928,
at Xasnava Poliana. a village about
$50 miles south Of Moscow He was a
descendant IN the twentieth genera
ton OF a German named Indris. who
went TO Russia IN 1888 with two sons
and a retinue Of 1900 people. and
who. when baptized in the orthodox
church received the name of Leonty-
His great reat-ErandsOn received
from the Grand Duke VassiIi TyuOmy
the surname Of TOIstoy. and the
cOuntsbip dates from the coronation
of the Empress Catherine / being be
slowed upon Pate- Andrywich TOlstoy
as part consideration for his serv-
Ices in the trial and execution Of
Tsarevitch Alexis
The mother Of Count Leo ToIstoy.
who traced her descent nom Ruriz.
died when was three years old, and
his father I'VE years later The boys
early life was spent IN the SHIage-
His early training was conducted IN
der the influence Of the general feel
ing among wealthy Russians that re-
Hgion was a superstition. and not
necessary for the best development Of
really cultured people. He entered
the Kazan University N 1914 as a stu
dent in TurcO-Arab5c literature, but
falling to pass the examinations. was
transferred 20 the department Of law
Seeks Mental Independence.
In 1877 he petitioned TO be stricken OF
the roll OF the university The reasons
for this he gave il later life, f-st the
fact that his brother had finished his
course and second that reading the s.E-s-
PIT des Lois had opened 10 him q new
sphere OF independent mental work.
whereas IN his opinion the university
with its demands, far from aiding such
work. only hiudered II
II IS51 ToIsIOy went 70 visit his brother
in the Caucasus, and there he was pro-
1OEnQIy influenced by the rugged Wild
ness OF that country Entering the
Horse Guards as a volunteer, he re-
NAMED IN military service eight years.
In January, 1851, two months after the
Cr1Inean var began ne vas made a
commissioned officer and he served as
the commander OF q mounted battery
During the period before this ne had
written many short stories which at
TFaCJed the attention OF the literary set
IN Moscow and St Petersburg- The way
furnished him with new experience
WElcn was valuable N his later work
Is hen II was ended, Tolstoy went to St
Petersburg where as 2 uObleUan. a "a
turning hero ana q nILerateur ne was
the capital belong the works OF the
strictly literary type upon which Toll
StOyS fame as q great literary artist
rests Among these the most noted are
Childhood BoyEOod and Youth The
CossaCks. % ''Se5aSJopOl Sketches al
and Peace" and Anna Karenina-"
Settles In P0liana
His surroundings in the capital and
his own manner Of life there soon dis
gusted TOIstoy. Afterward, ne referred
TO himself as having been during that
period a murderer, adulterer. -Obber
and thief, though his conduct was not
Of the sort that IS usually chara cter-
lied by vsUCh terms Going back Il
Tasnaya PoIiana, ne made his hons
there for the greater part OF eacI
year during the rest Of his life
Count T0lSUOT was married in Sep
TENDER. 1S5Z, 10 the daughter Of a pro
fessor in the University Of Moscow II
her society he found the utmost com
fort and happiness Though they had
nine children the cares OF motherhood
serving as her husbands amanuensis al
through his la5OTs as an author
In advance of the famous decree ..
first act after he had retired 20 his
he is said 20 have been the first noble
nan N Russia 10 take this course
Then he busted himself with plans fOl
the education and betteTmenC Of The
peaSantTy- Becoming wrought up owe
what seemed 10 him the purpCseless
ness Of life, he contemplated suicide