The National tribune., 1910-11-24
HogNT LEO ToLsToI. tho great

I Russian writer, reformer. phil
/ osopher and advocate of the sim
pie life, has just passed away at Asia
nova, Russia. He left his home no
two weeks ago, clad in his rough peas
tant dress, in company with his physi-
clan and daughter, Alexandra. for ex'
actly what destination is not quite
clear but, whatever that destination
with the intent of seeking some place
where he could end his days in quiet
ness and peace. The famous Russians
life is well known. Probably no man
ever lived who possessed the courage
! of his convictions in greater degree
than he. Born a nobleman, he began
life, after finishing his education, as q
| soldier, and at the close of the Crimear
/ war became a writer and reformer
His views on all modern institutions
have been made perfectly clear in his
many books and published articles. He
has put the stamp of his disapproval
on almost everything, from the En-
peror himself down to marriage. Altho
| his experiences as a young man in Rus
sian aristocratic society had filled him
| with disgust, and had made him ske D.
teal as to the purity OF any woman, he
! fell in love at the age OF "a with a
young girl, the daughter of friend,
nnd married her. The poor Countess
Sophia has had hard time of it. She
has been the mother of 13 children,
and has looked after the home, brought
them up, educated them largely and
helped her distinguished husband with
his literary work, with practically no
one to help her. AS Tolstoi freed his
Serfs about the time he resigned from
the army. his estate yielded MIN but
ilittle. His methods as champion Of the
cause of the wretched. oppressed Mu-
jiks did not meet with the approval Of
his family. The idea of giving away his
money, for instance, and living like one
of them found no sympathy whatever
in the hearts of his Countess wife or
his children. About eight years ago
this "soreIy- tried lady induced him to
make over tho property to her, and
since then there have. been constant
family disagreements The angry dis
.putes over his refusal TO have his last
book copyrighted, his troubles with his
son, L. l. Tolstoi. who has published
several books and articles denouncing
his fathers views. his wife's manage
-ment of the estate in employing cheap
labor, which stabbed him in the heart,
all helped to bring to an issue his long
contemplated fight from home. Count
Tolstoi, who had reached the advanced
age of 80, was far from well when he
made his Hejira Ffe took cold on the
train, and became so i'll that his physi-
clan was obliged to remove him to the
SIMPLE huf of the station master at
Aseapova, which Is nothing more than
a flag station and only about 80 miles
from the 4ittle village Of Yasnaya Po-
lyana. where he lived. AItho. he had
gone away ssecretly, his family soon
learned hts whereabouts, and went at
once 20 him. They were not allowed,
however, to / enter his room until he
became unconscious, as II was feared
the excitement of their presence would
be'ldisastrous He passed away peace
fully, but without recognizing anyone.
In spite of his attacks on tho Church,
years ago. the Holy Synod made every
attempt to- secure an interview with the
III man, but without success. and the
Emperor expressed q wish that he
should be buried according to the
orthodox right, whether he became rec
onciled to the Church before his de-
cease or not. Maxim Gorky, the Rus
sian writer, who is feeling rather sore
on account of his reception by Ameri-
cans when he visited this country
few years ago in company with a wO-
man not Mime. Gorky, is said to have
tainted when he heard the news of
Tolstofs serious condition, and to have
remarked that in his death Russia
would lose what Italy lost in the death
of Dante. Tolstoi did great deal to
relieve the misery of the peasants He
established schools and taught them
organized relief for the starv-
ing population OF middle Russia, and
was largely instrumental in furnishing
cheap, popular publications. His great
heart, misguided perhaps. was with this |
class of people. Altho his family lived
ir "a very comfortable mansion on the !
estate, thanks to the good management |
of his wife, he lived In a peasants hut |
not far from them. eating the coarse |
food OF the peasant and wearing the |
rough blouse, broad leather belt. fur |
cap. long beard, wide trousers tucked |
into high cowhide boots. which one sees !
worn by the sad-faced Mujiks all over |
Russia.
n HE suffragets and the suffragists |
are fully lanched on the seasons |
campaign. In London, the other |
day, 1000 of these militant ladies had |
a lively tussle with the police in the |
usual attempt to get at Premier As
luith. A line of policemen was drawn |
up before the House of Commons. and |
indeed, were the suffraget
made upon it. Each time they
were repulsed. however. and tho rein
from the rear ranks re-
lewed the strength of each fresh
charge it was no good; the police was
90 much for them. Great was the fun
ior the onlookers! Several strong girls
would link arms and make rush for
ome particular policeman, frequently
him over. A crowd of Amer
can blHejackets, standing around hav-
ne the time of their lives, would cheer
hese successes Justify. melting the wo-
nen to fresh efforts. After the battle
he neighborhood presented a. sorry
light. Torn bits of dresses, handbags, |,
iairpins, hats, etc, covered the ground |,
several arrests were made, among
hem two American women. a Miss Ann
Martin, of Reno, New, and Miss Grace Il
Johnson. of Buffalo. N. 2. 1t is rather i:
to have our countrywomen
mixed, up In these sufrraget scrim- s
nages. Why, If they are so consumed
With ardor for the work, do they not g,
pend, their strength and talents in
lelping out their American sisters? !
'ursly there Is enough for them to do (;
It home in pushing forward the cause.
on this, side Of the water the suf-
ragists express themselves as very we'll
'leased with the prospect. Woman's {
Rights organizations are springing up |,
verylHhere, In New York City alone .
ach with @ membership of from 1000 I
o $4,000. Mrs Mackay is President {
of the Equal Franchise Society anda
1rs Belmont of the Political Equality 4
Their headquarters are G
cry gorgeeusly fitted up. but are by t
10 means mere lounging places for idle {
women Of fashion; everyone found 8
hene is hard at work. The latest thing I
which these New York women have
one is to-form suffrage party, just a
Ike any political party. with definite q
i'm. platform and all the rest of the T
machinery. They have selected Tam b