Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-14
NOT YET FOUND.
The Mystery of 1oIstoi's
Whereabouts Unso|Ved.
Theories as to Disappearance
Of Russian Novelist.
Countess Said to Have Changed
His PhiIanthropie Plans.

| st. Petersburg, Nov. 13.-The where
I.abouts of Count Leo Tolstoi, who dis
appeared few days az" from his
home. are not yet certain, although
inquiries have been made in various
quarters and diverse reports have
| reached here regarding his present
| abiding place A late dispatch from
Moscow to the RusscOenslOvo says
that Count Tolstoi is now at the
Schamardinsky WOman's Monastery
III kaluga province. Confirmation of
this. however. is lacking and queries
sent to that district are as yet unan-
SWered
The Pctersburger Zcitung publishes
a statement from an intimate friend
of the Tolstni family to the effect that
Count TolstOis decision to seek soil
relations between the peasants on his
Yasnaya Poliana estate and Countess
Tolstoi and her second son, to whom
the count decided his estate.
The countess recently introduced
high land rent and secured cheap la
Dor and followed the ordinary COM
m crcial methods to raise revenue
Count Tolsto was severely tried by
this procedure and was often driven
to tears as he observed the increase
of poverty and beggary in villages
which formerly We're we'll to do. lie
was further aggravated by disputes
which arose over his refusal to COPY
right an unpublished novel for which
he was offered a large sum of money
st. Petersburg. Nov. 13-Thn Mos
COW correspondent of the Novoe Vrem-
VA says that Count Tolstoi has been
located in the Mt. Sensky district of
Tula province. He is on the estate of
thes AbrlkOsotfs, well-known manufac-
turerS.
lula. Russia, Nov. 13-After receiv-
ing the letter left by Count Tolstoi
the countess is said to have attempted
to drown herself, but was saved by her
daughter. Alexandra.
On an earlier occasion the countess
is reported to have taken poison
st. Petersburg. Nov. ia private
message received here from lula
says Countess Tolstoi twice tried to
commit suicide Saturday by drowning
through hole in the ice.
The mysterious disappearance of
Count Leo Tolstoi, the Russian novel
iSt and social refOrmer has made Il
painful impression. That he should de-
sire 20 spend the evening of his days
in solitude surprised no one acquainted
with his strange career. but that he
should deliberately desert the wife who
had borne him nine children is diff
cult of belief even in the light OF his
well-known eccentricities of character.
The suggestion of a failing mental
ity is accepted by many in explana-
ton of the counts sudden leave-tak-
ing. which may have a tragic sequel
as the countess is prostrated.It has
been reported that she had attempted
her life
The family was without Il clew to-
day. In a letter left for his wife the
count said:
Il cannot continue longer to live sur
rounded by luxury and like many 9TH
err old men | retire from the world to
complete my life in solitude.
II ask that YOU do not seek my place
of sojourn and that YOU do not come
to it if it is discovered. | beg forgive
ness for the grief that | may cause
YOU
The nOveliSt'S reference to living
amid luxurious surroundings is signifi
cant of his state of mind. as he has
long lived the life of a peasant. while
his family occupied a mansion on the
Yasraya Poliana estate.
The first news Of TOlStoi'S disappear
ance came from Prince Dmitry Obolen-
skv. who says that the count left his
home several days ago accompanied
b.; DR.. Makovetsky. his physician. Tha,
the doctor should be party to the
affair is another strange feature.
In his writings TolStoi has con-
dcmned suicide as immoral and IRA
t;onal ana as indicating a perverted
view OF the significance of life.
1t is believed that TolStoi proceeded
to an old monastery in the governs
mpnt of Kaluga. which adjons the
government Of Tula on the west. He
was last seen in Tula. when he took
train on last Thursday on the kiau-
SAM railroad This road runs west
through, the capital of Kaluga. which
is about 50 miles from 'rula.
THE DEATH HE DREADED.