The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-11-21

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error of which we are guilty? He
Is a prophet OF the brotherhood idea,
living in a land to which the idea
extends the most hope, and in whose
dark shadows the dawning light
shines the more respondent by con-
trait with the prevailing shades. So,
| it meant more to him than il means
to us, and If he has gone too far, the
excess does not detract from the
truth OF what is true, nor make Toll
stoi any the less a prophet that his
vision has overstepped the imita-
tons of his prophetic inspiration.
Leo Tolstoi was born August IS,
Uses, at Yasnaya Poliana, village
about 80 miles south of Moscow.
He was a descendant In the TWEEN
tieth generation of a German named
Indris, who went to Russia in 1853
with two sons and a retinue of 5000
people, and who, being baptized in
the Orthodox church, received the
name of Leonty. His great-grand-
son received from the Grand Duke
Vassili Tyomy, the surname Tolstoi,
and the countship dates from the
coronation of the Empress Catherine
IT,, being bestowed upon Pater An
dryvitch Tolstoi as part considera-
| tion for his services in the trial and
execution of the Tsarevitch Alexis.
The mother OF Count Leo Tolstoi,
who traced her descent from Rusik.
died when he was years old. and
his father FIVE years later. The boy
early life was passed in the village.
His early training was conducted I'M
der the influence OF the general feel
mig among wealthy Russians that re-
ligion was a superstition and not
necessary for the best development
of really cultured people. He en-
tered tn Kazan University in 1914
as a student in Turco-Arabic litera-
ture, but, failing to pass the examina-
lions, was transferred to the depart
ment of law.
In 1S47 he petitioned to be strick-
en- of the roll OF the university. The
reasons for this he gave in later life;
first, the fact that his brother had
finished his course. and, second, that
reading the Esprit des Lois had open
ed to him a new sphere OF independ-
ent mental work, whereas in his opin-
ion the university with its demands,
far from aiding such work, only
hindered ii.
In 1851. Tolstoi went to visit his
brother in the Caucasus, and there
he was profoundly Influenced by the
rugged wildness OF that country.
Entering the Horse Guards as a vol
unteer. he remained in military serv-
ice eight years. In January. 1854.
two months after the Crimean war
began, he was made a commissioned
officer. and he served in the cam
paign with distinction as the COM
mander of mounted battery.
During the period before his army
service he had written many short
stories which attracted the attention
of the literary set in Moscow and
ST. Petersburg. The war furnished
him with a new experience. which
was valuable in his later work. When
II was ended. Tolstoi went to st.
Petersburg, where, as a nobleman, a
returning hero and a Nterateur, he
was much lionized.
To the years passed in the capt.
tai belong the works of the strictly
literature type upon which Tolstoi's
fame as a great literary artist rests
Among these. the most noted are,
Childhood. Boyhood ard Youth.
''The Coccacks," "Sebastopol Sketch
es," "War and Peace" and anna
His surroundings in the capital,
and his own manner of life there.
soon disguised Tolstol. Afterwards.
he referred to himself as having been
during that period a murderer. adult
erer. robber and thief. though his
conduct was not of the sort that Is
usually characterized by such terms
Going back to Yasnaya Poliana, he
made his home there for part OF each
year during the rest of his life.
Count Tolstoi was married in Sep
tember, 1862. to TIE daughter of a |
professor in the University OF Mos
cow. In her society he found the
utmost comfort and happiness. |
Though they had nine children, the
cares OF motherhood did not prevent
The countess from serving as her
lusbane's amanuensis all through his |
abors as an author.
In advance OF the famous decree
)f emancipation of Alexander H.. |
roiStoi's first act after he had re-
tired to his country estate was to
rec his serfs. He is said TO have |
been the first nobleman in Russia to
axe this course. Then he busted
himself with plans for the education |
md betterment of the peasantry.
Becoming wrought up over what
seemed to him the purposelessness of
life, he contemplated suicide, but |
lfter consideration he gave this idea |
ip aid delved instead into all sorts |
If philosophic investigation. From
of the manner OF living