The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-11-21
Interior Of Squalid Cabin Was Decorated With
Pine Branches While the People
Paid Tribute
DID NOT MAKE UP With THE CHURCH
'His Heart Was Burst By His Unbounded Love
For Humanity" and His Countrymen
are in Tears


ASTAPOyA, Russia, Nov. 21.--The
crowd that gathered around the hut
where Tolstoi lay dying in the early
hours of Sunday. morning awaited
b,eathelessly the verdict of Doctors
Thtchurvosky and Usoff two of the
leading heart specialists of Hoscow,
who had been hurriedly called info
consultation. 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 lasted but half an
hour. Tolstoi failed to recognize ei.a.
er 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
consulting physicians could not hold
out any hope. However, they hoped 10
lessen the pain of the aged patient,
whose parting hours were mercifully
free from physical suffering. His
heart succumbed shortly after he had
come out from under the influence of
an injected stimulant. He died witt
out regaining consciousness.
II the interval between the las, Two
attacks of cardiac failure the patient
appeared to be comfortable and his
face was clear Of pain.
throughout a heart-breaking night
motley crowd, made up of the most
varied elements imaginable, pressed
around the low hut. They were dis
tant relations of the aged Russian
Tolstoians, peasants and many church
men among them the Abbot Varsofo-
Mus, who did not lose hope until the
end of seeing Tolstoi and extending
to him the olive branch on behalf OF
the church.
All alike stood spellbound, knowing
that matchless personality was de
parting as the Sunday dawn dispelled
the foggy. raw November night. Vlr.
tually. the whole population of Asia
pova was there. Then voice from
the hut came quietly:
Leo Nicholaeivitch is dead There
was a moment of silence, then ever,
head was barred and there were
sounds everywhere of sobbing. One
person called out: His heart wa
burst by his unbounded love for hu
manity" And this and simila
phrases ran from mouth to moutl
through the weeping Russians gather
ed there.
Later in the day all the peasants Il
the district flocked to Astapova
None was excluded from the dealt
chamber. through which there was
constant stream of visitors, includin
many school children. The chambe
was decorated with pine branches.
The body has been embalmed ant
will be taken to Yasnaya Poliana, A
visitors have been given permission I
photograph the body, If they wish, N
Gunzberg, the sculptor, will take
death mask
II is said Tolstoi expressed WIS
to be buried on the hill at Yasnay
Poliana, where he played as cnlle
but that the funeral should be sin
pie one. without ceremonial or floV
ers The family, however have agree
not to interfere with any honors Una
the public may desire to pay. fr1eno
of the dead writer have started
movement for the acquisition OF III
house where he died, as nations
memorial
Grand Duke Nicholas Michaelovltc
has sent a message to Countess Io
stoi, saying: my whole soul is VII
YOU and your family at this sad m
ment',
Numerous other kilograms OF syi
pathy have come from organization
and individuals.
Story Of Tolstol's Life.
Lyof Nickolavitch Tolstoi, usuai
called Count Leo Tolstei, novelist al
social reformer, was born Aug.
1928 at yasnaya Poliana, Tula, ~
sia. When 90 years old, Tolstoi G
tered the army and served IN u
Ceuacusas and commanded bate
Of Sebastopol against the British a.
French. After the Crimean war,
devoted himself TO literature.
His War and Peace" tale of Z
INVASION Of Russia by Napolean,
the horrors of war, is regarded
Russia as his masterpiece, thou