University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-12-04
The Pride of RUSSIA

me-"
With these words, Count Leo Toll
stoy-Leo Nicholaevitch-the greatest
Russian of the twentieth century, laid
down his burden He passed away
November 20, at Astapova, Russia. at
the age of eighty-two. Father of the
peasants of his country, loved by all
the world, his was life OF service to
humanity. At home and abroad. the
memory of this grand old philosopher.
reformer and man of letters will ever
be honored.
OF royal blood. Tolstoy chose to give
mp the Injuries and pleasures of a
nobleman's home and live the life of
q peasant. Above all things he de-
sired personal perfection and the op-
portunity to serve his fellowmen
Throughout his long life he strove to
do what he could to help the poor and
oppressed, believing that should he
fail to do this there would be nothing
wherewith he might ease his con-
science.
Still pursuing the dictates of this
greater love, the infirmitieS attendant
upon old age gradually gathered about
him, weakening him in mind and body.
Lingering under a hallucination, he
secretly forsook his faithful wife and |
children and sought solitary confne-
ment, declaring that the Injuries of |
his peasant home were more than he
desired.
After several days of wandering |
sickness came upon him, and he was
forced to seek shelter in peasants
hut eighty miles from the home he
had deserted. Grief stricken, his wife,
children and many of his friends,
searched for him. and finally found
him in this secluded house. They at
tended him as carefully as they could,
but as Sunday. November 90 dawned,
dispelling the gloom of raw and
foggy night, this matchless personality
passed away. The silent peasants
and friends that sat about the hut
barred their heads and wept, when a
voce came quietly:
Lee Nicholaevitch is dead
And such was the message that was
flashed to the corners of the earth.
only to bring sadness to the people of
every nation, of every clime-to all
the world. A friend to mankind, his
life was spent in efforts to lessen the
load that rests upon the poor and I'M
fortunate. and his death was typical
of the man. typical of the great heart,
whose every throb was full of sympa-
thy for the Borrowing and oppressed
about him.
Tolstoy's life was one of activity.
Throwing off the mantle of nobility
that separated him from the great
mass of people. he set about as the
leader OF those who were trying to
bring about reforms in the social and
religious life. Pronounced as 'th:
only free man in Russia" he defied
the government and bitterly denounced
the Car and his ministers before the
civilized world. He was a prolific
writer, and his works were scattered
through all the countries.
Much that he wrote was of a revo-
lutionary nature, some Of which was
suppressed. Many of his followers
were imprisoned and fined, but official
Russia dared not modest the genious
and prophetic fire of Tolstoy. AS the
arch-enemy of an oppressive govern
ment, those in power feared him; as
man among men, they loved him.
Without precedent, the duma was ad-
journed as mark of respect for the
man lying in state and the president
of that body said Tolstoy was the
pride of Russia and the glory of man.
kind" adding:
May the merciful God open to him
the kingdom of heaven"
In obedience to his wishes, the body
of Tolstoy was brought back to his
old home. Yasnaya Poliana. and bur-
led under the shadow of Poverty
Oak" Peasant mourners carried white
banners inscribed Leo Nicholaevitch,
the memory of your goodness will
never fade from the minds of us Or
phaned peasants" His body rests
in plain oaken coffin, placed in the
grave with the sinking of the sun. A
single wreath of fir, an emblem OF
Immortality, was placed upon the bier
Without the rites of the Greek ortho-
dox church. which he had renounced
in previous years, there was no relig-