New-York tribune., 1910-11-20
Novelksf. Single 6o-xer. Polfficol Revoiu-
fionkSf. A Ascefic. P6Hosopber. Sofnf.
One A f1er Another.

purpose
Just as he had been violent in his search
for pleasure during his youth and violent
in his absorption in family affairs later
on, having large establishment and six
teen children and no interest in anything
else. so was it consistent for him TO have
violent spiritual rebirth as long as he
was 10 have one at all
From being a landed proprietor of des-
potic tendencies he turned into Henry
George single tax man and gave all his
lands 10 his wife
From high living he went to vegetarian
ISM.
From the gorgeous trappings OF the army
and the highest society OF Russian court
circles he adopted peasants srnock and
shoes that he maize himself
From being waited on hand and foot
and doing no manual work of any kind ne
took TO dressing himself, cleaning his own
room chopping the enormous quantities
of frewood that the Russian househotd
must use in winter and helping his peasant
ueighbOrs plough and SOW their SEED
From the exclusive set among wnom
he had formerly found companionShlp ne
turned 10 mankind at large, and soon his
4
humanity Of all kinds and from all parts
Of the world His friend Sergycenko de-
scriBes the streams that were always pour
ing through. and he divides tfem into two
ella asses-spectators and those with problems
seeking Tolstoys advice. The majority
we're. of course. strangers. bat they ap-
preached him almost as they would
father. confessor Through this strange ex-
s%a.Ixr n
contact with the more private sides OF
human nature. His infinite sympathy
-.,in6ness and seIf-sacri1ce are traits often
ami lovingly described by those who admire
him, bur as one looks at his face, scanned
and SCARED with the painful war Oh
thought. and is confronted with mis- dis
nuieting eyes it is Lard not to feel mat
Tolstoy is a terrible old man. more ter
ribie year by year. His idea OF art. tnat
beauty is not necessary part OF ii, is
sIso true OF his idea Of life. To have the
whole OF the world on ones hands 70 re-
form must be a hard and bitter task
For not only Russian affairs are hor-
ribja and wrong ToIstoys mind ranges
over the whole world ard all its activities.
ali its branches OF thought and expression
Science. he tells US has grown up out OF
supported for their food and slstenance by
cthers. ami what they discover is of no use
70 mankind. Education is entirely mis-
directed.
He passes On 10 art Modern art is
trickerv: Wagner the worst trickster OF the
lot because the cleverest. Having gone 70
hear "SIegfried" in order to prove this. he
left ir disgust after the second act There
rlH-T -T7rE -{
out melody IN the whole thing The stage
is a ulace where undignified people dance
about and kick their heels in the air
Sha kespeare he declares, is less than
mediocre. because he could not be under
stood by simple people France. he wrote
once. is an abnormal country in which
life is a FOOLS dance In 1908 ne cam
pajene,i for William Jennings Bryan by
writing burning pamphlets telling Ameri-
cans TO vote for him because he was 4
man of peace and stood for anti-niiitarisrll
No subject is too far removed 10 trouble
him no fault of mankind too petty u
ignore. Everything is huge and near Wha'
a giant struggle ii has been for hlIn- aHo
it is all shown in his face
Yet gentIeness and compassion are me
most usual notes in his exhortatiOns. The
typical of his later writings:
ITO follow the doctrine of Jesus $ diff
cult. Jesus said that they who would Tor
sake houses and lands and brethren ana
follow His doctrine should receive nun
dred-foId in houses and lands and brethren
and besides all this. eternal life. And no
one is willing even 10 make the experiment!
The doctrine of the world cOmmanqs It's
followers TO leave houses and lands ana
brethren 10 fOrsake the country for the
filth of the city there TO toll as bath
keeper. soar ping the backs of others; as an
apprentice in a little underground shop,
passing life in counting kOpecks; as a
prosecuting attorney. TO serve in bringing
unhappy wretches under condemnation or
the law: as 2 cabinet minister. perpetuaIly
signing documents of no Importance; as the
head of an army. killing men 'FOrsake all
and live this hideous life, ending in cruel
death. and YOU shall receive nothing in this
world or the other is the command. and
every one listens and obeys. Jesus tells US
10 take I'D the cross and follow Him, 10
hear subrnissiveIy the lot appOrtioned out
TO US No one hears His words or follows
His command. But let man in uniform,
decked out with gold lace, a man whose
specially is TO kill his fellows. say. Take
not your cross, but your knapsack and
carbine and march to suffering and certain
death. and mighty host is ready 10 re-
ceive his orders Leaving parents, wives