The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18
IMPRESSIONS AT
TOLSTOf FUNERAL

! Special Correspondence The Washington Herald.
| Moscow. Dec. lone hears on all sides
the name Tolstoi and everybody is sour
Fying and pushing, obviously all with one
! object. We are on the railway station in
Moscow. All around are people of vari-
Gus classes and types, some excited.
some hurrying about, others chatting in
groups. but all serious and all impressed
obviously by one event Tolstoi Is dead.
and tomorrow morning his ashes will
arrive in Yasnaya Polisna. Peasants.
actors, artists. journalists. politicians.
and most OF all, students, are all intent
on arriving somehow at Yasnaya before
/ that eventful train will arrive in Zasecka
station with the body from which the
soul so ragieally fled
Eventually. after midnight. seated in
the train. We find ourselves crushed in a
sitting compartment. where people are
literally packed together under what
would be in ordinary circumstances IN
bearable discomfort. Arriving at Ia
seeka at a m. We ind the station
crowded with people. mostly delegates
and students. who. in eager expectation.
await the arrival OF all that now remains
of Tolstoi
The last journey of Tolstoi to Yasnaya
| is now commenced 10 the singing by
thousands of voices of Eternal Mem
| ory." In front go several peasants carts
loaded with wreaths from various So
cieties and people, and on the foremost
wagon of ALA pathetic touch--are the
personal belongings which TolstoI was
taking with him into solitude" Among
the wreaths We are struck by one with
bright red ribbons, bearing the inscrip-
ton sleep peacefully. brilliant son OF
Russia" and another ITO the fighter
who could not keep silent" Then come
the villagers, in their sheepskin coats.
holding aloft their tribute: Dear Leo
Nichaelovitch. the memory Of thy kind
ness viii not die among US. orphan peas
ants of Nasnaya Poliana'' These are fol-
lowed by ajstudent choir and next comes
Tolstoi, held aloft on the shoulders OF the
villagers. and following him his fam
ily and friends. From time TO time the
bearers" are changed among represent
atives Of art. literature. science. students.
and the peasants. Behind is seen a mass
OF bare heads. and all the time peals out
the Eternal Memory"
At last we arrive at the avenue ap-
preaching the famous old house. The
body passes. the family and friends fol-
low but We remain outside 10 allow
those most near 10 spend their last hour
alone with Tolstoi In the village every
thing is changed The usually quiet spot
Is now thronged with people. but the
place is empty Every one talks OF the
personality which has gone
Now IL is time TO say the last good-by
to the sleeping count
Only "A pen of a TOlstoi could describe
the scene before Us. Here in quiet
spot, surrounded on ali sides by trees. on
a little hilCck Is the grave which was
dug last evening by peasants. Here Toll
stOi loved to roam. and it was here that
he gained inspiration from the skies and
from the open air during his walks.
Soon, as the twilight begins 10 steal over
the earth, We hear in the distance the
strains OF Eternal Memory" telling of
the last exit Of Tolstoi from his Yasnaya
home
Gradually the singing approaches. until
here Is the coffin. sealed forever ready
10 be put into the cold earth. After a
pause the coffin is lowered into tie
ground without any ritual or priests.
The crowd as one man fall on their
knees, and not a whisper is 10 be heard.
A tragic stiffness fills the place for a few
seconds and then we hear the thudi thudi
Of the clay falling Oh the coffin
WELBOURNE~GENT.