Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-21

+ presence of their father and his daugh-
ter Alexandria had been in constant
attendance.
Biographical sketch.
/ Count Lyof Nikolavitch Tolstoi.
usually called Count Leo Tolstoi,
/ novelist and social reformer. was born
Aug. %. 1928, at Yasnaya Poliana, in
. the province Of Tula. Russia.
/ When % years old Tolstoi entered
/ the army and served in the Caucasus
and in the defense Of SebastOpol
/ against the British and French allied
[ forces.
He first made a reputation in litera-
ture by a series OF vivid sketches writ
ten from Sebastopol, and when he left
the army soon after the Crimean war
he devoted himself entirely 10 liter
ature.
His Masterpiece.
His ''War and Peace" tale of in
vasion of Russia by Napoleon in 1912,
is regarded in Russia as being his mas
cerpiece, though his Anna Karenina,"
which appeared in 1876, and The Cos
sacks" found greater favor abroad,
where his "kreutzer Sonata" transla-
tons Of which were published in 1890,
also attracted wide attention.
Tolstoi wrote much on education
and published number of short stor-
les and "reminiscences of childhood and
youth, but of recent years he had de-
voted himself 10 religious teaching.
He made Return not evil" the key
stone of the Christian faith. and in
sisted that the liberal Interpretation
of the sermon on the mount was the
only rule of the Christian life. The re
ligious views of Tolstoi were set forth
in his "Christs Christianity and My
Religion"
Is accommodated.
In 1901 TOlstoi was accommodated
by the holy synod. and in October.
1902, he deposited his memoirs and
diaries with the curator of the Rum
yanzoff museum on the condition that
they should not be published until 10
years after his death, and in Novem-
Der of the same year he legally made
over his whole fortune. including his
real and personal estate, to his wife
and children.
Tolstoi was several times threatened
.TOLSTOI- TWO
with expulsion from Russia and was
several times, according to report.
upon the point of being exiled; but he
seemed in whole TO have been treated
with unusual leniency in view of his
strongly pronounced views, especially
as set forth in a manifesto entitled
The Peoples Rights his criticism of
i'm ia1 ofe l.
the emperor. He was. however ex-
PEELED from Moscow in July, 1901, and
had since resided at Yasnaya, Poll
ana.
Long In Rad Health.
His health at that time was poor and
for a period his life was in danger, but
he regalned his strength and resumed
work. Later he suffered a relapse and
in February, 1902, was reported to be
dying. Once more he rallied and in
June the recovery was pronounced
complete.
In July, 1904, Tolstoi wrote a strong
article denouncing the Russo-Japanese
war. and in January, 1905. Tolstoi pub
lished an open letter to the emperor
regarding the international conditions
in Russia, which was printed through
out the world.
Celebrate Birth.
On the occasion of Tolstoi's S0th
birthday anniversary celebrations were
held. although they were strongly dis
approved by the Russian government
and were made the subject of an APP
peal by the holy synod TO all believers
to abstain from participation.
Several of the publishers of Toll
stois works have been sent to prison.
On the last occasion the venerable
writer addressed a note to the court,
challenging the prosecution of himself,
instead of the publisher. But the mag
istrates did not venture to institute
proceedings against Tolstoi and the
government took no notice of the
challenge.
He Was Peasant.
Although Tolstoi came of an aristo-
cratic family. being a descendant of
Count Peter Tolstoi, the friend and !