Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-21


ceedings against Tolstoi and the gov
ernment took no notice of the chal-
lenge.
Astapova, Nov. 20.-Peasants all day
long passed through the death cham
Der, hung with pine boughs where
Tolstoi lies. Many of them knelt be-
side the bier. The silence at times
vas broken by orthodox chants for the
repose of the soul of the dead. Count
eSS TolStoi sat beside the body for
hours. often kissing the face. "The
light of the world is out" she said re-
peatedly. She left the hut only to at
tend mathis in the school chapel, eX-
pecting that d requiem would be sung
When informed that this was not per-
mitted, she tainted
Tolstoi left a written wish that he
be buried without pomp wreaths or
rites under Poverty Oak on q hill
lock at Yasnaya Poliana where he
played as a child and where the peas
ants were accustomed to congregate.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday
and the police have been modified to
prevent public demonstrations.
Astapovo. Nov. 20-TLe crowd that
gathered around the hut where Tolstoi
lay dying in the early Sunday morning
hours awaited breathlessly the verdict
of Or. Thchurovsky and DR. Isoff two
of the leading heart specialists of Mos
COW. who had been hurriedly called
INTO consultation. The former had car
RED Tolstoi safely through a similar
crisis i'll 1901 in Crimea and the hopes
of the people rested on him.
The examination was brief, lasting
less than half an hour TclStoi failed to
recognize either Of the physicians, and
asked
"Who are these strangers
When informed he said what fine
mem"
Despite their natural reluctance to
spread Encouraging reports. the con-
sutlng physicians could not see their
way to hold out a ray of hope. How
ever, they helped to lessen pain of the
aged patient. whose parting hours were
niarcifully free from physical anguish
HIS heart Succumbed shortly after he
had issued from under the influence OF
an injected stimulent. He died without
ragaining consciousness. In the inter
val between the last two attacks of
cardiac failure the patient seemed to
be comfortable and his face was clear
OF pain.
Throughout ii heart-brcaking night a
motley crowd. made up of the most
varied elements Imaginable pressed
around the low hut. There We're distant
relatives of the aged author. ToiStoianS
villagers and many churchmen. among
them the Abbott VarSofonius who did
not lose hope until the end of seeing
Eolstoi and extend to him the olive
branch on benalf of the church.
All alike stood spell bound. knowing
that a matchless personality was de-
parting as the Sunday dawn ,lispelled
the raw foggy November night Virtu-
ally the whole population of Astapova
was there. Then came quiet voice
from the hut: Leo Nicholaevich is
dead
There was moment of silence. Then
every head WAS barred and there was
sobbing on all sides One called out:
His heart was burst by his unbound
ed love for humanity" and this and
similar phrases ran from mouth to
mouth through the weeping group
gathered there,
Later in the dav all the peasants in
the district fiocked here. None was ex-
cluded from the death chamber
though which there was a constant
stream Of visitors. including many
school children. The chamber is deco
rated with pine branches. The body has
been embalmed and will be trans
tered to Yasnaya Poliana. All visitors
have been given permission to photo
graph the body if they wish. NJ. CUM
berg. the sculptor. VII take death
mask.
1t IS said that Tolstoi expressed
wish to be buried on the kill at Vas
maya Poliana. where he played as
enid. hut that the funeral should be
d slmplc one without ceremonial or
flowers. The family. however has
agreed not to interfere with any hon
ors that the public may desire To pay.
Friends of the dead writer have
started movement for the acquisi-
ton OF the house where he died. as a
national memorial.
Grand Duke Nicholas Michaelovitch
mas sent message to Countess Tolstoi
saving: MY whole soul is with YOU