Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-11-21
The Late Count rolstoi.


Amid pomp and ceremony which be
loathed in life, eucased in rare casket
which he would have Stunned as an
evil thing, the body of Leo Nicholae-
yich, Count Tolstoi, writer, dreamer
and idealist, will be brought back today
to his home here, TO be laid to rest, as
he had wished, at the foot Of Poverty
Oak, where the peasants he loved are
wont to congregate.
No church ceremony will mark the
final obsequies Of the great man, great
in death as in life. The church-the
Greek Catholic Church-which ex-
communicated Tolstoi in 1901, after
the world had read his Resurrection, "
held out the hand Of forgiveness to
him to the last and he refused it.
The funeral will take place tomorrow.
Fearing outbreaks, the police OF
many neighboring districts are gather
ing here today. Troops may be sent,
ostensibly as a mark Of the govern
ment's respect, but really to prevent
violent scenes.
Already there is talk OF legal COM
plications between members OF Tolstoi's
family and Tchertkoff, Tolstoi's Eng
lish representative, regarding possession
OF the counts manuscripts, including
his unpublished novel. These manu-
scripts are held by Tchertkoff who IS
bound by Tolstoi to give them to the
world. In 1895 Tolstoi, in furtherance
of his idealstic principle, renounced
property rights in copyrights lands and
money. He wanted his books given to
the world without profits to himself.
His family objected, declaring such an
act would enrich the publishing house
and pauperize Tolstoi. 1t was the
quarrel over this which is said TO have
induce Tolstoi to leave his home on his
fatal pilgrimage.
Tolstoi died in the little log cabin OF
the station master at Astopoya, whittier
he had gone with his physician when
taken i'll on tain. Death came just
as the dawn broke Sunday morning.
All day long the body, clad in peasant
garb, lay 10 state. Peasants focked
through the little room and gazed with
reverence on bis face. The aged
Countess Tolstoi sat by the coffin and
repeatedly kissed the dead brow The
light of the world has gone" she
walled.
Outside, the Abbott Varsofonius
waited. Until death itself interviewed,
he hoped to bring Tolstoi back into the
church. 1t is said anti-churchmen
prevented Tolstoi from asking forgive
ness.
The church has, therefore, decided
to leave things as they are. Countess
Tolstoi tainted when told no requiem
could be sung. Tolstoi had received
the mildest form of church punish
ment-ex- accommodation He was not
anathemiztd, and priest may, OF his
own conscience, ofliciate at a requiem
mass for him. Priests in several parts
OF the empire have sung the mass for
the dead Messages from Naples, high
officials and peasants poured in today,
showing the esteem in which the ven
cradle author was held.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 21-ln the face
Of violent opposition from the leaders
OF the extreme right, the Douma adj
lourned today in respect to the memory
Of Count Tolstoi. Those who opposed
the adjournment argued that it would
be direct challenge to the church, in
asmuch as Tolstoi had been ex-com-
municated. A scene OF great disorder
followed. When the vote was finally
put, however, the motion carried by a
large majority.