The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-20
TOLSTOI.


Tolstoi is dead. He was eighty-two
years old last September. He wished
to die. He has had his wish. He was
one of the great figures of the world;
a novelist. religious teacher, a social
reformer. He was educated in the
Oriental languages and law at the
University of Kazan. He was "a SOL
der. an ensign of artillery in the
crimean War sixty years ago, and took
part in the defence of Sebastopol. After
the pen and became one of the most
prolific writer's of the century. 1t Is
said that the two works upon which,
his literary reputation chiefly rests
are War and Peace in which he
dealc with Napoleons invasion of
Russia, and Anna Karenina," a novel
and "a powerfully realistic study OF
human passion and its effects This
novel was followed twenty-three years
later by another novel of the same
type. Resurrection" and list and
description of all his works would
fill a page, so fecund of thought was
he and so dilgent in workmanship. He
held, and will ever hold. high rank
among the great writers of the world
whatever may be thought and said of
his idiosyncracies and the evil in
fiuence that his vivid writing had on
the Imagination of many less self
rtc-N Il tlat, u
self.
Count Tolstoi was a man of large es-
tates and great wealth, and an earnest
teacher of socialistic theories, having
taken care, however before carrying
his principles into effect to transfer
his estates to his wife instead of
actually distributing his goods among
the poor Affecting the rough habit
OF the peasant and INDUCING in fan
tastc exhibitions of his faith, dwelling
IN nut but hard by the palace, he
Kept well fxed in the public eve. ana
even to the end of his days commanded
the attention of the world. His re-
l!slous views We're not orthodox, al
though very human In some of their
aspects. He believed in the Sermon
on the Mount as the literal interpre-
tatlon OF the supreme law Of the Chris
uan life, and he laid special stress
upon the precept resist not evil" He
was much like Kropotkin in his COM
munistie tendencies, but conditioned,
however, upon rather novel religious
conceptions. So much out of touch
was he with the accepted theories of
the Orthodox Church that he was ey-
communicated by the Holy Synod Of
russia and in answer to the edict OF
he formulated his re-
llsious and Theological views. which
included the denial Of the Trinity, OF
the deity of Jesus and His vicarious
atonement OF the orthodox conceptions
of the future world. of every kind or
sacramentalism and all similar dogmas
The papers have been filled the last
lew days With stories Of his mysterious
disappearance from his home, OF hts
seeking refuge In monastery to es-
cape unbearable conditions at home ar
ms deslre to be free from the annoy
ahces OF domestic life, of his intention
TO end his days in peace and quietness
ana OF his wanderings until seized
win = fatal nalady he passed away
lh'o the light which Is only darkness
70 tHose VINO have no certain hold on
the eternal verities. what the esti.
mate Of the world VIII he OF his lie
and work WIN be developed In time;
but there is general agreement
that his death has removed one OF the
master figures In the literature and
thought of the world
--.- - :-=----
POLICE CERTIFICATES,
rhere is a professor In Pennsylvania.