The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-28

the same time he entered society, ob- taining at this early age, that opinion of it which later found expression in many of his novels. Upon leaving the university. he returned to his estate in Yasnaya Polyana, and under the influence of Rousseau's teachings, he attempted to remedy the condi- tions of the Moujik, with little success The two years following were reckless ones, after which Tolstoy went to the Caucasus, enlisting as a non-com- missioned officer. Later he took part in the Crimean war. While in the army, he began his literary career and was soon recognized as a writer of ability. Dissatisfaction of self, however, caused him three times to cease writing and go abroad. During his second trip, his brother Nicholas died. leaving the deepest gloom on Tolstoy's life. In 1862 he married Sofia Baer, and the next fifteen years of his life were spent most happily amidst his large family; acting as justice of the peace to the newly lib- erated serfs, and also as the teacher of their schools. It was during this period that he produced his two greatest novels, War and Peace" and Anna Karenina." In 1881, he had his so-called spiritual birth" which resulted in his devoting his remaining years to teaching mankind his theory o4 4AAC- III 1J1V, uCSlIlHS lO sever all connection with the world of luxury, he abandoned his home with the intention of joining some of his followers. On his trip, however, he became i'll, and had to be conducted to a peasants hut to be cared for. Here, few days later, his family found him on his death bed, and re- mained with him till the end.
 Influence on Life.
 Thus, briefly told, are the important events of his life. But how did they influence him, and more important world at large? Let us first con- s1der him as an author.
 As has already been mentioned, Tolstoy wrote his first novels in camp, with the result that many of them dealt with war. It was on this sub- Ject that he first showed himself to be reformer of note, for he felt a righteous wrath at the spilling of innocent blood, and undertook to snow his country, and all the world, the crime it was committing in carry ing on strife. master of descriptive ability. he took all the glamour" from war, and caused the world to shrink at the thought of the crimes committed under the name of patriot ism. This he accomplished by means of his novel, led on by a desire to show true conditions. Later, this same desire caused him to portray the social conditions existing. Perha ps in no other novel does he display it's Weaknesses so ruthlessly, in that powerful work Anna Karenina" It has been said of his success as a soclal reformer that "he took all the TO- nance out. of social vices.'' Then again he used his novel for another purpose, that of revealing the Rus sian serf, otherwise called the Mou- Jk. For this oppressed people, he had the deepest sympathy and love, for he felt that the strength of Rus sfa rested, to a great extent, on these peasants who were the real producers of the land. In order to impress Russia with their importance, he took occasion to bring them into many of his works. showing their simple phil osophy and good heartedness. The was an important one, for he made the world realize that there is MouJik. It might also be we'll, here, to mention one of his philosophical works entitled, What is the Truth in Art" This book. riddled by criti- cism, still succeeded in showing man. kind the harm done by that art, whch is admired not for the good that it accomplishes, but for it's own sake All this, and much more did Tolstoy accomplish as an author.
 Searching for Truth.
 But the question has often been asked, why, if Tolstoy accomplished so much good as a writer did he discontinue writing. and become a reformer?" Here again, the answer which is indeed the keynote of his whole existence is, that he was search ing for truth. Throughout his entire life he had been struggling with him. self, struggling to find out the true reason of his existence Why am F" That was the great question of his soul, the answer to which lie searched for in all Europe, among all classes of people, and in all re- ligions. Driven to despondency by his ever questioning soul, he at one time believed that he must put. an end to his unhappiness by self de- l struction, but the desire for life was too great within him and so he con- tinue to struggle, determined to solve the problem. When he discussed the | matter with priests they could not | help him; the same was true when i he talked to his friends. At last one | day he questioned a Moujik, and from | him learned what he had so 1ono do.