Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-08-14
Tolstoy Predicted A Second Napo-
leon.

leon.
A prophecy made by Count Tolstoy in
1911, concerning the coming of "rhe Sec
ond Napoleon" for which the stage APP
pears to be set now in Europe, is being re-
called
The aged Russian foretold with consid-
cradle accuracy the state in which Europe
now finds herself. Whether he was cor
rect as to his vision of single man again
holding the destiny of the old world for a
decade remains to be seen.
Emperor William of Germany asked the
Car of Russia three years ago to obtain
for him message from Tolstoy-something
that he had never written before. The czar,
anxious to obliee, commanded Countess
Nastasia Tolstoy, grandniece of the sage.
to interview Leo Nicolaevitch. as he was
familiarly called, and to secure from him
the desired document.
This prophetic message is known as
"Tolstoy's Vision" by his admirers. Printed
in Russia in 1912, it was translated and
first circulated among friends of the Mos
covite philosopher as privately printed
and little known pamphlet.
Following the royal command. Countess
Tolstoy visited her granduncle at his coun-
try estate and explained briefly her mis-
sion. He listened curiously and replied;
Very strange. would be glad to send
message to royalty, but the trouble with
me is that have written all my life mes
sages for the mob. am not accustomed
to the conventions of court diction. How
ever, will think the matter over"
A few moments afterward her aged host
asked the countess to write. as his hands
were then paralyzed. Tolstoy slowly leaned
back in his chair, covered his eyes with his
hand and remained absolutely silent. Then,
Strengthening up like one in a trance, he
began in low and hollow voice:
This is a revelation of events of uni
versal character, which must shortly come
to pass. Their spiritual outlines are now
before my eyes. see floating upon the
surface of the sea of human fate the huge
silhouette of nude woman. She is-with
her beauty, her poise. her smile. her jewels
a super-Venus. Nations rush madly after
her, each of them eager to attract her espe-
cially. But she, like an eternal courtesan,
fiirts with all. In her hair ornament of
diamonds and rubies is engraved her name,
"Commercialism." As alluring and be-
witching as she seems. much destruction
and agony follow in her wake Her breath,
reeking Of sOrdid transactions her voice
of metallic character. like gold. and her
look of greed are so much poison to the
nations who fall victims to her charms.
And behold, she has three gigantic
arms. with three torches of universal corrup-
ton in her hand. The first torch represents
the flame Of war. that the beautiful cour-
tesan carries from city to city and country to
country. Patriotism answers with flashes
Of honest flame, but the end is the roar of
guns and musketry
THE second torch bears the fame of
bigotry and hypocrisy. 1t lights the lamps
only in temples and on the affairs of false
institutions. II carries the seed of falsty
and fanaticism. It kindles the minds that
are still in cradles and follows them to
their graves.
THE third torch Is that of the law. that
dangerous foundation of all unauthentic
traditions, which first does its work in the
family. then sweeps through the larger
worlds Of literature, art and craftsmanship.
1.-THE great conhagratiOn will start about
1912. set by the torch Of the first arm in
the countries of southeastern Europe. 1t
will develop into destructive calamity in
1918. In that year ! see all Europe In
flames and bleeding. hear the lamenta-
tons of large battleflelds. But about the
year 1915 strange figure from the north
new Napoleon enters the stage OF the
bloody drama. He is man of little mill
taristic training, writer or journalist,
but in his grip most Of Europe will remain
till 1925.
THE end Of the great calamity will mark |
a new political era for the old world There
will be left no empires or kingdoms. but |
the world will form federation of the
United States Of nations. There will re-
main only four great giants-the Anglo
Saxons. the Latins. the Slavs and the
MongOlians.