El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-15
Remarkable Interview With
Seer by His Niece, Count
ess Nastasia Tolstoi.
Warned the Gar, the Kai
ser, and the Brit
ish King.

Z y THE AUTUMN Of 1910 the czarina
invited me to visit her at the sum-
mer palace at Peterhof TO have an
informal talk with her family. This
was a very unusual favor and, feeling
much flattered, I arrived at the ap-
pointed hour at the railway station
that served the picturesque summer re-
sort A special coach took me directly
70 the palace, where the chamberlain's
secretary told me that the imperial
family were on the veranda drinking
Tea It was there that the czarina
wished to see me.
Her majesty was still suffering from
her long nervous breakdown, and she
looked pale and weak. We talked for
short time about her health. and eX-
changed items Of court gossip. She
then remarked confidentially that the
car had expressed a wish to see me,
and Of course such an expression was
a demand His majesty was playing
chess with his daughters and their gov
erness when the czarina iSSited him
10 tell me what he wanted
Countess" began the car, in a sim
PIE and direct way. 7 have very pc
cul1ar, confidential mission for you.
But call upon you reluctantly"
He became suddenly silent and
looked at me as II doubling my readi-
ness TO serve him I bowed politely,
murmuring:
Your majesty, I shall be only too
happy to hear about it."
We'll" he drawled, 'the German
Kaiser and the king Of England have
put me in an unpleasant position with
their requests. They are curious TO
get a direct message from our old
count, Leo Nicolaevitch Tolstoi. and
a very strange nOte-2nd naturally !
could not decline 20 humor them.
did not know how TO 20 about the deli
cate matter, as, frankly. do not care
for much Of the old mans writings and
preachings, as you know.
The Cars Message to TOlstoi.
But when the czarina told me that
she knows you very well. and that you
know him WE'LL would be greatly
Obliged II you could take the old man
an oral message from me that II he
would in a friendly way send a mes
on TO the king Of England and the
kaiser Of Germany. It is to be some
thing that he has not published before,
and that he will never publish himself"
Your majesty, am gratified at this
mark Of your exceptional favor" I re-
piled. 7 shall pay the count visit
without delay"
And as soon as you have returned
with his message drop line to the
minister of the court and I shall ar
range to see you Immediately" said
the car, extending his hand TO me.
We talked for half an hour longer on
various topics Of the day, and then
left
week later I was a guest at the
country estate Of my granduncle, and
explained to him briefly the object Of
my call He listened TO me curiously
and replied: Very strange. I would
be glad TO send a message to royalty;
but the trouble with me is that have
written all my life message for the
mObs- I am not accustomed 10 the con-
ventiOns Of court diction. However, 1
will think the matter over"
Leo Nicolaevitch, don't you have any
visions Of a political nature, or any
prophecies on a large international
scaIe2" I asked.
TOIstOi Tells of His Vision.
"a good idear' ne exclaimed Il have /
had some really strange experiences
which I could not publish as fiction I
There is something which has haunted
me for the last two years don't :
know how to explain the nature OF I
It to you 7 cannot call il a dream, be- !
cause I have seen it often while I have !
been sitting at my writing table. On I
other occasions 1t has appeared TO me /
at twilight before my dinner hour I
the spiritualistic explanation OF phe- i
nOmena; but I admit that I cannot &C 4
count for this mysterious affair"
Is II q vision I interrupted.
Something OF that order, but very 1
clear. So clear that I could draw a |
distinct picture Of all that transpired. !
Furthermore, I can call up the vision 4
at viii am almost sure I could do /