Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-08-11
ToLSTOYS VISION.
Saw Europe In Flames and Heard the
Lamentations of BattIefieIds,

Saw Europe In Flames and Heard the
Lamentations of BattIefieIds.
In February, 1913 the Globe-Demo-
crat printed an article by Countess
Nastasia Tolstoy, in which she told Of
an interview she had had with her
great relative, Leo Tolstoy, in the au-
tumn Of 1910, in the course of which
he described to her a vision that had
appeared to him frequently during the
two years preceding the interview.
II have had" he said to her, some
really strange experiences which
could not publish as fiction. There is
something that has haunted me for the
past two years. I don't know how to
explain the nature Of it to you. can
not call it a dream, because have seen
1t often while have been sitting at
my writing table. On other occasions
1t has appeared to me at twilight, be-
fore my dinner hour. / am not a be-
lever in ghosts, nor in the spiritual
istic explanations Of phenomena; but
/ admit that I cannot account for this
mysterious affair"
rs it a vision?" interrupted.
Something Of that order, but very
distinct picture of all that transpires.
Furthermore, l can call up the whole
vision at will. I am almost sure l
could do it while you are here. The
only difficulty is, that am not able to
write anything during the time Of the
manifestation. My hands are abso-
lutely paralyzed."
II shall be happy to write down
what you dictate" I urged.
Very good! That settles the mat
ter" he replied. Il shall try for some
thing Immediately. There on the table
are paper and pencil Or use a pen
whatever you want"
In a few minutes I was waiting for
the great moment, pencil and paper In
hand. My aged host leaned back in
his chair, covered his eyes with his
hand and relapsed into an apparently
comatose condition. For ten minutes
he remained absolutely motionless.
Then Strengthening up like one in
trance, he began in low and hollow
voice:
This is a revelation of events Of a
universal character, which must short
ly come to pass. Their spiritual out
lines 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 su-
per-Venus. Nations rush madly after
her, each Of them eager to attract her
especially. But she, like an eternal
courtesan, flirts with all. In her hair
ornament Of diamonds and rubies Is
engraved her name: 'Commercialism.
AS alluring and bewitching as she
seems, much destruction and agony
follows in her wake. Her breath, reek-
ing 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
corruption in her hand. The first torch
represents the flame Of war, that the
beautiful courtesan carries from city
to city and country to country. Pa
triotism answers with flashes Of honest
flame, but the end is the roar Of guns
and musketry.
THE second torch bears the flame OF
bigotry and hypocrisy. 1t lights the
lamps only in temples and on the al
tars of sacred institutions. 1t carries
the seed Of falsity and fanaticism. 1t
kindles the minds that are still in era
dies and follows them to their graves.
The third torch Is that Of the law,
that dangerous foundation Of all unau-
thentic traditions, which first does its
fatal work in the family, then sweeps
through the larger worlds of literature,
art and craftsmanship.
THE great coniagration will start
about 1912, set by the torch Of the first
arm in the countries Of southeastern
Europe 1t will develop into destruc-
tive calamity in 1913. In that year
see all Europe in flames and bleeding.
l hear the lamentations Of huge battle
fields. But about the year 1915
strange figure from the north-a new
Napoleon-enters the stage Of the
bloody drama. He is a man Of little
militaristic training, writer or jour-
nalist, but in his grip most Of Europe
will remain till 1925. The end Of the
great calamity will make new politi-
cal era for the Old World. There will
be left no empires and Kingdoms, but
the world will form a federation Of the
United States of Nations. There will
remain only four great giants-the
Anglo Saxons, the Latins. the Slavs
and the Mongolians.'- Louis Globe
Democrat.