The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-27
ay COUNTESS NAsrAslA roLs1ov)

In the autumn of 1910 the czarina invited
me to visit her at the summer palace at Pc
terhof to have an informal talk with her fam
lily. This a very unusual favor, and,
feeling much flattered, l arrived at the ap-
pointed hour at the railway station that
served the picturesque summer resort. A
special coach took me directly to the palace,
where the chamberlains secretary told me
that the imperial family the veranda
drinking tea. 1t was there that the czarina
wished to receive me.
Her majesty was still suffering from her
long nervous breakdown, and she looked pale
and weak. We talked for a short time about
! her health, and exchanged items of court gos-
sip. She then remarked confidentially that
the czar had expressed wish to see me, and
of course such an expression was demand
His majesty was playing chess with his daugh-
ters and their governess when the czarina
invited him to tell me what he wanted.
Countess" began the czar, in simple and
direct way, 81 have very peculiar confiden-
tial mission for you. But l call upon you
reluctantly"
He became suddenly silent and looked at me
if doubling my readiness to serve him. 4
bowed politely, murmuring: "Your majesty
shall be only too happy to hear it,"
"We" he drawled, "the German kaiser and
the king of England have put me in an un-
pleasant position with their requests. They
are curious to get a direct message from our
old count, Leo Nicolaevtch Tolstoi, and-a
.. very strange note-naturally l could not de-
cline to humor them. l did not know how
to go about the delicate matter, as, frankly
.. | do not care for much of the old mans writ
ings and preachngs, as you know.
But then the czarna told me that she
knows you very we'll, and that you know him
well-I would be greatly obliged If you could
take the old man an oral message from me
that if he would in friendly way send
message through you to me, l would send 1t
on to the king of England and the kaiser Of
Germany. 1t has to be something that he
has not published before and that he will
never publish himself"
"Your majesty, am gratifed at this mark
of your exceptional favor" replied. II
shall pay the count visit without delay"
"And as soon as you have returned with his
message drop a line to the minister of the
court and / shall arrange to you imme-
diately" said the car, extending his hand
to me.
We talked for half an hour various top
les of the day, and then left
week later / was guest at the country
estate of my granduncle, and explained to
him briefly the object of my call. He lis
tened to me curiously and replied: "Very
strange. would be glad to send a message
to royalty; but the trouble with me is that
have written all my life messages for the
mobs. am not accustomed to the conven-
tions of court diction. However, will think
the mater over"
Leo Nicolaevitch, don't you have any Wis
ions of a political nature, or any prophecies
on large international scale?" l asked.
"a good ideal" he exclaimed. IL have had
some really strange experiences which COULD
not publish as fiction. There is something
which has haunted me for the last two years.
!. l don't know how to explain the nature OF 1T
. to you. l cannot call it dream, because
have seen it often while have been sitting at
nv writing table. On other occasions it has
appeared to me at twilight, before my dinner
hour l am not believer in ghosts nor in
the spiritualstic explanation of phenomena;