The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-27
RED OPPONENTS START COLONY ON
 TOLSTO| ESTATE
Oppose Destruction of Prop. erty, Human or Animal Life and Thus Are ,Arrayed
 Against SovietS
By Associated Press

Yasnaya Polyana, Russia, Decem- Der 26.-Fifteen young men, two young women and an elderly matron have recently established on the Tol- stoi estate what they term "an ina- proved bolshevik community" De- serbed as an attempt to rectify fail- ure of communism, the members of the colony are the declared enemies of the destruction of property, human or animal life, and thus are arrayed against the soviet government.
 The members of the colony make religion of manual labor and de- clare its chief tenet to be embodied in the phrase, Love thy neighbor as myself" They declare themselves, like Count Tolstoi, "searchers for the truth in all things" They arrived here in early September with a per init from Moscow to occupy a DOT tion of the estate now classed as a national institution. A teacher whose brother is director of the colony. or sanized the movement. The IS mem bers, all of whom profess the prac- teal idealism of the Doukhobors sect with & mingling belief in Buddhism, were allotted quarters in once handsome, but now tumbled down. one story building of the estate built In 17S0 for the serfs of Prince Vol kOnshlt AalHGI Ol plSAOl ' hlOlhtir
 Food Supplied Free
 The new arrivals have made the building habitable and have started to prepare for the cultivation of the 100 acres included in their grant Food so far has been supplied free by the soviet government, the same as to all visitors to the Tolstoi home. The three women do the cooking.
 The correspondent came first in contact with a member of the colony in rather strange manner. After long journey, he had been enrolled as a pilgrim at the Tolstoi home, ac- cording to tho rules of the institu- ton He was given q bed in the ground floor room, characterized by a big brick arch, q room occupied by Tolstoi for some l5 years. Just as he was dropping off to sleep, he was reused by pleasing chords on the grand plano located in the room. The playing was done by young man who wore high boots, belted jacket and a sheepskin cap. Seeing the correspondent, he stopped play ing and apologized, saying he didn't low the room was occupied. Then he went on to explain who he was and began to ask information about the possibility of walking to India, HN Way Ol ul hOSAoh' AAo W study philosophy there, he said.
 Care for Trees
 The 100 acre farm includes big orchard planted by the famous Rus sian author and one of the first acts of the newcomers was to whitewash all the trees. This operation was preceded by an animated discussion as to whether 1t should be done. The young men carefully debated this problem: If the trees are not white washed, the orchard will be ruined by insects, but if the whitewash Is applied the insects will die of starva- tien and it is wrong to destroy life. As the members of the colony are Ncgetarians and fruit Is, therefore the prime article of food to them, necessity prevailed over ideals and the whitewashng was done.
 X second problem was solved much after the same reasoning. For many years the manager of the Tolstoi estate has been Prince Obolinski, who occupied building once used by the author as a peasants school. The newcomers, declaring that the pres eneo of an overseer might restrict their liberty of action," have de- ,eced that the prince mdst go and tae Obolnski family soon must seek leod and shelter elsewhere.