The daily Alaskan., 1922-03-14
QUEER CULT ON
 TOLSTOY ESTATE
They Practice DoukhObOTS Ideal ism, With a Mingled Belief
 in Buddhism.
MANUAL LABOR A RELIGION
Declared Enemies of Destruction ot Property Human or Animal Life, and Oppose Soviet Gov
 ernment

Yasnaya POlyana. RuSsIa.-Fifteen young men. two young women and an elderly matron have recently estab- lished on the Tolstoy estate what they term "an improved bolsheyik com munity" Described as an attempt to rectify failure of communism, the members of the colony are the declared enemies of the destruction of property human or animal life, and thus are ar- rayed against the soviet government
 The members of the colony make religion of manual labor and declare It's chief tenet to be embodied in the phrase Love thy neighbOr as thyself.' They declare themselves, like Count Tolstoy, "SeurcherS for the truth in all things" They arrived here in early September with a permit from Moscow tu occupy a portion of the estate now clusSed as national institution.
 Teacher Organizes Movement
 A teacher. whose brother is director of the colony. organized the movement, The IS members, all of whom profess the practical ideOliSm of the Doukho- burS sect with a mingled belief In Buddhism. were allotted quarters In once handsome but now tumblcdown one-story building of the estate built in l7SO for the serfs of Prince Nolkon- skl. father of TuIStoy'S mother.
 The new arrivals have made the building hahituble and have started 10 prepare for the cultivation of the loV acres Included in their grant. Food SO far has been supplied free by the soviet government. the same as 10 an visitors to the ToIStoy home. The three women do the cooking.
 The correspondent came first in con. tact with a member of inc colony In rather strange manner.
 After long journey. he had been enrolled us a pilgrim at the T".Stoy home. according Jo the rules of thc h. sfftutinn. He was given bed in the ground floor room. characterised by brick arch. room occupied hy TolStoy some fifteen years Just as he was dropping orT to sleep he was reused by pIeuSiug chords on the grand piano located in the room. The playing was done by a young man who wore high boots beltcd jacket and sheepSkln cap. Seeing the correspondent he stopped playing and apolngiZed, saving he didn't know the room was occupied. Then he went on to explain who he was and began to ask information about the possibility Of walking to h. dia. by way of TurEestan. He wanted to study philosophy there he said.
 Orchard Trees Whitewashed.
 The IOO-acre farm includes a big or chsrd. planted by the famous Russian author. and one of the first acts Of the newcomers was 10 whitewash all the trees. This operation was preceded by an animated discussion as to whether fl should be done. The young men care fully debated this problem. 1T the trees are not whitewashed the orchard will be ruined by insects, but If the white wash Is applied the Insects will die of starvation and it is wrong to destroy life. As the members of the colony are vegetariuus and fruit Is therefore the prime article of food to them. ne cesslty prevailed over ideals and the whltewaShing WAS done.
 A second problem was solved much after the same reasoning. For many wears the manager of the Tolstoy es- tate has been Prince Oboinski, who occupied 8 building once used by the author as peasants school The newcomers. declaring that the presence of an uverseer might restrict their 'liberty of action" have decreed that the prince must go. and the ObolinSki family soon must seek food and sheI- ter elsewhere.