The New York herald., 1922-11-26

cred volume, the HIST faScicuie or
book which viii probably exceed
IN size and may compare in-interest with
Boswens Life of Johnson" The work is
a transcription 9f Tolstoy's conversations
and a detaiiedf account of his doings day
by day for the last six years of his life
a904-1910D. The author is Slovak
physician. DIR. Dushan Makovitzli. who at
tended Tolstoy during that period. He was
"a follower of the Iatter's teachings. and
paid several visits TO Yasnaya Polyana.
the Mecca of the faithful. before he be-
came the masters daily companion. The
doctor was a naive and devoted disciple,
not more interested in protecting Toll
stoy's bodily health than in preserving
the least of his utterances. He went about
with a tablet of heavy paper in the right
pocket of his jacket and Whenever the
master opened his lips in his presence the
physician would take down the words un-
observed and in a secret shorthand. or
else he would try to remember literally
the sacred phrases. to jot them down at
the earliest opportunity. He made no dis
tinetion between the significant and the
trivial At night. when the household
was asleep, Makovitzki would sit at his
desk. paihstakingly entering his notes into
a copybook. adding the description of all
that ne knew of the masters occupations
during the past day. He would labor at
this task far into the night. Sometimes.
however. day or more elapsed before he
could transcribe his notes, but he is always
careful to indicate this circumstance. The
original notes We're not revised or>altered
or in any way edited
Tolstoy was aware of his physicians
preoceupation On one occasion he re-
marked upon it IN company. saying: Il
beg you my friends. when 1 die remem-
her this. DO not attribute much Importance
TO what Lsay in conversation. Sometimes
l talk foolishIy. thoughtlessiy, on the spur
Of the moment / am more care
ful about letters. but / feel fully re-
sponsible only for what allow to be pub
lished after reading proof" An entry to
the same effect is found in Tolstoy's own
diaries Makovitzki eonfesses that he was
sometimes vexed at the idea that he was
embarrassing the master, forcing him.
50 to speak. to refrain from expressing
the thought which he didn't care to have
written down, but it seems to me- he
adds in his preface that when all is said
and done Lev NiSolaievich was not dis
pleased by my notetaking; sometimes 1t
seemed to me that Lev Nikolaievich said
certain things in a tone In which was
heard an unspoken injunction addressed
TO me: Note this down.
Tolstoy was extraordinarily fond of his
physician and disciple. whom he called
st. Dushan. At four o'clock on the morn
ing OF October IS. 1910. Tolstoy. like an
Oriental holy man, left the comfort of his
ancestral home to go into seclusion and
meet there his approaching end Makov-
tiki was his chosen companion on this
lonely journey. Several days later he was
dying al "A railway station. and the faith
fuI attendant was the one who uttered the
last words which were heard by the failing
man Shortly before the end the physi-
clans wanted To see whether Talstoy was
still conscious. Makovitzh took a glass
Of wine mixed with water. held il tc
Tolstoy's mouth, and said in clear and
solemn tones: Lev Nikolaievich. wet your
lips" The master half opened his eyes
and took a swallow His beloved Dushan
Outlived him by some eleven years. and
the present volume. which has just come
off the Moscow presses. was edited by
Tolstoy's former secretary. The book is
dedicated Ito the peace loving Chinese
people. whose meekness. humility. patience