The New York herald., 1922-11-26


of life should be carried on.
The "Reminiscences of Lev Tolstoy, Jr
There would also seem to be drawback.
to being the son of a genius. For the
last two years one of Tolstoys sons. Lev
has been Offering his "reminiscences piece
meal TO the Russian public. In sketch
published last summer he told about tht
relations between his father and himself
AS high school boy of seventeen Lev, Jr.
embraced his fathers teachings and re-
solved to become a Christian martyr for
the good of humanity. In those years
the family, which then included some ter
children. lived in Moscow. The father
was spending his evenings learning the
shoemaker's trade. and even made a pain
OF boots for this son, who. however, never
wore them. The eminent shoemaker was
of little assistance to his son when il
came to problems in geometry, but in the
evening he could be heard settling world
problems for his visitors with great ease
The boy, who was present at these dis
cussions would go TO bed, his brain buzz
undone The young man somehow man
aged to get into the university. but as
science was anathema To a Tolstoyan he
soon drifted away from his studies. 'I am
certain he writes. that my leaving the
university vexed my father rather than
pleased him Ny attachment TO his ideas
alarmed him. But naturally he could not
oil r1laf fp1t haf 7 oh ct
him. but should live like everybody else
In due time Lev. Jr., was drafted into the
army As a Tolstoyan he determined pub
licly to refuse the oath. But fate denied
him the crown Of martyrdom. The COM
mandef of the battalion. guessing his state
of mind, called conference of physicians
and the young man was pronounced unfit
for military service and politely dismissed
Throughout this period Lev Tolstoy, Jr.
insists. his father guided him not at al
and treated him as any acquaintance
rather than as a son.
The younger Tolstoy believes that hi:
parents retained a mutual affection to the
last He makes no attempt to pass Judg-
ment on the complexities of their rela.
tions. He does narrate, however. a strik-
ing incident which indicates his bias III,
was staying at Yasnaya Polyana a few
months before his fathers death Late
one night he was reused from sleep 10y
the appalition of the latter in dressing
gown "Go and get her" said the old man
Get whom asked Lev. puzzled Take
her home" said me father; "she won't
listen to me. She's lying on the ground ii
the linden walk You must lift her up.
The son dressed and ran into the garden
He found the old Countess lying on the
ground her head pressed against the
trunk of a linden tree. She refused to get
up He chased me out like dog" she
groaned. and cried Historically Il wonr
so back; / won't SO back until he comes
The narrator continues: Il took pit.
on her and ran up TO fathers room
Well? he said agitatedly She doesn'
want to come said l. She says yol
chased her out oh, Lordi father cried
| But no. no. It's intolerable Go to her
/ I said, she won't come unless you do
4 But no. no. ne repeated beside himsel
with despair 4 won't go But you ar
her husband l said loudly. with irrita
tion It's your duty to attend TO this
He looked at me with astonishment an,
timidly followed me into the garden with
out word II was only then that mothe
returned TO the house - The fol
lowing day the narrator adds. Tolsto
made this entry in his diary: "Yester
day Lev shouted at me as if 1 were
child Yet 7 did NOT shout at him bu