TOLSTOI'S DYING MESSAGE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1279, 7 November 1911, Page 6

TOLSTOI'S DYING MESSAGE.

SPEAKING A WORD IN SEASON. The Philadelphia "Ledger" published a telegram from Paris; in which it was stated that Matthew Gearing, of Omaha, Nebraska, visited Count Leo Tolstoi, the great Russian philosopher, just before he died, as the beaTcr of a letter of introduction from William Jennings Bryan. lie says that he saw a portrait of Bryan on the wall of the Russian philosopher's bedroom, and he described Tolstoi as being remarkably vigorous, and as taking a horseback rido every day. In Mr. Gearing's conversation with Tolstoi he says that Count Tolstoi criticised Bryan's advocacy of county option to control the liquor traffic, and declared that there should bo uo prohibition of the sale of alcoholic drinks. "Why shouldn't I have the right to dTinlt just what I like," said Count Tolstoi, "provided I do it decently and not to excess? Because one person makes a fool of himself with liquor is no reason why the next person should bo deprived of it. You people in America seem to bo trending in a wholly wrong direction in this matter." Mr. Gearing says that Tolstoi opeeed his eyes very wide when told- of the treating custom in America, and how it was abused, and that it seemed to surprise him utterly. As for himself, he said that ho took very little alcoholic liquor at a time, and that but rarely, because he deems it his duty to set an example of extremo moderation to tho common people. Exactly; then why should we not bo frco to lie moderate? Wo have freedom in our own hands by striking out the bottom lines on election day and savo the country from tho tyranny and evils of prohibition.*

A Rotherham lady has completed a tour of 1000 miles from South Yorkshire to Land's End and back, which she has been takinff with a pony nhd a tub on wheels. The object of the tour has been health ami pleasure. She covered 2o miles each day.