BOLSHEVISTS PERSECUTE THE TOLSTOYS

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 6

BOLSHEVISTS PERSECUTE THE TOLSTOYS

Tho Soviet Press has opened a violent ■campaign against the relatives of Leo Tolstoy, especially his daughter, Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, says tho ‘ Morning Post.’ In a series of articles which have appeared in tho Tula ‘ Communal* ’ and in the Moscow [ Premia,' objection is taken by tho Soviet official journalists to the permission granted to her and several other members of tho great writer’s family, as well as some of their followers, to continue Living on his estate, ” Yasnaya Polyana.’’ Tolstoy’s lions© lias been converted by a small band of loyal friends and disciples into a Tolstoy museum, of which Countess Alexandra was appointed keeper a couple of years ago by tho Soviet Government. Tho peasants living in tho neighborhood and in tho surrounding districts still look upon the Countess and the inhabitants of iiio Tolstoy house ns on their old lords, and treat them with respect, even going so far as to call Countess Alexandra “jour ladyship,” while the local Bolshevist commissar is contemptuously addressed ns “ Comrade ” (“ Tovaristch ”), a word which outside official Communist circles is regarded by the Russian masses as insulting. This is not all. Many of the Tolstoy retainers refused to leave 1 lie iamily when the Bolshevists deprived it of home and belongings. And now, in order to remain with the Countess, tho former servants havo evaded the Soviet decree against hired labor by enlisting in tho staff of tho Tolstoy Museum. As a result, the Bolshevists aro infuriated beyond description. “ How do Tolstoy’s daughter and relatives live to-day in Yasnaya Polyana?” asks tho ‘Premia.’ “Why, just tho same as all princes and counts lived in the old days before the Revolution! Tho Soviet authorities must organise a second revolution in Yasnaya Polyana. They must order an investigation to he lield immediately and expose all the dirty doings of the Tolstoys. Our authorities must, put an end to the countor-rovolutioary activities of Yasnaya Polyana.” These attacks aro evidently part of the campaign organised by Lenin’s widow against the Tolstoyan movement.

AMUSEMENTS.