COUNT LEO TOLSTOI ILL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7264, 21 October 1910, Page 5

COUNT LEO TOLSTOI ILL

By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrleh*. ST. PETERSBURG, October 19. Count Leo Tolstoi, after a. ride at Moscow, fell into a deep swoon, and afterwards became delirious. His condition is said to be very weak. When visited latt year by Mr Henry George, jun., the aged advocate of social reform for Russia, was ill feeble health, but still full of mental vigour. "As >he sat in his chair," says Mr George, "ago seemed to have placed its hand heavily upon him; yet he appeared not so feeble as delicate. But the eyes revealed the keen, buoyant spirit within. It was a life joyously spending itself to the very end, undaunted by the near approach of death. ... I asked after his health. He answered with tho frankness that I found to bo a characteristic of tho whole family: 'I am now quite old—-eighty-one. I do not expect to stay much longer. One of my feet has to be nursed. But I am keeping at work.' He gave me a smile -as if the matter of his death was nothing at all; as if he said 'To-morrow I die. Meanwhile, I have another book to write.' .... I said 1 had heard there was another book under way. Did it deal with political economy? 'No,' he answered, 'this is not on political economy. It treats of moral questions, which your father put first.' "