TOLSTOI AND THE CZAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10301, 8 March 1905, Page 4

TOLSTOI AND THE CZAR.

An explanation of Tolstoi's immunity from punishment by the Russian Government, m spite of the fearless nature of his' writings, is furnished by Mr Vance Thompson- m- the last number of Success. Tolstoi, declares Mr Thompson, is the freest man — m fact, the only free man — m Russia. "He says what he pleases, writes what he pleases, does what hepleases. From Czar to tax collector, no official perturbs 'him. In that while land were nothing is free — where the Czar is cabined among. Ids councillors, and even thought, is chained! — Tolstoi's liberty is absolutely uutranuueled." At his home m Central Russia he keeps open house, ami even, the laws- relating to passports relax a little m favor of those who enter Russia with the object of visiting him. In Russia everyone's letters — from those of the Minister of State to those of the obscure Socialist — are under surveillance, except those of Tolstoi. His correspondence is never touched, "not even when "he sends through the mails the fiery manuscripts, full of inspiration and fury, which, printed, will spread 1 through. the world his attacks on, his country and its laws, and inhumanity and its habitudes." And J— 11 a country — which, of all couutries m the world, isi the most spyrkklen — he alone is- unwatched. If this absolute freedtam allotted to Tolstoi were a settled policy on the part of the Government, says Mr Thompson, a wiser one could not have been chosen, for Tolstoi has said that 'lie would! feel more free if the Government began to move against him, to attack hfon. But his immunity from persecution is not due to a settled policy ; he owes it to the Czar. . Nicholas 11.. according, to Mr Thompson, is himself a Tols-toist, "a kindly, overworked, unhappy man; he writes vague, melancholy verses, ridles a bicycle, and takes amateur photographs." The Czar's amusements are few, Tolstoi's books appeal to 'his Slavic mysticism and accord with his "dreamy love of humanity." Every official m Russia knows that to touch Tolstoi is to touch the Czar. The Czar has never met Tolstoi, but there is a Strang bond' of sympathy between them. "Tolstoi is one of our glories," the Czar is reported) to have said recently. "Like the Kremlin," says Mr Thompv son, "he bulks above the law; he is a" monument."