DEATH OF TOLSTOY.

Southland Times, Issue 14580, 22 November 1910, Page 5

DEATH OF TOLSTOY.

HIS LAST WORDS. UNRECOGNISED BY THE CHURCH. (By T«l«graph— Press Association—Copyright) ST. PETERSBURG. Nov. 21. Received Nov. 21, 9.30 p.m. Astapova advices state that Tolstoy will be buried according to his own desire, on a hill at Yasnaya Polyana, where he played in his childhood. The death chamber lias been decorated with pine branches. The public and peasants, who were freely admitted, sang a memorial hymn. The body has been embalmed and dressed in a short black Russian shirt under a white sheet. The face is calm.

All the members of the family were present at the time of death. Four hours previously, when the heart crisis was at its height, Tolstoy took his daughter Taliano by the hand drew it towards him end said: "Will this he the end?” That was all.

The abbot and monk who were accompanying him were not allowed to nee Tolstoy, and they slept in the waiting room at the station. The Grand Duke Nicholas Miohelovitch telegraphed to'the Countess: “My whole soul is with vou and your family in this sad moment.” Innumerable other condolences have been received. At Moscow several theatres abandoned Sunday performances. The League of Feminine Culture is forming an international committee to consider the best means of honouring Tolstoy's memory. * Students at Kazan (Tolstoy’s Alma Mater) spent Sunday as a day of mourning. At St Petersburg the Hold Synod has decided that the "'hurch must not participate in the funeral or memorial services. Barristers, literateurs, doctors, and others are holding meetings in connection with mourning and honouring the deceased.

Newts in the Russian press regarding the death has be -n censored. ST, .PETERSBURG. Nov. 30. Count Tolstoy w'as not reconciled to the Church before death.