Tuesday's Times contained a long account of the last days
of Tolstoy, written by his friend Mr. P. A. Boulanger, who was present when be died. The article makes it olear that Tolstoy had for some years contemplated a withdrawal from the world, and that his sudden departure from home was only the result of a long period of irritation. The account given by Mr. Boulanger of Tolstoy's relations with his wife is most painful ; it traces in detail the growth of their antagonism, which began with the Countess's refusal to live in accordance with her husband's theories, and culminated in her forbidding him to have his chief disciple Tchertkof in the house, or to meet him, or even to correspond with him. To make sure that her demands were being obeyed she would search Tolstoy's papers, and would accuse him of deceiving her even if he went out for a ride. "She even obtained a revolver, and frightened him by threatening to shoot herself." We cannot help feeling, however, that Mr. Boulanger is giving a one-sided account of the situation. The wife of a man of genius such as Tolstoy can certainly be excused many things.
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