POETRY.

THE CZAR'S ALLY.

[The Czar on his way to Livadia stopped at the railway station of Tula and sent a request that Count Tolstoi would come to meet him. The greeting and conversation passed as described below.]

THE White Czar looked across the world and saw

A tax-wrung Europe sweat in barren toil, And each great power built up of petty griefs, And his the greatest. So a thought arose,- " I am the master : surely there is help."

The White Czar sent a message to the Courts, And from the Courts a courtly answer came: The White Czar sent his message to the world, And from the world a sullen laughter came.

The White Czar called his servants, and he said : "What help ?" They answered, "Lord, there is no help; You are the master. Spend, and we are safe."

The White Czar pondered. "Lo !" he cried, "a help !"

And southward sped along the iron way, Built to bear armies. In his course he stayed, And sent to one, no summons but a prayer.

He came, the peaceful rebel, teacher of those Who, taught to suffer, will not learn to slay, He, the strange saint, the new Augustin, came: All peasant in his garb, rough, sheepskin•clad, And on his breast a wilderness of beard, Yet noble : and he stood before the Czar.

Then on his shoulders the White Czar laid hands, Kissed him on cheek and mouth, and spoke his word "You heard my message. Is there any help ? What peace for Europe ?" And the other said : "Lord, you are master ; bid your power disband."

The White Czar's eyes before that level gaze Dropped, and his voice: " I am not master here.

You are a name in Europe. Speak of peace."

The other answered : " Lord, it shall be done."

And so they passed, crowned dreamer and uncrowned, One to his hearth, there free at his own will To live, love, suffer—free at least to dream ; The other guarded, fenced about with awe,

Lord of the swarming legions at whose word

All Europe quivers, Asia shakes, and he

To the Far East lays pathways for his might;

And bids the sea be furrowed with new deaths, Strong to lay burdens on the groaning Eartb.

0 strengthless Might ! 0 impotence of Power.

STEPHEN C WYNN.