Count Tolstoy died early last Sunday morning at Astapova. His
last words were : "There are millions of suffering people
in the world. Why are so many of you around me 2" We dwelt at such length last week on the literary greatness of Tolstoy and on his influence in the world that we shall do no more now than join in the universal tribute of respect to his memory. The Times correspondent says that during his illness Tolstoy dictated this message to his friends :—"I am going away, but others remain who understand the purport of this life, and to them it will be given to carry out that which I aimed at doing and failed." The Tsar wrote with his own hand the following note on ToLstoy's death :—" I heartily deplore the death of the great writer who has embodied the golden age of his talent in his creations of types of the Father- land, constituting one of the most glorious years in Russian life. May he find in God a merciful Judge." On Tuesday Tolstoy was buried in the mound at his home at Yasnaya Polyana amidst demonstrations of deep grief. It is a curious illustration of how loosely knitted is the administration of Russia that although the Tsar had praised Tolstoy, and the Duma had adjourned out of respect for his memory, refer- ences to Tolstoy in public speeches were suppressed by the police in some places.
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