Omaha daily bee., February 23, 1913, THE Semi-MONTHLY MAGAZINE SECTION, Image 39

About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922

Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE

                
I I
TOLSTOY TO THE CZAR
THE RAISER AND THE
KING OF ENGLAND
BY COUNTESS NASTASIA TOLSTOY
ILLUSTRATIONS BY FRANKLIN BOOTH
N THE AUTUMN of 1910, the
Czarina invited mo to visit her at
the summer palace at PetcrliofT,
to have an informal talk with
her family. This was a very un
usual favor and, feeling much
tlattered, I arrived at the ap
pointed hour at tho railway sta
tion that served tho picturesque
royal summer resort. A special coach took mo di
rectly to tho palace, where tho Chamberlain's secre
tary told mo that tho Imperial family was on the
veranda, drinking tea. It was there that the Czarina
wished to receive me.
Her Majesty was still suffering from her long ner
vous breakdown, and she looked palo and weak. We
talked for a short while about her health and ex
changed items of court gossip. She then remarked
confidentially that tho Czar had expressed a wish to
see me, and of course such an expression was a com
mand. His Majesty was playing chess with his
daughters and tho governess, when tho Czarina in
vited him to tell mo what ho wanted.
"Countess," began tho Czar, in a simple and direct
way, "I have a very peculiar confidential mission for
you. But I call upon you reluctantly."
Ho became suddenly silent and looked at mo as if
doubting my readiness to servo him. I bowed po
litely murmuring:
"Your Majesty, I shall bo only too happy to hear
about it,"
"Well," ho drawled, "tho German Kaiser and tho
King of England have put mo into an unpleasant po
sition with their requests. They are curious to get a
direct message from our old Count Leo Nicolaevitch
Tolstoy a very strange notion and naturally I
could not decline to humor them. I did not know how
to go about tho delicate matter; as, frankly, I do not
care for much of the old man's writings and preach
ings, as you know. But then, the Czarina told me
that she knows you very well, and that you know him
personally. I suppose he is related to you? Very
well then I would bo greatly obliged if you could
tako the old man an oral message from me that if he
would in a friendly way send a message through you
to me, I would send it on to tho King of England and
the Kaiser of Germany. It has to be something that
ho has not published before, and that ho will never
publish himself."
"Your Majesty, I am gratified at this mark of your
exceptional favor," I replied. "I shall pay tho Count
a visit without delay."
"And as soon as you have returned with his mes
sage, drop a line to tho Minister of tho Court and I
shall arrange to sco you immediately," said tho Czar,
extending his hand to me.
Wo talked for half an hour longer on various topics
of the day, and then I left.
A week later, I was a guest at tho country estato of
my grand-uncle, and explained to him brielly tho ob
ject of my call, llo listened to mo curiously and re
plied :
"Very strange. I would bo glad to send a message
to royalty; but tho trouble with mo is that I have
written all my life messages for tho mob. I am not
accustomed to tho conventions of Court diction.
However, I will think tho matter over."
"Leo Nicolaevitch, don't you have any visions of a
political nature, or any prophecies on a large interna
tional scale?" I asked.
"A good idea!" ho exclaimed. "I have had some
re or r. uautMoa
Tramlation
TotheEdltor, The Seml-iluntUly Mainline Section. Sir:
J hare the honor to hand you my interview with the late
Count lo Tutttoy, had with him eome montlu before hit
death. I authorize you to make u of it for tlte ftrtt time,
the original copy having been vrrtented to Hit itajeity. the
Viar. lloiHng that the American reading public will lie
interetttd to team about the propheeUe o tlte areateet
genlue o our age, lam rrtictfuUv, Sir,
Yourt,
N, TOLSTOY.
Original letter in French from the Counteu ToUtoy, and
Engluh translation
really strange experiences which I could not publish
as fiction. There is something that has haunted me
for the-past two years. 1 don't know how to explain
tho naturo of it to you. I can not cull it a dream, bc
causo I havo seen it often while 1 have been sitting at
my writing table. On other occasions it lias appeared
to me at twilight, before my dinner hour. 1 nm not a
believer in 'gliosis, nor in the spiritualistic explana
tions of phenomena; but 1 admit that I can not ac
count for this mysterious affair."
"Is it a vision ?" I interrupted. .
"Something of that order, but very clear. So clear
that I could draw a distinct picture of all that trans
pires. Furthermore, I can call up the vision at will.
I am almost suro I could do it while you are here.
Tho only difficulty is, that I am not nblc to write any
thing during the time of tho manifestation. My hands
aro absolutely paralyzed."
"I shall bo happy to write down what you dictate,"
I urged.
"Very good! That settles tho matter," ho replied.
"I shall try for something immediately. There on the
tablo aro paper and pencil. Or uso a pen what
ever you want."
In a few minutes 1 was waiting for tho great mo
ment, pencil and paper in hand. My aged host leaned
back in his chair, covered his eyes with his hand and
relapsed into an apparently comatose condition. For
ten minutes he remained absolutely motionless.
Then, straightening up like ono in a trance, ho began
in a low and hollow voice :
T'HIS IS a revelation of events of a universal
character, which must shortly como to pass.
Their spiritual outlines aro now before my eyes. I
seo floating upon tho surface of tho sea of human fate
the hugo silhouette of a nudo woman. Sho is with
her beauty, her poise, her smile, her jewels U super
Venus. Nations rush madly after her, each of them
eager to attract her especially. But she, like an eter
nal courtesan, flirts with all. In her hair-ornament of
diamonds and rubies is engraved her name: "Com
mercialism." As alluring and bewitching as sho
seems, much destruction and agony follows in her
wake. Her breath, reeking of sordid transactions, her
voico of metallic character like gold, and her look of
greed aro so much poison to the nations who fall vic
tims to her charms.
"And behold, sho has three gigantic arms with
threo torches of universal corruption in her hand
Tho first torch represents tho flamo of War, that tho
beautiful courtesan carries from city to city and coun
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