ings of poverty and service, be in practice four hundred years hence? These stories will be regarded both seriously and as curiosities, for it is impossible not to read between the lines. The only wonder is that the censor who forbade "My Religion" should have allowed the skazka entitled "Ivan the Fool." The implication of criticism on the whole military system of Russia is not even covert. The question of regicide is plainly discussed in "A Candle." Though regicide itself is condemned, it is not dubious who is meant by the “ overseer of the story. Count Tolstor's whole system of philosophy is concretely revealed in these allegories; it is not necessary here to discuss the strength or weakness of his logic. But there are few who will not be touched by the moral which Count Tolstof conveys by means of these quaint and curious tales. And there can be no doubt that such a story as "Where Love is there God is also" is a masterpiece of exquisite beauty, certain to achieve immortality. The style of the original Russian is staccato, abrupt, even crabbed. Connective conjunctions are frequently omitted, and there seems to be a deliberate mixture of tenses, past and present. No attempt has been made to reproduce these peculiarities in English; though the simplicity, which is one of the charms of the folk-tale and of these, is legitimately preserved. THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYITCH (1884-1886) CHAPTER I N the great building of the law-courts, while the pro the members of the board and the prokuror met in Ivan Yegorovitch Shebek's private room, and the conversation turned on the famous Krasovsky suit. Feodor Vasilyevitch talked himself into a passion in pointing out the men's innocence; Ivan Yegorovitch maintained his side; but Piotr Ivanovitch, who had not entered into the discussion at first, took no part in it even now, and was glancing over the Vyedomosti, which had just been handed to him. "Gentlemen!" said he, "Ivan Ilyitch is dead!" "Is it possible?" "Here! read for yourself," said he to Feodor Vasilyevitch, handing him the paper, which had still retained its odor of freshness. Heavy black lines inclosed these printed words: "Praskovia Feodorovna Golovina, with heartfelt sorrow, announces to relatives and friends the death of her beloved husband, Ivan Ilyitch Golovin, member of the Court of Appeal, 1 who departed this life on the 16th February, 1882. The funeral will take place on Friday, at one o'clock in the afternoon." Ivan Ilyitch had been the colleague of the gentlemen there assembled, and all liked him. He had been ill 1 Sudyebnaya Palata. I |