Show LEO TOLSTOI this is leo Tol birthday A writer in referring to him speaks of the russian governments illogical treatment of the author it sends bonds to prison men who have in their possession certain of Tol writings notably those in which he denounces military service as a sin at the same time it does doeg not lay a finger on tho the author of the pamphlets it condemns it does not seize copies he says ho he has in his fils possession and offers tor for sale the old fashioned way of dealing with the writer of books whose sentiments were looked on as pernicious was to put him in prison keep him there and not give him a chance to disseminate any more heresies her esies tolstoi is allowed to keep on writing but his readers are sent to jail tho the illogicality of this offends him and he does not hesitate to say so ho he calls it revoltingly unjust and amazingly stupid dut but ho he cannot goad the government to act it perseveres in its policy of letting him alone thousands of russians who do no wish to got get into prison find their way there but this one man who courts imprisonment cannot break into jail somo some of the doctrines which tolstoi preaches with the greatest earnest earnestness aro arc ab horent to the government I 1 it t would have no army it if the people were to listen to him that Is a sufficient explanation of its locking up tip men inen who have his writings he escapes their fate because the government has not the courage to lay hands on the greatest of russian writers a man of world wide vide fame of whom his countrymen are proud oven even though they disagree with him there would be general resentment it if such a man were dealt with harshly especially one who Is 19 tottering on the brink of tho the grave iad had lie he been some second or third rate literary fellow he would have been immured long ago but his genius has won for him immunity |