68 RUSSIA THEN AND NOW 



black beauty, on which he sat with all the dignity 

 of a First Regiment trooper. In appearance the 

 famous novelist and philanthropist was more 

 commanding than handsome, in manner easy and 

 kindly, in conversation quite unreserved, not lead- 

 ing, but as ready to listen as to talk. After supper 

 he mounted his pony and galloped away, first 

 inviting us to call upon him on the morrow. 



With three frisky horses our drive was resumed 

 next morning. Our first stop was at Beghitshevka, 

 Tolstoy's headquarters for famine-relief work. 

 We found the Count, dressed in his grey peasant's 

 smock, sitting at a table in his study, a small, 

 unpretentious, simply furnished plank-floored 

 room. With a hearty welcome he presented us 

 to his daughter, Princess Mary, who, while presid- 

 ing with grace over the affairs of the house in her 

 mother's absence, devoted herself, with her father, 

 to their great work of charity in the surrounding 

 country. 



A plan of the province given to me showed 

 twenty-six soup-houses and bakeries, eight hospi- 

 tals, and seven sanitariums under the care of Count 

 Tolstoy. As a result of his telling me that he had 

 notified the Government Committee that he would 



