Sophie Tolstoy

“ A year later he graduated in the Historical and Philological Faculty in the Derpl University, after which he remained at the Petersburg University in order to prepare for the professorship of Russian Literature. In 1897 he began a course of lectures on the history of Russian literature at the Petersburg University, but was soon dismissed by the Minister of Education because of his liberal views. It was only in 1906 that Vengerov was again allowed to lecture in the University, and in 1910 he was made professor of the University for Women and of the Institute of Psychoneurology. ”

“ Forty-eight years is a long road. Many unnecessary words were spoken in that time, many incautious movements made. And for everything she will be made to answer before the court of mankind. S. A. T. knew this, and with an anxious heart she prepared herself for the judgment. ”

“ The Autobiography and L. N. Tolstoi's Letters to his Wife are the last words of the accused. We should listen to them carefully and with attention, weighing every word. If S. A. T. bears a responsibility before all mankind, each of us before our conscience has a responsibility for whatever verdict we may pass upon her. We must judge sternly, but justly. ”

“ The friendship of Tolstoi and Strakhov lasted for twenty-five years, and on Strakhov's part there was thirty years' adoration of Tolstoi's genius, and of his great spiritual and intellectual qualities. V. V, Rosanov wrote the following after Strakhov's death: "Strakhov's attachment to Tolstoi was most deep and mystical: he loved him as the incarnation of the best and most profound aspirations of the human soul, as a special nerve in the huge body of mankind in which we others form parts less understanding and significant ”

“ In 1871 I received 400 roubles from the Sarya, and in June I went to stay with my people in Poltava. On my way back to Petersburg I stopped at Tula for the night, and in the morning took a cab and drove out to Yasnaya Polyana. After that we used to see each other every year, that is, I used to stay a month or six weeks with him every summer. ”

“ In The Book of Genealogies of the Nobility of the Moscow Government, Vol. I, page 122, the Bers are included under Section III., i.e. among those families which were promoted to the title of nobility through the Civil Service. The year of their promotion was 1843. The right to the coat-of-arms was granted by Supreme Order to the father of S. A. T. in 1847. See V. Lukomskii and S. Troinizkii, "List of persons to whom has been granted by H.I.M. the right to coats-of-arnis and the title of nobility of the All-Russian Empire and of the Kingdom of Poland," Petersburg, 1911, page 14. ”

“ Vyacheslav Andreevich Bers, born May 3, 1861, died May 19, 1907, an engineer who was killed for no obvious reason by workmen during the revolutionary days in Petersburg. Leo N. Tolstoi was very fond of him. See P. Biryukov, How L. N. Tolstoi composed the Popular Calendar, 1911.
11. Page 25. A. Y. Davidov, 1823-85, professor of mathematics in the University of Moscow, author of popular text-books on algebra and geometry. ”

“ N. A. Sergievskii, 1827-92, a writer on theology, author of many scholarly theological books, founder and editor of The Orthodox Review, professor of theology in the University of Moscow,
13. Page 28. In the Natasha of War and Peace there are many characteristics of S. A. T. and of her sister, Tatyana Andreevna Kuzminskii. ”

“ Page 23, Alexander Evstafevich Bers, born February 18, 1807, died September 6, 1871. See Peterburgskii Necropol, Vol. I. page 204; also V. Lukomskii and S. Troinizkii, page 14.
7. Page 24. In the Tula Province, 25 versts from Yasnaya Polyana.
8. Page 24. A. M. Islenev, born July 16, 1794, died April 23, 1882. ”