ON September 9, 1828, Leo Tolstoy was born at Yasnaya Polyana, the ancestral home of his family. His centenary is being observed throughout the world, wherever educated men realize that the author of ' War and Peace ' and ' Anna Karenina ' is one of the great writers of modern times. Many, however, are not content merely to regard him as an artist, but claim him as one of the greatest prophets of our age. They contend that, he used his superb powers in literature to spread his vital and permanent message, and to help the sufferings of humanity in general, and those of his own distressed country in particular. As an artist philosopher he is comparable to our own more familiar Bernard Shaw.
Mr. Aylmer Maude , who will give the centenary talk tonight, is well known as the translator and editor of many of Tolstoy's works.