cannot be death, and happiness which cannot be evil.”
Russian censorship found this work harmful also, and the first edition was burnt. But now it is freely sold, in complete and in abridged editions. At that time Tolstoy turned his attention to human excesses, such as smoking, drunkenness, the eating of meat, and sexual intemperance. On these questions he wrote a series of articles. Smoking and drinking he dealt with in “Why do Men Intoxicate Themselves?” It appeared as the introduction to the book by Dr. Alexeef. Tolstoy explained vegetarianism in an article entitled “The First Step,” also written as an introduction to a book (“The Ethics of Food”), translated into Russian under his supervision. In addition, he wrote short, popular articles on the same theme, and even gave it an artistic expression. He also organised a temperance society. Persons desiring to enter this society were asked to sign the following form:
“Recognising the great evil and sin of drunkenness, I, the undersigned, decide never to drink any alcohol, vodka, wine, or beer; not to buy or offer it to others; with all my strength I will convince others, especially young people and children, of the evils of drunkenness and the
