Аннотация: The Dialogue about Witte's memoirs, on October 9, 2018.
The Dialogue about Witte's memoirs, on October 9, 2018.
Gorky gave out books in the cafe-library. He was approached by one of the readers:
- Alexei Maksimovich, what do you think about the Witte's memoirs?
- Evaluation of the memoirs by Witte depends on point of view, - Gorky said cautiously. - What exactly are you interested in?
The reader read some phrases from the Witte's memoirs:
"...For me it was clear that every moment can happen some misfortune..."
"...When I returned from Fastov to Kiev, I immediately wrote a report to the Minister of Railways, in which explained how the movement was made on the road; that I did not have the courage to stop the train, because I did not want to make a scandal, but that I think such a movement is unthinkable, impossible. I presented the calculations...."
"I demanded that the schedule be changed, and otherwise, I wrote, I will not lead the Imperial train."
"At this time, the Emperor turns to me and says:
What are you saying? I on the other roads go, and I do not reduce speed, and on yours of roads it is impossible to go ..."
"Then I said emotionally to the Minister of Railways:
You know, your Excellency, the others let do as they want. And I to the Sovereign don't want to break the head. This situation will come to an end in the fact that you thus to the Sovereign will break the head.
The Emperor Alexander III heard this my remark, of course, was very dissatisfied with my impudence, but has told nothing because He was a calm and noble man".
"At each railway car there is, so to speak, an official log of this car in which its all malfunctions register, I in it also have written that I warn ...
Then I crossed myself and was glad that I got rid of these the Tsar trips, because they were always associated with great excitement, trouble and danger."
"It turned out that the Imperial train was traveling from Yalta to Moscow, and gave such a great speed, which was required [earlier] on the South-Western Railways. None of the road managers had the firmness to say that it was impossible...
Happened what I predicted: ... the train wrecked.
The entire train fell under the embankment and several people were maimed.
In the moment of the crash, the Emperor and his family were in the dining-railway car; the whole roof of the dining-car fell on the Emperor, and he, only thanks to his gigantic strength, kept the roof on his back and the roof did not crush anyone. Then, with tranquility peculiar to him and mildness, the Sovereign went out of the railway car, has calmed all the wounded, has helped and only thanks to his tranquility, hardness and a equanimity all this accident wasn't followed by any drama adventures".
"The Emperor Alexander III ... has told ... that he would wish, that the managing director of the South-West roads Witte has been appointed to the post of the Department director ... At the same time the Emperor Alexander III has told: "We speak about that Witte, who such a sharp. When I was driving on the South-West roads, he in my presence said a very big audacity against me, namely, that he does not want to listen to the Minister of Railways, because he does not want to break the head me. I pretended, continued the Emperor, as if this phrase, in a high degree of daring, I did not notice. But as Witte was right, I prepared the great plans about him"".
Gorky was silent.
- And what do you think of this part of the Witte's memoirs? - the reader asked, at last.
- You know ... , young man... - Gorky has said. - I often see you in the library, almost every day. You better stay away from these stories with the architect, with the construction on the surface of the landslide in the "land of magnolias", with the warnings of the architect and his subsequent troubles, with the fallen bridges in the Amur region and in the Republic of Mordovia.
The reader was silent without a word.
- Nobody is going to violate your constitutional rights. It's obvious! - Gorky explained finally. - On the contrary. The digital economy is preparing! Do you to supermarkets go? You try to find goods at the cheapest prices?
The reader has nodded in agreement.
- Suppose, you in a supermarket approach to a door of a public toilet. If the economy is a simply stagnating, - that is, not yet a digital, - then what are you doing?
- I'm opening the door, at first.
- And what will you do if the so-called digital economy will identify you as a person thinking about the Witte's memoirs, about the architect and other things?
- At first, I will try to open a door.
- That is right! But, after all, this door may and not be opened up. And in this situation you may flunk the protection of your constitutional rights. And the time for your visiting the cafe-library may be reduced in this scenario. As a librarian, I'm very concerned about our readers. Therefore, I warn you in advance.
The reader has attentively looked at Gorky. Gorky smiled slightly.
- What to read to me in this situation? - the reader asked. He closed the book in case, and gave to Gorky the Witte's memoirs.
- Go to the table with the fresh newspapers. The informative article was published today on the very hot topic. I recommend to read, at the same time to write out citations and at the right time to flash your knowledge. It may be for you, as a student, is helpful, - Gorky recommended with a smile.
The reader went to the table with the newspapers.
- A proper reading will open for you all the doors! - Gorky has kindly explained.
October 9, 2018 18: 49.
Translation from Russian into English: October 10, 2018 15:37.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Диалог о мемуарах Витте 9 октября 2018 г.'.