Leo Tolstoy wrote the article "Meaningless aspirations".
Went online to post. Sees: some failures with the Internet.
"What to do?" Leo Tolstoy has gone to the editorial offices of newspapers.
In one editorial office there is no necessary person. This responsible person went to the house-Museum of the one of the greatest authors. Writers decided to get together and discuss important literary purposes.
He went to the other office. The responsible person is absent: he writes the biography of the great Russian writer.
Finally, he visited the third office. There began lunch break. The door is locked with a key.
Then Leo Tolstoy has thought: "There is the person of higher position. He is responsible for culture - the count Nesselrode. I go to him!"
Leo Tolstoy comes to count Nesselrode.
The count Nesselrode is, of course, very busy. But nothing can be done: the count came to the count.
Leo Tolstoy takes out the article " Meaningless aspirations "and passes the article Nesselrode: "The work is written in the interests of society. Society is waiting for your command: "To Print!'".
The count Nesselrode took the sheets of the manuscript in hands, and because of the overemployment reads aloud in the accelerated mode, "through a line", "on diagonal":
'... the impudent boy, the barin's son, pushes away, knocks on the breast ... and defiantly shouts: "Away from a road, rubbish such!"'
'"It is not good ... and you're ahead, in future so don't do..."'.
The count Nesselrode sighed, looked up at Leo Tolstoy and commented:
- Here, the count, you have noticed exactly. There are impolite people in our society! They need to be brought up!
After this comment, the count Nesselrode continues to view the article in accelerated mode. And reads aloud:
"... We are under the ruling ..." ... e-e-e... "immoral" ... e-e-e "not having" ... e-e-e ... "even" ... e-e-e ... "mind" ...
The count Nesselrode raises his eyes again and comments:
- You, the count, write about a ruling of the immoral people who don't have a mind. But if such people rule, then who will teach impolite people to a good behavior? A hopeless situation in this case turns out ... Sad prospects...
The count Nesselrode thought , and summarized his opinion:
- This is the very necessary, relevant, informative article, dear Lev Nikolaevich! As we lack politeness, acquaintance to notions of good behavior now!
But now we are in a condition of a default of the national literary market. Not so just to that money which is available for the population to get to pockets of writers in exchange for a creative product. Objective circumstances are that, that the state can't fulfill the cultural, legal, civilizational obligations. Important, - a centuries-old a civilizational, - connections between authors and readers have broken up, have collapsed, - in a some sense.
Thus, your article will not reach the readers. At least, through a publishing house.
Thanks for your coming. I read your article with a great interest. I will be glad to meet with you many times. I hope for a fruitful cooperation. We provide all kinds of support to a talented people!
Would you like a cup of tea?
Leo Tolstoy has taken away back the article and to tea didn't begin to drink.
Leo Tolstoy came home. He remembers his visit to count Nesselrode, and to him becomes ridiculous.
Tolstoy takes a sheet of paper and writes a phrase: "To the village, to the grandfather".
Thought a few seconds. Then he took a time to write a story.
The Internet became to work. Tolstoy has posted online the article and the story.
And at this time the count Nesselrode goes about the own business and remembers Leo Tolstoy's visit. "He has come with article. Some ill-mannered young man has dared to behave impolitely ... A stupid people are ruling... But what morals?" "They try to write allegorically ..." "They apply an Aesopian language ...".
The count Nesselrode had a many cares. "I will think of this visit of Tolstoy later". For memory he has written on a leaf of a block calendar: "Meaningless aspirations?" Then he have switched to a current affairs.
October 7, 2018 15:48
Translation from Russian into English: October 7, 2018 17:28.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рассказ о вежливости'.