Аннотация: The Sketch about funny adorers of Nicholas I
The Sketch about funny adorers of Nicholas I
The fun publication was found on the Internet.
A George Rooke. "Here for such things I adore Nicholas I )".
In this publication there is a certain amount of facts. They are interesting.
But also the orientation is interesting.
It appears, distribution of the serfdom powers to Grand Duchy of Lithuania (and on the Rzeczpospolita [the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth] in general) with their outstanding democratic institutes - it is a great blessing.
But the author does not speaks on the device of Grand Duchy of Lithuania (and the Rzeczpospolita [the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth] in general). It is not accepted. There are no traditions.
(It is better to talk about the "invasion" of the "poles" during the "time of Troubles" - in this matter after Karamzin's History the tradition is acquired).
With an ironical word "even" George Rooke, however, mentioned "The Statutes of Lithuania [The Lithuanian Statute] even of the 1588 year".
It is as if one of the oldest democratic constitutions in Europe is discredited by the fact that it, this Constitution, is among the oldest.
(Be proud, if you believe pleasant, a habit to flatter and carry a tribute ...).
At the same time the author's attention is directed to those problems, which the nobility received after the partition of the Rzeczpospolita [the Commonwealth].
The szlachta - in a more understandable terminology - was a social stratum of knights (if you use a more commonly used word). Acceptance in knights, as appears from history, was a task not a very difficult. Could accept in knights, for example, and on a battlefield. Several traditional procedures, handing the sword and the man became a knight. On the one hand, it entailed a people"s character and numerous of szlachta ("a people's nobles"). On the other hand, - created difficulties if necessary to documentary prove a belonging to the nobility.
Those who could not prove documentary a belonging to a strata of szlachta were "sent" to "circle" of "one-house-owners" ["odnodvortsi"].
However you should not think that "moving" into a "one-house-owners" deprived of the people, who had experience of free life and rather broad outlook, their qualities. For example, Alexander Tvardovsky came from "one-house-owners". Both his creative path, and his editorial career in the Novy Mir magazine are widely known.
However, this is just one example. Examples of all sorts - countless. Culture level, outlook width, tendency to education - all these qualities of natives of a democratic layer of Grand Duchy of Lithuania (and the Rzeczpospolita [the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth], in general) are widely known.
But it is unpleasant to admit it if the task is to cultivate a flattery, a wearing of tribute, a narrow worldview, a primitive education, a contempt for democratic traditions, a subservience.
Accordingly, George Rooke with a positive attitude considers a problems that have arisen in many residents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (and the Rzeczpospolita [the Commonwealth] as a whole), if necessary to prove their belonging to the nobility.
I should note that all this bureaucratic turbidity involuntarily reminds a something modern, with infinite, more and more detailed, more and more unenforceable rules.
Nicholas I is alive?
The author also notes that not all representatives of the democratic layer were educated people. Naturally, the level of education of different people was different.
For example, we can to remember Henry Thomas Buckle (British). What level of education did he have?
Or Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (a citizen [a subject] of the Empire - a citizen of the USSR) - what was his level of education?
About an "adoration"...
Admiral Nakhimov was born in the area, which, probably, at one time was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
E.V. Tarle writes in the book "Crimean War": "The tsar [Nicholas I], in admiration from amazing activity and heroic bravery of Nakhimov, sent to Sevastopol his adjutant (...) and charged to him to give "a kiss and a bow" for Nakhimov. A week later ... a new adjutant with a new bow from the emperor Nicholas. "Good Sir! - Nakhimov exclaimed - ... I and from the first bow was sick the whole day!" (...) Nicholas neither kisses, nor bows to Nakhimov did not send any more."
All this bureaucratic fuss started and cultivated by the Nicholas" regime - even if not to remember Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov and many other creative persons - led, in-the first, to the defeat in the Crimean war of 1853-1856, from which historical threads and to 1905 stretch. Second, to loss of Alaska (which was obtained Empire without special wars and without special costs).
So all this bureaucratic "charm" and all this "adoration" were quite expensive.
But, in general, the amusing "blow to balls in a billiard game".
The author of Internet material about "adoration" launch one a ball in the szlachta address, and the other to the address of Nicholas I.
A complex work. From whom the wind blows?
March 21, 2019 08:53
Translation from Russian into English: March 21, 2019 10:22.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Скетч о забавных обожателях Николая I".