Tolstoy’s Chores
In the New York Times Magazine of September 15:
The author of “War and Peace” took his first bicycling lesson at age 67, only a month after the death of his 7-year-old son, Vanichka. He was still grieving, and the Moscow Society of Velocipede-Lovers provided him a free bike and instruction along the garden paths on his estate. He became a devotee, taking rides after his morning chores. “Count Leo Tolstoy . . . now rides the wheel,” declared Scientific American in 1896, “much to the astonishment of the peasants on his estate.” A close friend noted: “Tolstoy has learned to ride a bicycle. Is this not inconsistent with Christian ideals?”
Below, a sampling of Tolstoy’s chores from his diaries of the period 1895 – 1899.
March 31 — I awoke at 6, and aroused everyone else, but, not rising, through indolence, went to sleep again till 9. Drank tea, and read for a while. Alexeyev called, and, until luncheon time, hindered me from working. Yet he was so civil that I was afraid to offend him, by refraining from going to his place for luncheon. Before the meal, roamed about a little. Am growing faint-hearted… must force myself to do bold things.
April 1st. — Again awoke after 7, but went to sleep, and slept till 10. Read the Sovremennik. Every item in it is poor. How strange to think that bad books should demonstrate to me my faults better than good! Good books cause me to lose hope. Wrote a chapter on prayer. It progressed but indifferently. Vanyushka is a bad, lazy copyist. Nevertheless I have not lost all hope of accustoming him to it. Was foolish enough to go out to dinner, which wearied me unbearably…
April 2nd. — Rose at 9, and both read and wrote. Only B. disturbed me, and that not much. Went out to luncheon. After luncheon, read; then set Vanyushka to work, while promising him to settle his mother in Grummont. That much, at least, is his due. Went out shoot- ing, but saw nothing except a good-looking Cossack woman. Had supper. After supper wrote until the present moment, which is a quarter past one. The second day is very bad, I must work at it again.
April 3rd. — Rose at 12, and had only just time to drink some tea before I was summoned to luncheon. In the absence of A. things are not at all dull. Also, to-day I have been in good spirits. After luncheon Nikolinka arrived, and I proposed to read to him the 6th chapter, but he offended me with a cold response. Wrote a little…
April — Rose at 10, read till luncheon time, wrote a little, and went out shooting… Read; then went to supper. Alexeyev was so stupid that never again will I stir a foot to visit him. It is wearisome constantly to have to . Every item in it is poor. How strange to think that bad books should demonstrate to me my faults better than good! Good books cause me to lose hope. Wrote a chapter on prayer. It progressed but indifferently. Vanyushka is a bad, lazy copyist. Nevertheless I have not lost all hope of accustoming him to it. Was foolish enough to go out to dinner, which wearied me unbearably…
April 2nd. — Rose at 9, and both read and wrote. Only B. disturbed me, and that not much. Went out to luncheon. After luncheon, read; then set Vanyushka to work, while promising him to settle his mother in Grummont. That much, at least, is his due. Went out shoot- ing, but saw nothing except a good-looking Cossack woman. Had supper. After supper wrote until the present moment, which is a quarter past one. The second day is very bad, I must work at it again.
April 3rd. — Rose at 12, and had only just time to drink some tea before I was summoned to luncheon. In the absence of A. things are not at all dull. Also, to-day I have been in good spirits. After luncheon Nikolinka arrived, and I proposed to read to him the 6th chapter, but he offended me with a cold response. Wrote a little…
April — Rose at 10, read till luncheon time, wrote a little, and went out shooting… Read; then went to supper. Alexeyev was so stupid that never again will I stir a foot to visit him. It is wearisome constantly to have to remettre propecia him a sa place. One can do nothing with such a fool. Better have no dealings with him save those of service.
April 6th. — Rose at 6, and am much pleased at the fact. Wrote until luncheon time, then lunched at home, and wrote again, though with little attention, owing to sleepiness. At 5 went for a ride to rouse myself, and returned after 6, to finish writing out the first day — though without sufficient care. The style would appear good, and the additions are not altogether bad. Yapishka is in the room with me. Shall listen to him awhile, then have supper, then go to bed. Am satisfied with the day. The hour is 10.55.
April 22nd, Port Shandrakovsky — Rose very early, and, though I caught nothing, enjoyed a splendid morning. My dogs either run or they do not. Hence it is difficult to come to a decision about them. At Bolshaya Oreshevka had a talk with a peasant of intelligence. Hereabouts the peasantry are satisfied with their life conditions, but not with the Armenian Government. Had dinner and a rest ; then went shooting, as well as meditated on slavery. At my leisure I shall consider whether my thoughts on the subject could fill a pamphlet. The moment that I arrived at Shandrakovo I went, though darkness had fallen, to the seashore, where I mistook a swamp for the sea, and, with the help of my imagination, formed of the black swamp a most formidable and magnificent picture.
May 14th. — Rose early, and have been feeling well. The tarantas broke down at Mozdok, and again I lost my temper. Went into the town, and gorged myself on raisins (a stupid proceeding!). Had a fairly interesting chat with B. One sensible thought occurred to me and I have since forgotten it. Am retiring at 10.15.
May 26th, — Rose after 3, having awakened myself. Felt splendid. The same routine as usual. Wrote little, for the reason that I spent a long time in considering a mystical phrase of small significance which I wished to render eloquently. Wasted the whole morning thus, and am displeased. Paid P. a visit. Why do not only people whom I dislike and cannot respect, people of a different bent from my own, but also all people without exception, feel perceptibly embarrassed in my presence? I must be a very difficult, unbearable person. Retiring to bed at 11.30. To-morrow letters to Pelageya Ilyinishna and Nikolenka.
May 28th. — Rose after 4, and pursued the usual routine. Could do nothing all day. Bulka (his hunting dog) has been nearly killed, and the incident has so affected my nerves that I have been bleeding from the nose, though otherwise I am well. Am sitting down to supper…
