The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-24
TOLSTOI A COWPUNCHER.
He Was a Frightfully Bad One, Al
though He Served, With
out Pay.
The Peasants Were Soeptical and
not Without Very Good
Reason, Either.

The Domestic Economy Of the Village Up
set by the Philosopher Herder-
He Resigns.
Count Leo Tolstoi's last ambition befort
his recent illness was to be the neroer o.
the cattle Of the little village community
near his castle at Josnaje Polanje, says TN
New York Sun. The assembly Of peasants
to choose the herder knew nothing OF hi
ambition. for he was dark horse, and q
thew disputed the whole afternoon with
out being any nearer selection than when
they began. Count Tolstoi listened pa
tiently till evening approached. Then hs
stepped before the assembly. bowed deeply,
and begged that his candidacy for tho va
can't place be favorably considered. He
would Be faithful to the duties Of the place
ma could be required BY the most exacting,
he said, and would return the usual salary
to the village authorities. The peas
ants had had considerable experience
With the counts eccentricitieA but they
were not quite up to the emergency created
BY his offer. The old men scratched their
heads reAectively and looked increduloua.
For some time no ono satd . word. Then
there came timid suggestion from the
back row:
Bnt 7 i proper for YOU Father Lev
NN Is e 70 e INTO TINS
The count replied in a Rrieved tone that he
felt equal to the requirements of the place,
and that as far as the propriety was con-
cerned he could aspire to no higher honor
than to do pure and honest manual labor
for his fellow-men. He spoke 20 nuently
~ to be spared from the disgrace Of re-
fusal that the assembly confirmed his cleo.
1.-THE little father" said the head peasant
in the speech that carried the decision for
Tolstoi.. has always been ready and VIII
cattle let Us yield to it and pray the good
God that We suffer no harm because one Of
the great does our work for US.
On the next day the count began the dis
charge Of his new duties. A few days
passed and the peasants began to discover
and an editor Of works on labor, and yet be
failure az herder. The count introduced
several innovations in the conduct of his
Office that caused growing discomfort. All
his predecessors had risen with the lark,
gone through the village blowing trumpet
the gray Of dawn had driven them all out
on the broad wet meadows. Tolstoi re-
formed all these practices. He rose late
and ate breakfast with his family. The
peasant women had to drive their own COWS
and pigs together, and keep them in order
lency the count to come out and relieve
them. This he often failed to do before
nine or ten O'Clock. In the mean time their
husbands were breakfastless at home. The
water was undrawn, the chickens unfed
and, in short, the whole domestic economy
- 1 t,o~ su> - huo
In the castle the condition Of affairs was
hardly better. The Rrunting of the village
pigs and the believing Of the village cows
before the doors from four o'clock in the
morning on had banished the possibility
ct oe. sss The b, ooun'iss ..p and Sn
the >I count was obdurate. Eventu.
ally compromise was effected by
keeping on guard lackey who, when
the noise became uncomfortable, would
appear in all the glory Of knee trousers. 9
cattle back. his Excellency is asleep" OF,
"Hold your tongues for few minutes, his
Excellency il drinking tea. He will not be
out for the cattle for an hour YETI
This sort of thing went on for six weeks.
Several head of cattle were lost, all were more
or less starved, and all Of womankind in the
akin to revolution. In despair the peasants
resolved to appeal to their lord. They called
an assembly, and invited the count:
I'VE have great favor to ask Of thee,
Father Lew Nikolajewitch." said the spokes-
man. when the count appeared. 1--WE beg
.TssWhat is 1t? Speak out. Don't you know
am always anxious to serve y0u?''
Considerable confusion among the peas
ants followed this remark. Four or five be-
gan to speak, and then stopped in fright
ened embarrassment. Those in front backed
rH md khnoA 1Hof, IND nd ~.
ers forward. Finally ninety year-old fell
low OF tried courage spoke out:
Free us, oh, master. We will be eter-
nally thankful. Don't torture Us longer
"What do you mean2'' asked the count in
astonishment. '.What shall / free you
from?"
From thy crazy idea, oh, Father Lev
Nikolaiewitch. For thee it l. pleasure,
but for rs ruin. And then the women, the
witches give us no peace.
In word the community besought tho
count to resign his new Office.
but how have I angered you'll What
with tears in his eyes. "Have Z not done
my duty2" ~
An appalling stiffness was the only an
gwer to these questions for some time.
Then came diplomatic voice from the
'.Thou art no good a. hsrder. Father
Lew Nikolaiewitch, because we may NOT
swear at thee. Thou art q lord. And What
is the use of having herder il W NAV not
swear at him and beat him?, &
Count Tolstoi looked about piteouslv for
an expression of disapproval Of his hard
sentence. He found NO comfort, From an
sides came grunts Of satisfaction with the
words Of the last speaker. In trembling.
voice the count announced that he would.
bow before the wishes of his people and re-
sign his office. He then withdrsW and the
peasants chose his successor.
Round Trip Rates to St Louis.
The Union Pacific railway will cell round
tickets, Helena to st. Louis. No., and re-
turn. at rate of SIS. Tickets limited TO
thirty days going, thirty days returning;
extreme limit, ninety days.
A. e. VEAz1r,
Ticket and Passenger Agent.
Salt Lake, San FrancIse and Los Angeles
Excursion Rates.
The Union Pacific Railway COMPANY viii
eel excursion tickets to sHan Francisco and