The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-16
ToLsTo1 AS A COW nERD2R.
A Frightfully Bad One, spite of His
literary Gift end His KIND Heart.
From the Ne,o YORK. Sun.

literary Gift end His KIND Heart.
From the .Ne,o YORK. Sun.
Count Leo Tolstoi's las: ambition before
his recent illness was TO be the herder of the
cattle of the little village community nea-
his castle at Josnaje Polauje. The assem-
bly, of peasants TO choose tue herGer knew
nothing Of his ambition, FOR he vas dark
horse. SO they disDuteia whole afternoon
without being any nearer a selection than
when they began. Couat Tolstoi listened
patiently until evening approached. Thel
he stepped before the assembly, bowed
deeply, aud begged that his candidacy
for the vacant place be favorably
considered. He would be as faithful to the
duties Of the place as could be required by
the most ezacting, he said. and would re-
turn the usual salary t. the village author
ties. Toe peasants had had considerable
experience with the counts eccaat,icities.
but they we're OF quite up TO the emer.
scratched their heads refsctlvely aad
looked incredulous. For some time no one
sold word. Then there came a timiG sug-
question fr m the back row.
But is it proper for you, Father Lew
Nikolajewitch, TO go into this business? Are
yoI adapted to it,"
The count replied in a grieyed tone that
he felt equal to the Requirements Of the
place, and that as far as the Or 3pr.ety was
co csrled, he could aspir, to no higher
honor than TO d. plre and honest man ual
labor for his fello"mep. He sJoke 50 du-
emily and SO perSuasively and pleaded 81
fervently to be spare from the disgrace OF
n refus Il that the assembly confirmed his
election With great ma jority.
The little ia her," said the head peasant,
in the speech that carried the d-oisiOl for
l'%l-e st,-- IL
willing worker. II 1t is his pleasure TO herd
our cattle, lee us yield TO it and pray the
good God that we suffer no harm because
one of the great does our work for u.s.
On thu next day tbs count began the dis
charge of his new duties A few DAYS
passc and the peasant, began e. discover
that man might De a coun;, a phil phe-
and an editor of works on lno n, and yet be
a fail re as herder. The count introduced
several innovations in ths conduct of hi i,
Office that caused growing di,c0utent. All
his predecessors had risen with the lark.
gone through the village blowing tru -
pot aad collecting the ca ta, and, in the
gray of dawn, had driven them ali out on
the broad, Wet meadows. TOTS Of ref rnled
all tceSe practices. He rose late and ate
breakfast with his family The peasant
women had to drive Their ow cows and
pigs together and keep them IN order before
SuO No0NAN NtASNA ~ IlC3oeu us cAC6i-
lency, the count, to c)me out ard
relieve them. This he often failed to
do nefore or 10 O'CLOCK. In the mea Ia
time their husbnnis were breakfa,ras ;
nj nome. Tho water was u-drnw n, tn
chickens unfed, and, in short, the whole
domestic &c 'nomy Of the village was l.,
anarchic confusion. In the castle the con-
dltlon OF affairs was hsrdy better. Tho
granting of the village pig; and the below
ing of the village cows before the doors
from o'c ock in thu morning on had Inn
ished the possibility Of slsep. TIE countess
prot ssted and pleaded for n little peace. but
the c unit was oodIrate. Eventually com.
promise was effected by keeping on gu nd d
lackey, who, when the noise became unen-
durable, wocld appear in oil tie glo Y OF
knee trousers, a gold braid, and shout:
Get your accused ctUtle back, his excel
leroy is asleep or, "Hold your tongues for
a few minutes, his excel!eacy /, drinking
tea. He will not be out for the cattlefor an
hour vet"
This sort of thing went on for six weeks.
Several bead of cattle were lost all were
more or less starved, d all of woma kind
in t e neighb Jrh1oi vera in q cond tiop
closely akio t. revolution. In desaair tho
peasants resolve to appeal t. their .rd.
They called an assembly, and invited the
count:
I'VE have gre favor to ask of thee.