272
say. One has to be thankful
if
one has done one's bit at the
time and at the right hour. Only the few chosen ones are able
leave for posterity not only the content, but also the
form,
of
ideas and opinions, their personality, to which, generally
the mob remains entirely indifferent. Ordinary individuals are
demned to total disappearance, to being swallowed up by the
rent; but they have increased its force, they have widened
deepened its bed-what more do they want?
I am laying down my pen.... One more last advice to
writers and one more last request. My friends, never try to
yourselves (whatever libellous stories they may not tell about
Don't try to explain a misunderstanding, don't be anxious either
say yourselves or to hear "the last word."
Carry
on with your
and
in
time everything will come right. At any rate, let a
CUI.I~IUI~""
period of time elapse first- and then look on all the old
from an historical point of view, as I have tried to do now.
Let
following example serve as a lesson to you; in the course of my
career I have only once tried "to get the facts right." Namely,
The Contemporary Review
began assuring its subscribers in its
nouncements that it had dispensed with my services because of
'unfitness
of my convictions (while, in fact, it was I who,
in
spite
their requests, would have nothing more to do with them-of
I have documentary proof). I could not resist announcing the
state of affairs in public and-of course, suffered a complete
The younger generation were more indignant with me than
"How did I dare to raise my hand against their idol! What
docs
matter that I was right? I should have kept silent!" I profited
this lesson; I wish you, too, should profit by it.
As
for my request, it is as follows: guard our Russian
our beautiful Russian tongue, that treasure, that trust handed
to you by your predecessors, headed again by Pushkin ! Treat
powerful instrument with respect; it may work miracles
in
the
of those who know how to use it! Even those who dislike
abstractions" and "poetic sentimentalities," even to practical
for whom language is merely a means for expressing
means to an end, just like an ordinary lever, even to them I
will
respect at least the laws of mechanics and extract every possible
from every thing! Or else, glancing over some dull, confused,
