In Paris he once more
visited Turgenev, and then crossed over to London, where he saw the
great Russian critic Herzen almost every day. Herzen was not at all
impressed by Tolstoi's philosophical views, finding them both weak and
vague. The little daughter of Herzen begged her father for the
privilege of meeting the young and famous author. She expected to see
a philosopher, who would speak of weighty matters: what was her
disappointment when Count Tolstoi appeared, dressed in the latest
English style, looking exactly like a fashionable man of the world,
and talking with great enthusiasm of a cock-fight he had just
witnessed!
After nine months' absence, Tolstoi returned to Russia in April 1861.
He soon went to his home at Yasnaya Polyana, established a school for
the peasants, and devoted himself to the arduous labour of their
education. Here he had a chance to put into practice all the theories
that he had acquired from his observations in Germany and England. He
worked so hard that he injured his health, and in a few months was
forced to travel and rest. In this same year he lost a thousand rubles
playing billiards with Katkov, the well-known editor of the "Russian
Messenger." Not being able to pay cash, he gave Katkov the manuscript
of his novel, "The Cossacks," which was accordingly printed in the
review in January 1863.
On the 23 September 1862, he was married.
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