A Tolstoi Anecdote

The following characteristic little story of that eccentric genius, Count Leo Tolstoi, is communicated to our Odessa correspomident by a Moscow journalist. After corupletiug one of his recent short works th ïount went in search of a new publisher He appeared one forenoon in the publishing office of a magazine where he was personally unknown. He was dressed after the manner of a better class mauzhik, and the chief of the establishment, probably given to judging from appearances, was not over polite or patiënt in listening to the count 's request to have his sketch published, at the same time taking the manuscript from his pocket. "Oh," said the publisher, "I really cannot be bothered. It is no use my looking at your sketch. We have hundreds of such things in hand and have really no time to deal with yours, even though yon were in a position to guarantee the cost, which I very inuch doubt. ' ' Tolstoi slowly rolled up his manuscript, and replacing it in his pocket observed : "I must be laboring under some misapprehenidon. I have been told that the public likes to read what I write. " "The public likes to read what you write!" exclaimed the publisher, cloeely scrutinizing him. "Whoareyou? What is your name?" "My name is Leo Tolstoi. " The astouished and abashed publisher was instantly on the other side of the counter, expressing the most profuse apologies and entreating the count to do him the distinguished honor of permitting him to publish the sketch. Tolstoi quietly buttoncd up his coat with the manuscript in his breast pocket, saying : "You have uo time, you say, having so many hundreds of these things in hand. I must flnd a publisher who has time, and one who will not require a guarantee. Dasv'idanya I" And the count walked off in his usual nonchalant manner.