“Wild landowner” Saltykov-Shchedrin in summary
In a certain kingdom, there lived a landowner in a certain state, “and everything he had was enough: peasants, and bread, and cattle, and lands, and gardens.” He was stupid, read the newspaper “News” and the body had a soft, white and friable “.
He does not like one thing, and, behold, he complains to God: too many men have divorced! But God knew that the landlord was stupid, but because he did not listen. Then the landlord decided to lime them himself and began to oppress them in every possible way. The peasants begged the whole world for the Lord God: “Lord, it is easier for us to disappear with children with small children, than to die all my life!” God heard their prayer – “and there was no man in the whole space of the possessions of the stupid landlord.” The landlord rejoiced. He decided to have a theater in his house, invited the troupe, but in the house of the landowner is empty, there is nobody even to raise
Meanwhile, the landlord’s estate comes to desolation, overgrown with grass, and once there was even a bear. “Senka!” cried the frightened landowner, remembered, and… cried. But still wants to stick
The Ispravnik, meanwhile, reported the disappearance of the peasants to the provincial authorities. They called a council. It was decided: “The peasant to catch and establish, but to the stupid landowner, who instigates the instigator all the time, to instill in himself the least intimidation, so that he stops his fanfaring and does not repay his entry into the treasury of taxes.”
The peasants were returned to the district, and flour, meat, and livestock appeared again in the bazaar, and they went to the treasury with a stream. The landlord, with great difficulty, caught. “Caught, immediately blew out, washed and cut off their nails.” The captain-police officer took the newspaper “Vest” from the landowner and instructed him to supervise Senka. The landlord “is alive to this day.” He unfolds grandship, is longing for his former life in the woods, he is washed only by compulsion and sometimes mumbles. “