From much of what was spoken and written on the subject, Sergei Ivanovich differed on various points. He saw that the Slavonic question had become one of those fashionable distractions which succeed one another in providing society with an object and an occupation. He saw, too, that a great many people were taking up the subject from motives of self-interest and self-advertisement. He recognized that the newspapers published a great deal that was superfluous and exaggerated, with the sole aim of attracting attention and talking one another down. He saw that in this general movement those who thrust themselves most forward and shouted the loudest were men who had failed and were smarting under a sense of injury - generals without armies, ministers not in the ministry, journalists not on any paper, party leaders without followers. He saw that there was a great deal in it that was frivolous and absurd. But he saw and recognized an unmistakable growing enthusiasm, uniting all classes, with which it was impossible not to sympathize.
The massacre of men who were fellow Christians, and of the same Slavonic race, excited sympathy for the sufferers and indignation against the oppressors.
And the heroism of the Servians and Montenegrins struggling for a great cause begot in the whole people a longing to help their brothers not in word but in deed.
But in this there was another aspect that made Sergei Ivanovich rejoice. That was the manifestation of public opinion. The public had definitely expressed its desire. The soul of the people had, as Sergei Ivanovich said, found expression. And the more he worked in this cause, the more incontestable it seemed to him that it was a cause destined to assume vast dimensions, to create an epoch.
He threw himself heart and soul into the service of this great cause, and forgot to think about his book.
His whole time now was engrossed by it, so that he could scarcely manage to answer all the letters and appeals addressed to him.
He worked the whole spring and part of the summer, and it was only in July that he prepared to go away to his brother's country place.
He was going both to rest for a fortnight, and in the very heart of the people, in the farthest wilds of the country, to enjoy the sight of that uplifting of the spirit of the people, of which, like all residents in the capital and big towns, he was fully persuaded. Katavassov had long intended to carry out his promise to stay with Levin, and so he was going with him.
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TOLSTOY: Anna Karenina Part 8, Chapter 02[Previous Chapter] [Table of Contents] Chapter 2 Sergei Ivanovich and Katavassov had just reached the station of the Kursk line, which was particularly busy and full of people that day, when, looking round for the groom who was following with their things, they saw a party of volunteers driving up in four cabs. Ladies met them with bouquets of flowers, and, followed by the rushing crowd, they went into the station.
One of the ladies who had met the volunteers, came out of the hall and addressed Sergei Ivanovich.
`You also come to see them off?' she asked in French.
`No, I'm going away myself, Princess. To my brother's for a holiday.
Do you always see them off?' said Sergei Ivanovich with a barely perceptible smile.
`Oh, that would be impossible!' answered the Princess. `Is it true that eight hundred have been sent from us already? Malvinsky wouldn't believe me.'
`More than eight hundred. If you reckon those who have been sent not directly from Moscow, over a thousand,' answered Sergei Ivanovich.
`There! That's just what I said!' exclaimed the lady joyously.
`And it's true too, I suppose, that about a million has been subscribed?'
`Yes, Princess.'
`What do you say to today's telegram? The Turks have been overwhelmed again.'
`Yes, so I saw,' answered Sergei Ivanovich. They were speaking of the last telegram stating that the Turks had been for three days in succession beaten at all points and put to flight, and that tomorrow a decisive engagement was expected.
`Ah, by the way, a splendid young fellow has asked leave to go, and they've made some difficulty - I don't know why. I meant to ask you;I know him; please write a note about his case. He's being sent by Countess Lidia Ivanovna.'
Sergei Ivanovich asked for all the details the Princess knew about the young man, and, going into the first-class waiting room, wrote a note to the person on whom the granting of leave of absence depended, and handed it to the Princess.
`You know Count Vronsky, the notorious one... is going by this train?' said the Princess with a smile full of triumph and meaning, when he found her again and gave her the letter.
`I had heard he was going, but I did not know when. By this train?'
`I've seen him. He's here: there's only his mother seeing him off. It's the best thing, anyway, that he could do.'
`Oh, yes, of course.'
While they were talking the crowd streamed by them toward the dining table. They went forward too, and heard a gentleman with a glass in his hand delivering a loud discourse to the volunteers. `In the service of religion, humanity, and our brethren,' the gentleman said, his voice growing louder and louder; `to this great cause mother Moscow dedicates you with her blessing. Jivio!' he concluded, concluded, loudly and tearfully.
Everyone shouted Jivio! and a fresh crowd dashed into the hall, almost carrying the Princess off her feet.
`Ah, Princess! That was something like!' said Stepan Arkadyevich, suddenly appearing in the midst of the crowd and beaming upon them with a delighted smile. `Capitally, warmly said, wasn't it? Bravo! And Sergei Ivanovich! Why, you ought to have said something - just a few words, you know, to encourage them; you do that so well,' he added with a soft, respectful, and discreet smile, moving Sergei Ivanovich forward a little by the arm.
`No, I'm just off.'
`Where to?'
`To the country, to my brother's,' answered Sergei Ivanovich.
