IRRIGATION IN RUSSIA. I. 



A PROFESSIONAL VISIT TO THE TOLSTOI DO- 

 MAIN NEAR TYLA, CENTRAL RUSSIA. 



BY L. LODIAN, c. e., Paris, Fr. 

 (Exclusive for the IRRIGATION AGE.) 



After crossing Asia from the Pacific Ocean to the Ural Mountains, 

 crossing Russia in the fall of '97, I received a professional call or 

 invite from the illustrious Tolstoi: he wanted me to go over his estate 

 with him for an expression of opinion, etc. I ciphered forward, ac- 

 cepting at once. 



Now Tolstoi happens to be an interesting person in the eyes of 

 Americans at the present time; so I will in this first paper give you 

 an insight into his home life from my own observations; and tell 

 about the irrigation on the estate later. I think most readers wil 

 pronounce this the more interesting course. 



TOLSTOI, AN INSIGHT INTO HIS ESTATE AND LITERARY LIFE. 



"Venez." Tolstoi. Such was the brief dispatch handed me inl 

 passing through the small town of Riajht, Central Russia, in Septem- 

 ber, '97. Riajht is a junction-point of departure either for Mockba 

 (Mosko) via Riazan or Mockba via Tyla (pronounced Tula) the latter 

 route some 80 versts longer. The Tolstoi domain is some 15 versts 

 to the southwest of Tyla. 



GOING. 



I had made up my mind to proceed via Riazan to Mockba, and not 

 touch Tyla: but the Tolstoi missive changed that. Besides, I had 

 often expressed a wish to see how a camobap (pronounced samovar) 

 was made. 



A RUSSIAN NABOB'S HALF-WAY HOUSE, 



Some 40 versts before reaching Tyla, arrived the evening at a 

 small stancia with still smaller accommodations for a wayfarer or 

 better said, none at all and having perceived in the distance a "big 

 white house" I sent in my card: soon there was a horse and trap out- 

 side the stancia, waiting to take me to the place. It transpired this 

 was the residence of the Kniaz, or nabob, Obolencki, and it was his 

 son who had driven over for me. (The dictionary translates kniaz 

 into "prince. v ) He is one of the more noted horsemen and horse- 

 raisers of Pocia. Introduced to the family, I saw a couple of days 

 slip by here pleasantly enough going over the estate, inspecting the 

 stock. The poor Kniaginia has had her share of sorrow. One of her 



