Just before her departure, Chekhov received a telegram, on February 26, informing him of Gorky's election to the Academy of Sciences. Chekhov was probably somewhat surprised. lie himself had not recommended his friend, for he no doubt regarded him as too young and unproved for such a high honor. Though some thought, as Olga reported to him from Petersburg, that Gorky would reject the distinction because of his hostility to the government, Chekhov assured her that Gorky was very pleased.
Less than two weeks after the announcement, however, the official government gazette published a statement that the honor had been rescinded, because the nominating committee had been unaware of the incumbent's prison record — an allusion to Gorky's recent arrest for illegal political activities. Actually, Nicholas II, upon receiving an unfavorable report on Gorky's election from the Minister of Internal Affairs, personally recommended that it be annulled. His action in going over the heads of the distingugished members of the Academy caused something of a national scandal.
Chekhov was much disturbed by the turn of events. Friends urged him to resign from the Academy. He consulted an eminent lawyer in an effort to learn whether legal charges could be brought against the government for usurping the rights of the Academy to elect whomever they saw fit, but he was told that there was no appeal from an act of the Tsar. When he spoke to Tolstoy about the matter, the old man, although a duly elected member, sternly announced that he did not regard himself as an academician — he had never acknowledged the letter of appointment — and he ended the conversation by burying his head in a book.
Chekhov delayed taking any final decision until he had ascertained all the facts in the case, which he sought from close friends among members of the Academy, such as Kondakov and Korolcnko. There was also a possibility that a meeting of the Academy in May would protest the government's annulment and reaffirm Gorky's election. Korolenko, however, after exploring the situation in Petersburg, informed Chekhov of the futility of expecting anything but supine submission from the learned academicians. Since he shared Chekhov's indignation in the matter and was also motivated by the same high principles, Korolenko made a special trip to Yalta at the end of May to discuss what action they would take. Both decided upon resignation from the Academy.
Accordingly, Chekhov wrote A. N. Veselovsky, head of the Division of Russian Language and Literature of the Academy of Sciences: "In December of the past year,2 I received notification of the election of A. M. Peshkov3 as an honorary academician. A. M. Peshkov was then living in the Crimea, and hence I did not delay in getting in touch with him and was the first to bring the news of his election and the first to congratulate him; shortly thereafter the newspapers announced that in view of an investigation of Peshkov under Article 1035, his election was considered invalid. Since it was definitely indicated that this announcement came from the Academy of Sciences, and since I am an honorary academician, then the announcement in part came from me also. In short, I was warmly congratulating and at the same time was declaring that the election was invalid — such a contradiction I can hardly accept, nor can I reconcile it with my conscience. A knowledge of Article 1035 explains nothing. After lengthy deliberation I was able to come to but one decision, extremely painful and regrettable to me, namely, most respectfully to ask you to relieve me of the title of honorary academician." (August 25,1902.)
Characteristically Chekhov made no effort to publicize his resignation from the Academy. But the news spread rapidly, his letter appeared in the illegal Russian press abroad, and most intellectual circles acclaimed him and Korolenko for their courageous decision.
Gorky and the Academy's action were the main subjects of discussion among writers who arrived at Yalta that spring to enjoy the lovely weather and, hopefully, to talk with Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Gorky. Leonid Andreev came with his recent bride — very uninteresting, Chekhov described her to the curious Olga, and he assured her that he would desert such a wife. As usual, Chekhov's house was the favorite gathering place for these writers, and several of them have left interesting accounts of their visits and discussions on literature, publishers, new plays, and the political situation.4 Batyushkov quoted him as say-
Gorky was elected at a meeting of the Academy on February 21, 1902. Chekhov's mention of December, 1901, could only mean that he had confused the dates or that he had advance notice from friends in the Academy that Gorky's nomination would be proposed.
A. M. Peshkov was Gorky's real name.
For example, Batyushkov, Bunin, "Skitalets" (S. G. Petrov, popular in progressive circles and a friend of Chekhov's), and N. I). Teleshov have all left accounts. Apart from these writers and Gorky and Andreev, other literary visitors to Chekhov that spring were his old friend, the poet A. A. Belousov, S. Ya. Elpatievsky, V. N.
ing that a Constitution would soon be proposed in Russia, and another put him on record as opposing the ccntral principle of Tolstoy's teaching — nonresistance to evil. At one of the gatherings Chekhov enthusiastically advocated a new kind of co-operative periodical free from the dictation of publishers and editors. Several of the visitors observed that his health and spirits seemed improved, though on one occasion he quietly disappeared and the company were informed that he had gone to bed.
Certainly, he must have felt unusually well, for, at Bunin's request, Chekhov agreed to sit for a portrait by the artist P. A. Nilus, a request which he had previously rejected. But the sittings were abruptly suspended, for early in April Chekhov received news of the serious illness of his wife in Petersburg.
« 3 »
Olga's letters to Chekhov on her long trip from Yalta to Petersburg were filled with joyful memories of their fleeting "second honeymoon," mingled with the despondency of parting. Thoughts haunt me, she wrote, "that you suffocate there day after day as in a prison, thirsting for another life, and being patient, patient without end." She also informed him of a strange pain in her stomach and a feeling of nausea. A woman passenger to whom she confided her indisposition wondered if she were not in an "interesting condition." "I also thought that, but it can hardly be," Olga wrote him, perhaps mindful of the "Pamfil" — so the "little half-German" was now called — they had dreamt about out loud in Yalta.
Soon, however, the performances of the Art Theater were in full swing, one of them a command affair before the Tsar and his entourage, and their success was unparalleled, greater than on the previous season. Even the conservative Petersburg press was on this occasion largely won over. The Three Sisters was acclaimed, nor did the company fail in the premiere of Gorky's weak play, The Petty Bourgeois, which was tampered with by the censor and much altered by Stanislavsky. And the fact that many secret police were in the audience, which the actors knew, made them intensely nervous.
Olga had never enjoyed such triumph. Her performances were singled out by the reviewers, she was showered with flowers, unknown
Ladyzhensky, V. M. Lavrov, V. A. Lazarevsky, and the dramatist S. A. Naidenov, some of whose plays Chekhov admired.
admirers sought to meet her, and Nemirovich-Danchcnko informed her that Suvorin was prepared to offer her a thousand roubles a month to join his theater. Chekhov's brother Misha paid Olga the dubious compliment of praising only her in a review for New Times. She remonstrated with him over this awkward favoritism and complained to Chekhov. He advised her to pay no attention to it, saying a bit contemptuously that if Suvorin praised Misha that meant more to him than anything, but he urged her to see his brother and his family, which she did, for this would please his mother.