A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 14

http://proza.ru/2021/03/04/382 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 1. http://proza.ru/2021/03/04/382
http://proza.ru/2021/03/09/1868 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 2.  http://proza.ru/2021/03/09/1868
http://proza.ru/2021/03/15/256 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 3.  http://proza.ru/2021/03/15/256
http://proza.ru/2021/03/16/302 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 4.  http://proza.ru/2021/03/16/302
http://proza.ru/2021/03/17/214 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 5.  http://proza.ru/2021/03/17/214
http://proza.ru/2021/03/21/621 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 6. http://proza.ru/2021/03/21/621
http://proza.ru/2021/03/24/573 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 7. http://proza.ru/2021/03/24/573
http://proza.ru/2021/03/26/295 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 8.  http://proza.ru/2021/03/26/295
http://proza.ru/2021/04/01/574 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 9.  http://proza.ru/2021/04/01/574
http://proza.ru/2021/05/08/1300 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 10.  http://proza.ru/2021/05/08/1300
http://proza.ru/2021/05/17/1365 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 11.  http://proza.ru/2021/05/17/1365
http://proza.ru/2021/06/09/362 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 12.  http://proza.ru/2021/06/09/362
http://proza.ru/2021/06/13/355 A tutorial of a writer s success. Chapter 13.  http://proza.ru/2021/06/13/355



Chapter 14. A creative tycoon Heinrich Schliemann, a genius poet Alexander Pushkin, an innovative titan Howard Hughes

A comparison of success portraits.

Reflections on the laws and rules of Heinrich Schliemann's success become much more specific when comparing the great archaeologist with other historical figures.

After some reflections and mystical guiding phenomena, Alexander Pushkin (1799 - 1837) and Howard Hughes (1905 - 1976) were chosen as such figures.

The rationale behind this choice might look like this.

Heinrich Schliemann was both a Russian citizen and a US citizen; lived in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as in California. He is an entrepreneur, a writer, and a historian. He was in financial trouble. He was wealthy. He grew out of a world organized in many ways in a feudal way; at the time of his successful activity, he resembles not so much the scientists and entrepreneurs of the 19th century, as such civilizational figures of the 20th and 21st centuries as Howard Hughes, Elon Musk, Richard Branson.

Heinrich Schliemann received both literary royalties and entrepreneurial income. In his life there were circumstances that contributed to both a relatively early death and a fairly long process of a dying.

At the chronological scale, Heinrich Schliemann is located between Alexander Pushkin and Howard Hughes.

The earthly paths of Alexander Pushkin and Howard Hughes are completed; their biographies are more or less known. A comparison of Heinrich Schliemann, Alexander Pushkin and Howard Hughes is quite logical from the perspective of their implementation of the laws of success.

The comparing these three historical figures is a difficult task.

I decided to form a "comparison key" by defining as such the so-called "midlife crisis".

A certain logical analogy to this concept is contained in astrology, which, based on the duration of the Saturn cycle, conventionally divides a person's life into two parts; accordingly there is an astrological idea that a person has two lives.

Let us assume conditionally that this “dividing line” between “first” and “second” lives is the “midlife crisis”.

This "key of comparison" is quite functional: for both Heinrich Schliemann and Howard Hughes, adult life is clearly divided into two parts; for Alexander Pushkin, the crisis, completing "first" life, turned out to be the end of life as a whole ...

The applied "comparison key" allows us to formulate the most general statements about the similarities and differences between these historical figures.

Heinrich Schliemann acquired a lucrative Parisian real estate and began attending lectures at the University of Paris in 1866 at the age of 44.

Prior to that, in 1864-1865, Heinrich Schliemann made a trip around the world.

And even earlier, in January 1864, he left the guild merchant class in Russia and announced the completion of his commercial activity.

Thus, in Heinrich Schliemann, the “dividing line” between the “first” and “second” lives can be conditionally determined by the age of 42-44 years.

Note that even before 1864 Heinrich Schliemann made attempts to "retire", but for various reasons they (attempts) did not succeed. The first time the desire to do away with business appeared in him in the last year of the Crimean War (1856) at about the age of 34. In 1858 Heinrich Schliemann comprehended the “horror” of the “trade crisis”, from which he “turned gray at the age of 36”, standing for three months “on the edge of the abyss” [Богданов И. А., 2008 а. С. 277] [Bogdanov I. A., 2008 a. P. 277].

In a letter, dated April 20, 1834, from Alexander  Pushkin, addressed to his wife, Natalia Pushkina, a phrase appears about his son Alexander: “God forbid him to follow in my footsteps, write poetry and quarrel with the tsars! In poetry, he will not surpass his father, and he will not win with a whip  against  an ax” [Пушкин А. С. Письма] [Pushkin A. S. Letters]. The end of the life of Alexander  Pushkin is dated January 29 (February 10) 1837. Thus, the border between the "first" (tragically ended) and "second" (which not took place) lives of Alexander  Pushkin can be conditionally defined as the period 1834-1837. (The years of life of Alexander  Pushkin: 1799 - 1837).

It is believed that Howard Hughes was born in 1905 (there are several options for the dates of his birth).

“In 1956, after informing his assistants that he was going to work on a new film, Howard locked himself in a screening room near his house. He spent about 4 months there and, according to the testimony of his relatives, he spent almost all of his time watching films while sitting in an armchair. " "Since 1958, no one has photographed the recluse and no one personally interviewed him." "... Hughes traveled in hotels or rented homes." “Hughes didn't brush his teeth or bathe or cut his hair for months. A communication with the outside world took place only with the help of notes and occasional phone calls. " "On December 29, 1960, the regulators removed Hughes from the TWA and removed the right to dispose of his block of shares (the so-called a "voting trust" procedure)." “In 1962, Life journalist Thomas Thompson wondered where the billionaire was and was he alive?” [«Хьюз, Говард»] ["Hughes, Howard"].

With a fair amount of conventionality, 1956, that is, the fifty-first year of Howard Hughes' life, can be considered as the “border” between the “first” and “second” lives of Howard Hughes. At the same time, in April 1941, at about the age of 36, an unpleasant event happened with Howard Hughes: “Finding a rash on his hands, he went to a doctor who diagnosed him with syphilis” [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”].


14.1. Home parental education

As a child, Heinrich Schliemann was educated by his father, Pastor Ernest Schliemann.

Howard Hughes' father was the head of a large corporation. It can be assumed that Hughes Sr. did not have objective opportunities for home parenting. "The father strongly encouraged his son's desire for science in every possible way and did not refuse to him in any thing - young Howard received up to $ 5,000 for personal expenses every week” [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”].

"The future poet usually spent the summer months 1805-1810 with his maternal grandmother Maria Alekseevna Hannibal (1745-1818, nee Pushkina, from another branch of the family), in the village of Zakharovo near Moscow, near Zvenigorod." The grandmother wrote the following about her grandson: “The boy is smart and a hunter of books, but he studies poorly. Rarely when he hands over his lesson in order ...” [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”].

“Pushkin spent six years at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, opened on October 19, 1811. (...) Pushkin was released from the lyceum in June 1817 with the rank of collegiate secretary (10th grade, according to the Table of ranks) and appointed to the Collegium of Foreign Affairs "[«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”].

A kind of some illustration to the consideration of home (parental) education (lack of such education) in the life of Alexander Pushkin is the following statement: “... When in the future Pushkin wanted to look back at the beginning of his life, he invariably recalled only the Lyceum - he deleted his childhood from own life. He was a man without childhood” [Лотман Ю. М. С. 13] [Lotman Yu. M. P. 13]. Of course, someone else's family life is a rather complex subject for external study and external assessments. At the same time, some sign is set by written evidence or their absence: “Pushkin easily left the walls of his home and never mentioned either his mother or his father in his verses” [Лотман Ю. М. С. 12] [Lotman Yu. M. P. 12].

It is probably not an exaggeration to say that both Heinrich Schliemann and Alexander Pushkin continued their education while traveling.

There are some similarities between Heinrich Schliemann and Howard Hughes receiving higher education. Howard was transferred to The Thacher School (Ojai, California) at the age of 14. “Howard left The Thacher School before finishing his studies. Instead of studying, the young man preferred to spend time in the Golf Club (in Houston). While in California, Howard attended some lectures at the California Institute of Technology on a personal initiative. Hughes Sr., without asking the young man's opinion, assigned his son to Rice University. Returning briefly to his native Houston, Howard entered the university in 1923, but did not attend classes. " [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”]. Let us recall the lectures that Heinrich Schliemann attended on his personal initiative at the Universities of Paris and of Naples.


14.2. Early goals

For Heinrich Schliemann, Alexander Pushkin, Howard Hughes, the early setting of life goals is characteristic.

Heinrich's childhood intention to excavate the walls of ancient Troy and his father's approval of this intention have already been described in this book. This happened before Henry reached the age of 10.

"Howard set himself three goals in his diary: (1) To become the best golfer (in the world). (2) The best pilot. (3). The most famous film producer" [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“ Hughes, Howard ”]. Approximately it was the year 1924, that is, the Howard's age of nineteen.

“In 1830, Pushkin wrote:“ ... I began to write at the age of 13 and print almost from the same time” ” [Лотман Ю. М. С. 19] [Lotman Yu. M. P. 19].

In July 1814, Pushkin appeared in print for the first time in the Moscow-based journal "Vestnik Evropy" [«Вестник Европы»]. At the beginning of 1815 he won the approval [positive assessment] of Derzhavin [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”]. Perhaps the beginning of a writing career and publications can be considered evidence of the setting of a life goal by young Alexander Pushkin.


14.3. Relations with family and fellow countrymen

Heinrich Schliemann's relations with sisters, brothers and father were different at different stages of his life. Nevertheless, in the system of his priorities, the preservation of the family and the provision of support to its members were in one of the first places.

“In July 1881, Schliemann and his wife arrived in Berlin. A solemn celebration of the new honorary citizen of Berlin - American by passport, Russian by money, Greek by inclination, took place in the City Hall.  A former beggar, outcast, upstart, self-taught (...) now sat in a place of honor in the town hall, and Crown Prince Friedrich was leading Heinrich's wife to a solemn dinner." Heinrich Schliemann invited "his three sisters and their husbands from Mecklenburg to the Berlin celebration; they were sweating, stomped their feet and gloomily portrayed importance, and their old-fashioned country dresses and frock coats smelled like a snuff tobacco, which at that time replaced naphthalene" [Мейерович М. Л. С. 151] [Meyerovich M. L. P. 151].

On July 7, 1881, Heinrich Schliemann was declared an honorary citizen of Berlin; at the same time an event occurred that was significant for the Schliemann family. What he called in his Autobiography "irreparable misfortune" ("misfortune") [Шлиман Г. Илион. Т.1. С. 5] [Schliemann Heinrich. Ilios. Vol.1. P. 5])  was transformed into one of the episodes of one of the members of the Schliemann family. There was a family "irreparable misfortune" and-it disappeared; such was the kind mysticism. The relative scale has changed. Near the family "irreparable misfortune" stood the great achievements of Heinrich Schliemann. The "irreparable misfortune" has ceased to be "irreparable", in general - noticeable.

Howard Hughes' parents died relatively early, he had no brothers and no sisters. At certain periods of his life, he intensively communicated with his uncle, his father's brother, Rupert Hughes. “He was a renowned screenwriter, director and producer who worked alongside Samuel Goldwin himself, the founder of MGM. The nephew, visiting his uncle, visited the Hollywood top figures" [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”].

As for Alexander Pushkin, it is known about his rather close communication with his uncle, his father's brother, Vasily Lvovich Pushkin ("was a famous poet of Karamzin's circle" [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”]). “It was his uncle who taught Pushkin to write poetry, and often exchanged humorous poetic messages with him. In the summer of 1811, Vasily Lvovich brought of young Pushkin to the Lyceum "[«Пушкин, Василий Львович»] [" Pushkin, Vasily Lvovich"]. Alexander Sergeyevich became close to his mother, Nadezhda Osipovna, "in the last days of her life" (she died in the spring of 1836) [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”]. It is known about Alexander Pushkin's quarrel with his father when the poet arrived in Mikhailovskoye (“after Pushkin's arrival in Mikhailovskoye [estate], he had a big quarrel with his father, who actually agreed to secretly supervise his own son” [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”] [to be under a supervision - it is an official measure, a kind of punishment]). As it turned out, the stay in Mikhailovskoye was beneficial to the great poet in many ways.

In the life of Heinrich Schliemann, a significant place was occupied by communication with fellow countrymen and fellow villagers, residents of Ankershagen.

For both Alexander Pushkin and Howard Hughes such a "class", "type" of a social environment as fellow villagers was excluded.

Alexander Pushkin was born in Moscow. In the villages he had the status of the owner (or co-owner) of the estate, a nobleman.

Howard Hughes was born  in the USA, where the concept of "village" is not very widespread.

As for the "fellow countrymen", it is possible that "fellow countrymen" existed, but for Alexander Pushkin and Howard Hughes, relations with "fellow countrymen", it seems to me, did not play a significant role. I suppose that this conclusion can hardly be challenged by naming someone from Alexander Pushkin's entourage as his “fellow countryman”.


14.4. Development systems of the own personality

Heinrich Schliemann began his successful career with the development of his own potential, with the acquisition of knowledge and skills, with self-discipline and self-organization. He attended courses in accounting, calligraphy, and studied foreign languages.

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin received a higher education at the Lyceum, after which he was assigned to the [Archive of] collegium of Foreign Affairs.

"Young men out of archives crowd
They look at Tanya primly
And about her among themselves
They speak unfavorably.
One of them is a sad buffoon.
He finds her perfect
And leaning against the door,
He prepares an elegy for her.» [Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin "Eugene Onegin"]

He was naturally so talented and brilliant that purposeful and systematic self-development and self-improvement, although they not denied, were, as it were, superfluous.

Howard Hughes was naturally gifted with the ability to tap into other people's potential. "Among his most important qualities, biographers mention that, he, first of all, was well versed in people. Noah Dietrich spoke of his boss: Hughes could have taught Machiavelli how to weave intrigues. Dietrich also recalled his boss's supernatural ability to distinguish  friends and enemies. ( ... ) People around him didn't think Hughes was a very organized person, although he could be very meticulous. Nature has endowed him with qualities that are important for an entrepreneur: an excellent memory and a high performance, the ability to take decisive steps without a much preparation" [«Хьюз, Говард»] ["Hughes, Howard"].

A determination (a decisiveness), a good memory, a high efficiency - these qualities were inherent to Heinrich Schliemann. His potential for communication also becomes the object of positive assessments, sometimes slightly biased: "Schliemann liked to use or at least include in his life game everyone with whom he came into contact, sometimes using money..." [Гаврилов А. К. С. 96]  [Gavrilov A. K. P. 96].

"Hughes could keep in mind [could see with the inner eye] the entire drawing of the entire aircraft, with all the dimensions, but could not remember the names of his closest assistants" [«Хьюз, Говард»] [«Hughes, Howard»]. This characteristic indicates that Hughes has a high professional level of an engineer.

The habit of learning from Howard Hughes is not visible. At the same time, it is impossible not to mention his willing [easy, with a wish] training in flight skills, including training at the flight school in Santa Monica and - incognito — at the pilot courses in Texas, in Fort Worth [«Хьюз, Говард»] [«Hughes, Howard»]. (Becoming "the best pilot" is one of Howard's three main goals.)

Heinrich Schliemann mentioned a certain formed habit, the need to learn languages: "the love of learning languages, alas, has become a true passion" [Bogdanov I. A., 2008 a. P. 258] [Bogdanov I. A., 2008 a. P. 258].

We must not forget, however, that the very occupation of Howard Hughes — a high — tech business - meant constant development of new knowledge. In the same way Heinrich Schliemann was constantly learning new knowledge and skills — this was a prerequisite for success in both the commercial and scientific fields.

The very knowledge that Heinrich and Howard mastered differed significantly.

For engineering and construction functions during excavations, Heinrich Schliemann hired specialists: engineers, builders, architects.

Most likely, Howard Hughes had heard of Homer, but, unlike the half-educated high school student from the "Mecklenburg wilderness", he was hardly able to read even a line from the works of Homer (especially in ancient Greek). However, the "opposite" is also true: it is unlikely that a half-educated high school student would be able to "read" and understand the drawing of any aircraft.

It is unlikely (though not entirely impossible) that Howard Hughes could have recited any of the Bible texts by heart. If we take into account the good memory of Heinrich Schliemann and his visit to the Anglican Church in Amsterdam to improve his English, then perhaps he, Mr. Schliemann, could do it. As for reciting the Koran by heart in Arabic in front of an audience of Muslim believers, Heinrich Schliemann is out of competition.

Howard Hughes ' interest in sacred and classical texts has not been detected by the author.

On the other hand, Heinrich Schliemann would hardly have been able to initiate the creation of complex high-tech products, or the implementation of fantastic technological projects (like lifting a sunken submarine from the bottom of ocean (with the bodies of dead military sailors)). Howard Hughes was capable of that.

In Irving Stone's novel "The Greek Treasure", one of the local residents expresses a mystical fear in connection with the violation by archaeologists of the rest [peace, calmness] of the buried people (in whose graves precious artifacts were found) [Стоун. С. 364]  [Stone. P. 364].

Howard Hughes spent a long time in various capacities making efforts in the film business. This, of course, required some creative effort.

As for film talents… Still, the film business is mainly a collective activity. A good level of the majority of participants in the film project neutralizes the shortcomings of individual employees.  The final score [result] depends on the critics, on the reviews in the press, on advertising… Could Howard Hughes have made an impressive film about Heinrich Schliemann, about the excavations of Troy? A movie, capable to superior "The Mysterious Treasure of Troy", a film, which could to suit all viewers? 

Would Heinrich Schliemann have been able to create a film masterpiece about Howard Hughes? A movie, capable to superior "The Aviator"? If in case of the participation of DiCaprio… With a good team of directors, screenwriters, consultants, understudies, stuntmen, etc....

Heinrich Schliemann kept regular diaries.

In relation to Howard Hughes, there is also the mention of diaries.

During the period of seclusion, ersatz-diaries appeared: the employees who served Hughes kept logs of current events, in which information about everyday circumstances was recorded. "Every day of the billionaire was held in accordance with a strict schedule and in a variety of vowel and unspoken rituals. The hermit's servants carefully kept detailed logs of all the monotonous events that happened to their master. The volume of these journals exceeded 100 thousand pages. He spent his time watching TV and movies. In the carefully curtained penthouse, he installed a movie projector and watched his favorite movies endlessly. " [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”]

Of course, by the number of pages, these journals can be compared with the diaries of Heinrich Schliemann; but by the number of languages used, and by the range of events covered, they are not comparable. Although, the remnants of the habits of self-control and self-organization, in these journals were, existed.

Let us note the keeping of diaries by Alexander Pushkin; the importance of their content for science and history is undeniable.

Heinrich Schliemann's diaries and letters were transformed into books written. "In 1869, a book was published simultaneously in Paris and Leipzig, which caused an explosion of indignant ridicule in the scientific world.

Everything in this book aroused prejudice, from the heretical statements that filled every page of it, to the lack of a scientific title [degree] before the author's name.

The book was called: "Ithaca, the Peloponnese, and Troy. Archaeological research by Heinrich Schliemann“.

It was a travel diary, richly filled with various scholarly digressions and references. The author took upon himself the task of refuting almost all the data of ancient Greek archaeology. ( ... ) It is interesting that most of the speeches against Schliemann's book did not contain criticism of his statements, but ridicule of his blind faith in Homer, in tradition, in the materiality [reality] of legends. They ridiculed his arrogant self: the entire book is written by him, distinctly, in his own name [in the first person]. They ridiculed his childhood fascination with fairy tales" [Мейерович М. Л. С. 82] [Meyerovich M. L. P. 82].

Howard Hughes did not take the path of writing books. A film-making process, full of communication and "drive", was closer to him.

For Alexander  Pushkin, writing books (literary works) was not as difficult a task as for Heinrich Schliemann. "And the fingers are searching for a pen, a pen demand more paper..." (Alexander Pushkin " Autumn"). However, the subjects of their (Pushkin's and Schliemann's ) books were different.

There was no mention of Howard Hughes ' letters. Except for the fake ones ("the false biographer even had forged letters from Hughes and his signature. Irving spent 17 months in prison on fraud charges and was forced to pay back $ 765,000 of the amount of the advance received for the book" [«Хьюз, Говард»] [«Hughes, Howard»]).

Howard Hughes wrote letters, of course... Although, apparently, not as numerous as Heinrich's, not in as many languages… And certainly not as nice. I'm willing to say that; although I haven't read Hughes ' letters. I haven't compared it, but I'm ready to say…

The letters of Alexander  Pushkin are mostly preserved and published; the interested reader has the opportunity to get acquainted with them.

Both Heinrich Schliemann, Alexander  Pushkin, and Howard Hughes had the ability to speak publicly, to influence the audience.

Such an element of self-development as memorizing by heart (in practical use for the study of foreign and ancient languages; memorizing sacred and classical texts by heart) was probably inherent in Heinrich Schliemann.

A certain asceticism as an element of the worldview and as an element of the way of life was probably inherent in Heinrich Schliemann.

The law of success: "Develop yourself [develop the own personality]! A poverty is not shameful, ... a stupidity is shameful! "Ignorance is burdening"! Use the self-development system!»


14.5. A fairy tale approach

For Heinrich Schliemann, one of the forms of existence, one of the methods of survival, one of the ways to achieve success was "fabulousness."

What can we say about the "fabulousness" concerning Alexander  Pushkin and Howard Hughes?

If to be somewhat biased, we can assume that for Howard Hughes, the desire for "fabulousness" could be manifested in filmmaking, in watching movies.

Alexander  Pushkin was the author of talented (like his other works) fairy tales. “As Pushkin writes to his brother in mid-November 1824:“Do you know my literary work? I write notes before lunch, I have dinner late; after the dinner I ride on horseback, in the evening I listen to fairy tales - and I compensate the shortcomings of my accursed upbringing. What a delight these fairy tales are! Each of them is a poem!"" [«Арина Яковлева»] ["Arina Yakovleva"].

Yet Heinrich Schliemann, unlike Alexander  Pushkin and Howard Hughes, had an  fabulousness of everyday [constant, permanent] mode. Fairy worlds: Schliemannopolis, the Athenian Palace ("Palace of Ilium"), "New Children's Ankershagen (1883)", the reciting by heart in Arabic surahs of the Quran in front of local residents - the indisputable and - possibly - unique achievements of Heinrich Schliemann. Fabulousness has become a method of solving many life problems and a way of overcoming many of his life obstacles.


14.6. An ability to interact with the future (signs, feelings, forebodings)

Above in this book, a characterization of Heinrich Schliemann's ability to interact with the future was given.

A comparison with Alexander  Pushkin and Howard Hughes here cannot give any clear conclusions.

Let us mention only a few events from the life of Alexander  Pushkin and Howard Hughes, which attract attention and make one think about the role of signs and forebodings.

After quoting, we will move on to the next topic.

“On February 18 (March 2), 1831 he married Natalia Goncharova in the Moscow Church of the Great Ascension at the Nikitsky Gate. When exchanging rings, Pushkin's ring fell to the floor. Then his candle went out. He turned pale and said, “All are bad omens! [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”].

In the diary of 1834, Alexander  Pushkin makes, in particular, entries on March 6 and July 22:

"March, 6. (…) The elect were invited to the palace for the morning ball, in the afternoon by 12: 30. Others for the evening, by half past eight. I arrived at 9.  (…) There was an abyss of dissatisfied: those who were invited to the evening were jealous of the morning lucky ones. (…) All this ended with my wife did a throwing out [of a future child]. Such was the result of these dances.

The Tsar loaned me 20,000 to print [to publish] "Pugachev". Thanks him."

“July 22. The past month has been stormy. I almost quarreled with the tzar's court, but everything  was grinded. However, this will not be for me without consequences" [Дневник Пушкина 1834 года]  [Pushkin's diary, 1834].

“On July 11, 1936, he hit a pedestrian on the carriageway, who died before medical help arrived. In further proceedings, the driver was found not guilty, although the accident occurred at a pedestrian crossing. Hughes had to pay 10 thousand dollars to the family of the deceased in order to settle the situation ” [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”].

“In May 1943, Hughes was again in a plane crash. When landing on the surface of the Mead Reservoir, the Sikorsky S-43 aircraft, which was piloted by Hughes, lost control, collapsed and sank ... (…) In the accident, two people on board were killed, the fragment of the propeller hit the cockpit, but Howard himself received only minor injuries ...On the evening of that day, Hughes confessed ...: 'I killed two people' " [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”].

“The health of the billionaire, who had long been called 'old man' behind his back, was severely damaged after 14 serious car and aviation accidents and syphilis in 1941. Hughes addicted to strong medicines and drugs, in particular cocaine, codeine and seconal, taking them in doses close to lethal ones" [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”]. It was about 1974.

We will use the description of the above situations in order to present the history of one incident that happened to Heinrich Schliemann during the excavations on the hill of Hissarlyk.

On May 12, 1872, “one of the walls, made up of blocks of shell rock, collapsed, but the stream of pebbles that preceded the collapse saved the lives of six workers.

The avalanche revealed a burial of huge pithoi. They were of 2 m high and a meter in diameter. Schliemann sent seven surviving vessels to Istanbul to the Ottoman Museum, and left three vessels at the excavation site ” [«Шлиман, Генрих»] [“Schliemann, Heinrich”].

Heinrich Schliemann wrote in his diary: “... if these six were crushed by a falling wall. In such case neither money nor my promises would have saved me ... " [Вандерберг. С. 316] [Vanderberg. P. 316].


14.7. A personal independence: with system and without it

Both Heinrich Schliemann and Alexander  Pushkin felt the problem of dependence-independence.

Interestingly, both of them used the word a "slave" to describe the problem.

“At the age when others study in the gymnasium, I was a slave, and only at the age of twenty did I catch on to languages. Therefore, I lack the fundamental knowledge. I probably will never become a scientist, but at least I must have time to do something. I have to live for science, ” Heinrich Schliemann said  [Мейерович М. Л. С. 53] [Meyerovich M. L. P. 53].

Alexander  Pushkin's entry in his diary dated May 10, 1834: "... I can be a subject, even a slave, but  I will not be a serf [variant: a slave for small errands] and a jester even with the king of heaven" [Дневник Пушкина 1834 года] [Pushkin's diary 1834]. ("The cornerstone of Pushkin's program was personal independence. But this is precisely what turned out to be the least achievable in the "piggy Petersburg" of Nikolai [the First] . The obstacles were increasing" [Лотман Ю. М. С. 211] [Lotman Yu. M. P. 211] ).

For Howard Hughes, at first, the problem of independence did not arise very often, mainly when interacting with government agencies in charge of military orders. At some point, this problem arose distinctly, during the period of his "limited functionality", but I did not meet any Hughes' judgments on this topic. However, after 1966, he sent his wife, Jean Peters, a note “Dearest, I'm ill but very, very ill yet confident I'll feel better soon. You will hear from me the minute I feel even a little better. My very most love.” [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”]. To some extent, this statement can be attributed to a judgment about the problem of addiction.

As for the system of independence, similar to the one that "built" Heinrich Schliemann: "asceticism - moderate self-isolation - financial security - self-development, mastering knowledge - (autonomy) independence", neither Alexander  Pushkin, nor Howard Hughes created the system of such type.

For Howard Hughes, the main issue of independence seems to have been financial resources. Monetary resources were transformed into competent personnel who "decide everything." The moment came when the limitations of the financial factor came to light, but, apparently, it was already too late. It was necessary for Howard Hughes - already in a forced manner - to supplement his life with a certain asceticism and moderate self-isolation.

The way of life and the environment of Alexander  Pushkin did not create special opportunities for ensuring independence.

A demonstrative behavior, a demonstration of independence, does not solve much issues; a certain illusion is created; the illusion, on the contrary, makes it difficult to solve the problem of independence.

The opinion of the "hostile side" can serve as an illustration. “A journalist of dubious reputation Faddei Bulgarin [Thaddeus Bulgarin] in an informative note “Something about the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum and about its spirit ” (this informative note was submitted in 1826 to the emperor Nicholas the First) wrote:

"In society, it is called the lyceum spirit, when a young man does not respect his elders, treats familiarly with superiors [bosses], arrogantly with equals, contemptuously with inferiors, except in those cases when it is necessary (for a style of fanfaronade) to appear like a fan of equality"” [Лотман Ю. М. С. 18] [Lotman Yu. M. P. 18].

The dependence did not weaken; she was not even at a constant level. On the contrary, the dependence was growing. “... Pushkin asked for leave for 3-4 years: in the summer of 1835 he wrote to the mother of his wife that he planned with his whole family to go to the village for several years. However, he was denied leave, in return Nicholas I offered a six-month leave and 10,000 rubles, as it was said, “in order to help” ["in order to support"]. Pushkin did not accept them and asked for 30,000 rubles with the condition of deduction from his salary, he was granted leave for four months. So for several years in advance, Pushkin was associated with service in St. Petersburg. This amount did not cover even half of Pushkin's debts; with the termination of salary payments, one had to rely only on literary income, which depended on the reader's demand” [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”]. “In 1836, according to his own calculation in a letter to the Minister of Finance Kankrin, the debt to the government was calculated in a huge amount of 45,000 rubles” [Лотман Ю. М. С. 220] [Lotman Yu. M. P. 220].

Thus, the attempt - perhaps intuitive - to change the environment, the lifestyle, failed.

Alexander  Pushkin was absorbed in the problems of creative, family, social environment. Meanwhile, the problem of independence - perhaps imperceptibly - has become one of the main ones.

But how to understand it, formulate it, consciously put it on the life's agenda? "Everyone lives like that!" The issue of independence (creation of a system of independence) could not be resolved without much effort. Debts grew, and the passion for the card game exacerbated the situation.

Let us recall the law of independence of Heinrich Schliemann: "If you do not want to be a 'slave', build a system of personal independence."


14.8. The understanding of own mission

Probably, the statement that Heinrich Schliemann was destined to excavate the walls of ancient Troy, not by everyone will be perceived as indisputable.

Let's take this version as a working one.

Heinrich Schliemann sometimes had intentions to remain a merchant, to become the owner of the estate (that is, to become a kind of landowner). However Heinrich Schliemann decided to stay away from other people's "cherry orchards" (ie from their acquisition). One way or another, he "kept" the line of his destiny, and found himself in a life gain.

What was Howard Hughes' life destiny? If we rank according to the degree of success in the implementation of his three life goals (set out in his diary), then he most successfully moved along the path of an outstanding pilot.

Conjectural estimates and assumptions cannot be accurate, but I would venture to suggest that if he consistently followed this path (pilot, aviator), then perhaps a flight into space with a man on board would have been carried out in the United States a little earlier (by historical standards ).

I believe that the judgment that a poetic activity was a destiny of Alexander  Pushkin's  was unlikely can to be disputed.

Naturally, the position of the "publisher" is somewhat different from that of the Poet; even further from the Poet - "courtier". In principle, it doesn't matter whether it is a "Gentleman of the Chamber" or a "Chamberlain." All the same, the functions of a civil servant differ from poetic actions and moods, although an example of Alexander Griboyedov and other creative personalities can be cited.

Let us recall the attempts of Alexander  Pushkin to resign, get a long vacation, move to the countryside for a long time ... He probably felt the need for changes in his life ...


14.9. A transformation, adaptation, reincarnation

To some extent, all three creative personalities - Heinrich Schliemann, Alexander  Pushkin, Howard Hughes - demonstrate examples of reincarnation.

The reincarnations of Heinrich Schliemann are described above in this book. Alexander Pushkin's pseudonyms are widely known, for example: “Alexander NKSP [Александр НКШП], Ivan Petrovich Belkin, Feofilakt Kosichkin (the option for the journal), R., Old Arz. (Old Arzamasets), A. B. [А. Б.]" [«Пушкин, Александр Сергеевич»] [“Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich”].

Some biographical details of Howard Hughes resemble elements of the biography of Heinrich Schliemann:

“Howard Hughes had a habit of disappearing from home without warning and traveling lightly across the country. In September 1932, he left home without saying anything in the office and at home. Having cut his hair short and bought an inexpensive business suit, he left for Texas, in Fort Worth. There, Hughes, under the name of Charles Howard, got a job at the local American Airlines office as a baggage clerk with a salary of $115 per month. At the same time, Howard enrolled in an internal pilot course. In three weeks, surprising the teachers with his memory and discipline, Hughes mastered flying a Fokker passenger aircraft and passed the exam for the specialty of the co-pilot. During the first flight of the newly minted American Airlines pilot, the deception was revealed, but Hughes received the necessary experience. The wanderings did not end there. Soon he left home again for several months. Hiding the own identity under the assumed name Wayne Rector [Уэйн Ректор], Howard wandered and hitchhiked throughout the country. Taking on the road only a hundred dollars, he was interrupted by odd jobs. Borrowing money, Howard bought a camera and, remembering his childhood hobby, made a living with wedding photographs” [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”].

Of course, this is not a pilgrimage to Mecca, but nonetheless.

In 1944, “while in Louisiana, Hughes left the hotel and disappeared for several days. The police who found Hughes at the gas station mistook him for a bum. More than a thousand dollars were found in the wanderer's pockets, and the police decided that he had robbed someone. The millionaire was confused in the explaining who he was and muttered incoherently: "I'm Shirley Temple." He was rescued from the police station by Petrali, who arrived  [«Хьюз, Говард»] [“Hughes, Howard”]. This story is partly reminiscent of the scene of the discovery of the unconscious Heinrich Schliemann by local residents and police in Naples in 1890.

Still, it seems that transformation, adaptability, reincarnation helped Heinrich Schliemann to solve the cardinal issues of his life. He managed to completely change his life, "fit" into the new conditions. Changed: place of residence, sources of income, occupation, predominant (dominant) circle of friendships, family environment, requirements for monitoring the level of mental and physical stress, health. These changes not only did not become disastrous for him, on the contrary, after them he became even more successful. How useful the processes of transformation, adaptability, reincarnation were for Alexander  Pushkin and Howard Hughes, the author suggests this question the respected Reader for evaluation.


14.10. "Save own marriage until the last possibility, but don't become a victim"

After several nervous years, Heinrich Schliemann left his first wife, Catherine, filed for a divorce in the United States, and married a second time. He maintained a rather close relationship with children from his first marriage, financial assistance was provided to both Catherine and children from his first marriage. They did not show any signs of financial distress. The second marriage of Heinrich Schliemann can be attributed to the number of happy ones.

Howard Hughes has been married twice. He had no children. In 1970, his second marriage ended, his wife filed for divorce; she has not seen Howard since June 1966.

As for the details of the marriage and the fate of Alexander  Pushkin and Natalia Pushkina, they are partly well-known. In terms of other details that are less well-known, interested readers can get acquainted with them, for example, in Wikipedia articles dedicated to the Goncharovs, Lansky (the relatives of Natalia Pushkina-Goncharova), Idalia Poletika and others.

Let us recall one of the laws of success of Heinrich Schliemann: "Save own marriage to the last opportunity, but do not become a victim."

(Perhaps one of the respected Readers will consider it appropriate to additionally reflect on the above-formulated law. To some extent, the autobiographical work of Maxim Gorky "On First Love" may be useful) [Максим Горький «О первой любви»].