Notes of Too Dear/2019-2020

           Too Dear                              -Leo Tolstoy

an example of the kingdom and prisoner

   Too Dear 

       Summary:

       Too Dear! Is a short story by Russian author Leo Tolstoy first published in 1897. It is a humorous account of the troubles of dealing with a criminal in the kingdom of Monaco.

Monaco is small kingdom and the population is 7000. There is Real kinglet that has courtiers, ministers, bishop and generals. It is an army of 60 men. There is a tax on Tobacco, wine and a poll tax. The king receives special revenue from a gaming house 

 where people play, roulette. The owner of the gaming house receives money whether the players lose or win, he gets the percentage. And out of his profits, the owner pays a large sum to the prince because it is the only gambling establishment left in Europe. The Germans banned this play because people committed suicide but the prince of Monaco continued it because there is no another source to draw revenue. The king knows that it is a dirty business but he is helpless and runs it.

        All is well in the kingdom of Monaco until a man commits a murder. The king had never had to deal with a murderer before, and after the judicial process had run its course and the man had been sentenced to death, he runs into considerable trouble trying to carry out the sentence. Monaco has no guillotine and no executioner, so they ask the government of France to see if they could borrow them. France offers to send a guillotine and an executioner for 16,000 francs. This would require levying more taxes, so the king tries requesting help from the king of Italy, but the cost would only be somewhat lower at 12.000 francs. The decision is made to simply keep the murderer imprisoned for life.

      Life imprisonment, however, presents its own set of problems. There needs to be a guard at all times, and the man has to be fed. The yearly Costs are calculated to be 600 francs, which would still necessitate an increase of taxes. It is decided that the guard should be dismissed, even at the risk of losing the prisoner.

      The Prisoner, however, does not try to escape and continues to eat the food provided by the government. The Minister of Justice decides that the criminal is not worth the trouble and asks him why he does not escape. The criminal responds that, he has nowhere to go in Monaco and that his reputation is ruined. He is finally given a pension by the government to remain in exile just outside of the country. It is a good thing that the murderer didn’t commit his crime in a country where they do not grudge expense to cut a man’s head off to keep him in prison for life.

Comprehension I:

1.   Why ‘Monaco’ was called a `toy Kingdom'?

 Ans: Because the population was very less. It was only 7000.

2.   Name the commodities taxed in Monaco.

Ans: There was a tax on tobacco, on wine and spirits and a poll tax.

3.   What was the source of the King's special revenue? Who were its beneficiaries?

Ans: It was from a gaming house where people play Roulette. The owner of the game house and the king were the beneficiaries.

4.   Why did the Germans stop gaming houses in their country and how did it benefit Monaco?

Ans: Because the gaming house was caused much harm and the people risked their money. Some who lost it, committed suicide. The king of Monaco allowed it and received a large sum because it was an only gambling house left in Europe.

5.   What was the punishment given to the murderer?

Ans: The murdered was condemned to have his head cut off.    

  6. The death sentence was converted into life imprisonment because

a. Monaco had abolished death penalty.

b. Carrying out death sentence was expensive.

C. Monaco wanted to show mercy on the criminal.

Ans: b. Carrying out death sentence was expensive.

7.   How much did the king spend on the criminal, annually?

Ans:  600 francs annually.                                                                                                                             

8. On what condition did the criminal agree to go away from the prison? Why was his demand fulfilled?

Ans: On a condition that he should be given pension regularly. It was too dear to keep the criminal. So his demand was fulfilled

Comprehension II

1.   Though gambling is a dirty business, why does the king of Monaco resort to it?

Ans: Monaco is a small kingdom and the population is 7000. There is Real kinglet that has courtiers, ministers, bishop and generals. It is an army of 60 men. There is tax on Tobacco, wine and a poll-tax the king receives special revenue from a gaming house where people play roulette. The owner of the gaming house receives money whether the players lose or win, he gets the percentage. And out of his profits, the owner pays a large sum to the prince because it is the only gambling establishment left in Europe. The Germans banned this play because people committed suicide but the prince of Monaco continued it because there is no another source to draw revenue. The king knows that it is a dirty business but he is helpless and runs it.

2.   Why did the King of Monaco keep changing his mind in dealing with the criminal?

Ans: A few years ago, a murder was committed in Prince's domains. Such a thing had never earlier. At last, after trials and arguments the men of law condemned the criminal to cut his head off and had submitted the sentence report to the prince. The prince ordered for execution of the criminal. But there was an obstacle in the matter. They had neither a guillotine for cutting heads off, nor an executioner. The ministers decided to order an enquiry to the Italian and French Government regarding a guillotine and an expert to cut off the criminal's head. The French Govt. quoted 16000 francs and that of Italy 12000 francs. The ministers considered it a costly affair. They assembled a commission, and a committee, and a Sub-Committee, and at last they decided to alter the death sentence to imprisonment for life. After one year, the kinglet was looking over the account of his income and expenditure one day and noticed additional expenditure of 600 francs spent towards the criminal and his food. It also seemed costly and the council decided to offer a pension to the criminal. So the matter was settled and the criminal was let free with 600 francs pension.

3.   Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison?

Ans: The prisoner, however, does not try to escape and continues to eat the food provided by the government. The Minister of Justice decides that the criminal is not worth the trouble and asks him why he does not escape. The criminal responds that, he has nowhere to go in Monaco and that his reputation is ruined. He agreed with all the things without complaining and he didn't think of going away because the people would turn their backs on him. Besides he has forgotten work.

4.   How did the criminal lead his life after his release?

Ans: He bought a bit of land, started market gardening and lived with happiness. He went to the king regularly to receive his pension. While coming back, he played Roulette with 2 or 3 francs. Sometimes he won and lost sometimes. Anyway, he lived comfortably.

Comprehension 3

1.   "You can't earn stone palaces by honest labour.” In what context is this statement made?

 Ans: Too Dear! is a short story by Russian author Leo Tolstoy first published  in 1897. It is a humorous account of the troubles of dealing with a criminal in the kingdom of Monaco. Monaco is a small kingdom and the population is 7000. There is Real kinglet that has courtiers, ministers, bishop and generals. It is an army 60 men. There is tax on Tobacco, wine and a poll tax. The king receives special revenue from a gaming house, where people play roulette. The owner of the gaming house receives money whether the players lose or win, he gets the percentage. And out of his profits, the owner pays a large sum to the prince because it is the only gambling establishment left in Europe. The Germans banned this play because people committed suicide but  the prince of Monaco continued it because there is no another source to draw revenue. The king knows that it is a dirty business but he is helpless and runs it. He gives permission because honest labour cannot fetch more money as it does. He thinks so because he believes the above proverb.

2. Though the trial and imprisonment of the criminal is depicted in a comic mode in this story, it does give rise to serious questions. What are they?

Ans: 1. Is it just to encourage gambling only because of large sum money?

2. Why did not the king find out new ways of raising funds?

3. Is it good to send a criminal by giving pension?

3. Were there other ways of dealing with crime and the criminal? Discuss in the light of the story.

Ans: There are many other ways of dealing with crime and criminals. To stop crimes, we should never encourage chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and playing Roulette because these are the sources of crime. The criminals should have been punished without altering the verdict so that they would be more careful.

Vocabulary:

 (A) Look at the following sets of sentences. The possible meanings of the homonyms used are given in brackets. Match them.

1.  a. The valedictory address of the Chief guest impressed everyone.

b. She made a mistake in the address while posting the letter. (Location, speech)

Ans:        a) address - speech

                b) address - location

2.    a. The poor man's mind was full of worry.

       b. Do you mind passing the jam? (have objection to, brain) Ans:    a) Mind - thoughts

            b) Mind - Have objection to

3.  a. The soldier gave a complete account of the prisoner's escape.

 b. The officer checked the ledger account. (financial record, description)

 Ans:     a) account - description  

              b)  account - financial record

4.    a. He went to the ATM to draw some money.

        b. The teachers draw pictures on the blackboard.

 C. Don't draw hasty conclusions without ample proof.

 d. The offer of free balloons draw children to the park.

(attract, sketch, Infer, take out)

Ans:   a) draw - takeout

            b) draw - sketch

            c) draw - infer                                                                                                      

                 d) draw - attract. 


Also see  On Children chapter 3 notes and summary by Clicking here: