Why did Leo Tolstoy saw off the legs of his chairs?
Tolstoy was nearsighted, but categorically refused to wear glasses.
To solve this problem, he came up with a simple, yet radical solution: he shortened the legs of his work chair, so that his eyes would be closer to the manuscript. He sawed them off himself. With each passing year, as his eyesight worsened, he had to saw them down further and further.
However, it wasn't just a matter of eyesight; it was also due to his habit of writing with one leg tucked underneath him. To avoid sitting too high above the desk in that position, he needed a lower chair.
