Abstract: The subject of the study is the texts of the Russian publicist Mikhail Osipovich Menshikov on the development of domestic aeronautics, considered in the light of heterogeneous assessments of his work. The object is a reflection on the development of domestic aeronautics in the work of the famous Russian journalist of the early twentieth century M. O. Menshikov. The author considered various assessments of the work of the publicist. The most important part of the research is the analysis of M. O. Menshikov's journalistic texts on the development of aeronautics. Considerable attention is paid to the works of the publicist of the period of the Russian-Japanese war and the last years before the First World War, where the bureaucratic activities of officials are critically evaluated. The problems of timely supply of the army, flight safety on the first airplanes, and the technical lag of the Russian Empire from the West were also touched upon. The main conclusions of the work carried out are the assertion of the immutability of Menshikov's patriotic, state-oriented position regarding the development of domestic aeronautics and its ability to technical forecasting. In addition, specific "weak points" in the creative heritage of the publicist were identified: passion for an idea and lack of systematic university education. A special contribution of the author to the study of the topic is a comprehensive analysis of M. O. Menshikov's journalistic texts in the historical aspect. The novelty of the research lies in the identification of a combination of patriotic pathos and high idealism and the above shortcomings in the works of the publicist on aeronautics. The analysis of the texts of the chosen topic (the development of domestic aeronautics), covering the period from 1894 to 1918, showed that Menshikov's accusations of renegade and empty talk are untenable.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the early life of M. O. Menshikov – one of the ideologists of the Russian nationalism of the early XX century and leading publicist of the largest all-Russian newspaper “Novoe Vremya”. The goal consists in full reconstruction of the conditions of his childhood and early youth. The methods of deduction, induction, comparative and prospective analysis were used for reconstructing separate circumstances of the initial stage of development of Menshikov’s personality and holistic biographical picture. The synthesis of objective analysis of the facts with subjective assessments of the events described by Menshikov himself in his diaries and articles allowed depicting the external circumstances of his youth, as well as reconstruct the peculiarities of development of his inner world and social reflection. The conclusion is made that a range of the core themes of Menshikov's publicistic writing, which were covered in the newspaper “Nedelya” and later in “Novoe Vremya”, and ultimately brought him popularity, take roots in his childhood and early youth: “family relations”, “upbringing and education”, “pursuit of belonging”, “finding  happiness through harmony with the world”. These topics were covered by Menshikov based on the rich life experience, a long path from the poor peasant family to the cadet of Naval Engineering School in Kronstadt. The fact that he was able to understand the problems  of the commoners made him closer to the reader. The provided biography is currently the most detailed study of the early life of M. O. Menshikov's; many facts are introduced for the first time. The article also presents additional empirical material on the history of childhood, elementary and secondary education in Russia of the late XIX century.