the moscow census-第11章
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daughter。 If any one was to be saved； then it must be this woman
the mother ought to have been saved； ＇and that long before； from that
view of life which is approved by every one； according to which a
woman may live unmarried； that is； without bearing children and
without work； and simply for the satisfaction of the passions。 If I
had thought of this； I should have understood that the majority of
the ladies whom I intended to send thither for the salvation of that
little girl； not only live without bearing children and without
working； and serving only passion； but that they deliberately rear
their daughters for the same life； one mother takes her daughter to
the taverns； another takes hers to balls。 But both mothers hold the
same view of the world； namely； that a woman must satisfy man's
passions； and that for this she must be fed； dressed； and cared for。
Then how are our ladies to reform this woman and her daughter？ ｛10｝ ＇
CHAPTER IX。
Still more remarkable were my relations to the children。 In my role
of benefactor； I turned my attention to the children also； being
desirous to save these innocent beings from perishing in that lair of
vice； and noting them down in order to attend to them AFTERWARDS。
Among the children； I was especially struck with a twelve…year…old
lad named Serozha。 I was heartily sorry for this bold； intelligent
lad； who had lived with a cobbler； and who had been left without a
shelter because his master had been put in jail； and I wanted to do
good to him。
I will here relate the upshot of my benevolence in his case； because
my experience with this child is best adapted to show my false
position in the role of benefactor。 I took the boy home with me and
put him in the kitchen。 It was impossible； was it not； to take a
child who had lived in a den of iniquity in among my own children？
And I considered myself very kind and good； because he was a care；
not to me； but to the servants in the kitchen； and because not I but
the cook fed him； and because I gave him some cast…off clothing to
wear。 The boy staid a week。 During that week I said a few words to
him as I passed on two occasions and in the course of my strolls； I
went to a shoemaker of my acquaintance； and proposed that he should
take the lad as an apprentice。 A peasant who was visiting me；
invited him to go to the country； into his family； as a laborer； the
boy refused； and at the end of the week he disappeared。 I went to
the Rzhanoff house to inquire after him。 He had returned there； but
was not at home when I went thither。 For two days already； he had
been going to the Pryesnensky ponds； where he had hired himself out
at thirty kopeks a day in some procession of savages in costume； who
led about elephants。 Something was being presented to the public
there。 I went a second time； but he was so ungrateful that he
evidently avoided me。 Had I then reflected on the life of that boy
and on my own； I should have understood that this boy was spoiled
because he had discovered the possibility of a merry life without
labor； and that he had grown unused to work。 And I； with the object
of benefiting and reclaiming him； had taken him to my house； where he
sawwhat？ My children；both older and younger than himself； and of
the same age；who not only never did any work for themselves； but
who made work for others by every means in their power； who soiled
and spoiled every thing about them； who ate rich； dainty； and sweet
viands； broke china； and flung to the dogs food which would have been
a tidbit to this lad。 If I had rescued him from the abyss； and had
taken him to that nice place； then he must acquire those views which
prevailed in the life of that nice place； but by these views； he
understood that in that fine place he must so live that he should not
toil； but eat and drink luxuriously； and lead a joyous life。 It is
true that he did not know that my children bore heavy burdens in the
acquisition of the declensions of Latin and Greek grammar； and that
he could not have understood the object of these labors。 But it is
impossible not to see that if he had understood this； the influence
of my children's example on him would have been even stronger。 He
would then have comprehended that my children were being educated in
this manner； so that； while doing no work now； they might be in a
position hereafter； also profiting by their diplomas； to work as
little as possible； and to enjoy the pleasures of life to as great an
extent as possible。 He did understand this； and he would not go with
the peasant to tend cattle； and to eat potatoes and kvas with him；
but he went to the zoological garden in the costume of a savage； to
lead the elephant at thirty kopeks a day。
I might have understood how clumsy I was； when I was rearing my
children in the most utter idleness and luxury； to reform other
people and their children； who were perishing from idleness in what I
called the den of the Rzhanoff house； where； nevertheless； three…
fourths of the people toil for themselves and for others。 But I
understood nothing of this。
There were a great many children in the Rzhanoff house； who were in
the same pitiable plight； there were the children of dissolute women；
there were orphans； there were children who had been picked up in the
streets by beggars。 They were all very wretched。 But my experience
with Serozha showed me that I； living the life I did； was not in a
position to help them。
While Serozha was living with us； I noticed in myself an effort to
hide our life from him； in particular the life of our children。 I
felt that all my efforts to direct him towards a good； industrious
life； were counteracted by the examples of our lives and by that of
our children。 It is very easy to take a child away from a
disreputable woman； or from a beggar。 It is very easy； when one has
the money； to wash； clean and dress him in neat clothing； to support
him； and even to teach him various sciences； but it is not only
difficult for us； who do not earn our own bread； but quite the
reverse； to teach him to work for his bread； but it is impossible；
because we； by our example； and even by those material and valueless
improvements of his life； inculcate the contrary。 A puppy can be
taken； tended； fed； and taught to fetch and carry； and one may take
pleasure in him： but it is not enough to tend a man； to feed and
teach him Greek； we must teach the man how to live；that is； to take
as little as possible from others； and to give as much as possible；
and we cannot help teaching him to do the contrary； if we take him
into our houses； or into an institution founded for this purpose。
CHAPTER X。
This feeling of compassion for people； and of disgust with myself；
which I had experienced in the Lyapinsky house； I experienced no
longer。 I was completely absorbed in the desire to carry out the
scheme which I had concocted；to do good to those people whom I
should meet here。 And； strange to say； it would appear； that； to do
goodto give money to the needyis a very good deed； and one that
should dispose me to love for the people； but it turned out the
reverse： this act produced in me ill…will and an inclination to
condemn people。 But during our first evening tour； a scene occurred
exactly like that in the Lyapinsky house； and it called forth a
wholly different sentiment。
It began by my finding in one set of apartments an unfortunate
individual； of precisely the sort who require immediate aid。 I found
a hungry woman who had had nothing to eat for two days。
It came about thus： in one very large and almost empty night…
lodging； I asked an old woman whether there were many poor people who
had nothing to eat？ The old woman reflected； and then told me of
two； and then； as though she had just recollected； 〃Why； here is one
of them；〃 said she； glancing at one of the occupied bunks。 〃I think
that woman has had no food。〃
〃Really？ Who is she？〃
〃She was a dissolute woman： no one wants any thing to do with her
now； so she has no way of getting any thing。 The landlady has had
compassion on her； but now she means to turn her out 。 。 。 Agafya；
hey t
