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第17章

the moscow census-第17章

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will not say; on a ball; five or ten thousand rubles; and twenty…five
thousand on a Christmas…tree。  But a man who is in need of ten rubles
to buy bread for his family; or whose last sheep has been seized for
a tax…debt of seven rubles; and who cannot raise those rubles by hard
labor; cannot grow accustomed to this。  We think that all this
appears natural to poor people there are even some ingenuous persons
who say in all seriousness; that the poor are very grateful to us for
supporting them by this luxury。' {12}

But poor people are not devoid of human understanding simply because
they are poor; and they judge precisely as we do。  As the first
thought that occurs to us on hearing that such and such a man has
gambled away or squandered ten or twenty thousand rubles; is:  〃What
a foolish and worthless fellow he is to uselessly squander so much
money! and what a good use I could have made of that money in a
building which I have long been in need of; for the improvement of my
estate; and so forth!〃just so do the poor judge when they behold
the wealth which they need; not for caprices; but for the
satisfaction of their actual necessities; of which they are
frequently deprived; flung madly away before their eyes。  We make a
very great mistake when we think that the poor can judge thus; reason
thus; and look on indifferently at the luxury which surrounds them。

They never have acknowledged; and they never will acknowledge; that
it can be just for some people to live always in idleness; and for
other people to fast and toil incessantly; but at first they are
amazed and insulted by this; then they scrutinize it more
attentively; and; seeing that these arrangements are recognized as
legitimate; they endeavor to free themselves from toil; and to take
part in the idleness。  Some succeed in this; and they become just
such carousers themselves; others gradually prepare themselves for
this state; others still fail; and do not attain their goal; and;
having lost the habit of work; they fill up the disorderly houses and
the night…lodging houses。

Two years ago; we took from the country a peasant boy to wait on
table。  For some reason; he did not get on well with the footman; and
he was sent away:  he entered the service of a merchant; won the
favor of his master; and now he goes about with a vest and a watch…
chain; and dandified boots。  In his place; we took another peasant; a
married man:  he became a drunkard; and lost money。  We took a third:
he took to drunk; and; having drank up every thing he had; he
suffered for a long while from poverty in the night…lodging house。
An old man; the cook; took to drink and fell sick。  Last year a
footman who had formerly been a hard drinker; but who had refrained
from liquor for five years in the country; while living in Moscow
without his wife who encouraged him; took to drink again; and ruined
his whole life。  A young lad from our village lives with my brother
as a table…servant。  His grandfather; a blind old man; came to me
during my sojourn in the country; and asked me to remind this
grandson that he was to send ten rubies for the taxes; otherwise it
would be necessary for him to sell his cow。  〃He keeps saying; I must
dress decently;〃 said the old man:  〃well; he has had some shoes
made; and that's all right; but what does he want to set up a watch
for?〃 said the grandfather; expressing in these words the most
senseless supposition that it was possible to originate。  The
supposition really was senseless; if we take into consideration that
the old man throughout Lent had eaten no butter; and that he had no
split wood because he could not possibly pay one ruble and twenty
kopeks for it; but it turned out that the old man's senseless jest
was an actual fact。  The young fellow came to see me in a fine black
coat; and shoes for which he had paid eight rubles。  He had recently
borrowed ten rubles from my brother; and had spent them on these
shoes。  And my children; who have known the lad from childhood; told
me that he really considers it indispensable to fit himself out with
a watch。  He is a very good boy; but he thinks that people will laugh
at him so long as he has no watch; and a watch is necessary。  During
the present year; a chambermaid; a girl of eighteen; entered into a
connection with the coachman in our house。  She was discharged。  An
old woman; the nurse; with whom I spoke in regard to the unfortunate
girl; reminded me of a girl whom I had forgotten。  She too; ten yeans
ago; during a brief stay of ours in Moscow; had become connected with
a footman。  She too had been discharged; and she had ended in a
disorderly house; and had died in the hospital before reaching the
age of twenty。  It is only necessary to glance about one; to be
struck with terror at the pest which we disseminate directly by our
luxurious life among the people whom we afterwards wish to help; not
to mention the factories and establishments which serve our luxurious
tastes。

'And thus; having penetrated into the peculiar character of city
poverty; which I was unable to remedy; I perceived that its prime
cause is this; that I take absolute necessaries from the dwellers in
the country; and carry them all to the city。  The second cause is
this; that by making use here; in the city; of what I have collected
in the country; I tempt and lead astray; by my senseless luxury;
those country people who come hither because of me; in order in some
way to get back what they have been deprived of in the country。' {13}



CHAPTER XIV。



I reached the same conclusion from a totally different point。  On
recalling all my relations with the city poor during that time; I saw
that one of the reasons why I could not help the city poor was; that
the poor were disingenuous and untruthful with me。  They all looked
upon me; not as a man; but as means。  I could not get near them; and
I thought that perhaps I did not understand how to do it; but without
uprightness; no help was possible。  How can one help a man who does
not disclose his whole condition?  At first I blamed them for this
(it is so natural to blame some one else); but a remark from an
observing man named Siutaeff; who was visiting me at the time;
explained this matter to me; and showed me where the cause of my want
of success lay。  I remember that Siutaeff's remark struck me very
forcibly at the time; but I only understood its full significance
later on。  It was at the height of my self…delusion。  I was sitting
with my sister; and Siutaeff was there also at her house; and my
sister was questioning me about my undertaking。  I told her about it;
and; as always happens when you have no faith in your course; I
talked to her with great enthusiasm and warmth; and at great length;
of what I had done; and of what might possibly come of it。  I told
her every thing;how we were going to keep track of pauperism in
Moscow; how we were going to keep an eye on the orphans and old
people; how we were going to send away all country people who had
grown poor here; how we were going to smooth the pathway to reform
for the depraved; how; if only the matter could be managed; there
would not be a man left in Moscow; who could not obtain assistance。
My sister sympathized with me; and we discussed it。  In the middle of
our conversation; I glanced at Siutaeff。  As I was acquainted with
his Christian life; and with the significance which he attached to
charity; I expected his sympathy; and spoke so that he understood
this; I talked to my sister; but directed my remarks more at him。  He
sat immovable in his dark tanned sheepskin jacket;which he wore;
like all peasants; both out of doors and in the house;and as though
he did not hear us; but were thinking of his own affairs。  His small
eyes did not twinkle; and seemed to be turned inwards。  Having
finished what I had to say; I turned to him with a query as to what
he thought of it。

〃It's all a foolish business;〃 said he。

〃Why?〃

〃Your whole society is foolish; and nothing good can come out of it;〃
he repeated with conviction。

〃Why not?  Why is it a stupid business to help thousands; at any rate
hundreds; of unfortunate beings?  Is it

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