the moscow census-第2章
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especial interest in them。
Why did these men toil； while those others begged？
On encountering a peasant of this stamp； I usually asked him how he
had come to that situation。 Once I met a peasant with some gray in
his beard； but healthy。 He begs。 I ask him who is he； whence comes
he？ He says that he came from Kaluga to get work。 At first he found
employment chopping up old wood for use in stoves。 He and his
comrade finished all the chopping which one householder had； then
they sought other work； but found none； his comrade had parted from
him； and for two weeks he himself had been struggling along； he had
spent all his money； he had no saw； and no axe； and no money to buy
anything。 I gave him money for a saw； and told him of a place where
he could find work。 I had already made arrangements with Piotr and
Semyon； that they should take an assistant； and they looked up a mate
for him。
〃See that you come。 There is a great deal of work there。〃
〃I will come； why should I not come？ Do you suppose I like to beg？
I can work。〃
The peasant declares that he will come； and it seems to me that he is
not deceiving me； and that he intents to come。
On the following day I go to my peasants； and inquire whether that
man has arrived。 He has not been there； and in this way several men
deceived me。 And those also deceived me who said that they only
required money for a ticket in order to return home； and who chanced
upon me again in the street a week later。 Many of these I
recognized； and they recognized me； and sometimes； having forgotten
me； they repeated the same trick on me； and others； on catching sight
of me； beat a retreat。 Thus I perceived； that in the ranks of this
class also deceivers existed。 But these cheats were very pitiable
creatures： all of them were but half…clad； poverty…stricken； gaunt；
sickly men； they were the very people who really freeze to death； or
hang themselves； as we learn from the newspapers。
CHAPTER II。
When I mentioned this poverty of the town to inhabitants of the town；
they always said to me： 〃Oh； all that you have seen is nothing。 You
ought to see the Khitroff market…place； and the lodging…houses for
the night there。 There you would see a regular 'golden company。'〃
｛1｝ One jester told me that this was no longer a company； but a
GOLDEN REGIMENT： so greatly had their numbers increased。 The jester
was right； but he would have been still more accurate if he had said
that these people now form in Moscow neither a company nor a
regiment； but an entire army； almost fifty thousand in number； I
think。 ＇The old inhabitants； when they spoke to me about the poverty
in town； always referred to it with a certain satisfaction； as though
pluming themselves over me； because they knew it。 I remember that
when I was in London； the old inhabitants there also rather boasted
when they spoke of the poverty of London。 The case is the same with
us。＇ ｛2｝
And I wanted to have a sight of this poverty of which I had been
told。 Several times I set out in the direction of the Khitroff
market…place； but on every occasion I began to feel uncomfortable and
ashamed。 〃Why am I going to gaze on the sufferings of people whom I
cannot help？〃 said one voice。 〃No； if you live here； and see all the
charms of city life； go and view this also；〃 said another voice。 In
December three years ago； therefore； on a cold and windy day； I
betook myself to that centre of poverty； the Khitroff market…place。
This was at four o'clock in the afternoon of a week…day。 As I passed
through the Solyanka； I already began to see more and more people in
old garments which had not originally belonged to them； and in still
stranger foot…gear； people with a peculiar； unhealthy hue of
countenance； and especially with a singular indifference to every
thing around them； which was peculiar to them all。 A man in the
strangest of all possible attire； which was utterly unlike any thing
else； walked along with perfect unconcern； evidently without a
thought of the appearance which he must present to the eyes of
others。 All these people were making their way towards a single
point。 Without inquiring the way； with which I was not acquainted； I
followed them； and came out on the Khitroff market…place。 On the
market…place； women both old and young； of the same description； in
tattered cloaks and jackets of various shapes； in ragged shoes and
overshoes； and equally unconcerned； notwithstanding the hideousness
of their attire； sat； bargained for something； strolled about； and
scolded。 There were not many people in the market itself。 Evidently
market…hours were over； and the majority of the people were ascending
the rise beyond the market and through the place； all still
proceeding in one direction。 I followed them。 The farther I
advanced； the greater in numbers were the people of this sort who
flowed together on one road。 Passing through the market…place and
proceeding along the street； I overtook two women； one was old； the
other young。 Both wore something ragged and gray。 As they walked
they were discussing some matter。 After every necessary word； they
uttered one or two unnecessary ones； of the most improper character。
They were not intoxicated； but merely troubled about something； and
neither the men who met them； nor those who walked in front of them
and behind them； paid any attention to the language which was so
strange to me。 In these quarters； evidently； people always talked
so。 Ascending the rise； we reached a large house on a corner。 The
greater part of the people who were walking along with me halted at
this house。 They stood all over the sidewalk of this house； and sat
on the curbstone； and even the snow in the street was thronged with
the same kind of people。 On the right side of the entrance door were
the women； on the left the men。 I walked past the women； past the
men （there were several hundred of them in all） and halted where the
line came to an end。 The house before which these people were
waiting was the Lyapinsky free lodging…house for the night。 The
throng of people consisted of night lodgers； who were waiting to be
let in。 At five o'clock in the afternoon； the house is opened； and
the people permitted to enter。 Hither had come nearly all the people
whom I had passed on my way。
I halted where the line of men ended。 Those nearest me began to
stare at me； and attracted my attention to them by their glances。
The fragments of garments which covered these bodies were of the most
varied sorts。 But the expression of all the glances directed towards
me by these people was identical。 In all eyes the question was
expressed： 〃Why have you； a man from another world； halted here
beside us？ Who are you？ Are you a self…satisfied rich man who wants
to enjoy our wretchedness； to get rid of his tedium； and to torment
us still more？ or are you that thing which does not and can not
exist；a man who pities us？〃 This query was on every face。 You
glance about； encounter some one's eye； and turn away。 I wished to
talk with some one of them； but for a long time I could not make up
my mind to it。 But our glances had drawn us together already while
our tongues remained silent。 Greatly as our lives had separated us；
after the interchange of two or three glances we felt that we were
both men； and we ceased to fear each other。 The nearest of all to me
was a peasant with a swollen face and a red beard； in a tattered
caftan； and patched overshoes on his bare feet。 And the weather was
eight degrees below zero。 ｛3｝ For the third or fourth time I
encountered his eyes； and I felt so near to him that I was no longer
ashamed to accost him； but ashamed not to say something to him。 I
inquired where he came from？ he answered readily； and we began to
talk； others approached。 He was from Smolensk； and had come to seek
employment that he might earn his bread and taxes。 〃There is no
work；〃 said he： 〃the soldiers have taken it all away。 So now I am
loafing about； as true as I believe in God； I have had nothing to eat
for two days。〃 He spoke modestly； with an effort at a smile。 A
sbiten｛4｝…seller； an old so
