the moscow census-第5章
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struck me very unpleasantly。 Not to mention the fact that the
property of the persons there congregated amounted to many millions；
not to mention the fact that the mere income from the capital here
expended on dresses； laces； bronzes； brooches； carriages； horses；
liveries； and lackeys； was a hundred…fold greater than all that these
ladies could earn； not to mention the outlay； the trip hither of all
these ladies and gentlemen； the gloves； linen； extra time； the
candles； the tea； the sugar； and the cakes had cost the hostess a
hundred times more than what they were engaged in making here。 I saw
all this； and therefore I could understand； that precisely here I
should find no sympathy with my mission： but I had come in order to
make my proposition； and； difficult as this was for me； I said what I
intended。 （I said very nearly the same thing that is contained in my
printed article。）
Out of all the persons there present； one individual offered me
money； saying that she did not feel equal to going among the poor
herself on account of her sensibility； but that she would give money；
how much money she would give； and when； she did not say。 Another
individual and a young man offered their services in going about
among the poor； but I did not avail myself of their offer。 The
principal person to whom I appealed； told me that it would be
impossible to do much because means were lacking。 Means were lacking
because all the rich people in Moscow were already on the lists； and
all of them were asked for all that they could possibly give； because
on all these benefactors rank； medals； and other dignities were
bestowed； because in order to secure financial success； some new
dignities must be secured from the authorities； and that this was the
only practical means； but this was extremely difficult。
On my return home that night； I lay down to sleep not only with a
presentment that my idea would come to nothing； but with shame and a
consciousness that all day long I had been engaged in a very
repulsive and disgraceful business。 But I did not give up this
undertaking。 In the first place； the matter had been begun； and
false shame would have prevented my abandoning it； in the second
place； not only the success of this scheme； but the very fact that I
was busying myself with it； afforded me the possibility of continuing
to live in the conditions under which I was then living； failure
entailed upon me the necessity of renouncing my present existence and
of seeking new paths of life。 And this I unconsciously dreaded； and
I could not believe the inward voice； and I went on with what I had
begun。
Having sent my article to the printer； I read the proof of it to the
City Council （Dum）。 I read it； stumbling； and blushing even to
tears； I felt so awkward。 And I saw that it was equally awkward for
all my hearers。 In answer to my question at the conclusion of my
reading； as to whether the superintendents of the census would accept
my proposition to retain their places with the object of becoming
mediators between society and the needy； an awkward silence ensued。
Then two orators made speeches。 These speeches in some measure
corrected the awkwardness of my proposal； sympathy for me was
expressed； but the impracticability of my proposition； which all had
approved； was demonstrated。 Everybody breathed more freely。 But
when； still desirous of gaining my object； I afterwards asked the
superintendents separately： Were they willing； while taking the
census； to inquire into the needs of the poor； and to retain their
posts； in order to serve as go…betweens between the poor and the
rich？ they all grew uneasy again。 They seemed to say to me with
their glances： 〃Why； we have just condoned your folly out of respect
to you； and here you are beginning it again！〃 Such was the
expression of their faces； but they assured me in words that they
agreed； and two of them said in the very same words； as though they
had entered into a compact together： 〃We consider ourselves MORALLY
BOUND to do this。〃 The same impression was produced by my
communication to the student…census…takers； when I said to them； that
while taking our statistics； we should follow up； in addition to the
objects of the census； the object of benevolence。 When we discussed
this； I observed that they were ashamed to look the kind…hearted man；
who was talking nonsense； in the eye。 My article produced the same
impression on the editor of the newspaper； when I handed it to him；
on my son； on my wife； on the most widely different persons。 All
felt awkward； for some reason or other； but all regarded it as
indispensable to applaud the idea itself； and all； immediately after
this expression of approbation； began to express their doubts as to
its success； and began for some reason （and all of them； too； without
exception） to condemn the indifference and coldness of our society
and of every one； apparently； except themselves。
In the depths of my own soul； I still continued to feel that all this
was not at all what was needed； and that nothing would come of it；
but the article was printed； and I prepared to take part in the
census； I had contrived the matter； and now it was already carrying
me a way with it。
CHAPTER IV。
At my request； there had been assigned to me for the census； a
portion of the Khamovnitchesky quarter； at the Smolensk market； along
the Prototchny cross…street； between Beregovoy Passage and Nikolsky
Alley。 In this quarter are situated the houses generally called the
Rzhanoff Houses； or the Rzhanoff fortress。 These houses once
belonged to a merchant named Rzhanoff； but now belong to the Zimins。
I had long before heard of this place as a haunt of the most terrible
poverty and vice； and I had accordingly requested the directors of
the census to assign me to this quarter。 My desire was granted。
On receiving the instructions of the City Council； I went alone； a
few days previous to the beginning of the census； to reconnoitre my
section。 I found the Rzhanoff fortress at once； from the plan with
which I had been furnished。
I approached from Nikolsky Alley。 Nikolsky Alley ends on the left in
a gloomy house； without any gates on that side； I divined from its
appearance that this was the Rzhanoff fortress。
Passing down Nikolsky Street； I overtook some lads of from ten to
fourteen years of age； clad in little caftans and great…coats； who
were sliding down hill； some on their feet； and some on one skate；
along the icy slope beside this house。 The boys were ragged； and；
like all city lads； bold and impudent。 I stopped to watch them。 A
ragged old woman； with yellow； pendent cheeks； came round the corner。
She was going to town； to the Smolensk market； and she groaned
terribly at every step； like a foundered horse。 As she came
alongside me； she halted and drew a hoarse sigh。 In any other
locality； this old woman would have asked money of me； but here she
merely addressed me。
〃Look there；〃 said she； pointing at the boys who were sliding； 〃all
they do is to play their pranks！ They'll turn out just such Rzhanoff
fellows as their fathers。〃
One of the boys clad in a great…coat and a visorless cap； heard her
words and halted： 〃What are you scolding about？〃 he shouted to the
old woman。 〃You're an old Rzhanoff nanny…goat yourself！〃
I asked the boy：
〃And do you live here？〃
〃Yes； and so does she。 She stole boot…legs；〃 shouted the boy； and
raising his foot in front； he slid away。
The old woman burst forth into injurious words； interrupted by a
cough。 At that moment； an old man； all clad in rags； and as white as
snow； came down the hill in the middle of the street； flourishing his
hands ＇in one of them he held a bundle with one little kalatch and
baranki〃 ｛6｝＇。 This old man bore the appearance of a person who had
just strengthened himself with a dram。 He had evidently heard the
old woman's insulting words； and he took her part。
〃I'll give it to you； you imps； that I will！〃 he screamed at the
boys； seeming to direct his course towards them； and taking a circuit
round me； he stepped on to the sidewalk。 This old man creates
surprise on th
