the moscow census-第8章
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to them。 Our questions merely served them as a subject of mirth and
jesting as to how such and such a one was to be set down in the list；
when he was to be reckoned as two； and when two were to be reckoned
as one； and so forth。
We found many of them at dinner； or tea； and on every occasion to our
greeting： 〃bread and salt；〃 or 〃tea and sugar；〃 they replied： 〃we
beg that you will partake；〃 and even stepped aside to make room for
us。 Instead of the den with a constantly changing population； which
we had expected to find here； it turned out； that there were a great
many apartments in the house where people had been living for a long
time。 One cabinet…maker with his men； and a boot…maker with his
journeymen； had lived there for ten years。 The boot…maker's quarters
were very dirty and confined； but all the people at work were very
cheerful。 I tried to enter into conversation with one of the
workmen； being desirous of inquiring into the wretchedness of his
situation and his debt to his master； but the man did not understand
me and spoke of his master and his life from the best point of view。
In one apartment lived an old man and his old woman。 They peddled
apples。 Their little chamber was warm； clean； and full of goods。 On
the floor were spread straw mats： they had got them at the apple…
warehouse。 They had chests； a cupboard； a samovar； and crockery。 In
the corner there were numerous images； and two lamps were burning
before them； on the wall hung fur coats covered with sheets。 The old
woman； who had star…shaped wrinkles； and who was polite and
talkative； evidently delighted in her quiet； comfortable； existence。
Ivan Fedotitch； the landlord of the tavern and of these quarters；
left his establishment and came with us。 He jested in a friendly
manner with many of the landlords of apartments； addressing them all
by their Christian names and patronymics； and he gave us brief
sketches of them。 All were ordinary people； like everybody else；
Martin Semyonovitches； Piotr Piotrovitches； Marya Ivanovnas；people
who did not consider themselves unhappy； but who regarded themselves；
and who actually were； just like the rest of mankind。
We had been prepared to witness nothing except what was terrible。
And； all of a sudden； there was presented to us； not only nothing
that was terrible； but what was good；things which involuntarily
compelled our respect。 And there were so many of these good people；
that the tattered； corrupt； idle people whom we came across now and
then among them； did not destroy the principal impression。
This was not so much of a surprise to the students as to me。 They
simply went to fulfil a useful task； as they thought； in the
interests of science； and； at the same time； they made their own
chance observations； but I was a benefactor； I went for the purpose
of aiding the unfortunate； the corrupt； vicious people； whom I
supposed that I should meet with in this house。 And； behold； instead
of unfortunate； corrupt； and vicious people； I saw that the majority
were laborious； industrious； peaceable； satisfied； contented；
cheerful； polite； and very good folk indeed。
I felt particularly conscious of this when； in these quarters； I
encountered that same crying want which I had undertaken to
alleviate。
When I encountered this want； I always found that it had already been
relieved； that the assistance which I had intended to render had
already been given。 This assistance had been rendered before my
advent； and rendered by whom？ By the very unfortunate； depraved
creatures whom I had undertaken to reclaim； and rendered in such a
manner as I could not compass。
In one basement lay a solitary old man； ill with the typhus fever。
There was no one with the old man。 A widow and her little daughter；
strangers to him； but his neighbors round the corner； looked after
him； gave him tea and purchased medicine for him out of their own
means。 In another lodging lay a woman in puerperal fever。 A woman
who lived by vice was rocking the baby； and giving her her bottle；
and for two days； she had been unremitting in her attention。 The
baby girl； on being left an orphan； was adopted into the family of a
tailor； who had three children of his own。 So there remained those
unfortunate idle people； officials； clerks； lackeys out of place；
beggars； drunkards； dissolute women； and children； who cannot be
helped on the spot with money； but whom it is necessary to know
thoroughly； to be planned and arranged for。 I had simply sought
unfortunate people； the unfortunates of poverty； those who could be
helped by sharing with them our superfluity； and； as it seemed to me；
through some signal ill…luck； none such were to be found； but I hit
upon unfortunates to whom I should be obliged to devote my time and
care。
CHAPTER VII。
The unfortunates whom I noted down； divided themselves； according to
my ideas； into three sections； namely： people who had lost their
former advantageous position； and who were awaiting a return to it
（there were people of this sort from both the lower and the higher
class）； next； dissolute women； of whom there are a great many in
these houses； and a third division； children。 More than all the
rest； I found and noted down people of the first division； who had
forfeited their former advantageous position； and who hoped to regain
it。 Of such persons； especially from the governmental and official
world； there are a very great number in these houses。 In almost all
the lodgings which we entered； with the landlord； Ivan Fedotitch； he
said to us： 〃Here you need not write down the lodger's card
yourself； there is a man here who can do it； if he only happens not
to be intoxicated to…day。〃
And Ivan Fedotitch called by name and patronymic this man； who was
always one of those persons who had fallen from a lofty position。 At
Ivan Fedotitch's call； there crawled forth from some dark corner； a
former wealthy member of the noble or official class； generally
intoxicated and always undressed。 If he was not drunk； he always
readily acceded to the task proposed to him； nodded significantly；
frowned； set down his remarks in learned phraseology； held the card
neatly printed on red paper in his dirty； trembling hands； and
glanced round at his fellow…lodgers with pride and contempt； as
though now triumphing in his education over those who had so often
humiliated him。 He evidently enjoyed intercourse with that world in
which cards are printed on red paper； and with that world of which he
had once formed a part。 Nearly always； in answer to my inquiries
about his life； the man began； not only willingly； but eagerly； to
relate the story of the misfortunes which he had undergone；which he
had learned by rote like a prayer；and particularly of his former
position； in which he ought still to be by right of his education。
A great many such people were scattered over all the corners of the
Rzhanoff house。 But one lodging was densely occupied by them alone
both men and women。 After we had already entered； Ivan Fedotitch
said to us： 〃Now； here are some of the nobility。〃 The lodging was
perfectly crammed； nearly all of the people； forty in number； were at
home。 More demoralized countenances； unhappy； aged； and swollen；
young； pallid； and distracted； were not to be seen in the whole
building。 I conversed with several of them。 The story was nearly
identical in all cases； only in various stages of development。 Every
one of them had been rich； or his father； his brother or his uncle
was still wealthy； or his father or he himself had had a very fine
position。 Then misfortune had overtaken him； the blame for which
rested either on envious people； or on his own kind…heartedness； or
some special chance； and so he had lost every thing； and had been
forced to condescend to these surroundings to which he was not
accustomed； and which were hateful to himamong lice； rags； among
drunkards and corrupt persons； and to nourish himself on bread and
liver； and to extend his hand in beggary。 All the thoughts； desires；
memories of these people were directed exclusively to the past。 The
present appeared to them something
