money which they require in the country for bread and a cottage and a
horse； and articles of prime necessity。 But assuredly； in the
country lies the source of all riches； there only is real wealth；
bread； and forests； and horses； and every thing。 And why； above all；
take away from the country that which dwellers in the country need；
flour； oats； horses； and cattle？
Hundreds of times did I discuss this matter with peasants living in
town； and from my discussions with them； and from my observations； it
has been made apparent to me； that the congregation of country people
in the city is partly indispensable because they cannot otherwise
support themselves； partly voluntary； and that they are attracted to
the city by the temptations of the city。
It is true； that the position of the peasant is such that； for the
satisfaction of his demands made on him in the country； he cannot
extricate himself otherwise than by selling the grain and the cattle
which he knows will be indispensable to him； and he is forced；
whether he will or no； to go to the city in order there to win back
his bread。 But it is also true； that the luxury of city life； and
the comparative ease with which money is there to be earned； attract
him thither； and under the pretext of gaining his living in the town；
he betakes himself thither in order that he may have lighter work；
better food； and drink tea three times a day； and dress well； and
even lead a drunken and dissolute life。 The cause of both is
identical；the transfer of the riches of the producers into the
hands of non…producers； and the accumulation of wealth in the cities。
And； in point of fact； when autumn has come； all wealth is collected
in the country。 And instantly there arise demands for taxes；
recruits； the temptations of vodka； weddings； festivals； petty
pedlers make their rounds through the villages； and all sorts of
other temptations crop up； and by this road； or； if not； by some
other； wealth of the most varied descriptionvegetables； calves；
cows； horses； pigs； chickens； eggs； butter； hemp； flax； rye； oats；
buckwheat； pease； hempseed； and flaxseedall passes into the hands
of strangers； is carried off to the towns； and thence to the
capitals。 The countryman is obliged to surrender all this to satisfy
the demands that are made upon him； and temptations； and； having
parted with his wealth； he is left with an insufficiency； and he is
forced to go whither his wealth has been carried and there he tries；
in part； to obtain the money which he requires for his first needs in
the country； and in part； being himself led away by the blandishments
of the city； he enjoys； in company with others； the wealth that has
there accumulated。 Everywhere； throughout the whole of Russia；yes；
and not in Russia alone； I think； but throughout the whole world；
the same thing goes on。 The wealth of the rustic producers passes
into the hands of traders； landed proprietors； officials； and
factory…owners； and the people who receive this wealth wish to enjoy
it。 But it is only in the city that they can derive full enjoyment
from this wealth。 In the country； in the first place； it is
difficult to satisfy all the requirements of rich people； on account
of the sparseness of the population； banks； shops； hotels； every sort
of artisan； and all sorts of social diversions； do not exist there。
In the second place； one of the chief pleasures procured by wealth
vanity； the desire to astonish and outshine other peopleis
difficult to satisfy in the country； and this； again； on account of
the lack of inhabitants。 In the country； there is no one to
appreciate elegance； no one to be astonished。 Whatever adornments in
the way of pictures and bronzes the dweller in the country may
procure for his house； whatever equipages and toilets he may provide；
there is no one to see them and envy them； and the peasants cannot
judge of them。 ＇And； in the third place； luxury is even disagreeable
and dangerous in the country for the man possessed of a conscience
and fear。 It is an awkward and delicate matter； in the country； to
have baths of milk； or to feed your puppies on it； when directly
beside you there are children who have no milk； it is an awkward and
delicate matter to build pavilions and gardens in the midst of people
who live in cots banked up with dung； which they have no means of
warming。 In the country there is no one to keep the stupid peasants
in order； and in their lack of cultivation they might disarrange all
this。＇ ｛11｝
And accordingly rich people congregate； and join themselves to other
rich people with similar requirements； in the city； where the
gratification of every luxurious taste is carefully protected by a
numerous police force。 Well…rooted inhabitants of the city of this
sort； are the governmental officials； every description of artisan
and professional man has sprung up around them； and with them the
wealthy join their forces。 All that a rich man has to do there is to
take a fancy to a thing； and he can get it。 It is also more
agreeable for a rich man to live there； because there he can gratify
his vanity； there is some one with whom he can vie in luxury； there
is some one to astonish； and there is some one to outshine。 But the
principal reason why it is more comfortable in the city for a rich
man is that formerly； in the country； his luxury made him awkward and
uneasy； while now； on the contrary； it would be awkward for him not
to live luxuriously； not to live like all his peers around him。 That
which seemed dreadful and awkward in the country； here appears to be
just as it should be。 ＇Rich people congregate in the city； and
there； under the protection of the authorities； they calmly demand
every thing that is brought thither from the country。 And the
countryman is； in some measure； compelled to go thither； where this
uninterrupted festival of the wealthy which demands all that is taken
from him is in progress； in order to feed upon the crumbs which fall
from the tables of the rich； and partly； also； because； when he
beholds the care…free； luxurious life； approved and protected by
everybody； he himself becomes desirous of regulating his life in such
a way as to work as little as possible； and to make as much use as
possible of the labors of others。
And so he betakes himself to the city； and finds employment about the
wealthy； endeavoring； by every means in his power； to entice from
them that which he is in need of； and conforming to all those
conditions which the wealthy impose upon him； he assists in the
gratification of all their whims； he serves the rich man in the bath
and in the inn； and as cab…driver and prostitute； and he makes for
him equipages； toys； and fashions； and he gradually learns from the
rich man to live in the same manner as the latter； not by labor； but
by divers tricks； getting away from others the wealth which they have
heaped together； and he becomes corrupt； and goes to destruction。
And this colony； demoralized by city wealth； constitutes that city
pauperism which I desired to aid and could not。
All that is necessary； in fact； is for us to reflect on the condition
of these inhabitants of the country； who have removed to the city in
order to earn their bread or their taxes；when they behold；
everywhere around them； thousands squandered madly； and hundreds won
by the easiest possible means； when they themselves are forced by
heavy toil to earn kopeks；and we shall be amazed that all these
people should remain working people； and that they do not all of them
take to an easier method of getting gain；by trading； peddling；
acting as middlemen； begging； vice； rascality； and even robbery。
Why； we； the participants in that never…ceasing orgy which goes on in
town； can become so accustomed to our life； that it seems to us
perfectly natural to dwell alone in five huge apartments； heated by a
quantity of beech logs sufficient to cook the food for and to warm
twenty families； to drive half a verst with two trotters and two men…
servants； to cover the polished wood floor with rugs； and to spend； I
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 th