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 a bad thing； according to the
Gospel； to clothe the naked； and feed the hungry？〃
〃I know； I know； but that is not what you are doing。 Is it necessary
to render assistance in that way？ You are walking along； and a man
asks you for twenty kopeks。 You give them to him。 Is that alms？ Do
you give spiritual alms；teach him。 But what is it that you have
given？ It was only for the sake of getting rid of him。〃
〃No； and； besides； that is not what we are talking about。 We want to
know about this need； and then to help by both money and deeds； and
to find work。〃
〃You can do nothing with those people in that way。〃
〃So they are to be allowed to die of hunger and cold？〃
〃Why should they die？ Are there many of them there？〃
〃What； many of them？〃 said I； thinking that he looked at the matter
so lightly because he was not aware how vast was the number of these
people。
〃Why； do you know；〃 said I； 〃I believe that there are twenty thousand
of these cold and hungry people in Moscow。 And how about Petersburg
and the other cities？〃
He smiled。
〃Twenty thousand！ And how many households are there in Russia alone；
do you think？ Are there a million？〃
〃Well； what then？〃
〃What then？〃 and his eyes flashed； and he grew animated。 〃Come； let
us divide them among ourselves。 I am not rich； I will take two
persons on the spot。 There is the lad whom you took into your
kitchen； I invited him to come to my house； and he did not come。
Were there ten times as many； let us divide them among us。 Do you
take some； and I will take some。 We will work together。 He will see
how I work； and he will learn。 He will see how I live； and we will
sit down at the same table together； and he will hear my words and
yours。 This charity society of yours is nonsense。〃
These simple words impressed me。 I could not but admit their
justice； but it seemed to me at that time； that； in spite of their
truth； still that which I had planned might possibly prove of
service。 But the further I carried this business； the more I
associated with the poor； the more frequently did this remark recur
to my mind； and the greater was the significance which it acquired
for me。
I arrive in a costly fur coat； or with my horses； or the man who
lacks shoes sees my two…thousand…ruble apartments。 He sees how； a
little while ago； I gave five rubles without begrudging them； merely
because I took a whim to do so。 He surely knows that if I give away
rubles in that manner； it is only because I have hoarded up so many
of them； that I have a great many superfluous ones； which I not only
have not given away； but which I have easily taken from other people。
＇What else could he see in me but one of those persons who have got
possession of what belongs to him？ And what other feeling can he
cherish towards me； than a desire to obtain from me as many of those
rubles； which have been stolen from him and from others； as possible？
I wish to get close to him； and I complain that he is not frank； and
here I am； afraid to sit down on his bed for fear of getting lice； or
catching something infectious； and I am afraid to admit him to my
room； and he； coming to me naked； waits； generally in the vestibule；
or； if very fortunate； in the ante…chamber。 And yet I declare that
he is to blame because I cannot enter into intimate relations with
him； and because me is not frank。
Let the sternest man try the experiment of eating a dinner of five
courses in the midst of people who have had very little or nothing
but black bread to eat。 Not a man will have the spirit to eat； and
to watch how the hungry lick their chops around him。 Hence； then； in
order to eat daintily amid the famishing； the first indispensable
requisite is to hide from them； in order that they may not see it。
This is the very thing； and the first thing； that we do。
And I took a simpler view of our life； and perceived that an approach
to the poor is not difficult to us through accidental causes； but
that we deliberately arrange our lives in such a fashion so that this
approach may