collected money for the masses for her soul； a coffin and a shroud；
and the old women had dressed her and laid her out。 The sacristan
was reading something in the gloom； a woman in a long wadded cloak
was standing there with a wax candle； and a man （a gentleman； I must
state） in a clean coat with a lamb's…skin collar； polished overshoes；
and a starched shirt； was holding one like it。 This was her brother。
They had hunted him up。
I went past the dead woman to the landlady's nook； and questioned her
about the whole business。
She was alarmed at my queries； she was evidently afraid that she
would be blamed for something； but afterwards she began to talk
freely； and told me every thing。 As I passed back； I glanced at the
dead woman。 All dead people are handsome； but this dead woman was
particularly beautiful and touching in her coffin； her pure； pale
face； with closed swollen eyes； sunken cheeks； and soft reddish hair
above the lofty brow；a weary and kind and not a sad but a surprised
face。 And in fact； if the living do not see； the dead are surprised。
On the same day that I wrote the above； there was a great ball in
Moscow。
That night I left the house at nine o'clock。 I live in a locality
which is surrounded by factories； and I left the house after the
factory…whistles had sounded； releasing the people for a day of
freedom after a week of unremitting toil。
Factory…hands overtook me； and I overtook others of them； directing
their steps to the drinking…shops and taverns。 Many were already
intoxicated； many were women。 Every morning at five o'clock we can
hear one whistle； a second； a third； a tenth； and so forth； and so
forth。 That means that the toil of women； children； and of old men
has begun。 At eight o'clock another whistle； which signifies a
breathing…spell of half an hour。 At twelve； a third： this means an
hour for dinner。 And a fourth at eight； which denotes the end of the
day。
By an odd coincidence； all three of the factories which are situated
near me produce only articles which are in demand for balls。
In one factory； the nearest； only stockings are made； in another
opposite； silken fabrics； in the third； perfumes and pomades。
It is possible to listen to these whistles； and connect no other idea
with them than as denoting the time： 〃There's the whistle already；
it is time to go to walk。〃 But one can also connect with those
whistles that which they signify in reality； that first whistle； at
five o'clock； means that people； often all without exception； both
men and women； sleeping in a damp cellar； must rise； and hasten to
that building buzzing with machines； and must take their places at
their work； whose end and use for themselves they do not see； and
thus toil； often in heat and a stifling atmosphere； in the midst of
dirt； and with the very briefest breathing…spells； an hour； two
hours； three hours； twelve； and even more hours in succession。 They
fall into a doze； and again they rise。 And this； for them； senseless
work； to which they are driven only by necessity； is continued over
and over again。
And thus one week succeeds another with the breaks of holidays； and I
see these work…people released on one of these holidays。 They emerge
into the street。 Everywhere there are drinking…shops； taverns； and
loose girls。 And they； in their drunken state； drag by the hand each
other； and girls like the one whom I saw taken to the station…house；
they drag with them cabmen； and they ride and they walk from one
tavern to another； and they curse and stagger； and say they
themselves know not what。 I had previously seen such unsteady gait
on the part of factory…hands； and had turned aside in disgust； and
had been on the point of rebuking them； but ever since I have been in
the habit of hearing those whistles every day； and understand their
meaning； I am only amazed that they； all the men； do not come to the
condition of the 〃golden squad；〃 of which Moscow is full； ｛26｝ ＇and
the women to the state of the one whom I had seen near my house＇。
｛27｝
Thus I walked along； and scrutinized these factory…hands； as long as
they roamed the streets； which was until eleven o'clock。 Then their
movements began to calm down。 Some drunken men remained here and
there； and here and there I encountered men who were being taken to
the station…house。 And then carriages began to make their appearance
on all sides； directing their course toward one point。
On the box sits a coachman； sometimes in a sheepskin coat； and a
footman； a dandy； with a cockade。 Well…fed horses in saddle…cloths
fly through the frost at the rate of twenty versts an hour； in the
carriages sit ladies muffled in round cloaks； and carefully tending
their flowers and head…dresses。 Every thing from the horse…
trappings； the carriages； the gutta…percha wheels； the cloth of the
coachman's coat； to the stockings； shoes； flowers； velvet； gloves；
and perfumes；every thing is made by those people； some of whom
often roll drunk into their dens or sleeping…rooms； and some stay
with disreputable women in the night…lodging houses； while still
others are put in jail。 Thus past them in all their work； and over
them all； ride the frequenters of balls； and it never enters their
heads； that there is any connection between these balls to which they
make ready to go； and these drunkards at whom their coachman shouts
so roughly。
These people enjoy themselves at the ball with the utmost composure
of spirit； and assurance that they are doing nothing wrong； but
something very good。 Enjoy themselves！ Enjoy themselves from eleven
o'clock until six in the morning； in the very dead of night； at the
very hour when people are tossing and turning with empty stomachs in
the night…lodging houses； and while some are dying； as did the
laundress。
Their enjoyment consists in this；that the women and young girls；
having bared their necks and arms； and applied bustles behind； place
themselves in a situation in which no uncorrupted woman or maiden
would care to display herself to a man； on any consideration in the
world； and in this half…naked condition； with their uncovered bosoms
exposed to view； with arms bare to the shoulder； with a bustle behind
and tightly swathed hips； under the most brilliant light； women and
maidens； whose chief virtue has always been modesty； exhibit
themselves in the midst of strange men； who are also clad in
improperly tight…fitting garments； and to the sound of maddening
music； they embrace and whirl。 Old women； often as naked as the
young ones； sit and look on； and eat and drink savory things； old men
do the same。 It is not to be wondered at that this should take place
at night； when all the common people are asleep； so that no one may
see them。 But this is not done with the object of concealment： it
seems to them that there is nothing to conceal； that it is a very
good thing； that by this merry…making； in which the labor of
thousands of toiling people is destroyed； they not only do not injure
any one； but that by this very act they furnish the poor with the
means of subsistence。 Possibly it is very merry at balls。 But how
does this come about？ When we see that there is a man in the
community； in our midst； who has had no food； or who is freezing； we
regret our mirth； and we cannot be cheerful until he is fed and
warmed； not to mention the impossibility of imagining people who can
indulge in such mirth as causes suffering to others。 The mirth of
wicked little boys； who pitch a dog's tail in a split stick； and make
merry over it； is repulsive and incomprehensible to us。
In the same manner here； in these diversions of ours； blindness has
fallen upon us； and we do not see the split stick with which we have
pitched all those people who suffer for our amusement。
＇We live as though there were no connection between the dying
laundress； the prostitute of fourteen； and our own life； and yet the
connection between them strikes us in the face。
We may say： 〃But we personally have not pinched any tail in a
stick；〃 but we have no right； to deny that had the tail not been
pitched； our merry…making would not have taken place。 We do not see
what connection exists between the laundress and our luxury； but that
is not because no such connection does exist； but because we have
placed a screen in front of us； so that we may not see。
If there were no screen； we should see that which it is impossible
not to see。＇ ｛28｝
Surely all the women who attended that ball in dresses worth a
hundred and fifty rubles each were born not in a ballroom； or at
Madame Minanguoit's； but they have lived in the country； and have
seen the peasants； they know their own nurse and maid； whose father
and brother are poor； for whom the earning of a hundred and fifty
rubles for a cottage is the object of a long； laborious life。 Each
woman knows this。 How could she enjoy herself； when she knew that
she wore on her bared body at that ball the cottage which is the
dream of her good maid's father and brother？ But let us suppose that
she could not make this reflection； but since velvet and silk and
flowers and lace and dresses do not grow of themselves； but are made
by people； it would seem that she could not help knowing what sort of
people make all these things； and under what conditions； and why they
do it。 She cannot fail to know that the seamstress； with whom she
has already quarrelled； did not make her dress in the least out of
love for her； therefore； she cannot help knowing that all these
things were made for her as a matter of necessity； that her laces；
flowers； and velvet have been made in the same way as her dress。
But possibly they are in such darkness that they do not consider
this。 One thing she cannot fail to know；that five or six elderly
and respectable； often sick； lackeys and maids have had no sleep； and
have been put to trouble on her account。 She has seen their weary；
gloomy faces。 She could not help knowing this also； that the cold
that night reached twenty…eight degrees below zero； ｛29｝ and that the
old coachman sat all night long in that temperature on his box。 But
I know that they really do not see this。 And i