old coachman sat all night long in that temperature on his box。 But
I know that they really do not see this。 And if they； these young
women and girls； do not see this； on account of the hypnotic state
superinduced in them by balls； it is impossible to condemn them。
They； poor things； have done what is considered right by their
elders； but how are their elders to explain away this their cruelty
to the people？
The elders always offer the explanation： 〃I compel no one。 I
purchase my things； I hire my men； my maid…servants； and my coachman。
There is nothing wrong in buying and hiring。 I force no one's
inclination： I hire； and what harm is there in that？〃
I recently went to see an acquaintance。 As I passed through one of
the rooms； I was surprised to see two women seated at a table； as I
knew that my friend was a bachelor。 A thin； yellow； old…fashioned
woman； thirty years of age； in a dress that had been carelessly
thrown on； was doing something with her hands and fingers on the
table； with great speed； trembling nervously the while； as though in
a fit。 Opposite her sat a young girl； who was also engaged in
something； and who trembled in the same manner。 Both women appeared
to be afflicted with St。 Vitus' dance。 I stepped nearer to them； and
looked to see what they were doing。 They raised their eyes to me；
but went on with their work with the same intentness。 In front of
them lay scattered tobacco and paper cases。 They were making
cigarettes。 The woman rubbed the tobacco between her hands； pushed
it into the machine； slipped on the cover； thrust the tobacco
through； then tossed it to the girl。 The girl twisted the paper；
and； making it fast； threw it aside； and took up another。 All thus
was done with such swiftness； with such intentness； as it is
impossible to describe to a man who has never seen it done。 I
expressed my surprise at their quickness。
〃I have been doing nothing else for fourteen years；〃 said the woman。
〃Is it hard？〃
〃Yes： it pains my chest； and makes my breathing hard。〃
It was not necessary for her to add this； however。 A look at the
girl sufficed。 She had worked at this for three years； but any one
who had not seen her at this occupation would have said that here was
a strong organism which was beginning to break down。
My friend； a kind and liberal man； hires these women to fill his
cigarettes at two rubles fifty kopeks the thousand。 He has money；
and he spends it for work。 What harm is there in that？ My friend
rises at twelve o'clock。 He passes the evening； from six until two；
at cards； or at the piano。 He eats and drinks savory things； others
do all his work for him。 He has devised a new source of pleasure；
smoking。 He has taken up smoking within my memory。
Here is a woman； and here is a girl； who can barely support
themselves by turning themselves into machines； and they pass their
whole lives inhaling tobacco； and thereby running their health。 He
has money which he never earned； and he prefers to play at whist to
making his own cigarettes。 He gives these women money on condition
that they shall continue to live in the same wretched manner in which
they are now living； that is to say； by making his cigarettes。
I love cleanliness； and I give money only on the condition that the
laundress shall wash the shirt which I change twice a day； and that
shirt has destroyed the laundress's last remaining strength； and she
has died。 What is there wrong about that？ People who buy and hire
will continue to force other people to make velvet and confections；
and will purchase them； without me； and no matter what I may do； they
will hire cigarettes made and shirts washed。 Then why should I
deprive myself of velvet and confections and cigarettes and clean
shirts； if things are definitively settled thus？ This is the
argument which I often； almost always； hear。 This is the very
argument which makes the mob which is destroying something； lose its
senses。 This is the very argument by which dogs are guided when one
of them has flung himself on another dog； and overthrown him； and the
rest of the pack rush up also； and tear their comrade in pieces。
Other people have begun it； and have wrought mischief； then why
should not I take advantage of it？ Well； what will happen if I wear
a soiled shirt； and make my own cigarettes？ Will that make it easier
for anybody else？ ask people who would like to justify their course。
If it were not so far from the truth； it would be a shame to answer
such a question； but we have become so entangled that this question
seems very natural to us； and hence； although it is a shame； it is
necessary to reply to it。
What difference will it make if I wear one shirt a week； and make may
own cigarettes； or do not smoke at all？ This difference； that some
laundress and some cigarette…maker will exert their strength less；
and that what I have spent for washing and for the making of
cigarettes I can give to that very laundress； or even to other
laundresses and toilers who are worn out with their labor； and who；
instead of laboring beyond their strength； will then be able to rest；
and drink tea。 But to this I hear an objection。 （It is so
mortifying to rich and luxurious people to understand their
position。） To this they say： 〃If I go about in a dirty shirt； and
give up smoking； and hand over this money to the poor； the poor will
still be deprived of every thing； and that drop in the sea of yours
will help not at all。〃
Such an objection it is a shame to answer。 It is such a common
retort。 ｛30｝
If I had gone among savages； and they had regaled me with cutlets
which struck me as savory； and if I should learn on the following day
that these savory cutlets had been made from a prisoner whom they had
slain for the sake of the savory cutlets； if I do not admit that it
is a good thing to eat men； then； no matter how dainty the cutlets；
no matter how universal the practice of eating men may be among my
fellows； however insignificant the advantage to prisoners； prepared
for consumption； may be my refusal to eat of the cutlets； I will not
and I can not eat any more of them。 I may； possibly； eat human
flesh； when hunger compels me to it； but I will not make a feast； and
I will not take part in feasts； of human flesh； and I will not seek
out such feasts； and pride myself on my share in them。
LIFE IN THE COUNTRY。
But what is to be done？ Surely it is not we who have done this？ And
if not we； who then？
We say： 〃We have not done this； this has done itself；〃 as the
children say； when they break any thing； that it broke itself。 We
say； that； so long as there is a city already in existence； we； by
living in it； support the people； by purchasing their labor and
services。 But this is not so。 And this is why。 We only need to
look ourselves； at the way we have in the country； and at the manner
in which we support people there。
The winter passes in town。 Easter Week passes。 On the boulevards；
in the gardens in the parks； on the river； there is music。 There are
theatres； water…trips； walks； all sorts of illuminations and
fireworks。 But in the country there is something even better；there
are better air； trees and meadows； and the flowers are fresher。 One
should go thither where all these things have unfolded and blossomed
forth。 And the majority of wealthy people do go to the country to
breathe the superior air； to survey these superior forests and
meadows。 And there the wealthy settle down in the country； and the
gray peasants； who nourish themselves on bread and onions； who toil
eighteen hours a day； who get no sound sleep by night； and who are
clad in blouses。 Here no one has led these people astray。 There
have been no factories nor industrial establishments； and there are
none of those idle hands； of which there are so many in the city。
Here the whole population never succeeds； all summer long； in
completing all their tasks in season； and not only are there no idle
hands； but a vast quantity of property is ruined for the lack of
hands； and a throng of people； children； old men； and women； will
perish through overstraining their powers in work which is beyond
their strength。 How do the rich order their lives there？ In this
fashion：…
If there is an old…fashioned house； built under the serf regime； that
house is repaired and embellished； if there is none； then a new one
is erected； of two or three stories。 The rooms； of which there are
from twelve to twenty； and even more； are all six arshins in height。
｛31｝ Wood floors are laid down。 The windows consist of one sheet of
glass。 There are rich rugs and costly furniture。 The roads around
the house are macadamized； the ground is levelled； flower…beds are
laid out； croquet…grounds are prepared； swinging…rings for gymnastics
are erected； reflecting globes； often orangeries； and hotbeds； and
lofty stables always with complicated scroll…work on the gables and
ridges。
And here； in the country； an honest educated official； or noble
family dwells。 All the members of the family and their guests have
assembled in the middle of June； because up to June； that is to say；
up to the beginning of mowing…time； they have been studying and
undergoing examinations； and they live there until September； that is
to say； until harvest and sowing…time。 The members of this family
（as is the case with nearly every one in that circle） have lived in
the country from the beginning of the press of work； the suffering
time； not until the end of the season of toil （for in September
sowing is still in progress； as well as the digging of potatoes）； but
until the strain of work has relaxed a little。 During the whole of
their residence in the country； all around them and beside them； that
summer toil of the peasantry has been going on； of whose fatigues； no
matter how much we may have heard； no matter how much we may have
heard about it； no matter how much we may have gazed upon it； we can
form no idea； unless we have had personal experience of it。 And the
members of this family； about ten in number； live exactly as they do
in the city。
At St。 Peter's Day； ｛32｝ a strict fast； when the