of the city； and in comparison with the poverty in the country； with
which I was thoroughly familiar； she lived luxuriously。 She had a
feather…bed； a quilted coverlet； a samovar； a fur cloak； and a
dresser with crockery。 The landlady's friend had the same
comfortable appearance。 He had a watch and a chain。 Her lodgers
were not so well off； but there was not one of them who was in need
of immediate assistance： the woman who was washing linen in a tub；
and who had been abandoned by her husband and had children； an aged
widow without any means of livelihood； as she said； and that peasant
in bast shoes； who told me that he had nothing to eat that day。 But
on questioning them； it appeared that none of these people were in
special want； and that； in order to help them； it would be necessary
to become well acquainted with them。
When I proposed to the woman whose husband had abandoned her； to
place her children in an asylum； she became confused； fell into
thought； thanked me effusively； but evidently did not wish to do so；
she would have preferred pecuniary assistance。 The eldest girl
helped her in her washing； and the younger took care of the little
boy。 The old woman begged earnestly to be taken to the hospital； but
on examining her nook I found that the old woman was not particularly
poor。 She had a chest full of effects； a teapot with a tin spout；
two cups； and caramel boxes filled with tea and sugar。 She knitted
stockings and gloves； and received monthly aid from some benevolent
lady。 And it was evident that what the peasant needed was not so
much food as drink； and that whatever might be given him would find
its way to the dram…shop。 In these quarters； therefore； there were
none of the sort of people whom I could render happy by a present of
money。 But there were poor people who appeared to me to be of a
doubtful character。 I noted down the old woman； the woman with the
children； and the peasant； and decided that they must be seen to； but
later on； as I was occupied with the peculiarly unfortunate whom I
expected to find in this house； I made up my mind that there must be
some order in the aid which we should bestow； first came the most
wretched； and then this kind。 But in the next quarters； and in the
next after that； it was the same story； all the people had to be
narrowly investigated before they could be helped。 But unfortunates
of the sort whom a gift of money would convert from unfortunate into
fortunate people； there were none。 Mortifying as it is to me to avow
this； I began to get disenchanted； because I did not find among these
people any thing of the sort which I had expected。 I had expected to
find peculiar people here； but； after making the round of all the
apartments； I was convinced that the inhabitants of these houses were
not peculiar people at all； but precisely such persons as those among
whom I lived。 As there are among us； just so among them； there were
here those who were more or less good； more or less stupid； happy and
unhappy。 The unhappy were exactly such unhappy beings as exist among
us； that is； unhappy people whose unhappiness lies not in their
external conditions； but in themselves； a sort of unhappiness which
it is impossible to right by any sort of bank…note whatever。
CHAPTER VI。
The inhabitants of these houses constitute the lower class of the
city； which numbers in Moscow； probably； one hundred thousand。
There； in that house； are representatives of every description of
this class。 There are petty employers； and master…artisans；
bootmakers； brush…makers； cabinet…makers； turners； shoemakers；
tailors； blacksmiths； there are cab…drivers； young women living
alone； and female pedlers； laundresses； old…clothes dealers； money…
lenders； day…laborers； and people without any definite employment；
and also beggars and dissolute women。
Here were many of the very people whom I had seen at the entrance to
the Lyapinsky house； but here these people were scattered about among
the working…people。 And moreover； I had seen these people at their
most unfortunate time； when they had eaten and drunk up every thing；
and when； cold； hungry； and driven forth from the taverns； they were
awaiting admission into the free night lodging…house； and thence into
the promised prison for despatch to their places of residence； like
heavenly manna； but here I beheld them and a majority of workers； and
at a time； when by one means or another； they had procured three or
five kopeks for a lodging for the night； and sometimes a ruble for
food and drink。
And strange as the statement may seem； I here experienced nothing
resembling that sensation which I had felt in the Lyapinsky house；
but； on the contrary； during the first round； both I and the students
experienced an almost agreeable feeling；yes； but why do I say
〃almost agreeable〃？ This is not true； the feeling called forth by
intercourse with these people； strange as it may sound； was a
distinctly agreeable one。
Our first impression was； that the greater part of the dwellers here
were working people and very good people at that。
We found more than half the inhabitants at work： laundresses bending
over their tubs； cabinet…makers at their lathes； cobblers on their
benches。 The narrow rooms were full of people； and cheerful and
energetic labor was in progress。 There was an odor of toilsome sweat
and leather at the cobbler's； of shavings at the cabinet…maker's；
songs were often to be heard； and glimpses could be had of brawny
arms with sleeves roiled high； quickly and skilfully making their
accustomed movements。 Everywhere we were received cheerfully and
politely： hardly anywhere did our intrusion into the every…day life
of these people call forth that ambition； and desire to exhibit their
importance and to put us down； which the appearance of the
enumerators in the quarters of well…to…do people evoked。 It not only
did not arouse this； but； on the contrary； they answered all other
questions properly； and without attributing any special significance
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 bei