and for two days； she had been unremitting in her attention。 The
baby girl； on being left an orphan； was adopted into the family of a
tailor； who had three children of his own。 So there remained those
unfortunate idle people； officials； clerks； lackeys out of place；
beggars； drunkards； dissolute women； and children； who cannot be
helped on the spot with money； but whom it is necessary to know
thoroughly； to be planned and arranged for。 I had simply sought
unfortunate people； the unfortunates of poverty； those who could be
helped by sharing with them our superfluity； and； as it seemed to me；
through some signal ill…luck； none such were to be found； but I hit
upon unfortunates to whom I should be obliged to devote my time and
care。
CHAPTER VII。
The unfortunates whom I noted down； divided themselves； according to
my ideas； into three sections； namely： people who had lost their
former advantageous position； and who were awaiting a return to it
（there were people of this sort from both the lower and the higher
class）； next； dissolute women； of whom there are a great many in
these houses； and a third division； children。 More than all the
rest； I found and noted down people of the first division； who had
forfeited their former advantageous position； and who hoped to regain
it。 Of such persons； especially from the governmental and official
world； there are a very great number in these houses。 In almost all
the lodgings which we entered； with the landlord； Ivan Fedotitch； he
said to us： 〃Here you need not write down the lodger's card
yourself； there is a man here who can do it； if he only happens not
to be intoxicated to…day。〃
And Ivan Fedotitch called by name and patronymic this man； who was
always one of those persons who had fallen from a lofty position。 At
Ivan Fedotitch's call； there crawled forth from some dark corner； a
former wealthy member of the noble or official class； generally
intoxicated and always undressed。 If he was not drunk； he always
readily acceded to the task proposed to him； nodded significantly；
frowned； set down his remarks in learned phraseology； held the card
neatly printed on red paper in his dirty； trembling hands； and
glanced round at his fellow…lodgers with pride and contempt； as
though now triumphing in his education over those who had so often
humiliated him。 He evidently enjoyed intercourse with that world in
which cards are printed on red paper； and with that world of which he
had once formed a part。 Nearly always； in answer to my inquiries
about his life； the man began； not only willingly； but eagerly； to
relate the story of the misfortunes which he had undergone；which he
had learned by rote like a prayer；and particularly of his former
position； in which he ought still to be by right of his education。
A great many such people were scattered over all the corners of the
Rzhanoff house。 But one lodging was densely occupied by them alone
both men and women。 After we had already entered； Ivan Fedotitch
said to us： 〃Now； here are some of the nobility。〃 The lodging was
perfectly crammed； nearly all of the people； forty in number； were at
home。 More demoralized countenances； unhappy； aged； and swollen；
young； pallid； and distracted； were not to be seen in the whole
building。 I conversed with several of them。 The story was nearly
identical in all cases； only in various stages of development。 Every
one of them had been rich； or his father； his brother or his uncle
was still wealthy； or his father or he himself had had a very fine
position。 Then misfortune had overtaken him； the blame for which
rested either on envious people； or on his own kind…heartedness； or
some special chance； and so he had lost every thing； and had been
forced to condescend to these surroundings to which he was not
accustomed； and which were hateful to himamong lice； rags； among
drunkards and corrupt persons； and to nourish himself on bread and
liver； and to extend his hand in beggary。 All the thoughts； desires；
memories of these people were directed exclusively to the past。 The
present appeared to them something unreal； repulsive； and not worthy
of attention。 Not one of them had any present。 They had only
memories of the past； and expectations from the future； which might
be realized at any moment； and for the realization of which only a
very little was required； but this little they did not possess； it
was nowhere to be obtained； and this had been ruining their whole
future life in vain； in the case of one man； for a year； of a second
for five years； and of a third for thirty years。 All one needed was
merely to dress respectably； so that he could present himself to a
certain personage； who was well…disposed towards him another only
needed to be able to dress； pay off his debts； and get to Orel； a
third required to redeem a small property which was mortgaged； for
the continuation of a law…suit； which must be decided in his favor；
and then all would be well once more。 They all declare that they
merely require something external； in order to stand once more in the
position which they regard as natural and happy in their own case。
Had my mind not been obscured by my pride as a benefactor； a glance
at their faces； both old and young； which were mostly weak and
sensitive； but amiable； would have given me to understand that their
misfortunes were irreparable by any external means； that they could
not be happy in any position whatever； if their views of life were to
remain unchanged； that they were in no wise remarkable people； in
remarkably unfortunate circumstances； but that they were the same
people who surround us on all sides； and just like ourselves。 I
remember that intercourse with this sort of unfortunates was
peculiarly difficult for me。 I now understand why this was so； in
them I beheld myself； as in a mirror。 If I had reflected on my own
life and on the life of the people in our circle； I should have seen
that no real difference existed between them。
If those about me dwell in spacious quarters； and in their own houses
on the Sivtzevy Vrazhok and on the Dimitrovka； and not in the
Rzhanoff house； and still eat and drink dainties； and not liver and
herrings with bread； that does not prevent them from being exactly as
unhappy。 They are just as dissatisfied with their own positions；
they mourn over the past； and pine for better things； and the
improved position for which they long is precisely the same as that
which the inhabitants of the Rzhanoff house long for； that is to say；
one in which they may do as little work as possible themselves； and
derive the utmost advantage from the labors of others。 The
difference is merely one of degrees and time。 If I had reflected at
that time； I should have understood this； but I did not reflect； and
I questioned these people； and wrote them down； supposing； that；
having learned all the particulars of their various conditions and
necessities； I could aid them LATER ON。 I did not understand that
such a man can only be helped by changing his views of the world。
But in order to change the views of another； one must needs have
better views himself； and live in conformity with them； but mine were
precisely the same as theirs； and I lived in accordance with those
views； which must undergo a change； in order that these people might
cease to be unhappy。
I did not see that these people were unhappy； not because they had
not； so to speak； nourishing food； but because their stomachs had
been spoiled； and because their appetites demanded not nourishing but
irritating viands； and I did not perceive that； in order to help
them； it was not necessary to give them food； but that it was
necessary to heal their disordered stomachs。 Although I am
anticipating by so doing； I will mention here； that； out of all these
persons whom I noted down； I really did not help a single one； in
spite of the fact that for some of them； that was done which they
desired； and that which； apparently； might have raised them。 Three
of their number were particularly well known to me。 All three； after
repeated rises and falls； are now in precisely the same situation in
which they were three years ago。
CHAPTER VIII。
The second class of unfortunates whom I also expected to assist later
on； were the dissolute women； there were a very great many of them；
of all sorts； in the Rzhanoff housefrom those who were young and
who resembled women； to old ones； who were frightful and horrible；
and who had lost every semblance of humanity。 The hope of being of
assistance to these women； which I had not at first entertained；
occurred to me later。 This was in the middle of our rounds。 We had
already worked out several mechanical tricks of procedure。
When we entered a new establishment； we immediately questioned the
landlady of the apartment； one of us sat down； clearing some sort of
a place for himself where he could write； and another penetrated the
corners； and questioned each man in all the nooks of the apartment
separately； and reported the facts to the one who did the writing。
On entering a set of rooms in the basement； a student went to hunt up
the landlady； while I began to interrogate all who remained in the
place。 The apartment was thus arranged： in the centre was a room
six arshins square； ｛7｝ and a small oven。 From the oven radiated
four partitions； forming four tiny compartments。 In the first； the
entrance slip； which had four bunks； there were two personsan old
man and a woman。 Immediately adjoining this； was a rather long slip
of a room； in it was the landlord； a young fellow； dressed in a
sleeveless gray woollen jacket； a good…looking； very pale citizen。
｛8｝ On the left of the first corner； was a third tiny chamber； there
was one person asleep there； probably a drunken peasant； and a woman
in a pink blouse which was loose in front and close…fitting behind。
The fourth chamber was behind the partition； the entrance to it was
from the landlord's compartment。
The student went into the landlord's room； and I remained in the
entrance compartment； and questioned the old man and woman。 The old
man had been a master…printer； but no