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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..35106a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51018 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51018) diff --git a/old/51018-8.txt b/old/51018-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 23aaded..0000000 --- a/old/51018-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3061 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Days in the Village, by Leo Tolstoy - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Three Days in the Village - And Other Sketches. Written from 1909 to July 1910. - -Author: Leo Tolstoy - -Translator: Aylmer Maude - Louise Maude - -Release Date: January 23, 2016 [EBook #51018] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE *** - - - - -Produced by Carlos Colón, University of California and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - SIXPENCE NET - - Cloth Bound, 1s. net - - - THREE DAYS - - IN THE - - VILLAGE - - AND OTHER SKETCHES - - - BY - - LEO TOLSTOY - - - These sketches are written - in the style of Tolstoy's - "Popular Stories and Legends," - and give the reader - various glimpses into modern - village life in Russia - - - THE FREE AGE PRESS - Publisher: C. W. DANIEL - 3 Amen Corner, London, E. C. - - - - - THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE - - _And Other Sketches_ - - - - - _No Rights Reserved_ - - - - - THREE DAYS IN - THE VILLAGE - - - _And Other Sketches_ - _Written from September 1909 to July 1910_ - - - BY - LEO TOLSTOY - - - _Translated by_ L. _and_ A. MAUDE - - - LONDON - THE FREE AGE PRESS - (C. W. DANIEL) - 3 AMEN CORNER, E. C. - 1910 - - - - - CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE-- - - FIRST DAY--TRAMPS 7 - - SECOND DAY--THE LIVING AND THE DYING 20 - - THIRD DAY--TAXES 33 - - CONCLUSION--A DREAM 41 - - SINGING IN THE VILLAGE 55 - - TRAVELLER AND PEASANT 63 - - A TALK WITH A WAYFARER 75 - - FROM THE DIARY 79 - - - - - THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE - - - _FIRST DAY_ - - TRAMPS - -Something entirely new, unseen and unheard-of formerly, has lately -shown itself in our country districts. To our village, consisting of -eighty homesteads, from half a dozen to a dozen cold, hungry, tattered -tramps come every day, wanting a night's lodging. - -These people, ragged, half-naked, barefoot, often ill, and extremely -dirty, come into the village and go to the village policeman. That -they should not die in the street of hunger and exposure, he quarters -them on the inhabitants of the village, regarding only the peasants as -"inhabitants." He does not take them to the squire, who besides his own -ten rooms has ten other apartments: office, coachman's room, laundry, -servants' and upper-servants' hall and so on; nor does he take them to -the priest or deacon or shopkeeper, in whose houses, though not large, -there is still some spare room; but he takes them to the peasants, -whose whole family, wife, daughters-in-law, unmarried daughters, and -big and little children, all live in one room--sixteen, nineteen, or -twenty-three feet long. And the master of the hut takes the cold, -hungry, stinking, ragged, dirty man, and not merely gives him a night's -lodging, but feeds him as well. - -"When you sit down to table yourself," an old peasant householder told -me, "it's impossible not to invite him too, or your own soul accepts -nothing. So one feeds him and gives him a drink of tea." - -Those are the nightly visitors. But during the day, not two or three, -but ten or more such visitors call at each hut, and again it is: "Why, -it is impossible...," etc. - -And for almost every tramp the housewife cuts a slice of bread, thinner -or thicker according to the man's appearance--though she knows her rye -will not last till next harvest. - -"If you were to give to all who come, a loaf [the big peasant loaf of -black bread] would not last a day," some housewives said to me. "So -sometimes one hardens one's heart and refuses!" - -And this goes on every day, all over Russia. An enormous -yearly-increasing army of beggars, cripples, administrative exiles, -helpless old men, and above all unemployed workmen, lives--that is to -say, shelters itself from cold and wet--and is actually fed by the -hardest-worked and poorest class, the country peasants. - -We have Workhouses,[1] Foundlings' Hospitals, Boards of Public Relief, -and all sorts of philanthropic organisations in our towns; and in all -those institutions, in buildings with electric light, parquet floors, -neat servants, and various well-paid attendants, thousands of helpless -people of all sorts are sheltered. But however many such there may -be, they are but a drop in the ocean of the enormous (unnumbered, but -certainly enormous) population which now tramps destitute over Russia, -and is sheltered and fed apart from any institutions, solely by the -village peasants whose own Christian feelings induce them to bear this -heavy and gigantic tax. - - [1] Not in the English sense, for there is no Poor-Law system - entitling the destitute to demand maintenance. - -Just think what people who are not peasants would say, if--even once -a week--such a shivering, starving, dirty, lousy tramp were placed in -each of their bedrooms! But the peasants not only house them, but feed -them and give them tea, because "one's own soul accepts nothing unless -one has them to table." - -In the more remote parts of Sarátof, Tambóf, and other Provinces, the -peasants do not wait for the policeman to bring these tramps, but -always receive them and feed them of their own accord. - -And, as is the case with all really good deeds, the peasants do this -without knowing that they are doing a good deed; and yet it is not -merely a good deed "for one's soul," but is of enormous importance -for the whole of Russian society. It is of such importance for Russian -society because, but for this peasant population and the Christian -feeling that lives so strongly in it, it is difficult to imagine -what the fate would be, not only of these hundreds of thousands -of unfortunate, houseless tramps, but of all the well-to-do--and -especially of the wealthy who have their houses in the country. - -It is only necessary to see the state of privation and suffering to -which these homeless tramps have come or have been brought, and to -imagine the mental condition they must be in, and to realise that it -is only this help rendered to them by the peasants that restrains -them from committing violence, which would be quite natural in their -position, upon those who possess in superfluity all the things these -unfortunates lack to keep themselves alive. - -So that it is not the philanthropic organisations, not the Government -with its police and all its juridical institutions, that protects -us, the well-to-do, from being attacked by those who wander, cold, -hungry, and homeless, after having sunk--or, for the most part, having -been brought--to the lowest depths of poverty and despair; but we are -protected, as well as fed and supported, by that same basic strength of -the Russian nation--the peasantry. - -Yes! Were it not that there is among Russia's vast peasant population -a deep religious consciousness of the brotherhood of all men, not -only would these homeless people, having reached the last stages of -despair, have long since destroyed the houses of the rich, in spite -of any police force (there are and must be so few of them in country -districts), but they would even have killed all who stood in their -way. So that we ought not to be horrified or surprised when we hear or -read of people being robbed, or killed that they may be robbed, but we -should understand and remember that if such things happen as seldom as -they do, we owe this to the unselfish help rendered by the peasants to -this unfortunate tramping population. - -Every day from ten to fifteen people come to our house to beg. Some -among them are regular beggars, who for some reason have chosen that -means of livelihood, and having clothed and shod themselves as best -they might, and having made sacks to hold what they collect, have -started out to tramp the country. Among them some are blind, and -some have lost a leg or an arm; and sometimes, though rarely, there -are women and children among them. But these are only a small part. -The majority of the beggars that come now are passers-by, without a -beggar's sack, mostly young, and not crippled. They are all in a most -pitiable state, barefoot, half-naked, emaciated, and shivering with -cold. You ask them, "Where are you going?" The answer is always the -same: "To look for work"; or, "Have been looking for work, but found -none, and am making my way home. There's no work; they are shutting -down everywhere." Many of these people are returning from exile. - -A few days ago I was barely awake when our servant, Ilyá Vasílyevitch, -told me: - -"There are five tramps waiting near the porch." - -"Take some money there is on the table, and give it them," said I. - -Ilyá Vasílyevitch took it, and, as is the custom, gave each of them -five copecks [five farthings]. About an hour passed. I went out into -the porch. A dreadfully tattered little man with a sickly face, swollen -eyelids, restless eyes, and boots all falling to pieces, began bowing, -and held out a certificate to me. - -"Have you received something?" - -"Your Excellency, what am I to do with five copecks?... Your -Excellency, put yourself in my place! Please, your Excellency, look -... please see!" and he shows me his clothing. "Where am I to go to, -your Excellency?" (it is "Excellency" after every word, though his face -expresses hatred). "What am I to do? Where am I to go?" - -I tell him that I give to all alike. He continues to entreat, and -demands that I should read his certificate. I refuse. He kneels down. I -ask him to leave me. - -"Very well! That means, it seems, that I must put an end to myself! -That's all that's left me to do.... Give me something, if only a -trifle!" - -I give him twenty copecks, and he goes away, evidently angry. - -There are a great many such peculiarly insistent beggars, who feel they -have a right to demand their share from the rich. They are literate -for the most part, and some of them are even well-read persons on whom -the Revolution has had an effect. These men, unlike the ordinary, -old-fashioned beggars, look on the rich, not as on people who wish -to save their souls by distributing alms, but as on highwaymen and -robbers who suck the blood of the working classes. It often happens -that a beggar of this sort does no work himself and carefully avoids -work, and yet considers himself, in the name of the workers, not merely -justified, but bound, to hate the robbers of the people--that is to -say, the rich--and to hate them from the depths of his heart; and if, -instead of demanding from them, he begs, that is only a pretence. - -There are a great number of these men, many of them drunkards, of whom -one feels inclined to say, "It's their own fault"; but there are also -a great many tramps of quite a different type: meek, humble, and very -pathetic, and it is terrible to think of their position. - -Here is a tall, good-looking man, with nothing on over his short, -tattered jacket. His boots are bad and trodden down. He has a good, -intelligent face. He takes off his cap and begs in the ordinary way. I -give him something, and he thanks me. I ask him where he comes from -and where he is going to. - -"From Petersburg, home to our village in Toúla Government." - -I ask him, "Why on foot?" - -"It's a long story," he answers, shrugging his shoulders. - -I ask him to tell it me. He relates it with evident truthfulness. - -"I had a good place in an office in Petersburg, and received thirty -roubles [three guineas] a month. Lived very comfortably. I have read -your books _War and Peace_ and _Anna Karénina_," says he, again smiling -a particularly pleasant smile. "Then my folks at home got the idea -of migrating to Siberia, to the Province of Tomsk." They wrote to -him asking whether he would agree to sell his share of land in the -old place. He agreed. His people left, but the land allotted them in -Siberia turned out worthless. They spent all they had, and came back. -Being now landless, they are living in hired lodgings in their former -village, and work for wages. It happened, just at the same time, that -he lost his place in Petersburg. It was not his doing. The firm he was -with became bankrupt, and dismissed its employees. "And just then, to -tell the truth, I came across a seamstress." He smiled again. "She -quite entangled me.... I used to help my people, and now see what a -smart chap I have become!... Ah well, God is not without mercy; maybe -I'll manage somehow!" - -He was evidently an intelligent, strong, active fellow, and only a -series of misfortunes had brought him to his present condition. - -Take another: his legs swathed in strips of rag; girdled with a rope; -his clothing quite threadbare and full of small holes, evidently -not torn, but worn-out to the last degree; his face, with its high -cheek-bones, pleasant, intelligent, and sober. I give him the customary -five copecks, and he thanks me and we start a conversation. He has been -an administrative exile in Vyátka. It was bad enough there, but it is -worse here. He is going to Ryazán, where he used to live. I ask him -what he has been. "A newspaper man. I took the papers round." - -"For what were you exiled?" - -"For selling forbidden literature." - -We began talking about the Revolution. I told him my opinion, that the -evil was all in ourselves; and that such an enormous power as that of -the Government cannot be destroyed by force. "Evil outside ourselves -will only be destroyed when we have destroyed it within us," said I. - -"That is so, but not for a long time." - -"It depends on us." - -"I have read your book on Revolution." - -"It is not mine, but I agree with it." - -"I wished to ask you for some of your books." - -"I should be very pleased.... Only I'm afraid they may get you into -trouble. I'll give you the most harmless." - -"Oh, I don't care! I am no longer afraid of anything.... Prison is -better for me than this! I am not afraid of prison.... I even long for -it sometimes," he said sadly. - -"What a pity it is that so much strength is wasted uselessly!" said I. -"How people like you destroy your own lives!... Well, and what do you -mean to do now?" - -"I?" he said, looking intently into my face. - -At first, while we talked about past events and general topics, he had -answered me boldly and cheerfully; but as soon as our conversation -referred to himself personally and he noticed my sympathy, he turned -away, hid his eyes with his sleeve, and I noticed that the back of his -head was shaking. - -And how many such people there are! - -They are pitiable and pathetic, and they, too, stand on the threshold -beyond which a state of despair begins that makes even a kindly man -ready to go all lengths. - -"Stable as our civilisation may seem to us," says Henry George, -"disintegrating forces are already developing within it. Not in deserts -and forests, but in city slums and on the highways, the barbarians are -being bred who will do for our civilisation what the Huns and Vandals -did for the civilisation of former ages." - -Yes! What Henry George foretold some twenty years ago, is happening -now before our eyes, and in Russia most glaringly--thanks to the -amazing blindness of our Government, which carefully undermines the -foundations on which alone any and every social order stands or can -stand. - -We have the Vandals foretold by Henry George quite ready among us in -Russia. And, strange as it may seem to say so, these Vandals, these -doomed men, are specially dreadful here among our deeply religious -population. These Vandals are specially dreadful here, because we have -not the restraining principles of convention, propriety, and public -opinion, that are so strongly developed among the European nations. We -have either real, deep, religious feeling, or--as in Sténka Rázin and -Pougatchéf--a total absence of any restraining principle: and, dreadful -to say, this army of Sténkas and Pougatchéfs is growing greater and -greater, thanks to the Pougatchéf-like conduct of our Government -in these later days, with its horrors of police violence, insane -banishments, imprisonments, exiles, fortresses, and daily executions. - -Such actions release the Sténka Rázins from the last remnants of moral -restraint. "If the learned gentlefolk act like that, God Himself -permits us to do so," say and think they. - -I often receive letters from that class of men, chiefly exiles. They -know I have written something about not resisting evil by violence, and -for the greater part they retort ungrammatically, though with great -fervour, that what the Government and the rich are doing to the poor, -can and must be answered only in one way: "Revenge, revenge, revenge!" - -Yes! The blindness of our Government is amazing. It does not and will -not see that all it does to disarm its enemies merely increases their -number and energy. Yes! These people are terrible, terrible for the -Government and for the rich, and for those who live among the rich. - -But besides the feeling of terror these people inspire, there is also -another feeling, much more imperative than that of fear, and one we -cannot help experiencing towards those who, by a series of accidents, -have fallen into this terrible condition of vagrancy. That feeling is -one of shame and sympathy. - -And it is not fear, so much as shame and pity, that should oblige us, -who are not in that condition, to respond in one way or other to this -new and terrible phenomenon in Russian life.[2] - - [2] One of the most depressing features of L. N. Tolstoy's - environment is the large number of unemployed and beggars - from the adjacent highway. They wait outside the house for - hours every day for the coming of Leo Nikolayevich. The - consciousness of his inability to render them substantial aid - weighs heavily upon him, as does also the fact that, owing - to insurmountable obstacles, he cannot even feed them, and - allow them to sleep in the house in which he himself lives. - These unfortunates surround Leo Nikolayevich at the steps, - and besiege him with their importunate requests, just at the - time when he seeks the fresh air and is most in need of mental - rest and solitude after long-continued and strenuous mental - labour. In view of this fact, the idea has occurred to some - of Leo Nikolayevich's friends, of establishing in the village - of Yásnaya Polyána a lodging- and eating-house for tramps, - the use of which by the latter would save L. N. unnecessary - trouble. The establishment of such premises--L. N. has viewed - the idea very favourably--would at least afford some temporary - relief to the wandering poor who are in dire need. At the - same time the peasantry of Yásnaya Polyána would be relieved - of the too heavy burden of supporting the passing unemployed - described by Tolstoy in his article. Lastly, it would afford - Tolstoy, in his declining years, considerable mental relief, - which it would seem that he has more than deserved by his - incessant labours on behalf of distressed mankind. Perhaps - among those who read the present sketches some will be found - who, prompted by the impulses animating the author, may desire - to render some material help towards the practical realisation - of the projected undertaking. - - Contributions may be sent to the following address: V. - Tchertkoff, Editor of the Free Age Press, Christchurch, Hants, - Eng. - - - _SECOND DAY_ - - THE LIVING AND THE DYING - -As I sat at my work, Ilyá Vasílyevitch entered softly and, evidently -reluctant to disturb me at my work, told me that some wayfarers and a -woman had been waiting a long time to see me. - -"Here," I said, "please take this, and give it them." - -"The woman has come about some business." - -I told him to ask her to wait a while, and continued my work. By the -time I came out, I had quite forgotten about her, till I saw a young -peasant woman with a long, thin face, and clad very poorly and too -lightly for the weather, appear from behind a corner of the house. - -"What do you want? What is the matter?" - -"I've come to see you, your Honour." - -"Yes ... what about? What is the matter?" - -"To see you, your Honour." - -"Well, what is it?" - -"He's been taken wrongfully.... I'm left with three children." - -"Who's been taken, and where to?" - -"My husband ... sent off to Krapívny." - -"Why? What for?" - -"For a soldier, you know. But it's wrong--because, you see, he's the -breadwinner! We can't get on without him.... Be a father to us, sir!" - -"But how is it? Is he the only man in the family?" - -"Just so ... the only man!" - -"Then how is it they have taken him, if he's the only man?" - -"Who can tell why they've done it?... Here am I, left alone with the -children! There's nothing for me but to die.... Only I'm sorry for the -children! My last hope is in your kindness, because, you see, it was -not right!" - -I wrote down the name of her village, and her name and surname, and -told her I would see about it and let her know. - -"Help me, if it's only ever so little!... The children are hungry, and, -God's my witness, I haven't so much as a crust. The baby is worst of -all ... there's no milk in my breasts. If only the Lord would take him!" - -"Haven't you a cow?" I asked. - -"A cow? Oh, no!... Why, we're all starving!" said she, crying, and -trembling all over in her tattered coat. - -I let her go, and prepared for my customary walk. It turned out that -the doctor, who lives with us, was going to visit a patient in the -village the soldier's wife had come from, and another patient in the -village where the District Police Station is situated, so I joined him, -and we drove off together. - -I went into the Police Station, while the doctor attended to his -business in that village. - -The District Elder was not in, nor the clerk, but only the clerk's -assistant--a clever lad whom I knew. I asked him about the woman's -husband, and why, being the only man in the family, he had been taken -as a conscript. - -The clerk's assistant looked up the particulars, and replied that the -woman's husband was not the only man in the family: he had a brother. - -"Then why did she say he was the only one?" - -"She lied! They always do," replied he, with a smile. - -I made some inquiries about other matters I had to attend to, and then -the doctor returned from visiting his patient, and we drove towards the -village in which the soldier's wife lived. But before we were out of -the first village, a girl of about twelve came quickly across the road -towards us. - -"I suppose you're wanted?" I said to the doctor. - -"No, it's your Honour I want," said the girl to me. - -"What is it?" - -"I've come to your Honour, as mother is dead, and we are left -orphans--five of us. Help us!... Think of our needs!" - -"Where do you come from?" - -The girl pointed to a brick house, not badly built. - -"From here ... that is our house. Come and see for yourself!" - -I got out of the sledge, and went towards the house. A woman came out -and asked me in. She was the orphans' aunt. I entered a large, clean -room; all the children were there, four of them: besides the eldest -girl--two boys, a girl, and another boy of about two. Their aunt told -me all about the family's circumstances. Two years ago the father had -been killed in a mine. The widow tried to get compensation, but failed. -She was left with four children; the fifth was born after her husband's -death. She struggled on alone as best she could, hiring a labourer at -first to work her land. But without her husband things went worse and -worse. First they had to sell their cow, then the horse, and at last -only two sheep were left. Still they managed to live somehow; but two -months ago the woman herself fell ill and died, leaving five children, -the eldest twelve years old. - -"They must get along as best they can. I try to help them, but can't do -much. I can't think what's to become of them! I wish they'd die!... If -one could only get them into some Orphanage--or at least some of them!" - -The eldest girl evidently understood and took in the whole of my -conversation with her aunt. - -"If at least one could get little Nicky placed somewhere! It's awful; -one can't leave him for a moment," said she, pointing to the sturdy -little two-year old urchin, who with his little sister was merrily -laughing at something or other, and evidently did not at all share his -aunt's wish. - -I promised to take steps to get one or more of the children into an -Orphanage. The eldest girl thanked me, and asked when she should come -for an answer. The eyes of all the children, even of Nicky, were fixed -on me, as on some fairy being capable of doing anything for them. - -Before I had reached the sledge, after leaving the house, I met an old -man. He bowed, and at once began speaking about these same orphans. - -"What misery!" he said; "it's pitiful to see them. And the eldest -little girlie, how she looks after them--just like a mother! Wonderful -how the Lord helps her! It's a mercy the neighbours don't forsake them, -or they'd simply die of hunger, the dear little things!... They are the -sort of people it does no harm to help," he added, evidently advising -me to do so. - -I took leave of the old man, the aunt, and the little girl, and drove -with the doctor to the woman who had been to see me that morning. - -At the first house we came to, I inquired where she lived. It happened -to be the house of a widow I know very well; she lives on the alms she -begs, and she has a particularly importunate and pertinacious way of -extorting them. As usual, she at once began to beg. She said she was -just now in special need of help to enable her to rear a calf. - -"She's eating me and the old woman out of house and home. Come in and -see her." - -"And how is the old woman?" - -"What about the old woman?... She's hanging on...." - -I promised to come and see, not so much the calf as the old woman, and -again inquired where the soldier's wife lived. The widow pointed to the -next hut but one, and hastened to add that no doubt they were poor, but -her brother-in-law "does drink dreadfully!" - -Following her instructions, I went to the next house but one. - -Miserable as are the huts of all the poor in our villages, it is long -since I saw one so dilapidated as that. Not only the whole roof, but -the walls were so crooked that the windows were aslant. - -Inside, it was no better than outside. The brick oven took up one-third -of the black, dirty little hut, which to my surprise was full of -people. I thought I should find the widow alone with her children; -but here was a sister-in-law (a young woman with children) and an old -mother-in-law. The soldier's wife herself had just returned from her -visit to me, and was warming herself on the top of the oven. While she -was getting down, her mother-in-law began telling me of their life. -Her two sons had lived together at first, and they all managed to feed -themselves. - -"But who remain together nowadays? All separate," the garrulous old -woman went on. "The wives began quarrelling, so the brothers separated, -and life became still harder. We had little land, and only managed to -live by their wage-labour; and now they have taken Peter as a soldier! -So where is she to turn to with her children? She's living with us now, -but we can't manage to feed them all! We can't think what we are to do. -They say he may be got back." - -The soldier's wife, having climbed down from the oven, continued -to implore me to take steps to get her husband back. I told her it -was impossible, and asked what property her husband had left behind -with his brother, to keep her and the children. There was none. He -had handed over his land to his brother, that he might feed her and -the children. They had had three sheep; but two had been sold to pay -the expenses of getting her husband off, and there was only some old -rubbish left, she said, besides a sheep and two fowls. That was all she -had. Her mother-in-law confirmed her words. - -I asked the soldier's wife where she had come from. She came from -Sergíevskoe. Sergíevskoe is a large, well-to-do village some thirty -miles off. I asked if her parents were alive. She said they were -alive, and living comfortably. - -"Why should you not go to them?" I asked. - -"I thought of that myself, but am afraid they won't have the four of -us." - -"Perhaps they will. Why not write to them? Shall I write for you?" - -The woman agreed, and I noted down her parents' address. - -While I was talking to the woman, the eldest child--a fat-bellied -girl--came up to her mother, and, pulling at her sleeve, began asking -for something, probably food. The woman went on talking to me, and paid -no attention to the girl, who again pulled and muttered something. - -"There's no getting rid of you!" exclaimed the woman, and with a swing -of her arm struck her on the head. The girl burst into a howl. - -Having finished my business there, I left the hut and went back to the -widow. - -She was outside her house, waiting for me, and again asked me to come -and look at her calf. I went in, and in the passage there really was a -calf. The widow asked me to look at it. I did so, feeling that she was -so engrossed in her calf that she could not imagine that anyone could -help being interested in seeing it. - -Having looked at the calf, I stepped inside, and asked: - -"Where is the old woman?" - -"The old woman?" the widow repeated, evidently surprised that after -having seen the calf, I could still be interested in the old woman. -"Why, on the top of the oven! Where else should she be?" - -I went up to the oven, and greeted the old woman. - -"Oh! ... oh!" answered a hoarse, feeble voice. "Who is it?" - -I told her, and asked how she was getting on. - -"What's my life worth?" - -"Are you in pain?" - -"Everything aches! Oh! ... oh!" - -"The doctor is here with me; shall I call him in?" - -"Doctor!... Oh! ... oh! What do I want with your doctor?... My doctor -is up there.... Oh! ... oh!" - -"She's old, you know," said the widow. - -"Not older than I am," replied I. - -"Not older? Much older! People say she is ninety," said the widow. "All -her hair has come out. I cut it all off the other day." - -"Why did you do that?" - -"Why, it had nearly all come out, so I cut it off!" - -"Oh! ... oh!" moaned the old woman; "oh! God has forgotten me! He does -not take my soul. If the Lord won't take it, it can't go of itself! -Oh! ... oh! It must be for my sins! ... I've nothing to moisten my -throat.... If only I had a drop of tea to drink before I die.... Oh! -... oh!" - -The doctor entered the hut, and I said goodbye and went out into the -street. - -We got into the sledge, and drove to a small neighbouring village to -see the doctor's last patient, who had sent for him the day before. We -went into the hut together. - -The room was small, but clean; in the middle of it a cradle hung -from the ceiling, and a woman stood rocking it energetically. At the -table sat a girl of about eight, who gazed at us with surprised and -frightened eyes. - -"Where is he?" the doctor asked. - -"On the oven," replied the woman, not ceasing to rock the cradle. - -The doctor climbed up, and, leaning over the patient, did something to -him. - -I drew nearer, and asked about the sick man's condition. - -The doctor gave me no answer. I climbed up, too, and gazing through the -darkness gradually began to discern the hairy head of the man on the -oven-top. Heavy, stifling air hung about the sick man, who lay on his -back. The doctor was holding his left hand to feel the pulse. - -"Is he very bad?" I asked. - -Without answering me, the doctor turned to the woman. - -"Light a lamp," he said. - -She called the girl, told her to rock the cradle, and went and lit a -lamp and handed it to the doctor. I got down, so as not to be in his -way. He took the lamp, and continued to examine the patient. - -The little girl, staring at us, did not rock the cradle strongly -enough, and the baby began to cry piercingly and piteously. The mother, -having handed the lamp to the doctor, pushed the girl angrily aside and -again began to rock the cradle. - -I returned to the doctor, and again asked how the patient was. The -doctor, still occupied with the patient, softly whispered one word. - -I did not hear, and asked again. - -"The death-agony," he repeated, purposely using a non-Russian word, and -got down and placed the lamp on the table. - -The baby did not cease crying in a piteous and angry voice. - -"What's that? Is he dead?" said the woman, as if she had understood the -foreign word the doctor had used. - -"Not yet, but there is no hope!" replied he. - -"Then I must send for the priest," said the woman in a dissatisfied -voice, rocking the screaming baby more and more violently. - -"If only my husband was at home!... But now, who can I send? They've -all gone to the forest for firewood." - -"I can do nothing more here," said the doctor; and we went away. - -I heard afterwards that the woman found someone to send for the priest, -who had just time to administer the Sacrament to the dying man. - -We drove home in silence, both, I think, experiencing the same feeling. - -"What was the matter with him?" I asked at length. - -"Inflammation of the lungs. I did not expect it to end so quickly. He -had a very strong constitution, but the conditions were deadly. With -105 degrees of fever, he went and sat outside the hut, where there were -only 20 degrees." - -Again we drove on in silence for a long time. - -"I noticed no bedding or pillow on the oven," said I. - -"Nothing!" replied the doctor. And, evidently knowing what I was -thinking about, he went on: - -"Yesterday I was at Kroutoe to see a woman who has had a baby. To -examine her properly, as was necessary, she should have been placed so -that she could lie stretched out full length; but there was no place in -the whole hut where that could be done." - -Again we were silent, and again we probably both had the same thoughts. -We reached home in silence. At the porch stood a fine pair of horses, -harnessed tandem to a carpet-upholstered sledge. The handsome coachman -was dressed in a sheepskin coat, and wore a thick fur cap. They -belonged to my son, who had driven over from his estate. - - * * * * * - -And here we are sitting at the dinner-table, laid for ten persons. One -of the places is empty. It is my little granddaughter's. She is not -quite well to-day, and is having her dinner in her room with her nurse. -A specially hygienic dinner has been prepared for her: beef-tea and -sago. - -At our big dinner of four courses, with two kinds of wine, served by -two footmen, and eaten at a table decorated with flowers, this is the -kind of talk that goes on: - -"Where do these splendid roses come from?" asks my son. - -My wife tells him that a lady, who will not divulge her name, sends -them from Petersburg. - -"Roses like these cost three shillings each," says my son, and goes on -to relate how at some concert or play such roses were showered on a -performer till they covered the stage. The conversation passes on to -music, and then to a man who is a very good judge and patron of music. - -"By the by, how is he?" - -"Oh, he is always ailing. He is again going to Italy. He always spends -the winter there, and his health improves wonderfully." - -"But the journey is very trying and tedious." - -"Oh no! Not if one takes the express--it is only thirty-nine hours." - -"All the same, it is very dull." - -"Wait a bit! We shall fly before long!" - - - _THIRD DAY_ - - TAXES - -Besides my ordinary visitors and applicants, there are to-day some -special ones. The first is a childless old peasant who is ending his -life in great poverty. The second is a poor woman with a crowd of -children. The third is, I believe, a well-to-do peasant. - -All three have come from our village, and all have come about the -same business. The taxes are being collected before the New Year, -and the old man's samovár, the woman's only sheep, and one of the -well-to-do peasant's cows, have been noted down for seizure in case of -non-payment. They all ask me to defend them or assist them, or to do -both. - -The well-to-do peasant, a tall, handsome, elderly man, is the first to -speak. He tells me that the Village Elder came, noted down the cow, -and demands twenty-seven roubles. This levy is for the obligatory -Grain Reserve Fund, and ought not, the peasant thinks, to be collected -at this time of year. I know nothing about it, and tell him that I -will inquire in the District Government Office, and will let him know -whether the payment of the tax can be postponed or not. - -The second to speak is the old man whose samovár has been noted. The -small, thin, weakly, poorly clad man relates, with pathetic grief and -bewilderment, how they came, took his samovár, and demanded three -roubles and seventy copecks of him, which he has not got and can't get. - -I ask him what the tax is for. - -"Some kind of Government tax.... Who can tell what it is? Where am -I and my old woman to get the money? As it is, we hardly manage to -live!... What kind of laws are these? Have pity on our old age, and -help us somehow!" - -I promise to inquire, and to do what I can, and I turn to the woman. -She is thin and worn-out. I know her, and know that her husband is a -drunkard, and that she has five children. - -"They have seized my sheep! They come and say: 'Pay the money!' 'My -husband is away, working,' I say. 'Pay up!' say they. But where am I to -find it? I only had one sheep, and they are taking it!" And she begins -to cry. - -I promise to find out, and to help her if I can. First, I go to the -Village Elder, to find out what the taxes are, and why they are -collecting them so rigorously. - -In the village street, two other petitioners stop me. Their husbands -are away at work. One asks me to buy some of her home-woven linen, and -offers it for two roubles. "Because they have seized my hens! I had -just reared them, and live by selling the eggs. Do buy it; it is good -linen! I would not let it go for three roubles if I were not in great -need!" - -I send her away, promising to consider matters when I return--perhaps I -may be able to arrange about the tax. - -Before I reach the Elder's house, a woman comes to meet me: a -quick-eyed, black-eyed ex-pupil of mine--Ólga, now already an old -woman. She is in the same plight: they have seized her calf. - -I come to the Elder. He is a strong, intelligent-looking peasant, with -a grizzly beard. He comes out into the street to me. I ask him what -taxes are being collected, and why so rigorously. He replies that he -has had very strict orders to get in all arrears before the New Year. - -"Have you had orders to confiscate samovárs and cattle?" - -"Of course!" replies the Village Elder, shrugging his shoulders. "The -taxes must be paid.... Take Abakoúmof now, for instance," said he, -referring to the well-to-do peasant whose cow had been taken in payment -of some Grain Reserve Fund. "His son is an isvóstchik: they have three -horses. Why shouldn't he pay? He's always trying to get out of it." - -"Well, suppose it so in his case," say I; "but how about those who are -really poor?" And I name the old man whose samovár they are taking. - -"Yes; they really are poor, and have nothing to pay with. But just as -if such things get considered up there!" - -I name the woman whose sheep was taken. The Elder is sorry for her too, -but, as if excusing himself, explains that he must obey orders. - -I inquire how long he has been an Elder, and what pay he gets. - -"How much do I get?" he says, replying not to the question I ask, but -to the question in my mind, which he guesses namely, why he takes part -in such proceedings. "Well, I do want to resign! We get thirty roubles -a month, but are obliged to do things that are wrong." - -"Well, and will they really confiscate the samovárs and sheep and -fowls?" I ask. - -"Why, of course! We are bound to take them, and the District Government -will arrange for their sale." - -"And will the things be sold?" - -"The folk will manage to pay up somehow." - -I go to the woman who came to me about her sheep. Her hut is tiny, and -in the passage outside is her only sheep, which is to go to support the -Imperial Budget. Seeing me, she, a nervous woman worn out by want and -overwork, begins to talk excitedly and rapidly, as peasant women do. - -"See how I live! They're taking my last sheep, and I myself and -these brats are barely alive!" She points up at the bunks and the -oven-top, where her children are. "Come down!... Now then, don't be -frightened!... There now, how's one to keep oneself and them naked -brats?" - -The brats, almost literally naked, with nothing on but tattered -shirts--not even any trousers--climb down from the oven and surround -their mother. - -The same day I go to the District Office, to make inquiries about this -way of exacting taxation, which is new to me. - -The District Elder is not in. He will be back soon. In the Office -several persons are standing behind the grating, also waiting to see -him. - -I ask them who they are, and what they have come about. Two of them -have come to get passports, in order to be able to go out to work at -a distance. They have brought money to pay for the passports. Another -has come to get a copy of the District Court's decision rejecting -his petition that the homestead--where he has lived and worked for -twenty-three years, and which has belonged to his uncle, who adopted -him,--now that his uncle and aunt are dead, should not be taken from -him by his uncle's granddaughter. She, being the direct heiress, -and taking advantage of the law of the 9th November, is selling the -freehold of the land and homestead on which the petitioner lived. His -petition has been rejected, but he cannot believe that this is the law, -and wants to appeal to some higher Court--though he does not know -what Court. I explain that there is such a law, and this provokes -disapproval, amounting to perplexity and incredulity, among all those -who are present. - -Hardly have I finished talking with this man, when a tall peasant with -a stern, severe face asks me for an explanation of his affairs. The -business he has come about is this: he and his fellow villagers have, -from time immemorial, been getting iron ore from their land; and now a -decree has been published prohibiting this. "Not dig on one's own land? -What laws are these? We only live by digging the iron! We have been -trying for more than a month, and can't get anything settled. We don't -know what to think of it; they'll ruin us completely, and that will be -the end of the matter!" - -I can say nothing comforting to this man, and turn to the Elder--who -has just come back--to inquire about the vigorous measures which are -being taken to exact payment of arrears of taxation in our village. I -ask under what clauses of the Act the taxes are being levied. The Elder -tells me that there are seven different kinds of rates and taxes, the -arrears of all of which are now being collected from the peasants: -(1) the Imperial Taxes, (2) the Local Government Taxes, (3) the Insurance -Taxes, (4) the arrears of Former Grain Reserve Funds, (5) New Grain -Reserve Funds in lieu of contributions in kind, (6) Communal and -District Taxes, and (7) Village Taxes. - -The District Elder tells me, as the Village Elder had done, that the -taxes were being collected with special rigour by order of the higher -authorities. He admits that it is no easy task to collect the taxes -from the poor, but he shows less sympathy than the Village Elder did. -He does not venture to censure the authorities; and, above all, he has -hardly any doubt of the usefulness of his office, or of the rightness -of taking part in such activity. - -"One can't, after all, encourage...." - -Soon after, I had occasion to talk about these things with a Zémsky -Natchálnik.[3] He had very little compassion for the hard lot of -the poverty-stricken folk whom he scarcely ever saw, and just as -little doubt of the morality and lawfulness of his activity. In his -conversation with me he admitted that, on the whole, it would be -pleasanter not to serve at all; but he considered himself a useful -functionary, because other men in his place would do even worse things. -"And once one is living in the country, why not take the salary, small -as it is, of a Zémsky Natchálnik?" - - [3] A Zémsky Natchálnik is a salaried official placed in - authority in a district. He is often selected from among the - local gentry, and wields very considerable authority. - -The views of a Governor on the collection of taxes necessary to meet -the needs of those who are occupied in arranging for the nation's -welfare, were entirely free from any considerations as to samovárs, -sheep, homespun linen, or calves taken from the poorest inhabitants of -the villages; and he had not the slightest doubt as to the usefulness -of his activity. - -And finally, the Ministers and those who are busy managing the liquor -traffic, those who are occupied in teaching men to kill one another, -and those who are engaged in condemning people to exile, to prison, -to penal servitude, or to the gallows--all the Ministers and their -assistants are quite convinced that samovárs and sheep and linen and -calves taken from beggars, are put to their best use in producing vódka -(which poisons the people), weapons for killing men, the erection of -gaols and lock-ups, and, among other things, in paying to them and to -their assistants the salaries they require to furnish drawing-rooms, to -buy dresses for their wives, and for journeys and amusements which they -undertake as relaxations after fulfilling their arduous labours for the -welfare of the coarse and ungrateful masses. - - - _CONCLUSION_ - - A DREAM - -A few nights ago I dreamt so significant a dream that several times -during the following day I asked myself, "What has happened to-day that -is so specially important?" And then I remembered that the specially -important thing was what I had seen, or rather heard, in my dream. - -It was a speech that struck me greatly, spoken by one who, as often -happens in dreams, was a combination of two men: my old friend, now -dead, Vladímir Orlóf, with grey curls on each side of his bald head, -and Nicholas Andréyevitch, a copyist who lived with my brother. - -The speech was evoked by the conversation of a rich lady, the hostess, -with a landowner who was visiting her house. The lady had recounted how -the peasants on a neighbouring estate had burnt the landlord's house -and several sheds which sheltered century-old cherry trees and duchesse -pears. Her visitor, the landowner, related how the peasants had cut -down some oaks in his forest, and had even carted away a stack of hay. - -"Neither arson nor robbery is considered a crime nowadays. The -immorality of our people is terrible: they have all become thieves!" -said someone. - -And in answer to those words, that man, combined of two, spoke as -follows: - -"The peasants have stolen oaks and hay, and are thieves, and the most -immoral class," he began, addressing no one in particular. "Now, in -the Caucasus, a chieftain used to raid the Aouls and carry off all the -horses of the inhabitants. But one of them found means to get back from -the chieftain's herds at least one of the horses that had been stolen -from him. Was that man a thief, because he got back one of the many -horses stolen from him? And is it not the same with the trees, the -grass, the hay, and all the rest of the things you say the peasants -have stolen from you? The earth is the Lord's, and common to all; and -if the peasants have taken what was grown on the common land of which -they have been deprived, they have not stolen, but have only resumed -possession of a small part of what has been stolen from them. - -"I know you consider land to be the property of the landlord, and -therefore call the restoration to themselves of its produce by the -peasants--robbery; but, you know, that is not true! The land never was, -and never can be, anyone's property. If a man has more of it than he -requires, while others have none, then he who possesses the surplus -land possesses not land but men; and men cannot be the property of -other men. - -"Because a dozen mischievous lads have burnt some cherry tree sheds, -and have cut down some trees, you say the peasants are thieves, and the -most immoral class!... - -"How can your tongue frame such words! They have stolen ten oaks from -you. Stolen! 'To prison with them!' - -"Why, if they had taken not your oaks alone but everything that is in -this house, they would only have taken what is theirs: made by them -and their brothers, but certainly not by you! 'Stolen oaks!' But for -ages you have been stealing from them, not oaks but their lives, and -the lives of their children, their womenfolk and their old men--who -withered away before their time--only because they were deprived of the -land God gave to them in common with all men, and they were obliged to -work for you. - -"Only think of the life those millions of men have lived and are -living, and of how you live! Only consider what they do, supplying you -with all the comforts of life, and of what you do for them, depriving -them of everything--even of the possibility of supporting themselves -and their families! All you live on--everything in this room, -everything in this house, and in all your splendid cities, all your -palaces, all your mad, literally mad, luxuries--has been made, and is -still continually being made, by them. - -"And they know this. They know that these parks of yours, and your -race-horses, motor cars, palaces, dainty dishes and finery, and all the -nastiness and stupidity you call 'science' and 'art'--are purchased -with the lives of their brothers and sisters. They know and cannot help -knowing this. Then think what feelings these people would have towards -you, if they were like you! - -"One would suppose that, knowing all you inflict on them, they could -not but hate you from the bottom of their souls, and could not help -wishing to revenge themselves on you. And you know there are tens of -millions of them, and only some thousands of you. But what do they -do?... Why, instead of crushing you as useless and harmful reptiles, -they continue to repay your evil with good, and live their laborious -and reasonable, though hard life, patiently biding the day when you -will become conscious of your sin and will amend your ways. But -instead of that, what do you do? From the height of your refined, -self-confident immorality, you deign to stoop to those 'depraved, -coarse people.' You enlighten them, and play the benefactor to them; -that is to say, with the means supplied to you by their labour, you -inoculate them with your depravity, and blame, correct, and best of all -'punish' them, as unreasoning or vicious infants bite the breasts that -feed them. - -"Yes, look at yourselves, and consider what you are and what they are! -Realise that they alone live, while you, with your Doúmas, Ministries, -Synods, Academies, Universities, Conservatoires, Law Courts, armies, -and all such stupidities and nastinesses, are but playing at life, and -spoiling it for yourselves and others. They, the people, are alive. -They are the tree, and you are harmful growths--fungi on the plant. -Realise, then, all your insignificance and their grandeur! Understand -your sin, and try to repent, and at all costs set the people free...." - -"How well he speaks!" thought I. "Can it be a dream?" - -And as I thought that, I awoke. - -This dream set me again thinking about the land question: a -question of which those who live constantly in the country, among a -poverty-stricken agricultural peasant population, cannot help thinking. -I know I have often written about it; but under the influence of that -dream, even at the risk of repeating myself, I once more felt the need -to express myself. _Carthago delenda est._ As long as people's attitude -towards private property in land remains unchanged, the cruelty, -madness and evil of this form of the enslavement of some men by others, -cannot be pointed out too frequently. - -People say that land is property, and they say this because the -Government recognises private property in land. But fifty years ago the -Government upheld private property in human beings; yet a time came -when it was admitted that human beings cannot be private property, -and the Government ceased to hold them to be property. So it will be -with property in land. The Government now upholds that property, and -protects it by its power; but a day will come when the Government will -cease to acknowledge this kind of property, and will abolish it. The -Government will have to abolish it, because private property in land -is just such an injustice as property in men--serfdom--used to be. The -difference lies only in the fact that serfdom was a direct, definite -slavery, while land-slavery is indirect and indefinite. Then Peter was -John's slave, whereas now Peter is the slave of some person unknown, -but certainly of him who owns the land Peter requires in order to -feed himself and his family. And not only is land-slavery as unjust -and cruel a slavery as serfdom used to be, it is even harder on the -slaves, and more criminal on the part of the slave-holders. For under -serfdom--if not from sympathy, then at least from self-interest--the -owner was obliged to see to it that his serf did not wither away and -die of want, but to the best of his ability and understanding he looked -after his slaves' morality. Now the landowner cares nothing if his -landless slave withers away or becomes demoralised; for he knows that -however many men die or become depraved at his work, he will always be -able to find workmen. - -The injustice and cruelty of the new, present-day -slavery--land-slavery--is so evident, and the condition of the slaves -is everywhere so hard, that one would have expected this new slavery -to have been recognised by this time as out of date, just as serfdom -was admittedly out of date half a century ago; and it should, one would -have thought, have been abolished, as serfdom was abolished. - -"But," it is said, "property in land cannot be abolished, for it -would be impossible to divide equally among all the labourers and -non-labourers the advantages given by land of different qualities." - -But that is not true. To abolish property in land, no distribution of -land is necessary. - -Just as, when serfdom was abolished, no distribution of the people -liberated was necessary, but all that was needed was the abolition of -the law that upheld serfdom, so with the abolition of private property -in land: no distribution of land is needed, but only the abolition of -the law sanctioning private property in land. And as when serfdom was -abolished, the serfs of their own accord settled down as best suited -them, so when private property in land is abolished, people will find -a way of sharing the land among themselves so that all may have equal -advantage from it. How this will be arranged, whether by Henry George's -Single-Tax system, or in some other way, we cannot foresee. But it is -certain that the Government need only cease to uphold by force the -obviously unjust and oppressive rights of property in land, and the -people, released from those restrictions, will always find means of -apportioning the land by common consent, in such a way that everyone -will have an equal share of the benefits the use of the land confers. - -It is only necessary for the majority of land-owners--that is, -slave-owners--to understand (as they did in the matter of serfdom) -that property in land is as hard on the present-day slaves, and as -great an iniquity on the part of the slave-owners, as serfdom was; and, -having understood that, it is only necessary for them to impress on the -Government the necessity of repealing the laws sanctioning property in -land--that is, land-slavery. One would have thought that, as in the -'fifties, the best members of society (chiefly the serf-owning nobles -themselves), having understood the criminality of their position, -explained to the Government the necessity for abolishing their -evidently out-of-date and immoral rights, and serfdom was abolished, -so it should be now with regard to private property in land, which is -land-slavery. - -But strange to say, the present slave-owners, the landed proprietors, -not only fail to see the criminality of their position, and do not -impress on the Government the necessity of abolishing land-slavery, but -on the contrary they consciously and unconsciously, by all manner of -means, blind themselves and their slaves to the criminality of their -position. - -The reasons of this are: first, that serfdom in the 'fifties, being -the plain, downright enslavement of man by man, ran too clearly -counter to religious and moral feeling; while land-slavery is not a -direct, immediate slavery, but is a form of slavery more hidden from -the slaves, and especially from the slave-owners, by complicated -governmental, social and economic institutions. And the second reason -is that, while in the days of serfdom only one class were slave-owners, -all classes, except the most numerous one--consisting of peasants who -have too little land: labourers and working men--are slave-owners now. -Nowadays nobles, merchants, officials, manufacturers, professors, -teachers, authors, musicians, painters, rich peasants, rich men's -servants, well-paid artisans, electricians, mechanics, etc., are all -slave-owners of the peasants who have insufficient land, and of the -unskilled workmen who--apparently as a result of most varied causes, -but in reality as a result of one cause alone (the appropriation of -land by the landed proprietors)--are obliged to give their labour and -even their lives to those who possess the advantages land affords. -These two reasons--that the new slavery is less evident than the old, -and that the new slave-owners are much more numerous than the old -ones--account for the fact that the slave-owners of our day do not see, -and do not admit, the cruelty and criminality of their position, and do -not free themselves from it. - -The slave-owners of our day not only do not admit that their position -is criminal, and do not try to escape from it, but are quite sure that -property in land is a necessary institution, essential to the social -order, and that the wretched condition of the working classes--which -they cannot help noticing--results from most varied causes, but -certainly not from the recognition of some people's right to own land -as private property. - -This opinion of land-owning, and of the causes of the wretched -condition of the labourers, is so well established in all the leading -countries of the Christian world--France, England, Germany, America, -etc.--that with very rare exceptions it never occurs to their public -men to look in the right direction for the cause of the wretched -condition of the workers. - -That is so in Europe and America; but one would have expected that -for us Russians, with our hundred million peasant population who deny -the principle of private ownership in land, and with our enormous -tracts of land, and with the almost religious desire of our people for -agricultural life, an answer very different to the general European -answer to questions as to the causes of the distress among the workers, -and as to the means of bettering their position, would naturally -present itself. - -One would think that we Russians might understand that if we really -are concerned about, and desire to improve, the position of the -people and to free them from the aggravating and demoralising fetters -with which they are bound, the means to do this are indicated both -by common-sense and by the voice of the people, and are simply--the -abolition of private property in land, that is to say, the abolition of -land-slavery. - -But, strange to relate, in Russian society, occupied with questions -of the improvement of the condition or the working classes, there is -no suggestion of this one, natural, simple and self-evident means -of improving their condition. We Russians, though our peasants' -outlook on the land question is probably centuries ahead of the rest -of Europe, can devise nothing better for the improvement of our -people's condition than to establish among ourselves, on the European -model, Doúmas, Councils, Ministries, Courts, Zémstvos, Universities, -Extension Lectures, Academies, elementary schools, fleets, sub-marines, -air-ships, and many other of the queerest things quite foreign to and -unnecessary for the people, and we do not do the one thing that is -demanded by religion, morality, and common-sense, as well as by the -whole of the peasantry. - -Nor is this all. While arranging the fate of our people, who do not -and never did acknowledge land-ownership, we, imitating Europe, try in -all sorts of cunning ways, and by deception, bribery, and even force, -to accustom them to the idea of property in land--that is to say, we -try to deprave them and to destroy their consciousness of the truth -they have held for ages, and which sooner or later will certainly be -acknowledged by the whole human race: the truth that all who live on -the earth cannot but have an equal right to its use. - -These efforts to inoculate the people with the idea of landed -property that is so foreign to them, are unceasingly made, with great -perseverance and zeal by the Government, and consciously or for the -most part unconsciously, from an instinct of self-preservation, by all -the slave-holders of our time. And the slave-holders of our time are -not the land-owners alone, but are all those who, as a result of the -people being deprived of the land, enjoy power over them. - -Most strenuous efforts are made to deprave the people; but, thank God! -it may be safely said that till now all those efforts have only had an -effect on the smallest and worst part of Russia's peasant population. -The many-millioned majority of Russian workmen who hold but little -land and live--not the depraved, parasitic life of the slave-owners, -but their own reasonable, hard-working lives--do not yield to those -efforts; because for them the solution of the land question is not -one of personal advantage, as it is regarded by all the different -slave-owners of to-day. For the enormous majority of peasants, the -solution of that problem is not arrived at by mutually contradictory -economic theories that spring up to-day and to-morrow are forgotten, -but is found in the one truth, which is realised by them, and always -has been and is realised by all reasonable men the world over,--the -truth that all men are brothers and have therefore all an equal right -to all the blessings of the world and, among the rest, to the most -necessary of all rights--namely, the equal right of all to the use of -the land. - -Living in this truth, an enormous majority of the peasants attach no -importance to all the wretched measures adopted by the Government -about this or that alteration of the laws of land-ownership, for they -know that there is only one solution to the land question--the total -abolition of private property in land, and of land-slavery. And, -knowing this, they quietly await their day, which sooner or later must -come. - - - - - SINGING IN THE VILLAGE - - -Voices and an accordion sounded as if close by, though through the mist -nobody could be seen. It was a work-day morning, and I was surprised to -hear music. - -"Oh, it's the recruits' leave-taking," thought I, remembering that I -had heard something a few days before about five men being drawn from -our village. Involuntarily attracted by the merry song, I went in the -direction whence it proceeded. - -As I approached the singers, the sound of song and accordion suddenly -stopped. The singers, that is the lads who were leave-taking, entered -the double-fronted brick cottage belonging to the father of one of -them. Before the door stood a small group of women, girls, and children. - -While I was finding out whose sons were going, and why they had entered -that cottage, the lads themselves, accompanied by their mothers and -sisters, came out at the door. There were five of them: four bachelors -and one married man. Our village is near the town where nearly all -these conscripts had worked. They were dressed town-fashion, evidently -wearing their best clothes: peajackets, new caps, and high, showy -boots. Conspicuous among them was a young fellow, well built though not -tall, with a sweet, merry, expressive face, a small beard and moustache -just beginning to sprout, and bright hazel eyes. As he came out, he at -once took a big, expensive-looking accordion that was hanging over his -shoulders and, having bowed to me, started playing the merry tune of -"Bárynya," running his fingers nimbly over the keys and keeping exact -time, as he moved with rhythmic step jauntily down the road. - -Beside him walked a thick-set, fair-haired lad, also of medium height. -He looked gaily from side to side, and sang second with spirit, in -harmony with the first singer. He was the married one. These two -walked ahead of the other three, who were also well dressed, and not -remarkable in any way except that one of them was tall. - -Together with the crowd I followed the lads. All their songs were -merry, and no expression of grief was heard while the procession was -going along; but as soon as we came to the next house at which the -lads were to be treated, the lamentations of the women began. It was -difficult to make out what they were saying; only a word here and there -could be distinguished: "death ... father and mother ... native land -..."; and after every verse, the woman who led the chanting took a deep -breath, and burst out into long-drawn moans, followed by hysterical -laughter. The women were the mothers and sisters of the conscripts. -Beside the lamentations of these relatives, one heard the admonitions -of their friends. - -"Now then, Matryóna, that's enough! You must be tired out," I heard one -woman say, consoling another who was lamenting. - -The lads entered the cottage. I remained outside, talking with a -peasant acquaintance, Vasíly Oréhof, a former pupil of mine. His son, -one of the five, was the married man who had been singing second as he -went along. - -"Well," I said, "it is a pity!" - -"What's to be done? Pity or not, one has to serve." - -And he told me of his domestic affairs. He had three sons: the eldest -was living at home, the second was now being taken, and a third (who, -like the second, had gone away to work) was contributing dutifully to -the support of the home. The one who was leaving had evidently not sent -home much. - -"He has married a townswoman. His wife is not fit for our work. He is a -lopped-off branch and thinks only of keeping himself. To be sure it's a -pity, but it can't be helped!" - -While we were talking, the lads came out into the street, and the -lamentations, shrieks, laughter, and adjurations recommenced. After -standing about for some five minutes, the procession moved on with -songs and accordion accompaniment. One could not help marvelling at the -energy and spirit of the player, as he beat time accurately, stamped -his foot, stopped short, and then after a pause again took up the -melody most merrily, exactly on the right beat, while he gazed around -with his kind, hazel eyes. Evidently he had a real and great talent for -music. - -I looked at him, and (so at least it seemed to me) he felt abashed when -he met my eyes, and with a twitch of his brows he turned away, and -again burst out with even more spirit than before. When we reached the -fifth and last of the cottages, the lads entered, and I followed them. -All five of them were made to sit round a table covered with a cloth, -on which were bread and vódka. The host, the man I had been talking to, -who was now to take leave of his married son, poured out the vódka and -handed it round. The lads hardly drank at all (at most a quarter of a -glass) or even handed it back after just raising it to their lips. The -hostess cut some bread, and served slices round to eat with the vódka. - -While I was looking at the lads, a woman, dressed in clothes that -seemed to me strange and incongruous, got down from the top of the -oven, close to where I sat. She wore a light green dress (silk, I -think) with fashionable trimmings, and high-heeled boots. Her fair hair -was arranged in quite the modern style, like a large round cap, and she -wore big, ring-shaped, gold earrings. Her face was neither sad nor -cheerful, but looked as if she were offended. - -After getting down, she went out into the passage, clattering with the -heels of her new boots and paying no heed to the lads. All about this -woman--her clothing, the offended expression of her face, and above -all her earrings--was so foreign to the surroundings that I could not -understand how she had come to be on the top of Vasíly Oréhof's oven. I -asked a woman sitting near me who she was. - -"Vasíly's daughter-in-law; she has been a housemaid," was the answer. - -The host began offering vódka a third time, but the lads refused, rose, -said grace, thanked the hosts, and went out. - -In the street, the lamentations recommenced at once. The first to raise -her voice was a very old woman with a bent back. She lamented in such a -peculiarly piteous voice, and wailed so, that the women kept soothing -the sobbing, staggering old creature, and supported her by her elbows. - -"Who is she?" I inquired. - -"Why, it's his granny; Vasíly's mother, that is." - -The old woman burst into hysterical laughter and fell into the arms -of the women who supported her, and just then the procession started -again, and again the accordion and the merry voices struck up their -tune. At the end of the village the procession was overtaken by the -carts which were to carry the conscripts to the District Office. The -weeping and wailing stopped. The accordion-player, getting more and -more elated, bending his head to one side and resting on one foot, -turned out the toes of the other and stamped with it, while his fingers -produced brilliant _fioritures_, and exactly at the right instant -the bold, high, merry tones of his song, and the second of Vasíly's -son, again chimed in. Old and young, and especially the children who -surrounded the crowd, and I with them, fixed their eyes admiringly on -the singer. - -"He is clever, the rascal!" said one of the peasants. - -"'Sorrow weeps, and sorrow sings!'" replied another. - -At that moment one of the young fellows whom we were seeing off--the -tall one--came up with long, energetic strides, and stooped to speak to -the one who played the accordion. - -"What a fine fellow," I thought; "they will put him in the Guards." I -did not know who he was or what house he belonged to. - -"Whose son is that one? That gallant fellow?" I asked a little old man, -pointing to the fine lad. - -The old man raised his cap and bowed to me, but did not hear my -question. - -"What did you say?" asked he. - -I had not recognised him, but as soon as he spoke I knew him at once. -He is a hard-working, good peasant who, as often happens, seems -specially marked out for misfortune: first, two horses were stolen from -him, then his house burnt down, and then his wife died. I had not seen -Prokófey for a long time, and remembered him as a bright red-haired man -of medium height; whereas he was now not red, but quite grey-haired, -and small. - -"Ah, Prokófey, it's you!" I said. "I was asking whose son that fine -fellow is--that one who has just spoken to Alexander?" - -"That one?" Prokófey replied, pointing with a motion of his head to the -tall lad. He shook his head and mumbled something I did not understand. - -"I'm asking whose son the lad is?" I repeated, and turned to look at -Prokófey. - -His face was puckered, and his jaw trembled. - -"He's mine!" he muttered, and, turning away and hiding his face in his -hand, began to whimper like a child. - -And only then, after the two words, "He's mine!" spoken by Prokófey, -did I realise, not only in my mind but in my whole being, the horror of -what was taking place before my eyes that memorable misty morning. All -the disjointed, incomprehensible, strange things I had seen suddenly -acquired a simple, clear, and terrible significance. I became painfully -ashamed of having looked on as at an interesting spectacle. I stopped, -conscious of having acted ill, and I turned to go home. - -And to think that these things are at the present moment being done -to tens of thousands of men all over Russia, and have been done, and -will long continue to be done, to the meek, wise, and saintly Russian -people, who are so cruelly and treacherously deceived! - - - - - TRAVELLER AND PEASANT - - - [_The interior of a peasant hut. An old Traveller is sitting on - a bench, reading a book. A Peasant, the master of the hut, just - home from his work, sits down to supper and asks the Traveller to - share it. The Traveller declines. The Peasant eats, and when he has - finished, rises, says grace, and sits down beside the old man._] - -PEASANT. What brings you?... - -TRAVELLER [_taking off his spectacles and putting down his book_]. -There is no train till to-morrow. The station is crowded, so I asked -your missis to let me stay the night with you, and she allowed it. - -PEASANT. That's all right, you can stay. - -TRAVELLER. Thank you!... Well, and how are you living nowadays? - -PEASANT. Living? What's our life like?... As bad as can be! - -TRAVELLER. How's that? - -PEASANT. Why, because we've nothing to live on! Our life is so hard -that if we wanted a worse one, we couldn't get it.... You see, there -are nine of us in family; all want to eat, and I have only got in four -bushels of corn. Try and live on that! Whether one likes it or not, one -has to go and work for wages ... and when you look for a job, wages -are down!... The rich do what they like with us. The people increase, -but the land doesn't, and taxes keep piling up! There's rent, and the -district tax, and the land tax, and the tax for bridges, and insurance, -and police, and for the corn store ... too many to count! And there are -the priests and the landlords.... They all ride on our backs, except -those who are too lazy! - -TRAVELLER. I thought the peasants were doing well nowadays. - -PEASANT. So well, that we go hungry for days at a time! - -TRAVELLER. The reason I thought so, was that they have taken to -squandering so much money. - -PEASANT. Squandering what money? How strange you talk!... Here are -people starving to death, and you talk of squandering money! - -TRAVELLER. But how is it? The papers say that 700 million roubles (and -a million is a thousand thousands)--700 million were spent by the -peasants on vódka last year. - -PEASANT. Are we the only ones that drink? Just look at the priests.... -Don't they swill first-rate? And the gentlefolk aren't behind-hand! - -TRAVELLER. Still, that's only a small part. The greater part stills -falls to the peasants. - -PEASANT. What of that? Are we not to drink at all? - -TRAVELLER. No; what I mean is that if 700 millions were squandered on -vódka in one year it shows that life can't be so very hard.... 700 -millions! It's no joke ... one can hardly imagine it! - -PEASANT. But how can one do without it? We didn't start the custom, -and it's not for us to stop it.... There are the Church feasts, and -weddings, and memorial feasts, and bargains to be wetted with a -drink.... Whether one likes it or not, one can't get on without it. -It's the custom! - -TRAVELLER. But there are people who never drink, and yet they manage to -live! After all, there's not much good in it. - -PEASANT. No good at all! Only evil! - -TRAVELLER. Then one ought not to drink. - -PEASANT. Well, anyhow, drink or no drink, we've nothing to live on! -We've not enough land. If we had land we could at least live ... but -there's none to be had. - -TRAVELLER. No land to be had? Why, isn't there plenty of land? Wherever -one looks, one sees land! - -PEASANT. There's land, right enough, but it's not ours. Your elbow's -not far from your mouth, but just you try to bite it! - -TRAVELLER. Not yours! Whose is it, then? - -PEASANT. Whose?... Whose, indeed! There's that fat-bellied devil over -there ... he's seized 5000 acres. He has no family, but he's never -satisfied, while we've had to give up keeping fowls--there's nowhere -for them to run about! It's nearly time for us to stop keeping cattle, -too ... we've no fodder for them; and if a calf, or maybe a horse, -happens to stray into his field, we have to pay fines and give him our -last farthing. - -TRAVELLER. What does he want all that land for? - -PEASANT. What does he want the land for? Why, of course, he sows and -reaps and sells, and puts the money in the bank. - -TRAVELLER. How can he plough a stretch like that, and get his harvest -in? - -PEASANT. You talk as if you were a child!... What's he got money for, -if not to hire labourers?... It's they that do the ploughing and -reaping. - -TRAVELLER. These labourers are some of you peasants, I expect? - -PEASANT. Some are from these parts, and some from elsewhere. - -TRAVELLER. Anyway, they are peasants? - -PEASANT. Of course they are!... the same as ourselves. Who but a -peasant ever works? Of course they are peasants. - -TRAVELLER. And if the peasants did not go and work for him...? - -PEASANT. Go or stay, he wouldn't let us have it. If the land were to -lie idle, he'd not part with it! Like the dog in the manger, that -doesn't eat the hay himself and won't let others eat it! - -TRAVELLER. But how can he keep his land? I suppose it stretches over -some three or four miles? How can he watch it all? - -PEASANT. How queer you talk! He himself lies on his back, and fattens -his paunch; but he keeps watchmen! - -TRAVELLER. And those watchmen, I dare say, are also peasants? - -PEASANT. What else could they be? Of course they are! - -TRAVELLER. So that the peasants work the rich man's land for him, and -guard it for him from themselves? - -PEASANT. But how can one help it? - -TRAVELLER. Simply by not going to work for him, and not being his -watchmen! Then the land would be free. The land is God's, and the -people are God's; let him who needs it, plough and sow and gather in -the harvest! - -PEASANT. That is to say, you think we ought to strike? To meet that, -my friend, they have the soldiers. They'd send their soldiers ... one, -two, fire!... some would get shot, and others taken up. Soldiers give -short shrift! - -TRAVELLER. But is it not also the likes of you that are soldiers? Why -should they shoot at their own fellows? - -PEASANT. How can they help it? That's what the oath is for. - -TRAVELLER. The oath? What oath? - -PEASANT. Don't you understand? Aren't you a Russian?... The oath -is--well, it's the oath! - -TRAVELLER. It means swearing, doesn't it? - -PEASANT. Well, of course! They swear by the Cross and by the Gospels, -to lay down their life for their country. - -TRAVELLER. Well, I think that should not be done. - -PEASANT. What should not be done? - -TRAVELLER. Taking the oath. - -PEASANT. Not done? Why, the law demands it! - -TRAVELLER. No, it is not in the Law. In the Law of Christ, it is -plainly forbidden. He said: "Swear not at all." - -PEASANT. Come now! What about the priests? - -TRAVELLER [_takes a book, looks for the place, and reads_]: "It was -said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, _but I say -unto you, Swear not at all_.... But let your speech be, Yea, yea; nay, -nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one" (Matthew v. -33). So, according to Christ's Law, you must not swear. - -PEASANT. If there were no oath, there would be no soldiers. - -TRAVELLER. Well, and what good are the soldiers? - -PEASANT. What good?... But supposing other Tsars were to come and -attack our Tsar ... what then? - -TRAVELLER. If the Tsars quarrel, let them fight it out themselves. - -PEASANT. Come! How could that be possible? - -TRAVELLER. It's very simple. He that believes in God, no matter what -you may tell him, will never kill a man. - -PEASANT. Then why did the priest read out in church that war was -declared, and the Reserves were to be ready? - -TRAVELLER. I know nothing about that; but I know that in the -Commandments, in the Sixth, it says quite plainly: "Thou shalt do no -murder." You see, it is forbidden for a man to kill a man. - -PEASANT. That means, at home! At the wars, how could you help it? -They're enemies! - -TRAVELLER. According to Christ's Gospel, there is no such thing as an -enemy. You are told to love everybody. - - [_Opens the Bible and looks for place._ - -PEASANT. Well, read it! - -TRAVELLER. "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou -shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the -judgment.... Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy -neighbour, and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, Love your enemies, -and pray for them that persecute you" (Matthew v. 21, 43-44). - - [_A long pause._ - -PEASANT. Well, but what about taxes? Ought we to refuse to pay them too? - -TRAVELLER. That's as you think best. If your own children are hungry, -naturally you should first feed them. - -PEASANT. So you think soldiers are not wanted at all? - -TRAVELLER. What good do they do? Millions and millions are collected -from you and your folk for them--it's no joke to clothe and feed such -a host! There are nearly a million of those idlers, and they're only -useful to keep the land from you; and it is on you they will fire. - - [_The_ PEASANT _sighs, and shakes his head_. - -PEASANT. That's true enough! If everybody were to do it at once ... but -if one or two make a stand, they'll be shot or sent to Siberia, and -that will be the end of the matter. - -TRAVELLER. And yet there are men, even now--young men--who by -themselves stand up for the Law of God, and refuse to serve. They say: -"According to Christ's Law, I dare not be a murderer! Do as you please, -but I won't take a rifle in my hands!" - -PEASANT. Well, and what happens? - -TRAVELLER. They are put in prison; they remain there, poor fellows, -three years, or four.... But I've heard that it's not so bad for them, -for the authorities themselves respect them. And some are even let out -as unfit for service--bad health! Though he is sometimes a strapping, -broad-shouldered fellow, he's "not fit," because they're afraid -of taking a man of that kind, for fear he should tell others that -soldiering is against God's Law. So they let him go. - -PEASANT. Really? - -TRAVELLER. Yes, sometimes it happens that they are let off; but it also -happens that they die there. Still, soldiers die too, and even get -maimed in service--lose a leg, or an arm.... - -PEASANT. Oh, you're a clever fellow! It would be a good thing, only it -won't work out like that. - -TRAVELLER. Why not? - -PEASANT. _That's_ why. - -TRAVELLER. What's _that_? - -PEASANT. That the authorities have power given them. - -TRAVELLER. They only have power, because you obey them. Do not obey the -authorities, and they won't have any power! - -PEASANT. [_shakes his head_]. You do talk queer! How can one do without -the authorities? It is quite impossible to do without some authority. - -TRAVELLER. Of course it is! Only whom will you take for authority--the -policeman, or God? Whom will you obey--the policeman, or God? - -PEASANT. That goes without saying! No one is greater than God. To live -for God is the chief thing. - -TRAVELLER. Well, if you mean to live for God, you must obey God -and not man. And if you live according to God, you will not drive -people off the land: you will not be a policeman, a village elder, a -tax-collector, a watchman, or above all, a soldier.... You will not -promise to kill men. - -PEASANT. And how about those long-maned fellows--the priests? They must -see that things are being done not according to God's Law. Then why -don't they teach how it ought to be? - -TRAVELLER. I don't know anything about that. Let them go their way, and -you go yours. - -PEASANT. They are long-maned devils! - -TRAVELLER. It's not right to judge others like that! We must each -remember our own faults. - -PEASANT. Yes, that's right enough. [_Long pause. The_ PEASANT _shakes -his head, and smiles_.] What it comes to is this: that if we all were -to tackle it at once, the land would be ours at one go, and there would -be no more taxes. - -TRAVELLER. No, friend, that's not what I mean. I don't mean that if we -live according to God's will, the land will be ours, and there will be -no more taxes. I mean that our life is evil, only because we ourselves -do evil. If one lived according to God's will, life would not be evil. -What our life would be like if we lived according to God's will, God -alone knows; but certainly life would not be evil. We drink, scold, -fight, go to law, envy, and hate men; we do not accept God's Law; we -judge others; call one fat-paunched and another long-maned; but if -any one offers us money, we are ready to do anything for it: go as -watchmen, policemen, or soldiers, to help ruin others, and to kill our -own brothers. We ourselves live like devils, and yet we complain of -others! - -PEASANT. That's so! But it is hard, oh, how hard! Sometimes it's more -than one can bear. - -TRAVELLER. But, for our souls' sakes, we must bear it. - -PEASANT. That's quite right.... We live badly, because we forget God. - -TRAVELLER. Yes, that's it! That's why life is evil. Take the -Revolutionaries; they say: "Let's kill this or that squire, or these -fat-paunched rich folk (it's all because of them); and then our life -will be happy." So they kill, and go on killing, and it profits them -nothing. It's the same with the authorities: "Give us time!" they say, -"and we'll hang, and do to death in the prisons, a thousand or a couple -of thousand people, and then life will become good...." But it only -gets worse and worse! - -PEASANT. Yes, that's just it! How can judging and punishing do any -good? It must be done according to God's Law. - -TRAVELLER. Yes, that is just it. You must serve either God or the -devil. If it's to be the devil, go and drink, scold, fight, hate, -covet, don't obey God's Law, but man's laws, and life will be evil. If -it is God, obey Him alone. Don't rob or kill, and don't even condemn, -and do not hate any one. Do not plunge into evil actions, and then -there will be no evil life. - -PEASANT [_sighs_]. You speak well, daddy, very well--only we are taught -so little! Oh, if we were taught more like that, things would be quite -different! But people come from the town, and chatter about their way -of bettering things: they chatter fine, but there's nothing in it.... -Thank you, daddy, your words are good!... Well, where will you sleep? -On the oven, yes?... The missis will make up a bed for you. - - - - - A TALK WITH A WAYFARER - - -I have come out early. My soul feels light and joyful. It is a -wonderful morning. The sun is only just appearing from behind the -trees. The dew glitters on them and on the grass. Everything is lovely; -everyone is lovable. It is so beautiful that, as the saying has it, -"One does not want to die." And, really, I do not want to die. I would -willingly live a little longer in this world with such beauty around -me and such joy in my heart. That, however, is not my affair, but the -Master's.... - -I approach the village. Before the first house I see a man standing, -motionless, sideways to me. He is evidently waiting for somebody or -something, and waiting as only working people know how to wait, without -impatience or vexation. I draw nearer: he is a bearded, strong, healthy -peasant, with shaggy, slightly grey hair, and a simple, worker's face. -He is smoking not a "cigar" twisted out of paper, but a short pipe. We -greet one another. - -"Where does old Alexéy live?" I ask. - -"I don't know, friend; we are strangers here." - -Not "_I_ am a stranger," but "_we_ are strangers." A Russian is hardly -ever alone. If he is doing something wrong, he may perhaps say "I"; -otherwise it is always "we" the family, "we" the _artél_, "we" the -Commune. - -"Strangers? Where do you come from?" - -"We are from Kaloúga." - -I point to his pipe. "And how much do you spend a year on smoking? -Three or more roubles, I daresay!" - -"Three? That would hardly be enough." - -"Why not give it up?" - -"How can one give it up when one's accustomed to it?" - -"I also used to smoke, but have given it up ... and I feel so well--so -free!" - -"Well of course ... but it's dull without it." - -"Give it up, and the dulness will go! Smoking is no good, you know!" - -"No good at all." - -"If it's no good, you should not do it. Seeing you smoke, others will -do the same ... especially the young folk. They'll say, 'If the old -folk smoke, God himself bids us do it!'" - -"That's true enough." - -"And your son, seeing you smoke, will do it too." - -"Of course, my son too...." - -"Well then, give it up!" - -"I would, only it's so dull without it.... It's chiefly from dulness. -When one feels dull, one has a smoke. That's where the mischief -lies.... It's dull! At times it's so dull ... so dull ... so dull!" -drawled he. - -"The best remedy for that is to think of one's soul." - -He threw a glance at me, and at once the expression of his face quite -changed: instead of his former kindly, humorous, lively and talkative -expression, he became attentive and serious. - -"'Think of the soul ... of the soul,' you say?" he asked, gazing -questioningly into my eyes. - -"Yes! When you think of the soul, you give up all foolish things." - -His face lit up affectionately. - -"You are right, daddy! You say truly. To think of the soul is the -great thing. The soul's the chief thing...." He paused. "Thank you, -daddy, it is quite true"; and he pointed to his pipe. "What is it?... -Good-for-nothing rubbish! The soul's the chief thing!" repeated he. -"What you say is true," and his face grew still kindlier and more -serious. - -I wished to continue the conversation, but a lump rose in my throat (I -have grown very weak in the matter of tears), and I could not speak. -With a joyful, tender feeling I took leave of him, swallowing my tears, -and I went away. - -Yes, how can one help being joyful, living amid such people? How can -one help expecting from such people all that is most excellent? - - - - - FROM THE DIARY - - -I am again staying with my friend, Tchertkóff, in the Moscow -Government, and am visiting him now for the same reason that once -caused us to meet on the border of the Orlóf Government, and that -brought me to the Moscow Government a year ago. The reason is that -Tchertkóff is allowed to live anywhere in the whole world, except in -Toúla Government. So I travel to different ends of it to see him. - -Before eight o'clock I go out for my usual walk. It is a hot day. At -first I go along the hard clay road, past the acacia bushes already -preparing to crack their pods and shed their seeds; then past the -yellowing rye-field, with its still fresh and lovely cornflowers, and -come out into a black fallow field, now almost all ploughed up. To the -right an old man, in rough peasant-boots, ploughs with a _sohá_[4] and -a poor, skinny horse; and I hear an angry old voice shout: "Gee-up!" -and, from time to time, "Now, you devil!" and again, "Gee-up, devil!" I -want to speak with him; but when I pass his furrow, he is at the other -end of the field. I go on. There is another ploughman further on. This -one I shall probably meet when he reaches the road. If so, I'll speak -to him, if there is a chance. And we do meet just as he reaches the -road. - - [4] A primitive plough used by the peasants. - -He ploughs with a proper plough, harnessed to a big roan horse, and -is a well-built young lad, well clad, and wearing good boots; and he -answers my greeting of "God aid you!" pleasantly. - -The plough does not cut into the hard, beaten track that crosses the -field, and he lifts it over and halts. - -"You find the plough better than a _sohá_?" - -"Why, certainly ... much easier!" - -"Have you had it long?" - -"Not long--and it nearly got stolen...." - -"But you got it back?" - -"Yes! One of our own villagers had it." - -"Well, and did you have the law of him?" - -"Why, naturally!" - -"But why prosecute, if you got the plough back?" - -"Why, you see, he's a thief!" - -"What then? The man will go to prison, and learn to steal worse!" - -He looks at me seriously and attentively, evidently neither agreeing -nor contradicting this, to him, new idea. - -He has a fresh, healthy, intelligent face, with hair just appearing on -his chin and upper lip, and with intelligent grey eyes. - -He leaves the plough, evidently wishing to have a rest, and inclined -for a talk. I take the plough-handles, and touch the perspiring, -well-fed, full-grown mare. She presses her weight into her collar, and -I take a few steps. But I do not manage the plough, the share jumps out -of the furrow, and I stop the horse. - -"No, you can't do it." - -"I have only spoilt your furrow." - -"That doesn't matter--I'll put it right!" - -He backs his horse, to plough the part I have missed, but does not go -on ploughing. - -"It is hot in the sun.... Let's go and sit under the bushes," says he, -pointing to a little wood just across the field. - -We go into the shade of the young birches. He sits down on the ground, -and I stop in front of him. - -"What village are you from?" - -"From Botvínino." - -"Is that far?" - -"There it is, shimmering on the hill," says he, pointing. - -"Why are you ploughing so far from home?" - -"This is not my land: it belongs to a peasant here. I have hired myself -out to him." - -"Hired yourself out for the whole summer?" - -"No--to plough this ground twice, and sow it, all properly." - -"Has he much land, then?" - -"Yes, he sows about fifteen bushels of seed." - -"Does he! And is that horse your own? It's a good horse." - -"Yes, it's not a bad mare," he answers, with quiet pride. - -The mare really is, in build, size, and condition, such as a peasant -rarely possesses. - -"I expect you are in service somewhere, and do carting?" - -"No, I live at home. I'm my own master!" - -"What, so young?" - -"Yes! I was left fatherless at seven. My brother works at a Moscow -factory. At first my sister helped; she also worked at a factory. But -since I was fourteen I've had no help in all my affairs, and have -worked and earned," says he, with calm consciousness of his dignity. - -"Are you married?" - -"No." - -"Then, who does your housework?" - -"Why, mother!" - -"And you have a cow?" - -"Two cows." - -"Have you, really?... And how old are you?" I ask. - -"Eighteen," he replies, with a slight smile, understanding that it -interests me to see that so young a fellow has been able to manage so -well. This, evidently, pleases him. - -"How young you still are!" I say. "And will you have to go as a -soldier?" - -"Of course ... be conscripted!" says he, with the calm expression with -which people speak of old age, death, and in general of things it is -useless to argue about, because they are unavoidable. - -As always happens now when one speaks to peasants, our talk touches on -the land, and, describing his life, he says he has not enough land, and -that if he did not do wage-labour, sometimes with and sometimes without -his horse, he would not have anything to live on. But he says this with -merry, pleased and proud self-satisfaction; and again remarks that he -was left alone, master of the house, when he was fourteen, and has -earned everything himself. - -"And do you drink vódka?" - -He evidently does not like to say that he does, and still does not wish -to tell a lie. - -"I do," he says, softly, shrugging his shoulders. - -"And can you read and write?" - -"Very well." - -"And haven't you read books about strong drink?" - -"No, I haven't." - -"Well, but wouldn't it be better not to drink at all?" - -"Of course. Little good comes of it." - -"Then why not give it up?" - -He is silent, evidently understanding, and thinking it over. - -"It can be done, you know," say I, "and what a good thing it would -be!... The day before yesterday I went to Ívino. When I reached one of -the houses, the master came out to greet me, calling me by name. It -turned out that we had met twelve years before.... It was Koúzin--do -you know him?" - -"Of course I do! Sergéy Timoféevitch, you mean?" - -I tell him how we started a Temperance Society twelve years ago with -Koúzin, who, though he used to drink, has quite given it up, and now -tells me he is very glad to be rid of so nasty a habit; and, one sees, -is living well, with his house and everything well managed, and who, -had he not given up drinking, would have had none of these things. - -"Yes, that is so!" - -"Well then, you know, you should do the same. You are such a nice, good -lad.... What do you need vódka for, when you say yourself there is no -good in it?... You, too, should give it up!... It would be such a good -thing!" - -He remains silent, and looks at me intently. I prepare to go, and hold -out my hand to him. - -"Truly, give it up from now! It would be such a good thing!" - -With his strong hand he firmly presses mine, evidently regarding my -gesture as challenging him to promise. - -"Very well then ... it can be done!" says he, quite unexpectedly, and -in a joyous and resolute tone. - -"Do you really promise?" say I, surprised. - -"Well, of course! I promise," he says, nodding his head and smiling -slightly. - -The quiet tone of his voice, and his serious, attentive face, show that -he is not joking, but that he is really making a promise he means to -keep. - -Old age or illness, or both together, has made me very ready to cry -when I am touched with joy. The simple words of that kindly, firm, -strong man, so evidently ready for all that is good, and standing so -alone, touch me so that sobs rise to my throat, and I step aside, -unable to utter a word. - -After going a few steps, I regain control of myself, and turn to him -and say (I have already asked his name): - -"Mind, Alexander! ... the proverb says, 'Be slow to promise, but having -promised, keep it!'" - -"Yes, that's so. It will be safe." - -I have seldom experienced a more joyful feeling than I had when I left -him. - -I have omitted to say that during our talk I had offered to give him -some leaflets on drink and some booklets. [A man in a neighbouring -village posted up one of those same leaflets on the wall outside his -house lately, but it was pulled down and destroyed by the policeman.] -He thanked me, and said he would come and fetch them in the -dinner-hour. - -He did not come in the dinner-hour, and I, sinner that I am, suspected -that our whole conversation was not so important to him as it seemed -to me, and that he did not want the books, and that, in general, I had -attributed to him what was not in him. But he came in the evening, all -perspiring from his work and from the walk. After finishing his work, -he had ridden home, put up the plough, attended to his horse, and had -now come a quarter of a mile to fetch the books. - -I was sitting, with some visitors, on a splendid veranda, looking out -on to flower-beds with ornamental vases on flower-set mounds--in short, -in luxurious surroundings such as one is always ashamed of when one -enters into human relations with working people. - -I went out to him, and at once asked, "Have you not changed your mind? -Will you really keep your promise?" - -And again, with the same kindly smile, he replied, "Of course!... I -have already told mother. She's glad, and thanks you." - -I saw a bit of paper behind his ear. - -"You smoke?" - -"I do," he said, evidently expecting that I should begin persuading him -to leave that off too. But I did not try to. - -He remained silent; and then, by some strange connection of thoughts (I -think he saw the interest I felt in his life, and wished to tell me of -the important event awaiting him in the autumn) he said: - -"But I did not tell you.... I am already betrothed...." - -And he smiled, looking questioningly into my eyes. "It's to be in the -autumn!" - -"Really! That's a good thing! Where is she from?" - -He told me. - -"Has she a dowry?" - -"No; what dowry should she have? But she's a good girl." - -The idea came to me to put to him the question which always interests -me when I come in contact with good young people of our day. - -"Tell me," said I, "and forgive my asking--but please tell the truth: -either do not answer at all, or tell the whole truth...." - -He looked at me quietly and attentively. - -"Why should I not tell you?" - -"Have you ever sinned with a woman?" - -Without a moment's hesitation, he replied simply: - -"God preserve me! There's been nothing of the sort!" - -"That's good, very good!" said I. "I am glad for you." - -There was nothing more to say just then. - -"Well then, I will fetch you the books, and God's help be with you!" - -And we took leave of one another. - -Yes, what a splendid, fertile soil on which to sow, and what a dreadful -sin it is to cast upon it the seeds of falsehood, violence, drunkenness -and profligacy! - - - OPEN ROAD PRESS, 3 AMEN CORNER, LONDON, E.C. - - - - - The Free Age Press - - - POPULAR PUBLICATIONS OF - LEO TOLSTOY'S - AND KINDRED WRITINGS - - - The following are all by Leo Tolstoy - - SIXPENNY SERIES (postage 1d.) - Also Cloth bound, 1s. net (postage 2d.), except those marked * - - What is Religion? - - What I Believe - - On Life - - The Kingdom of God is within You - - What Shall We Do? - - The Slavery of our Times - - Popular Stories - First and Second Series, in 1 Volume - - The Divine and the Human - - A Murderer's Remorse - - Tolstoy on Shakespeare* - - Revolution in Russia* - - War Album* - - A Peace Album. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Three Days in the Village - And Other Sketches. Written from 1909 to July 1910. - -Author: Leo Tolstoy - -Translator: Aylmer Maude - Louise Maude - -Release Date: January 23, 2016 [EBook #51018] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE *** - - - - -Produced by Carlos Colón, University of California and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<p class="box">Transcriber's Notes:<br /> -<br /> - - -Blank pages have been eliminated.<br /> -<br /> -Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the -original.<br /> -<br /> -A few typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - - - -<p class="center p6">SIXPENCE NET<br /> -Cloth Bound, 1s. net</p> - -<p class="large center p4">THREE DAYS<br /> -IN THE<br /> -VILLAGE</p> - -<p class="center p2">AND OTHER SKETCHES</p> - -<p class="center p2">BY<br /> -LEO TOLSTOY</p> - -<p class="center p2">These sketches are written<br /> -in the style of Tolstoy's<br /> -"Popular Stories and Legends,"<br /> -and give the reader<br /> -various glimpses into modern<br /> -village life in Russia</p> - -<p class="center p4">THE FREE AGE PRESS<br /> -Publisher: C. W. DANIEL<br /> -3 Amen Corner, London, E. C.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p class="center p6 large">THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE</p> - -<p class="center"><i>And Other Sketches</i></p> - - -<p class="center p4"><i>No Rights Reserved</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h1>THREE DAYS IN<br /> -THE VILLAGE</h1> - -<p class="center"><i>And Other Sketches</i><br /> -<i>Written from September 1909 to July 1910</i></p> - -<p class="center p2">BY<br /> -LEO TOLSTOY</p> - -<p class="center p2"><i>Translated by</i> L. <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">A. Maude</span></p> - -<p class="center p4">LONDON<br /> -THE FREE AGE PRESS<br /> -(C. W. DANIEL)<br /> -3 AMEN CORNER, E. C.<br /> -1910</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" summary="indice1"> -<tr> - <td class="tdrb" colspan="3">PAGE</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl" colspan="3"><a href="#village">THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE—</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdl"><a href="#first">FIRST DAY—TRAMPS</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">7</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdl"><a href="#second">SECOND DAY—THE LIVING AND THE DYING</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">20</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdl"><a href="#third">THIRD DAY—TAXES</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">33</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdl"><a href="#conclusion">CONCLUSION—A DREAM</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">41</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><a href="#singing">SINGING IN THE VILLAGE</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">55</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><a href="#traveller">TRAVELLER AND PEASANT</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">63</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><a href="#talk">A TALK WITH A WAYFARER</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">75</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><a href="#diary">FROM THE DIARY</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">79</td> -</tr> - -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<p class="p6"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a> -<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2 id="village">THREE DAYS IN THE VILLAGE</h2> - -<h3 id="first"><i>FIRST DAY</i><br /> -TRAMPS</h3> - -<p>Something entirely new, unseen and unheard-of -formerly, has lately shown itself in -our country districts. To our village, consisting -of eighty homesteads, from half a dozen to -a dozen cold, hungry, tattered tramps come every -day, wanting a night's lodging.</p> - -<p>These people, ragged, half-naked, barefoot, -often ill, and extremely dirty, come into the -village and go to the village policeman. That -they should not die in the street of hunger and -exposure, he quarters them on the inhabitants -of the village, regarding only the peasants as -"inhabitants." He does not take them to the -squire, who besides his own ten rooms has -ten other apartments: office, coachman's room, -laundry, servants' and upper-servants' hall and -so on; nor does he take them to the priest or -deacon or shopkeeper, in whose houses, though -not large, there is still some spare room; but he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -takes them to the peasants, whose whole family, -wife, daughters-in-law, unmarried daughters, and -big and little children, all live in one room—sixteen, -nineteen, or twenty-three feet long. And -the master of the hut takes the cold, hungry, -stinking, ragged, dirty man, and not merely gives -him a night's lodging, but feeds him as well.</p> - -<p>"When you sit down to table yourself," an -old peasant householder told me, "it's impossible -not to invite him too, or your own soul accepts -nothing. So one feeds him and gives him a -drink of tea."</p> - -<p>Those are the nightly visitors. But during the -day, not two or three, but ten or more such -visitors call at each hut, and again it is: "Why, -it is impossible...," etc.</p> - -<p>And for almost every tramp the housewife cuts -a slice of bread, thinner or thicker according to -the man's appearance—though she knows her rye -will not last till next harvest.</p> - -<p>"If you were to give to all who come, a loaf -[the big peasant loaf of black bread] would not -last a day," some housewives said to me. "So -sometimes one hardens one's heart and refuses!"</p> - -<p>And this goes on every day, all over Russia. -An enormous yearly-increasing army of beggars, -cripples, administrative exiles, helpless old men, -and above all unemployed workmen, lives—that -is to say, shelters itself from cold and wet—and -is actually fed by the hardest-worked and poorest -class, the country peasants.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> -We have Workhouses,<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Foundlings' Hospitals, -Boards of Public Relief, and all sorts of philanthropic -organisations in our towns; and in all -those institutions, in buildings with electric light, -parquet floors, neat servants, and various well-paid -attendants, thousands of helpless people of -all sorts are sheltered. But however many such -there may be, they are but a drop in the ocean of -the enormous (unnumbered, but certainly enormous) -population which now tramps destitute over Russia, -and is sheltered and fed apart from any institutions, -solely by the village peasants whose own -Christian feelings induce them to bear this heavy -and gigantic tax.</p> - -<p>Just think what people who are not peasants -would say, if—even once a week—such a shivering, -starving, dirty, lousy tramp were placed in -each of their bedrooms! But the peasants not -only house them, but feed them and give them -tea, because "one's own soul accepts nothing -unless one has them to table."</p> - -<p>In the more remote parts of Sarátof, Tambóf, -and other Provinces, the peasants do not wait for -the policeman to bring these tramps, but always -receive them and feed them of their own accord.</p> - -<p>And, as is the case with all really good deeds, -the peasants do this without knowing that they -are doing a good deed; and yet it is not merely -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -a good deed "for one's soul," but is of enormous -importance for the whole of Russian society. It -is of such importance for Russian society because, -but for this peasant population and the Christian -feeling that lives so strongly in it, it is difficult to -imagine what the fate would be, not only of these -hundreds of thousands of unfortunate, houseless -tramps, but of all the well-to-do—and especially of -the wealthy who have their houses in the country.</p> - -<p>It is only necessary to see the state of privation -and suffering to which these homeless tramps have -come or have been brought, and to imagine the -mental condition they must be in, and to realise -that it is only this help rendered to them by the -peasants that restrains them from committing -violence, which would be quite natural in their -position, upon those who possess in superfluity -all the things these unfortunates lack to keep -themselves alive.</p> - -<p>So that it is not the philanthropic organisations, -not the Government with its police and all its -juridical institutions, that protects us, the well-to-do, -from being attacked by those who wander, -cold, hungry, and homeless, after having sunk—or, -for the most part, having been brought—to the -lowest depths of poverty and despair; but we are -protected, as well as fed and supported, by that -same basic strength of the Russian nation—the -peasantry.</p> - -<p>Yes! Were it not that there is among Russia's -vast peasant population a deep religious conscious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>ness -of the brotherhood of all men, not only -would these homeless people, having reached the -last stages of despair, have long since destroyed -the houses of the rich, in spite of any police force -(there are and must be so few of them in country -districts), but they would even have killed all who -stood in their way. So that we ought not to be -horrified or surprised when we hear or read of -people being robbed, or killed that they may be -robbed, but we should understand and remember -that if such things happen as seldom as they do, -we owe this to the unselfish help rendered by the -peasants to this unfortunate tramping population.</p> - -<p>Every day from ten to fifteen people come to -our house to beg. Some among them are regular -beggars, who for some reason have chosen that -means of livelihood, and having clothed and shod -themselves as best they might, and having made -sacks to hold what they collect, have started out to -tramp the country. Among them some are blind, -and some have lost a leg or an arm; and sometimes, -though rarely, there are women and children -among them. But these are only a small part. -The majority of the beggars that come now are -passers-by, without a beggar's sack, mostly young, -and not crippled. They are all in a most pitiable -state, barefoot, half-naked, emaciated, and shivering -with cold. You ask them, "Where are you -going?" The answer is always the same: "To -look for work"; or, "Have been looking for -work, but found none, and am making my way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -home. There's no work; they are shutting down -everywhere." Many of these people are returning -from exile.</p> - -<p>A few days ago I was barely awake when our -servant, Ilyá Vasílyevitch, told me:</p> - -<p>"There are five tramps waiting near the porch."</p> - -<p>"Take some money there is on the table, and -give it them," said I.</p> - -<p>Ilyá Vasílyevitch took it, and, as is the custom, -gave each of them five copecks [five farthings]. -About an hour passed. I went out into the porch. -A dreadfully tattered little man with a sickly -face, swollen eyelids, restless eyes, and boots all -falling to pieces, began bowing, and held out a -certificate to me.</p> - -<p>"Have you received something?"</p> - -<p>"Your Excellency, what am I to do with five -copecks?... Your Excellency, put yourself in -my place! Please, your Excellency, look ... -please see!" and he shows me his clothing. -"Where am I to go to, your Excellency?" (it is -"Excellency" after every word, though his face -expresses hatred). "What am I to do? Where -am I to go?"</p> - -<p>I tell him that I give to all alike. He continues -to entreat, and demands that I should read -his certificate. I refuse. He kneels down. I ask -him to leave me.</p> - -<p>"Very well! That means, it seems, that I must -put an end to myself! That's all that's left me to -do.... Give me something, if only a trifle!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - -<p>I give him twenty copecks, and he goes away, -evidently angry.</p> - -<p>There are a great many such peculiarly insistent -beggars, who feel they have a right to demand -their share from the rich. They are literate for -the most part, and some of them are even well-read -persons on whom the Revolution has had -an effect. These men, unlike the ordinary, old-fashioned -beggars, look on the rich, not as on -people who wish to save their souls by distributing -alms, but as on highwaymen and robbers who -suck the blood of the working classes. It often -happens that a beggar of this sort does no work -himself and carefully avoids work, and yet considers -himself, in the name of the workers, not -merely justified, but bound, to hate the robbers of -the people—that is to say, the rich—and to hate -them from the depths of his heart; and if, instead -of demanding from them, he begs, that is only a -pretence.</p> - -<p>There are a great number of these men, many -of them drunkards, of whom one feels inclined to -say, "It's their own fault"; but there are also a -great many tramps of quite a different type: meek, -humble, and very pathetic, and it is terrible to -think of their position.</p> - -<p>Here is a tall, good-looking man, with nothing -on over his short, tattered jacket. His boots are -bad and trodden down. He has a good, intelligent -face. He takes off his cap and begs in the -ordinary way. I give him something, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -thanks me. I ask him where he comes from and -where he is going to.</p> - -<p>"From Petersburg, home to our village in -Toúla Government."</p> - -<p>I ask him, "Why on foot?"</p> - -<p>"It's a long story," he answers, shrugging his -shoulders.</p> - -<p>I ask him to tell it me. He relates it with -evident truthfulness.</p> - -<p>"I had a good place in an office in Petersburg, -and received thirty roubles [three guineas] a month. -Lived very comfortably. I have read your books -<i>War and Peace</i> and <i>Anna Karénina</i>," says he, again -smiling a particularly pleasant smile. "Then my -folks at home got the idea of migrating to Siberia, -to the Province of Tomsk." They wrote to him -asking whether he would agree to sell his share of -land in the old place. He agreed. His people -left, but the land allotted them in Siberia turned -out worthless. They spent all they had, and came -back. Being now landless, they are living in -hired lodgings in their former village, and work -for wages. It happened, just at the same time, -that he lost his place in Petersburg. It was not -his doing. The firm he was with became bankrupt, -and dismissed its employees. "And just -then, to tell the truth, I came across a seamstress." -He smiled again. "She quite entangled me.... -I used to help my people, and now see what a -smart chap I have become!... Ah well, God is -not without mercy; maybe I'll manage somehow!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - -<p>He was evidently an intelligent, strong, active -fellow, and only a series of misfortunes had -brought him to his present condition.</p> - -<p>Take another: his legs swathed in strips of rag; -girdled with a rope; his clothing quite threadbare -and full of small holes, evidently not torn, but -worn-out to the last degree; his face, with its -high cheek-bones, pleasant, intelligent, and sober. -I give him the customary five copecks, and he -thanks me and we start a conversation. He has -been an administrative exile in Vyátka. It was -bad enough there, but it is worse here. He is -going to Ryazán, where he used to live. I ask -him what he has been. "A newspaper man. I -took the papers round."</p> - -<p>"For what were you exiled?"</p> - -<p>"For selling forbidden literature."</p> - -<p>We began talking about the Revolution. I told -him my opinion, that the evil was all in ourselves; -and that such an enormous power as that of the -Government cannot be destroyed by force. "Evil -outside ourselves will only be destroyed when we -have destroyed it within us," said I.</p> - -<p>"That is so, but not for a long time."</p> - -<p>"It depends on us."</p> - -<p>"I have read your book on Revolution."</p> - -<p>"It is not mine, but I agree with it."</p> - -<p>"I wished to ask you for some of your books."</p> - -<p>"I should be very pleased.... Only I'm afraid -they may get you into trouble. I'll give you the -most harmless."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Oh, I don't care! I am no longer afraid of -anything.... Prison is better for me than this! -I am not afraid of prison.... I even long for it -sometimes," he said sadly.</p> - -<p>"What a pity it is that so much strength is -wasted uselessly!" said I. "How people like -you destroy your own lives!... Well, and -what do you mean to do now?"</p> - -<p>"I?" he said, looking intently into my face.</p> - -<p>At first, while we talked about past events and -general topics, he had answered me boldly and -cheerfully; but as soon as our conversation referred -to himself personally and he noticed my sympathy, -he turned away, hid his eyes with his sleeve, and -I noticed that the back of his head was shaking.</p> - -<p>And how many such people there are!</p> - -<p>They are pitiable and pathetic, and they, too, -stand on the threshold beyond which a state of -despair begins that makes even a kindly man -ready to go all lengths.</p> - -<p>"Stable as our civilisation may seem to us," -says Henry George, "disintegrating forces are -already developing within it. Not in deserts and -forests, but in city slums and on the highways, -the barbarians are being bred who will do for our -civilisation what the Huns and Vandals did for -the civilisation of former ages."</p> - -<p>Yes! What Henry George foretold some -twenty years ago, is happening now before our -eyes, and in Russia most glaringly—thanks to the -amazing blindness of our Government, which care<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>fully -undermines the foundations on which alone -any and every social order stands or can stand.</p> - -<p>We have the Vandals foretold by Henry George -quite ready among us in Russia. And, strange as -it may seem to say so, these Vandals, these doomed -men, are specially dreadful here among our deeply -religious population. These Vandals are specially -dreadful here, because we have not the restraining -principles of convention, propriety, and public -opinion, that are so strongly developed among the -European nations. We have either real, deep, -religious feeling, or—as in Sténka Rázin and Pougatchéf—a -total absence of any restraining principle: -and, dreadful to say, this army of Sténkas -and Pougatchéfs is growing greater and greater, -thanks to the Pougatchéf-like conduct of our -Government in these later days, with its horrors -of police violence, insane banishments, imprisonments, -exiles, fortresses, and daily executions.</p> - -<p>Such actions release the Sténka Rázins from the -last remnants of moral restraint. "If the learned -gentlefolk act like that, God Himself permits us to -do so," say and think they.</p> - -<p>I often receive letters from that class of men, -chiefly exiles. They know I have written something -about not resisting evil by violence, and for -the greater part they retort ungrammatically, -though with great fervour, that what the Government -and the rich are doing to the poor, can and -must be answered only in one way: "Revenge, -revenge, revenge!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> - -<p>Yes! The blindness of our Government is -amazing. It does not and will not see that all it -does to disarm its enemies merely increases their -number and energy. Yes! These people are -terrible, terrible for the Government and for the -rich, and for those who live among the rich.</p> - -<p>But besides the feeling of terror these people -inspire, there is also another feeling, much more -imperative than that of fear, and one we cannot -help experiencing towards those who, by a series -of accidents, have fallen into this terrible condition -of vagrancy. That feeling is one of shame and -sympathy.</p> - -<p>And it is not fear, so much as shame and pity, -that should oblige us, who are not in that condition, -to respond in one way or other to this new -and terrible phenomenon in Russian life.<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> - -<p class="p4"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a> -<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="second"><i>SECOND DAY</i><br /> -THE LIVING AND THE DYING</h3> - -<p>As I sat at my work, Ilyá Vasílyevitch entered -softly and, evidently reluctant to disturb me -at my work, told me that some wayfarers and -a woman had been waiting a long time to see me.</p> - -<p>"Here," I said, "please take this, and give it -them."</p> - -<p>"The woman has come about some business."</p> - -<p>I told him to ask her to wait a while, and continued -my work. By the time I came out, I had -quite forgotten about her, till I saw a young -peasant woman with a long, thin face, and clad -very poorly and too lightly for the weather, appear -from behind a corner of the house.</p> - -<p>"What do you want? What is the matter?"</p> - -<p>"I've come to see you, your Honour."</p> - -<p>"Yes ... what about? What is the matter?"</p> - -<p>"To see you, your Honour."</p> - -<p>"Well, what is it?"</p> - -<p>"He's been taken wrongfully.... I'm left -with three children."</p> - -<p>"Who's been taken, and where to?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<p>"My husband ... sent off to Krapívny."</p> - -<p>"Why? What for?"</p> - -<p>"For a soldier, you know. But it's wrong—because, -you see, he's the breadwinner! We -can't get on without him.... Be a father to -us, sir!"</p> - -<p>"But how is it? Is he the only man in the -family?"</p> - -<p>"Just so ... the only man!"</p> - -<p>"Then how is it they have taken him, if he's -the only man?"</p> - -<p>"Who can tell why they've done it?... -Here am I, left alone with the children! There's -nothing for me but to die.... Only I'm sorry -for the children! My last hope is in your kindness, -because, you see, it was not right!"</p> - -<p>I wrote down the name of her village, and her -name and surname, and told her I would see about -it and let her know.</p> - -<p>"Help me, if it's only ever so little!... The -children are hungry, and, God's my witness, I -haven't so much as a crust. The baby is worst -of all ... there's no milk in my breasts. If -only the Lord would take him!"</p> - -<p>"Haven't you a cow?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"A cow? Oh, no!... Why, we're all -starving!" said she, crying, and trembling all -over in her tattered coat.</p> - -<p>I let her go, and prepared for my customary -walk. It turned out that the doctor, who lives -with us, was going to visit a patient in the village<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -the soldier's wife had come from, and another -patient in the village where the District Police -Station is situated, so I joined him, and we drove -off together.</p> - -<p>I went into the Police Station, while the doctor -attended to his business in that village.</p> - -<p>The District Elder was not in, nor the clerk, -but only the clerk's assistant—a clever lad whom I -knew. I asked him about the woman's husband, -and why, being the only man in the family, he -had been taken as a conscript.</p> - -<p>The clerk's assistant looked up the particulars, -and replied that the woman's husband was not the -only man in the family: he had a brother.</p> - -<p>"Then why did she say he was the only -one?"</p> - -<p>"She lied! They always do," replied he, with -a smile.</p> - -<p>I made some inquiries about other matters I -had to attend to, and then the doctor returned -from visiting his patient, and we drove towards -the village in which the soldier's wife lived. But -before we were out of the first village, a girl of -about twelve came quickly across the road towards -us.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you're wanted?" I said to the -doctor.</p> - -<p>"No, it's your Honour I want," said the girl -to me.</p> - -<p>"What is it?"</p> - -<p>"I've come to your Honour, as mother is dead,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -and we are left orphans—five of us. Help us!... -Think of our needs!"</p> - -<p>"Where do you come from?"</p> - -<p>The girl pointed to a brick house, not badly -built.</p> - -<p>"From here ... that is our house. Come and -see for yourself!"</p> - -<p>I got out of the sledge, and went towards the -house. A woman came out and asked me in. -She was the orphans' aunt. I entered a large, -clean room; all the children were there, four of -them: besides the eldest girl—two boys, a girl, -and another boy of about two. Their aunt told -me all about the family's circumstances. Two -years ago the father had been killed in a mine. -The widow tried to get compensation, but failed. -She was left with four children; the fifth was -born after her husband's death. She struggled on -alone as best she could, hiring a labourer at first -to work her land. But without her husband -things went worse and worse. First they had to -sell their cow, then the horse, and at last only -two sheep were left. Still they managed to live -somehow; but two months ago the woman herself -fell ill and died, leaving five children, the -eldest twelve years old.</p> - -<p>"They must get along as best they can. I try -to help them, but can't do much. I can't think -what's to become of them! I wish they'd die!... -If one could only get them into some Orphanage—or -at least some of them!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> - -<p>The eldest girl evidently understood and took -in the whole of my conversation with her aunt.</p> - -<p>"If at least one could get little Nicky placed -somewhere! It's awful; one can't leave him for -a moment," said she, pointing to the sturdy little -two-year old urchin, who with his little sister was -merrily laughing at something or other, and evidently -did not at all share his aunt's wish.</p> - -<p>I promised to take steps to get one or more of -the children into an Orphanage. The eldest girl -thanked me, and asked when she should come for -an answer. The eyes of all the children, even of -Nicky, were fixed on me, as on some fairy being -capable of doing anything for them.</p> - -<p>Before I had reached the sledge, after leaving -the house, I met an old man. He bowed, and at -once began speaking about these same orphans.</p> - -<p>"What misery!" he said; "it's pitiful to see -them. And the eldest little girlie, how she looks -after them—just like a mother! Wonderful how -the Lord helps her! It's a mercy the neighbours -don't forsake them, or they'd simply die of -hunger, the dear little things!... They are the -sort of people it does no harm to help," he added, -evidently advising me to do so.</p> - -<p>I took leave of the old man, the aunt, and the -little girl, and drove with the doctor to the woman -who had been to see me that morning.</p> - -<p>At the first house we came to, I inquired -where she lived. It happened to be the house -of a widow I know very well; she lives on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -alms she begs, and she has a particularly importunate -and pertinacious way of extorting them. -As usual, she at once began to beg. She said she -was just now in special need of help to enable -her to rear a calf.</p> - -<p>"She's eating me and the old woman out of -house and home. Come in and see her."</p> - -<p>"And how is the old woman?"</p> - -<p>"What about the old woman?... She's -hanging on...."</p> - -<p>I promised to come and see, not so much the -calf as the old woman, and again inquired where -the soldier's wife lived. The widow pointed to -the next hut but one, and hastened to add that -no doubt they were poor, but her brother-in-law -"does drink dreadfully!"</p> - -<p>Following her instructions, I went to the next -house but one.</p> - -<p>Miserable as are the huts of all the poor in -our villages, it is long since I saw one so dilapidated -as that. Not only the whole roof, but the -walls were so crooked that the windows were -aslant.</p> - -<p>Inside, it was no better than outside. The -brick oven took up one-third of the black, dirty -little hut, which to my surprise was full of people. -I thought I should find the widow alone with -her children; but here was a sister-in-law (a -young woman with children) and an old mother-in-law. -The soldier's wife herself had just returned -from her visit to me, and was warming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -herself on the top of the oven. While she was -getting down, her mother-in-law began telling me -of their life. Her two sons had lived together -at first, and they all managed to feed themselves.</p> - -<p>"But who remain together nowadays? All -separate," the garrulous old woman went on. -"The wives began quarrelling, so the brothers -separated, and life became still harder. We had -little land, and only managed to live by their -wage-labour; and now they have taken Peter as a -soldier! So where is she to turn to with her -children? She's living with us now, but we -can't manage to feed them all! We can't think -what we are to do. They say he may be got -back."</p> - -<p>The soldier's wife, having climbed down from -the oven, continued to implore me to take steps -to get her husband back. I told her it was impossible, -and asked what property her husband -had left behind with his brother, to keep her and -the children. There was none. He had handed -over his land to his brother, that he might feed -her and the children. They had had three sheep; -but two had been sold to pay the expenses of -getting her husband off, and there was only some -old rubbish left, she said, besides a sheep and two -fowls. That was all she had. Her mother-in-law -confirmed her words.</p> - -<p>I asked the soldier's wife where she had come -from. She came from Sergíevskoe. Sergíevskoe -is a large, well-to-do village some thirty miles off.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -I asked if her parents were alive. She said they -were alive, and living comfortably.</p> - -<p>"Why should you not go to them?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"I thought of that myself, but am afraid they -won't have the four of us."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps they will. Why not write to them? -Shall I write for you?"</p> - -<p>The woman agreed, and I noted down her -parents' address.</p> - -<p>While I was talking to the woman, the eldest -child—a fat-bellied girl—came up to her mother, -and, pulling at her sleeve, began asking for something, -probably food. The woman went on talking -to me, and paid no attention to the girl, who -again pulled and muttered something.</p> - -<p>"There's no getting rid of you!" exclaimed -the woman, and with a swing of her arm struck -her on the head. The girl burst into a howl.</p> - -<p>Having finished my business there, I left the -hut and went back to the widow.</p> - -<p>She was outside her house, waiting for me, and -again asked me to come and look at her calf. I -went in, and in the passage there really was a calf. -The widow asked me to look at it. I did so, feeling -that she was so engrossed in her calf that she -could not imagine that anyone could help being -interested in seeing it.</p> - -<p>Having looked at the calf, I stepped inside, and -asked:</p> - -<p>"Where is the old woman?"</p> - -<p>"The old woman?" the widow repeated, evi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>dently -surprised that after having seen the calf, I -could still be interested in the old woman. "Why, -on the top of the oven! Where else should she -be?"</p> - -<p>I went up to the oven, and greeted the old -woman.</p> - -<p>"Oh! ... oh!" answered a hoarse, feeble -voice. "Who is it?"</p> - -<p>I told her, and asked how she was getting on.</p> - -<p>"What's my life worth?"</p> - -<p>"Are you in pain?"</p> - -<p>"Everything aches! Oh! ... oh!"</p> - -<p>"The doctor is here with me; shall I call him in?"</p> - -<p>"Doctor!... Oh! ... oh! What do I -want with your doctor?... My doctor is up -there.... Oh! ... oh!"</p> - -<p>"She's old, you know," said the widow.</p> - -<p>"Not older than I am," replied I.</p> - -<p>"Not older? Much older! People say she is -ninety," said the widow. "All her hair has come -out. I cut it all off the other day."</p> - -<p>"Why did you do that?"</p> - -<p>"Why, it had nearly all come out, so I cut it -off!"</p> - -<p>"Oh! ... oh!" moaned the old woman; -"oh! God has forgotten me! He does not take -my soul. If the Lord won't take it, it can't go of -itself! Oh! ... oh! It must be for my sins! ... -I've nothing to moisten my throat.... -If only I had a drop of tea to drink before I die.... -Oh! ... oh!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> - -<p>The doctor entered the hut, and I said goodbye -and went out into the street.</p> - -<p>We got into the sledge, and drove to a small -neighbouring village to see the doctor's last -patient, who had sent for him the day before. -We went into the hut together.</p> - -<p>The room was small, but clean; in the middle -of it a cradle hung from the ceiling, and a woman -stood rocking it energetically. At the table sat a -girl of about eight, who gazed at us with surprised -and frightened eyes.</p> - -<p>"Where is he?" the doctor asked.</p> - -<p>"On the oven," replied the woman, not ceasing -to rock the cradle.</p> - -<p>The doctor climbed up, and, leaning over the -patient, did something to him.</p> - -<p>I drew nearer, and asked about the sick man's -condition.</p> - -<p>The doctor gave me no answer. I climbed up, -too, and gazing through the darkness gradually -began to discern the hairy head of the man on the -oven-top. Heavy, stifling air hung about the -sick man, who lay on his back. The doctor was -holding his left hand to feel the pulse.</p> - -<p>"Is he very bad?" I asked.</p> - -<p>Without answering me, the doctor turned to -the woman.</p> - -<p>"Light a lamp," he said.</p> - -<p>She called the girl, told her to rock the cradle, -and went and lit a lamp and handed it to the -doctor. I got down, so as not to be in his way.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -He took the lamp, and continued to examine the -patient.</p> - -<p>The little girl, staring at us, did not rock the -cradle strongly enough, and the baby began to cry -piercingly and piteously. The mother, having -handed the lamp to the doctor, pushed the girl -angrily aside and again began to rock the cradle.</p> - -<p>I returned to the doctor, and again asked how -the patient was. The doctor, still occupied with -the patient, softly whispered one word.</p> - -<p>I did not hear, and asked again.</p> - -<p>"The death-agony," he repeated, purposely -using a non-Russian word, and got down and -placed the lamp on the table.</p> - -<p>The baby did not cease crying in a piteous and -angry voice.</p> - -<p>"What's that? Is he dead?" said the woman, -as if she had understood the foreign word the doctor -had used.</p> - -<p>"Not yet, but there is no hope!" replied he.</p> - -<p>"Then I must send for the priest," said the -woman in a dissatisfied voice, rocking the screaming -baby more and more violently.</p> - -<p>"If only my husband was at home!... But -now, who can I send? They've all gone to the -forest for firewood."</p> - -<p>"I can do nothing more here," said the doctor; -and we went away.</p> - -<p>I heard afterwards that the woman found someone -to send for the priest, who had just time to -administer the Sacrament to the dying man.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> - -<p>We drove home in silence, both, I think, experiencing -the same feeling.</p> - -<p>"What was the matter with him?" I asked at -length.</p> - -<p>"Inflammation of the lungs. I did not expect -it to end so quickly. He had a very strong constitution, -but the conditions were deadly. With -105 degrees of fever, he went and sat outside the -hut, where there were only 20 degrees."</p> - -<p>Again we drove on in silence for a long time.</p> - -<p>"I noticed no bedding or pillow on the oven," -said I.</p> - -<p>"Nothing!" replied the doctor. And, evidently -knowing what I was thinking about, he -went on:</p> - -<p>"Yesterday I was at Kroutoe to see a woman -who has had a baby. To examine her properly, -as was necessary, she should have been placed so -that she could lie stretched out full length; but -there was no place in the whole hut where that -could be done."</p> - -<p>Again we were silent, and again we probably -both had the same thoughts. We reached home -in silence. At the porch stood a fine pair of horses, -harnessed tandem to a carpet-upholstered sledge. -The handsome coachman was dressed in a sheepskin -coat, and wore a thick fur cap. They belonged to -my son, who had driven over from his estate.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>And here we are sitting at the dinner-table, laid -for ten persons. One of the places is empty. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -is my little granddaughter's. She is not quite -well to-day, and is having her dinner in her room -with her nurse. A specially hygienic dinner has -been prepared for her: beef-tea and sago.</p> - -<p>At our big dinner of four courses, with two -kinds of wine, served by two footmen, and eaten -at a table decorated with flowers, this is the kind -of talk that goes on:</p> - -<p>"Where do these splendid roses come from?" -asks my son.</p> - -<p>My wife tells him that a lady, who will not -divulge her name, sends them from Petersburg.</p> - -<p>"Roses like these cost three shillings each," -says my son, and goes on to relate how at some -concert or play such roses were showered on a -performer till they covered the stage. The conversation -passes on to music, and then to a man -who is a very good judge and patron of music.</p> - -<p>"By the by, how is he?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, he is always ailing. He is again going to -Italy. He always spends the winter there, and -his health improves wonderfully."</p> - -<p>"But the journey is very trying and tedious."</p> - -<p>"Oh no! Not if one takes the express—it is -only thirty-nine hours."</p> - -<p>"All the same, it is very dull."</p> - -<p>"Wait a bit! We shall fly before long!"</p> - -<p class="p4"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> - - -<h3 id="third"><i>THIRD DAY</i><br /> -TAXES</h3> - -<p>Besides my ordinary visitors and applicants, -there are to-day some special ones. The first -is a childless old peasant who is ending his -life in great poverty. The second is a poor woman -with a crowd of children. The third is, I believe, -a well-to-do peasant.</p> - -<p>All three have come from our village, and all -have come about the same business. The taxes -are being collected before the New Year, and the -old man's samovár, the woman's only sheep, and one -of the well-to-do peasant's cows, have been noted -down for seizure in case of non-payment. They -all ask me to defend them or assist them, or to -do both.</p> - -<p>The well-to-do peasant, a tall, handsome, elderly -man, is the first to speak. He tells me that the -Village Elder came, noted down the cow, and -demands twenty-seven roubles. This levy is for -the obligatory Grain Reserve Fund, and ought -not, the peasant thinks, to be collected at this time -of year. I know nothing about it, and tell him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -that I will inquire in the District Government -Office, and will let him know whether the payment -of the tax can be postponed or not.</p> - -<p>The second to speak is the old man whose -samovár has been noted. The small, thin, weakly, -poorly clad man relates, with pathetic grief and -bewilderment, how they came, took his samovár, -and demanded three roubles and seventy copecks -of him, which he has not got and can't get.</p> - -<p>I ask him what the tax is for.</p> - -<p>"Some kind of Government tax.... Who can -tell what it is? Where am I and my old woman -to get the money? As it is, we hardly manage to -live!... What kind of laws are these? Have -pity on our old age, and help us somehow!"</p> - -<p>I promise to inquire, and to do what I can, and -I turn to the woman. She is thin and worn-out. -I know her, and know that her husband is a drunkard, -and that she has five children.</p> - -<p>"They have seized my sheep! They come and -say: 'Pay the money!' 'My husband is away, -working,' I say. 'Pay up!' say they. But -where am I to find it? I only had one sheep, and -they are taking it!" And she begins to cry.</p> - -<p>I promise to find out, and to help her if I can. -First, I go to the Village Elder, to find out what -the taxes are, and why they are collecting them so -rigorously.</p> - -<p>In the village street, two other petitioners stop -me. Their husbands are away at work. One asks -me to buy some of her home-woven linen, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -offers it for two roubles. "Because they have -seized my hens! I had just reared them, and live -by selling the eggs. Do buy it; it is good linen! -I would not let it go for three roubles if I were -not in great need!"</p> - -<p>I send her away, promising to consider matters -when I return—perhaps I may be able to arrange -about the tax.</p> - -<p>Before I reach the Elder's house, a woman -comes to meet me: a quick-eyed, black-eyed ex-pupil -of mine—Ólga, now already an old woman. -She is in the same plight: they have seized her -calf.</p> - -<p>I come to the Elder. He is a strong, intelligent-looking -peasant, with a grizzly beard. He comes -out into the street to me. I ask him what taxes -are being collected, and why so rigorously. He -replies that he has had very strict orders to get in -all arrears before the New Year.</p> - -<p>"Have you had orders to confiscate samovárs -and cattle?"</p> - -<p>"Of course!" replies the Village Elder, shrugging -his shoulders. "The taxes must be paid.... -Take Abakoúmof now, for instance," said he, referring -to the well-to-do peasant whose cow had -been taken in payment of some Grain Reserve -Fund. "His son is an isvóstchik: they have -three horses. Why shouldn't he pay? He's -always trying to get out of it."</p> - -<p>"Well, suppose it so in his case," say I; "but -how about those who are really poor?" And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -I name the old man whose samovár they are -taking.</p> - -<p>"Yes; they really are poor, and have nothing -to pay with. But just as if such things get considered -up there!"</p> - -<p>I name the woman whose sheep was taken. -The Elder is sorry for her too, but, as if excusing -himself, explains that he must obey orders.</p> - -<p>I inquire how long he has been an Elder, and -what pay he gets.</p> - -<p>"How much do I get?" he says, replying not -to the question I ask, but to the question in my -mind, which he guesses namely, why he takes -part in such proceedings. "Well, I do want to -resign! We get thirty roubles a month, but are -obliged to do things that are wrong."</p> - -<p>"Well, and will they really confiscate the samovárs -and sheep and fowls?" I ask.</p> - -<p>"Why, of course! We are bound to take -them, and the District Government will arrange -for their sale."</p> - -<p>"And will the things be sold?"</p> - -<p>"The folk will manage to pay up somehow."</p> - -<p>I go to the woman who came to me about her -sheep. Her hut is tiny, and in the passage outside -is her only sheep, which is to go to support -the Imperial Budget. Seeing me, she, a nervous -woman worn out by want and overwork, begins -to talk excitedly and rapidly, as peasant women do.</p> - -<p>"See how I live! They're taking my last -sheep, and I myself and these brats are barely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -alive!" She points up at the bunks and the oven-top, -where her children are. "Come down!... -Now then, don't be frightened!... There now, -how's one to keep oneself and them naked brats?"</p> - -<p>The brats, almost literally naked, with nothing -on but tattered shirts—not even any trousers—climb -down from the oven and surround their -mother.</p> - -<p>The same day I go to the District Office, to -make inquiries about this way of exacting taxation, -which is new to me.</p> - -<p>The District Elder is not in. He will be back -soon. In the Office several persons are standing -behind the grating, also waiting to see him.</p> - -<p>I ask them who they are, and what they have -come about. Two of them have come to get -passports, in order to be able to go out to work -at a distance. They have brought money to pay -for the passports. Another has come to get a copy -of the District Court's decision rejecting his -petition that the homestead—where he has lived -and worked for twenty-three years, and which has -belonged to his uncle, who adopted him,—now that -his uncle and aunt are dead, should not be taken -from him by his uncle's granddaughter. She, -being the direct heiress, and taking advantage of -the law of the 9th November, is selling the freehold -of the land and homestead on which the petitioner -lived. His petition has been rejected, but he cannot -believe that this is the law, and wants to appeal -to some higher Court—though he does not know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -what Court. I explain that there is such a law, -and this provokes disapproval, amounting to perplexity -and incredulity, among all those who are -present.</p> - -<p>Hardly have I finished talking with this man, -when a tall peasant with a stern, severe face asks -me for an explanation of his affairs. The business -he has come about is this: he and his fellow -villagers have, from time immemorial, been getting -iron ore from their land; and now a decree has -been published prohibiting this. "Not dig on -one's own land? What laws are these? We -only live by digging the iron! We have been -trying for more than a month, and can't get anything -settled. We don't know what to think of -it; they'll ruin us completely, and that will be the -end of the matter!"</p> - -<p>I can say nothing comforting to this man, and -turn to the Elder—who has just come back—to -inquire about the vigorous measures which are -being taken to exact payment of arrears of taxation -in our village. I ask under what clauses of the -Act the taxes are being levied. The Elder tells -me that there are seven different kinds of rates and -taxes, the arrears of all of which are now being -collected from the peasants: (1) the Imperial -Taxes, (2) the Local Government Taxes, (3) the -Insurance Taxes, (4) the arrears of Former Grain -Reserve Funds, (5) New Grain Reserve Funds -in lieu of contributions in kind, (6) Communal -and District Taxes, and (7) Village Taxes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -The District Elder tells me, as the Village Elder -had done, that the taxes were being collected with -special rigour by order of the higher authorities. -He admits that it is no easy task to collect the -taxes from the poor, but he shows less sympathy -than the Village Elder did. He does not venture -to censure the authorities; and, above all, he has -hardly any doubt of the usefulness of his office, or -of the rightness of taking part in such activity.</p> - -<p>"One can't, after all, encourage...."</p> - -<p>Soon after, I had occasion to talk about these -things with a Zémsky Natchálnik.<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> He had very -little compassion for the hard lot of the poverty-stricken -folk whom he scarcely ever saw, and just -as little doubt of the morality and lawfulness of his -activity. In his conversation with me he admitted -that, on the whole, it would be pleasanter not to -serve at all; but he considered himself a useful -functionary, because other men in his place would -do even worse things. "And once one is living -in the country, why not take the salary, small as -it is, of a Zémsky Natchálnik?"</p> - -<p>The views of a Governor on the collection of -taxes necessary to meet the needs of those who are -occupied in arranging for the nation's welfare, were -entirely free from any considerations as to samovárs, -sheep, homespun linen, or calves taken from the -poorest inhabitants of the villages; and he had -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -not the slightest doubt as to the usefulness of his -activity.</p> - -<p>And finally, the Ministers and those who are -busy managing the liquor traffic, those who are -occupied in teaching men to kill one another, and -those who are engaged in condemning people to -exile, to prison, to penal servitude, or to the -gallows—all the Ministers and their assistants are -quite convinced that samovárs and sheep and linen -and calves taken from beggars, are put to their -best use in producing vódka (which poisons the -people), weapons for killing men, the erection of -gaols and lock-ups, and, among other things, in -paying to them and to their assistants the salaries -they require to furnish drawing-rooms, to buy -dresses for their wives, and for journeys and -amusements which they undertake as relaxations -after fulfilling their arduous labours for the welfare -of the coarse and ungrateful masses.</p> - -<p class="p4"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - - -<h3 id="conclusion"><i>CONCLUSION</i><br /> -A DREAM</h3> - -<p>A few nights ago I dreamt so significant a -dream that several times during the following -day I asked myself, "What has happened -to-day that is so specially important?" And then -I remembered that the specially important thing -was what I had seen, or rather heard, in my dream.</p> - -<p>It was a speech that struck me greatly, spoken -by one who, as often happens in dreams, was a -combination of two men: my old friend, now -dead, Vladímir Orlóf, with grey curls on each side -of his bald head, and Nicholas Andréyevitch, a -copyist who lived with my brother.</p> - -<p>The speech was evoked by the conversation of -a rich lady, the hostess, with a landowner who was -visiting her house. The lady had recounted how -the peasants on a neighbouring estate had burnt -the landlord's house and several sheds which -sheltered century-old cherry trees and duchesse -pears. Her visitor, the landowner, related how -the peasants had cut down some oaks in his forest, -and had even carted away a stack of hay.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Neither arson nor robbery is considered a -crime nowadays. The immorality of our people -is terrible: they have all become thieves!" said -someone.</p> - -<p>And in answer to those words, that man, combined -of two, spoke as follows:</p> - -<p>"The peasants have stolen oaks and hay, and -are thieves, and the most immoral class," he began, -addressing no one in particular. "Now, in the -Caucasus, a chieftain used to raid the Aouls and -carry off all the horses of the inhabitants. But -one of them found means to get back from the -chieftain's herds at least one of the horses that had -been stolen from him. Was that man a thief, -because he got back one of the many horses stolen -from him? And is it not the same with the trees, -the grass, the hay, and all the rest of the things -you say the peasants have stolen from you? The -earth is the Lord's, and common to all; and if the -peasants have taken what was grown on the -common land of which they have been deprived, -they have not stolen, but have only resumed -possession of a small part of what has been stolen -from them.</p> - -<p>"I know you consider land to be the property -of the landlord, and therefore call the restoration -to themselves of its produce by the peasants—robbery; -but, you know, that is not true! The -land never was, and never can be, anyone's -property. If a man has more of it than he requires, -while others have none, then he who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -possesses the surplus land possesses not land but -men; and men cannot be the property of other men.</p> - -<p>"Because a dozen mischievous lads have burnt -some cherry tree sheds, and have cut down some -trees, you say the peasants are thieves, and the -most immoral class!...</p> - -<p>"How can your tongue frame such words! -They have stolen ten oaks from you. Stolen! -'To prison with them!'</p> - -<p>"Why, if they had taken not your oaks alone -but everything that is in this house, they would -only have taken what is theirs: made by them -and their brothers, but certainly not by you! -'Stolen oaks!' But for ages you have been -stealing from them, not oaks but their lives, and -the lives of their children, their womenfolk and -their old men—who withered away before their -time—only because they were deprived of the land -God gave to them in common with all men, and -they were obliged to work for you.</p> - -<p>"Only think of the life those millions of men -have lived and are living, and of how you live! -Only consider what they do, supplying you with -all the comforts of life, and of what you do for -them, depriving them of everything—even of the -possibility of supporting themselves and their -families! All you live on—everything in this -room, everything in this house, and in all your -splendid cities, all your palaces, all your mad, -literally mad, luxuries—has been made, and is -still continually being made, by them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> - -<p>"And they know this. They know that these -parks of yours, and your race-horses, motor cars, -palaces, dainty dishes and finery, and all the nastiness -and stupidity you call 'science' and 'art'—are -purchased with the lives of their brothers -and sisters. They know and cannot help knowing -this. Then think what feelings these people -would have towards you, if they were like you!</p> - -<p>"One would suppose that, knowing all you -inflict on them, they could not but hate you from -the bottom of their souls, and could not help -wishing to revenge themselves on you. And you -know there are tens of millions of them, and only -some thousands of you. But what do they -do?... Why, instead of crushing you as useless -and harmful reptiles, they continue to repay -your evil with good, and live their laborious and -reasonable, though hard life, patiently biding the -day when you will become conscious of your sin -and will amend your ways. But instead of that, -what do you do? From the height of your -refined, self-confident immorality, you deign to -stoop to those 'depraved, coarse people.' You -enlighten them, and play the benefactor to them; -that is to say, with the means supplied to you by -their labour, you inoculate them with your -depravity, and blame, correct, and best of all -'punish' them, as unreasoning or vicious infants -bite the breasts that feed them.</p> - -<p>"Yes, look at yourselves, and consider what you -are and what they are! Realise that they alone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -live, while you, with your Doúmas, Ministries, -Synods, Academies, Universities, Conservatoires, -Law Courts, armies, and all such stupidities and -nastinesses, are but playing at life, and spoiling it -for yourselves and others. They, the people, are -alive. They are the tree, and you are harmful -growths—fungi on the plant. Realise, then, all -your insignificance and their grandeur! Understand -your sin, and try to repent, and at all costs -set the people free...."</p> - -<p>"How well he speaks!" thought I. "Can it -be a dream?"</p> - -<p>And as I thought that, I awoke.</p> - -<p>This dream set me again thinking about the -land question: a question of which those who -live constantly in the country, among a poverty-stricken -agricultural peasant population, cannot -help thinking. I know I have often written -about it; but under the influence of that dream, -even at the risk of repeating myself, I once more -felt the need to express myself. <i>Carthago delenda -est.</i> As long as people's attitude towards private -property in land remains unchanged, the cruelty, -madness and evil of this form of the enslavement -of some men by others, cannot be pointed out too -frequently.</p> - -<p>People say that land is property, and they say -this because the Government recognises private -property in land. But fifty years ago the Government -upheld private property in human beings; -yet a time came when it was admitted that human<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -beings cannot be private property, and the Government -ceased to hold them to be property. So it -will be with property in land. The Government -now upholds that property, and protects it by its -power; but a day will come when the Government -will cease to acknowledge this kind of -property, and will abolish it. The Government -will have to abolish it, because private property -in land is just such an injustice as property in -men—serfdom—used to be. The difference lies -only in the fact that serfdom was a direct, definite -slavery, while land-slavery is indirect and indefinite. -Then Peter was John's slave, whereas -now Peter is the slave of some person unknown, -but certainly of him who owns the land Peter -requires in order to feed himself and his family. -And not only is land-slavery as unjust and -cruel a slavery as serfdom used to be, it is even -harder on the slaves, and more criminal on the -part of the slave-holders. For under serfdom—if -not from sympathy, then at least from self-interest—the -owner was obliged to see to it that -his serf did not wither away and die of want, -but to the best of his ability and understanding -he looked after his slaves' morality. Now the -landowner cares nothing if his landless slave -withers away or becomes demoralised; for he -knows that however many men die or become -depraved at his work, he will always be able to -find workmen.</p> - -<p>The injustice and cruelty of the new, present-day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -slavery—land-slavery—is so evident, and the -condition of the slaves is everywhere so hard, -that one would have expected this new slavery to -have been recognised by this time as out of date, -just as serfdom was admittedly out of date half -a century ago; and it should, one would have -thought, have been abolished, as serfdom was -abolished.</p> - -<p>"But," it is said, "property in land cannot be -abolished, for it would be impossible to divide -equally among all the labourers and non-labourers -the advantages given by land of different qualities."</p> - -<p>But that is not true. To abolish property in -land, no distribution of land is necessary.</p> - -<p>Just as, when serfdom was abolished, no distribution -of the people liberated was necessary, -but all that was needed was the abolition of the -law that upheld serfdom, so with the abolition of -private property in land: no distribution of land -is needed, but only the abolition of the law -sanctioning private property in land. And as -when serfdom was abolished, the serfs of their -own accord settled down as best suited them, so -when private property in land is abolished, people -will find a way of sharing the land among themselves -so that all may have equal advantage from -it. How this will be arranged, whether by Henry -George's Single-Tax system, or in some other -way, we cannot foresee. But it is certain that the -Government need only cease to uphold by force -the obviously unjust and oppressive rights of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -property in land, and the people, released from -those restrictions, will always find means of apportioning -the land by common consent, in such a -way that everyone will have an equal share of -the benefits the use of the land confers.</p> - -<p>It is only necessary for the majority of land-owners—that -is, slave-owners—to understand (as -they did in the matter of serfdom) that property -in land is as hard on the present-day slaves, and -as great an iniquity on the part of the slave-owners, -as serfdom was; and, having understood that, it -is only necessary for them to impress on the -Government the necessity of repealing the laws -sanctioning property in land—that is, land-slavery. -One would have thought that, as in the 'fifties, the -best members of society (chiefly the serf-owning -nobles themselves), having understood the criminality -of their position, explained to the Government -the necessity for abolishing their evidently -out-of-date and immoral rights, and serfdom was -abolished, so it should be now with regard to -private property in land, which is land-slavery.</p> - -<p>But strange to say, the present slave-owners, -the landed proprietors, not only fail to see the -criminality of their position, and do not impress -on the Government the necessity of abolishing -land-slavery, but on the contrary they consciously -and unconsciously, by all manner of means, blind -themselves and their slaves to the criminality of -their position.</p> - -<p>The reasons of this are: first, that serfdom in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -the 'fifties, being the plain, downright enslavement -of man by man, ran too clearly counter to religious -and moral feeling; while land-slavery is not a -direct, immediate slavery, but is a form of slavery -more hidden from the slaves, and especially from -the slave-owners, by complicated governmental, -social and economic institutions. And the second -reason is that, while in the days of serfdom only -one class were slave-owners, all classes, except the -most numerous one—consisting of peasants who -have too little land: labourers and working men—are -slave-owners now. Nowadays nobles, merchants, -officials, manufacturers, professors, teachers, -authors, musicians, painters, rich peasants, rich -men's servants, well-paid artisans, electricians, -mechanics, etc., are all slave-owners of the peasants -who have insufficient land, and of the unskilled -workmen who—apparently as a result of most -varied causes, but in reality as a result of one -cause alone (the appropriation of land by the -landed proprietors)—are obliged to give their -labour and even their lives to those who possess -the advantages land affords. These two reasons—that -the new slavery is less evident than the old, -and that the new slave-owners are much more -numerous than the old ones—account for the fact -that the slave-owners of our day do not see, and do -not admit, the cruelty and criminality of their position, -and do not free themselves from it.</p> - -<p>The slave-owners of our day not only do not -admit that their position is criminal, and do not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -try to escape from it, but are quite sure that property -in land is a necessary institution, essential to -the social order, and that the wretched condition -of the working classes—which they cannot help -noticing—results from most varied causes, but -certainly not from the recognition of some people's -right to own land as private property.</p> - -<p>This opinion of land-owning, and of the causes -of the wretched condition of the labourers, is so -well established in all the leading countries of -the Christian world—France, England, Germany, -America, etc.—that with very rare exceptions it -never occurs to their public men to look in the -right direction for the cause of the wretched condition -of the workers.</p> - -<p>That is so in Europe and America; but one -would have expected that for us Russians, with -our hundred million peasant population who deny -the principle of private ownership in land, and -with our enormous tracts of land, and with the -almost religious desire of our people for agricultural -life, an answer very different to the general -European answer to questions as to the causes of -the distress among the workers, and as to the -means of bettering their position, would naturally -present itself.</p> - -<p>One would think that we Russians might understand -that if we really are concerned about, and -desire to improve, the position of the people and -to free them from the aggravating and demoralising -fetters with which they are bound, the means<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -to do this are indicated both by common-sense -and by the voice of the people, and are simply—the -abolition of private property in land, that is to -say, the abolition of land-slavery.</p> - -<p>But, strange to relate, in Russian society, occupied -with questions of the improvement of the -condition or the working classes, there is no -suggestion of this one, natural, simple and self-evident -means of improving their condition. We -Russians, though our peasants' outlook on the -land question is probably centuries ahead of the -rest of Europe, can devise nothing better for the -improvement of our people's condition than to -establish among ourselves, on the European model, -Doúmas, Councils, Ministries, Courts, Zémstvos, -Universities, Extension Lectures, Academies, elementary -schools, fleets, sub-marines, air-ships, and -many other of the queerest things quite foreign to -and unnecessary for the people, and we do not -do the one thing that is demanded by religion, -morality, and common-sense, as well as by the -whole of the peasantry.</p> - -<p>Nor is this all. While arranging the fate of -our people, who do not and never did acknowledge -land-ownership, we, imitating Europe, try in all -sorts of cunning ways, and by deception, bribery, -and even force, to accustom them to the idea of -property in land—that is to say, we try to deprave -them and to destroy their consciousness of the -truth they have held for ages, and which sooner -or later will certainly be acknowledged by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -whole human race: the truth that all who live -on the earth cannot but have an equal right to its -use.</p> - -<p>These efforts to inoculate the people with the -idea of landed property that is so foreign to them, -are unceasingly made, with great perseverance and -zeal by the Government, and consciously or for the -most part unconsciously, from an instinct of self-preservation, -by all the slave-holders of our time. -And the slave-holders of our time are not the land-owners -alone, but are all those who, as a result of -the people being deprived of the land, enjoy power -over them.</p> - -<p>Most strenuous efforts are made to deprave the -people; but, thank God! it may be safely said that -till now all those efforts have only had an effect on -the smallest and worst part of Russia's peasant -population. The many-millioned majority of -Russian workmen who hold but little land and -live—not the depraved, parasitic life of the slave-owners, -but their own reasonable, hard-working -lives—do not yield to those efforts; because for -them the solution of the land question is not one -of personal advantage, as it is regarded by all the -different slave-owners of to-day. For the enormous -majority of peasants, the solution of that problem is -not arrived at by mutually contradictory economic -theories that spring up to-day and to-morrow are -forgotten, but is found in the one truth, which is -realised by them, and always has been and is -realised by all reasonable men the world over,—<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>the -truth that all men are brothers and have therefore -all an equal right to all the blessings of the -world and, among the rest, to the most necessary -of all rights—namely, the equal right of all to the -use of the land.</p> - -<p>Living in this truth, an enormous majority of -the peasants attach no importance to all the wretched -measures adopted by the Government about this -or that alteration of the laws of land-ownership, for -they know that there is only one solution to the -land question—the total abolition of private property -in land, and of land-slavery. And, knowing this, -they quietly await their day, which sooner or later -must come.</p> - -<p class="p6"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a> -<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2 id="singing">SINGING IN THE VILLAGE</h2> - - -<p>Voices and an accordion sounded as if close -by, though through the mist nobody could -be seen. It was a work-day morning, and I -was surprised to hear music.</p> - -<p>"Oh, it's the recruits' leave-taking," thought I, -remembering that I had heard something a few -days before about five men being drawn from -our village. Involuntarily attracted by the merry -song, I went in the direction whence it proceeded.</p> - -<p>As I approached the singers, the sound of song -and accordion suddenly stopped. The singers, -that is the lads who were leave-taking, entered -the double-fronted brick cottage belonging to the -father of one of them. Before the door stood a -small group of women, girls, and children.</p> - -<p>While I was finding out whose sons were going, -and why they had entered that cottage, the lads -themselves, accompanied by their mothers and -sisters, came out at the door. There were five of -them: four bachelors and one married man. Our -village is near the town where nearly all these conscripts -had worked. They were dressed town-fashion, -evidently wearing their best clothes: pea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>jackets, -new caps, and high, showy boots. Conspicuous -among them was a young fellow, well -built though not tall, with a sweet, merry, expressive -face, a small beard and moustache just -beginning to sprout, and bright hazel eyes. As -he came out, he at once took a big, expensive-looking -accordion that was hanging over his -shoulders and, having bowed to me, started playing -the merry tune of "Bárynya," running his -fingers nimbly over the keys and keeping exact -time, as he moved with rhythmic step jauntily down -the road.</p> - -<p>Beside him walked a thick-set, fair-haired lad, -also of medium height. He looked gaily from -side to side, and sang second with spirit, in -harmony with the first singer. He was the -married one. These two walked ahead of the -other three, who were also well dressed, and not -remarkable in any way except that one of them -was tall.</p> - -<p>Together with the crowd I followed the lads. -All their songs were merry, and no expression of -grief was heard while the procession was going -along; but as soon as we came to the next house -at which the lads were to be treated, the lamentations -of the women began. It was difficult to -make out what they were saying; only a word -here and there could be distinguished: "death -... father and mother ... native land ..."; -and after every verse, the woman who led the -chanting took a deep breath, and burst out into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -long-drawn moans, followed by hysterical laughter. -The women were the mothers and sisters of the -conscripts. Beside the lamentations of these -relatives, one heard the admonitions of their -friends.</p> - -<p>"Now then, Matryóna, that's enough! You -must be tired out," I heard one woman say, consoling -another who was lamenting.</p> - -<p>The lads entered the cottage. I remained outside, -talking with a peasant acquaintance, Vasíly -Oréhof, a former pupil of mine. His son, one of -the five, was the married man who had been singing -second as he went along.</p> - -<p>"Well," I said, "it is a pity!"</p> - -<p>"What's to be done? Pity or not, one has to -serve."</p> - -<p>And he told me of his domestic affairs. He -had three sons: the eldest was living at home, -the second was now being taken, and a third (who, -like the second, had gone away to work) was contributing -dutifully to the support of the home. -The one who was leaving had evidently not sent -home much.</p> - -<p>"He has married a townswoman. His wife is -not fit for our work. He is a lopped-off branch -and thinks only of keeping himself. To be sure -it's a pity, but it can't be helped!"</p> - -<p>While we were talking, the lads came out into -the street, and the lamentations, shrieks, laughter, -and adjurations recommenced. After standing -about for some five minutes, the procession moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -on with songs and accordion accompaniment. One -could not help marvelling at the energy and spirit -of the player, as he beat time accurately, stamped -his foot, stopped short, and then after a pause -again took up the melody most merrily, exactly on -the right beat, while he gazed around with his -kind, hazel eyes. Evidently he had a real and -great talent for music.</p> - -<p>I looked at him, and (so at least it seemed to -me) he felt abashed when he met my eyes, and -with a twitch of his brows he turned away, and -again burst out with even more spirit than before. -When we reached the fifth and last of the cottages, -the lads entered, and I followed them. All five of -them were made to sit round a table covered with -a cloth, on which were bread and vódka. The -host, the man I had been talking to, who was now -to take leave of his married son, poured out the -vódka and handed it round. The lads hardly -drank at all (at most a quarter of a glass) or even -handed it back after just raising it to their lips. -The hostess cut some bread, and served slices -round to eat with the vódka.</p> - -<p>While I was looking at the lads, a woman, -dressed in clothes that seemed to me strange and -incongruous, got down from the top of the oven, -close to where I sat. She wore a light green dress -(silk, I think) with fashionable trimmings, and -high-heeled boots. Her fair hair was arranged in -quite the modern style, like a large round cap, and -she wore big, ring-shaped, gold earrings. Her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -face was neither sad nor cheerful, but looked as if -she were offended.</p> - -<p>After getting down, she went out into the -passage, clattering with the heels of her new boots -and paying no heed to the lads. All about this -woman—her clothing, the offended expression of -her face, and above all her earrings—was so foreign -to the surroundings that I could not understand -how she had come to be on the top of Vasíly -Oréhof's oven. I asked a woman sitting near me -who she was.</p> - -<p>"Vasíly's daughter-in-law; she has been a -housemaid," was the answer.</p> - -<p>The host began offering vódka a third time, but -the lads refused, rose, said grace, thanked the -hosts, and went out.</p> - -<p>In the street, the lamentations recommenced at -once. The first to raise her voice was a very old -woman with a bent back. She lamented in such a -peculiarly piteous voice, and wailed so, that the -women kept soothing the sobbing, staggering old -creature, and supported her by her elbows.</p> - -<p>"Who is she?" I inquired.</p> - -<p>"Why, it's his granny; Vasíly's mother, that -is."</p> - -<p>The old woman burst into hysterical laughter -and fell into the arms of the women who supported -her, and just then the procession started again, and -again the accordion and the merry voices struck up -their tune. At the end of the village the procession -was overtaken by the carts which were to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -carry the conscripts to the District Office. The -weeping and wailing stopped. The accordion-player, -getting more and more elated, bending his -head to one side and resting on one foot, turned -out the toes of the other and stamped with it, -while his fingers produced brilliant <i>fioritures</i>, and -exactly at the right instant the bold, high, merry -tones of his song, and the second of Vasíly's son, -again chimed in. Old and young, and especially -the children who surrounded the crowd, and I -with them, fixed their eyes admiringly on the -singer.</p> - -<p>"He is clever, the rascal!" said one of the -peasants.</p> - -<p>"'Sorrow weeps, and sorrow sings!'" replied -another.</p> - -<p>At that moment one of the young fellows whom -we were seeing off—the tall one—came up with -long, energetic strides, and stooped to speak to -the one who played the accordion.</p> - -<p>"What a fine fellow," I thought; "they will -put him in the Guards." I did not know who he -was or what house he belonged to.</p> - -<p>"Whose son is that one? That gallant fellow?" -I asked a little old man, pointing to the fine lad.</p> - -<p>The old man raised his cap and bowed to me, -but did not hear my question.</p> - -<p>"What did you say?" asked he.</p> - -<p>I had not recognised him, but as soon as he -spoke I knew him at once. He is a hard-working, -good peasant who, as often happens, seems<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -specially marked out for misfortune: first, two -horses were stolen from him, then his house -burnt down, and then his wife died. I had not -seen Prokófey for a long time, and remembered -him as a bright red-haired man of medium height; -whereas he was now not red, but quite grey-haired, -and small.</p> - -<p>"Ah, Prokófey, it's you!" I said. "I was -asking whose son that fine fellow is—that one -who has just spoken to Alexander?"</p> - -<p>"That one?" Prokófey replied, pointing with -a motion of his head to the tall lad. He shook -his head and mumbled something I did not understand.</p> - -<p>"I'm asking whose son the lad is?" I repeated, -and turned to look at Prokófey.</p> - -<p>His face was puckered, and his jaw trembled.</p> - -<p>"He's mine!" he muttered, and, turning away -and hiding his face in his hand, began to whimper -like a child.</p> - -<p>And only then, after the two words, "He's -mine!" spoken by Prokófey, did I realise, not -only in my mind but in my whole being, the -horror of what was taking place before my eyes -that memorable misty morning. All the disjointed, -incomprehensible, strange things I had -seen suddenly acquired a simple, clear, and terrible -significance. I became painfully ashamed of -having looked on as at an interesting spectacle. -I stopped, conscious of having acted ill, and I -turned to go home.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - -<p>And to think that these things are at the present -moment being done to tens of thousands of men -all over Russia, and have been done, and will long -continue to be done, to the meek, wise, and saintly -Russian people, who are so cruelly and treacherously -deceived!</p> - -<p class="p6"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2 id="traveller">TRAVELLER AND PEASANT</h2> - - -<p class="i2">[<i>The interior of a peasant hut. An old Traveller is -sitting on a bench, reading a book. A Peasant, -the master of the hut, just home from his work, -sits down to supper and asks the Traveller to -share it. The Traveller declines. The Peasant -eats, and when he has finished, rises, says grace, -and sits down beside the old man.</i>]</p> - -<p class="p2">PEASANT. What brings you?...</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER [<i>taking off his spectacles and putting -down his book</i>]. There is no train till to-morrow. -The station is crowded, so I asked your missis to -let me stay the night with you, and she allowed it.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That's all right, you can stay.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Thank you!... Well, and how -are you living nowadays?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Living? What's our life like?... -As bad as can be!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. How's that?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Why, because we've nothing to live -on! Our life is so hard that if we wanted a worse -one, we couldn't get it.... You see, there are -nine of us in family; all want to eat, and I have -only got in four bushels of corn. Try and live -on that! Whether one likes it or not, one has -to go and work for wages ... and when you -look for a job, wages are down!... The rich<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -do what they like with us. The people increase, -but the land doesn't, and taxes keep piling up! -There's rent, and the district tax, and the land tax, -and the tax for bridges, and insurance, and police, -and for the corn store ... too many to count! -And there are the priests and the landlords.... -They all ride on our backs, except those who are -too lazy!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. I thought the peasants were doing -well nowadays.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. So well, that we go hungry for days -at a time!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. The reason I thought so, was that -they have taken to squandering so much money.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Squandering what money? How -strange you talk!... Here are people starving -to death, and you talk of squandering money!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. But how is it? The papers say -that 700 million roubles (and a million is a -thousand thousands)—700 million were spent by -the peasants on vódka last year.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Are we the only ones that drink? -Just look at the priests.... Don't they swill first-rate? -And the gentlefolk aren't behind-hand!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Still, that's only a small part. -The greater part stills falls to the peasants.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. What of that? Are we not to drink -at all?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. No; what I mean is that if 700 -millions were squandered on vódka in one year it -shows that life can't be so very hard.... 700<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -millions! It's no joke ... one can hardly -imagine it!</p> - -<p>PEASANT. But how can one do without it? -We didn't start the custom, and it's not for us to -stop it.... There are the Church feasts, and -weddings, and memorial feasts, and bargains to be -wetted with a drink.... Whether one likes it or -not, one can't get on without it. It's the custom!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. But there are people who never -drink, and yet they manage to live! After all, -there's not much good in it.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. No good at all! Only evil!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Then one ought not to drink.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Well, anyhow, drink or no drink, -we've nothing to live on! We've not enough -land. If we had land we could at least live ... -but there's none to be had.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. No land to be had? Why, isn't -there plenty of land? Wherever one looks, one -sees land!</p> - -<p>PEASANT. There's land, right enough, but it's -not ours. Your elbow's not far from your mouth, -but just you try to bite it!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Not yours! Whose is it, then?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Whose?... Whose, indeed! -There's that fat-bellied devil over there ... he's -seized 5000 acres. He has no family, but he's -never satisfied, while we've had to give up keeping -fowls—there's nowhere for them to run -about! It's nearly time for us to stop keeping -cattle, too ... we've no fodder for them; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -if a calf, or maybe a horse, happens to stray into -his field, we have to pay fines and give him our -last farthing.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. What does he want all that land for?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. What does he want the land for? -Why, of course, he sows and reaps and sells, and -puts the money in the bank.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. How can he plough a stretch like -that, and get his harvest in?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. You talk as if you were a child!... -What's he got money for, if not to hire -labourers?... It's they that do the ploughing -and reaping.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. These labourers are some of you -peasants, I expect?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Some are from these parts, and some -from elsewhere.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Anyway, they are peasants?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Of course they are!... the same -as ourselves. Who but a peasant ever works? -Of course they are peasants.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. And if the peasants did not go and -work for him...?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Go or stay, he wouldn't let us have -it. If the land were to lie idle, he'd not part with -it! Like the dog in the manger, that doesn't eat -the hay himself and won't let others eat it!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. But how can he keep his land? -I suppose it stretches over some three or four -miles? How can he watch it all?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. How queer you talk! He himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -lies on his back, and fattens his paunch; but he -keeps watchmen!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. And those watchmen, I dare say, -are also peasants?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. What else could they be? Of course -they are!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. So that the peasants work the rich -man's land for him, and guard it for him from -themselves?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. But how can one help it?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Simply by not going to work for -him, and not being his watchmen! Then the land -would be free. The land is God's, and the people -are God's; let him who needs it, plough and sow -and gather in the harvest!</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That is to say, you think we ought to -strike? To meet that, my friend, they have the -soldiers. They'd send their soldiers ... one, -two, fire!... some would get shot, and others -taken up. Soldiers give short shrift!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. But is it not also the likes of you -that are soldiers? Why should they shoot at -their own fellows?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. How can they help it? That's what -the oath is for.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. The oath? What oath?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Don't you understand? Aren't you -a Russian?... The oath is—well, it's the -oath!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. It means swearing, doesn't it?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Well, of course! They swear by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -Cross and by the Gospels, to lay down their life -for their country.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Well, I think that should not be -done.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. What should not be done?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Taking the oath.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Not done? Why, the law demands it!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. No, it is not in the Law. In the -Law of Christ, it is plainly forbidden. He said: -"Swear not at all."</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Come now! What about the priests?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER [<i>takes a book, looks for the place, and -reads</i>]: "It was said by them of old time, Thou -shalt not forswear thyself, <i>but I say unto you, Swear -not at all</i>.... But let your speech be, Yea, yea; -nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of -the evil one" (Matthew v. 33). So, according to -Christ's Law, you must not swear.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. If there were no oath, there would be -no soldiers.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Well, and what good are the -soldiers?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. What good?... But supposing -other Tsars were to come and attack our Tsar -... what then?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. If the Tsars quarrel, let them fight -it out themselves.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Come! How could that be possible?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. It's very simple. He that believes -in God, no matter what you may tell him, will -never kill a man.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -PEASANT. Then why did the priest read out in -church that war was declared, and the Reserves -were to be ready?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. I know nothing about that; but I -know that in the Commandments, in the Sixth, it -says quite plainly: "Thou shalt do no murder." -You see, it is forbidden for a man to kill a man.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That means, at home! At the wars, -how could you help it? They're enemies!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. According to Christ's Gospel, there -is no such thing as an enemy. You are told to -love everybody.</p> - -<p class="right">[<i>Opens the Bible and looks for place.</i></p> - -<p>PEASANT. Well, read it!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. "Ye have heard that it was said by -them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever -shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.... -Ye have heard that it was said, Thou -shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy: but -I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for -them that persecute you" (Matthew v. 21, 43-44).</p> - -<p class="right">[<i>A long pause.</i></p> - -<p>PEASANT. Well, but what about taxes? Ought -we to refuse to pay them too?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. That's as you think best. If your -own children are hungry, naturally you should first -feed them.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. So you think soldiers are not wanted -at all?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. What good do they do? Millions -and millions are collected from you and your folk -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -for them—it's no joke to clothe and feed such a -host! There are nearly a million of those idlers, -and they're only useful to keep the land from -you; and it is on you they will fire.</p> - -<p class="right">[<i>The</i> PEASANT <i>sighs, and shakes his head</i>.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That's true enough! If everybody -were to do it at once ... but if one or two make -a stand, they'll be shot or sent to Siberia, and that -will be the end of the matter.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. And yet there are men, even now—young -men—who by themselves stand up for -the Law of God, and refuse to serve. They say: -"According to Christ's Law, I dare not be a -murderer! Do as you please, but I won't take -a rifle in my hands!"</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Well, and what happens?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. They are put in prison; they remain -there, poor fellows, three years, or four.... But -I've heard that it's not so bad for them, for the -authorities themselves respect them. And some -are even let out as unfit for service—bad health! -Though he is sometimes a strapping, broad-shouldered -fellow, he's "not fit," because they're -afraid of taking a man of that kind, for fear he -should tell others that soldiering is against God's -Law. So they let him go.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Really?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Yes, sometimes it happens that -they are let off; but it also happens that they die -there. Still, soldiers die too, and even get maimed -in service—lose a leg, or an arm....</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>PEASANT. Oh, you're a clever fellow! It would -be a good thing, only it won't work out like that.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Why not?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. <i>That's</i> why.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. What's <i>that</i>?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That the authorities have power given -them.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. They only have power, because you -obey them. Do not obey the authorities, and -they won't have any power!</p> - -<p>PEASANT. [<i>shakes his head</i>]. You do talk queer! -How can one do without the authorities? It is -quite impossible to do without some authority.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Of course it is! Only whom will -you take for authority—the policeman, or God? -Whom will you obey—the policeman, or God?</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That goes without saying! No one -is greater than God. To live for God is the chief -thing.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Well, if you mean to live for God, -you must obey God and not man. And if you -live according to God, you will not drive people off -the land: you will not be a policeman, a village -elder, a tax-collector, a watchman, or above all, a -soldier.... You will not promise to kill men.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. And how about those long-maned -fellows—the priests? They must see that things -are being done not according to God's Law. Then -why don't they teach how it ought to be?</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. I don't know anything about that. -Let them go their way, and you go yours.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> - -<p>PEASANT. They are long-maned devils!</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. It's not right to judge others like -that! We must each remember our own faults.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Yes, that's right enough. [<i>Long pause. -The</i> PEASANT <i>shakes his head, and smiles</i>.] What -it comes to is this: that if we all were to tackle -it at once, the land would be ours at one go, and -there would be no more taxes.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. No, friend, that's not what I mean. -I don't mean that if we live according to God's will, -the land will be ours, and there will be no more -taxes. I mean that our life is evil, only because -we ourselves do evil. If one lived according to -God's will, life would not be evil. What our life -would be like if we lived according to God's will, -God alone knows; but certainly life would not -be evil. We drink, scold, fight, go to law, envy, -and hate men; we do not accept God's Law; we -judge others; call one fat-paunched and another -long-maned; but if any one offers us money, we -are ready to do anything for it: go as watchmen, -policemen, or soldiers, to help ruin others, and -to kill our own brothers. We ourselves live like -devils, and yet we complain of others!</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That's so! But it is hard, oh, how -hard! Sometimes it's more than one can bear.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. But, for our souls' sakes, we must -bear it.</p> - -<p>PEASANT. That's quite right.... We live -badly, because we forget God.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Yes, that's it! That's why life<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -is evil. Take the Revolutionaries; they say: -"Let's kill this or that squire, or these fat-paunched -rich folk (it's all because of them); and -then our life will be happy." So they kill, and -go on killing, and it profits them nothing. It's -the same with the authorities: "Give us time!" -they say, "and we'll hang, and do to death in the -prisons, a thousand or a couple of thousand people, -and then life will become good...." But it -only gets worse and worse!</p> - -<p>PEASANT. Yes, that's just it! How can judging -and punishing do any good? It must be -done according to God's Law.</p> - -<p>TRAVELLER. Yes, that is just it. You must -serve either God or the devil. If it's to be the -devil, go and drink, scold, fight, hate, covet, don't -obey God's Law, but man's laws, and life will be -evil. If it is God, obey Him alone. Don't rob -or kill, and don't even condemn, and do not hate -any one. Do not plunge into evil actions, and -then there will be no evil life.</p> - -<p>PEASANT [<i>sighs</i>]. You speak well, daddy, very -well—only we are taught so little! Oh, if we -were taught more like that, things would be quite -different! But people come from the town, and -chatter about their way of bettering things: they -chatter fine, but there's nothing in it.... Thank -you, daddy, your words are good!... Well, -where will you sleep? On the oven, yes?... -The missis will make up a bed for you.</p> - -<p class="p6"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a> -<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2 id="talk">A TALK WITH A WAYFARER</h2> - - -<p>I have come out early. My soul feels light -and joyful. It is a wonderful morning. The -sun is only just appearing from behind the trees. -The dew glitters on them and on the grass. Everything -is lovely; everyone is lovable. It is so -beautiful that, as the saying has it, "One does not -want to die." And, really, I do not want to die. -I would willingly live a little longer in this world -with such beauty around me and such joy in my -heart. That, however, is not my affair, but the -Master's....</p> - -<p>I approach the village. Before the first house -I see a man standing, motionless, sideways to me. -He is evidently waiting for somebody or something, -and waiting as only working people know -how to wait, without impatience or vexation. I -draw nearer: he is a bearded, strong, healthy -peasant, with shaggy, slightly grey hair, and a -simple, worker's face. He is smoking not a -"cigar" twisted out of paper, but a short pipe. -We greet one another.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Where does old Alexéy live?" I ask.</p> - -<p>"I don't know, friend; we are strangers -here."</p> - -<p>Not "<i>I</i> am a stranger," but "<i>we</i> are strangers." -A Russian is hardly ever alone. If he is doing -something wrong, he may perhaps say "I"; otherwise -it is always "we" the family, "we" the -<i>artél</i>, "we" the Commune.</p> - -<p>"Strangers? Where do you come from?"</p> - -<p>"We are from Kaloúga."</p> - -<p>I point to his pipe. "And how much do you -spend a year on smoking? Three or more roubles, -I daresay!"</p> - -<p>"Three? That would hardly be enough."</p> - -<p>"Why not give it up?"</p> - -<p>"How can one give it up when one's accustomed -to it?"</p> - -<p>"I also used to smoke, but have given it up ... -and I feel so well—so free!"</p> - -<p>"Well of course ... but it's dull without -it."</p> - -<p>"Give it up, and the dulness will go! Smoking -is no good, you know!"</p> - -<p>"No good at all."</p> - -<p>"If it's no good, you should not do it. Seeing -you smoke, others will do the same ... especially -the young folk. They'll say, 'If the old -folk smoke, God himself bids us do it!'"</p> - -<p>"That's true enough."</p> - -<p>"And your son, seeing you smoke, will do it -too."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Of course, my son too...."</p> - -<p>"Well then, give it up!"</p> - -<p>"I would, only it's so dull without it.... It's -chiefly from dulness. When one feels dull, one has -a smoke. That's where the mischief lies.... It's -dull! At times it's so dull ... so dull ... so -dull!" drawled he.</p> - -<p>"The best remedy for that is to think of one's -soul."</p> - -<p>He threw a glance at me, and at once the -expression of his face quite changed: instead -of his former kindly, humorous, lively and -talkative expression, he became attentive and -serious.</p> - -<p>"'Think of the soul ... of the soul,' you -say?" he asked, gazing questioningly into my -eyes.</p> - -<p>"Yes! When you think of the soul, you give -up all foolish things."</p> - -<p>His face lit up affectionately.</p> - -<p>"You are right, daddy! You say truly. To -think of the soul is the great thing. The soul's -the chief thing...." He paused. "Thank you, -daddy, it is quite true"; and he pointed to his -pipe. "What is it?... Good-for-nothing rubbish! -The soul's the chief thing!" repeated he. -"What you say is true," and his face grew still -kindlier and more serious.</p> - -<p>I wished to continue the conversation, but a -lump rose in my throat (I have grown very weak -in the matter of tears), and I could not speak.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -With a joyful, tender feeling I took leave of him, -swallowing my tears, and I went away.</p> - -<p>Yes, how can one help being joyful, living -amid such people? How can one help expecting -from such people all that is most excellent?</p> - -<p class="p6"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2 id="diary">FROM THE DIARY</h2> - - -<p>I am again staying with my friend, Tchertkóff, -in the Moscow Government, and am visiting him -now for the same reason that once caused us to -meet on the border of the Orlóf Government, and -that brought me to the Moscow Government a -year ago. The reason is that Tchertkóff is allowed -to live anywhere in the whole world, except in -Toúla Government. So I travel to different ends -of it to see him.</p> - -<p>Before eight o'clock I go out for my usual walk. -It is a hot day. At first I go along the hard clay -road, past the acacia bushes already preparing to -crack their pods and shed their seeds; then past -the yellowing rye-field, with its still fresh and -lovely cornflowers, and come out into a black -fallow field, now almost all ploughed up. To the -right an old man, in rough peasant-boots, ploughs -with a <i>sohá</i><a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> and a poor, skinny horse; and I hear -an angry old voice shout: "Gee-up!" and, from -time to time, "Now, you devil!" and again, -"Gee-up, devil!" I want to speak with him; -but when I pass his furrow, he is at the other end -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -of the field. I go on. There is another ploughman -further on. This one I shall probably meet -when he reaches the road. If so, I'll speak to him, -if there is a chance. And we do meet just as he -reaches the road.</p> - - -<p>He ploughs with a proper plough, harnessed to -a big roan horse, and is a well-built young lad, -well clad, and wearing good boots; and he answers -my greeting of "God aid you!" pleasantly.</p> - -<p>The plough does not cut into the hard, beaten -track that crosses the field, and he lifts it over and -halts.</p> - -<p>"You find the plough better than a <i>sohá</i>?"</p> - -<p>"Why, certainly ... much easier!"</p> - -<p>"Have you had it long?"</p> - -<p>"Not long—and it nearly got stolen...."</p> - -<p>"But you got it back?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! One of our own villagers had it."</p> - -<p>"Well, and did you have the law of him?"</p> - -<p>"Why, naturally!"</p> - -<p>"But why prosecute, if you got the plough -back?"</p> - -<p>"Why, you see, he's a thief!"</p> - -<p>"What then? The man will go to prison, and -learn to steal worse!"</p> - -<p>He looks at me seriously and attentively, -evidently neither agreeing nor contradicting this, -to him, new idea.</p> - -<p>He has a fresh, healthy, intelligent face, with -hair just appearing on his chin and upper lip, and -with intelligent grey eyes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - -<p>He leaves the plough, evidently wishing to have -a rest, and inclined for a talk. I take the plough-handles, -and touch the perspiring, well-fed, full-grown -mare. She presses her weight into her -collar, and I take a few steps. But I do not -manage the plough, the share jumps out of the -furrow, and I stop the horse.</p> - -<p>"No, you can't do it."</p> - -<p>"I have only spoilt your furrow."</p> - -<p>"That doesn't matter—I'll put it right!"</p> - -<p>He backs his horse, to plough the part I have -missed, but does not go on ploughing.</p> - -<p>"It is hot in the sun.... Let's go and sit -under the bushes," says he, pointing to a little -wood just across the field.</p> - -<p>We go into the shade of the young birches. -He sits down on the ground, and I stop in front -of him.</p> - -<p>"What village are you from?"</p> - -<p>"From Botvínino."</p> - -<p>"Is that far?"</p> - -<p>"There it is, shimmering on the hill," says -he, pointing.</p> - -<p>"Why are you ploughing so far from -home?"</p> - -<p>"This is not my land: it belongs to a peasant -here. I have hired myself out to him."</p> - -<p>"Hired yourself out for the whole summer?"</p> - -<p>"No—to plough this ground twice, and sow it, -all properly."</p> - -<p>"Has he much land, then?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Yes, he sows about fifteen bushels of seed."</p> - -<p>"Does he! And is that horse your own? It's -a good horse."</p> - -<p>"Yes, it's not a bad mare," he answers, with -quiet pride.</p> - -<p>The mare really is, in build, size, and condition, -such as a peasant rarely possesses.</p> - -<p>"I expect you are in service somewhere, and do -carting?"</p> - -<p>"No, I live at home. I'm my own master!"</p> - -<p>"What, so young?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! I was left fatherless at seven. My -brother works at a Moscow factory. At first my -sister helped; she also worked at a factory. But -since I was fourteen I've had no help in all my -affairs, and have worked and earned," says he, -with calm consciousness of his dignity.</p> - -<p>"Are you married?"</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"Then, who does your housework?"</p> - -<p>"Why, mother!"</p> - -<p>"And you have a cow?"</p> - -<p>"Two cows."</p> - -<p>"Have you, really?... And how old are -you?" I ask.</p> - -<p>"Eighteen," he replies, with a slight smile, -understanding that it interests me to see that so -young a fellow has been able to manage so well. -This, evidently, pleases him.</p> - -<p>"How young you still are!" I say. "And -will you have to go as a soldier?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Of course ... be conscripted!" says he, -with the calm expression with which people speak -of old age, death, and in general of things it is -useless to argue about, because they are unavoidable.</p> - -<p>As always happens now when one speaks to -peasants, our talk touches on the land, and, describing -his life, he says he has not enough land, -and that if he did not do wage-labour, sometimes -with and sometimes without his horse, he would -not have anything to live on. But he says this -with merry, pleased and proud self-satisfaction; -and again remarks that he was left alone, master -of the house, when he was fourteen, and has -earned everything himself.</p> - -<p>"And do you drink vódka?"</p> - -<p>He evidently does not like to say that he does, -and still does not wish to tell a lie.</p> - -<p>"I do," he says, softly, shrugging his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"And can you read and write?"</p> - -<p>"Very well."</p> - -<p>"And haven't you read books about strong -drink?"</p> - -<p>"No, I haven't."</p> - -<p>"Well, but wouldn't it be better not to drink -at all?"</p> - -<p>"Of course. Little good comes of it."</p> - -<p>"Then why not give it up?"</p> - -<p>He is silent, evidently understanding, and thinking -it over.</p> - -<p>"It can be done, you know," say I, "and what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -a good thing it would be!... The day before -yesterday I went to Ívino. When I reached one -of the houses, the master came out to greet me, -calling me by name. It turned out that we had -met twelve years before.... It was Koúzin—do -you know him?"</p> - -<p>"Of course I do! Sergéy Timoféevitch, you -mean?"</p> - -<p>I tell him how we started a Temperance Society -twelve years ago with Koúzin, who, though he -used to drink, has quite given it up, and now tells -me he is very glad to be rid of so nasty a habit; -and, one sees, is living well, with his house and -everything well managed, and who, had he not -given up drinking, would have had none of these -things.</p> - -<p>"Yes, that is so!"</p> - -<p>"Well then, you know, you should do the -same. You are such a nice, good lad.... What -do you need vódka for, when you say yourself -there is no good in it?... You, too, should give -it up!... It would be such a good thing!"</p> - -<p>He remains silent, and looks at me intently. -I prepare to go, and hold out my hand to -him.</p> - -<p>"Truly, give it up from now! It would be -such a good thing!"</p> - -<p>With his strong hand he firmly presses mine, -evidently regarding my gesture as challenging him -to promise.</p> - -<p>"Very well then ... it can be done!" says he,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -quite unexpectedly, and in a joyous and resolute -tone.</p> - -<p>"Do you really promise?" say I, surprised.</p> - -<p>"Well, of course! I promise," he says, nodding -his head and smiling slightly.</p> - -<p>The quiet tone of his voice, and his serious, -attentive face, show that he is not joking, but -that he is really making a promise he means to -keep.</p> - -<p>Old age or illness, or both together, has made -me very ready to cry when I am touched with joy. -The simple words of that kindly, firm, strong man, -so evidently ready for all that is good, and standing -so alone, touch me so that sobs rise to -my throat, and I step aside, unable to utter a -word.</p> - -<p>After going a few steps, I regain control of -myself, and turn to him and say (I have already -asked his name):</p> - -<p>"Mind, Alexander! ... the proverb says, -'Be slow to promise, but having promised, keep -it!'"</p> - -<p>"Yes, that's so. It will be safe."</p> - -<p>I have seldom experienced a more joyful feeling -than I had when I left him.</p> - -<p>I have omitted to say that during our talk I -had offered to give him some leaflets on drink -and some booklets. [A man in a neighbouring -village posted up one of those same leaflets on -the wall outside his house lately, but it was pulled -down and destroyed by the policeman.] He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -thanked me, and said he would come and fetch -them in the dinner-hour.</p> - -<p>He did not come in the dinner-hour, and I, -sinner that I am, suspected that our whole conversation -was not so important to him as it seemed -to me, and that he did not want the books, and -that, in general, I had attributed to him what was -not in him. But he came in the evening, all -perspiring from his work and from the walk. -After finishing his work, he had ridden home, -put up the plough, attended to his horse, and had -now come a quarter of a mile to fetch the books.</p> - -<p>I was sitting, with some visitors, on a splendid -veranda, looking out on to flower-beds with ornamental -vases on flower-set mounds—in short, in -luxurious surroundings such as one is always -ashamed of when one enters into human relations -with working people.</p> - -<p>I went out to him, and at once asked, "Have -you not changed your mind? Will you really -keep your promise?"</p> - -<p>And again, with the same kindly smile, he -replied, "Of course!... I have already told -mother. She's glad, and thanks you."</p> - -<p>I saw a bit of paper behind his ear.</p> - -<p>"You smoke?"</p> - -<p>"I do," he said, evidently expecting that I -should begin persuading him to leave that off too. -But I did not try to.</p> - -<p>He remained silent; and then, by some strange -connection of thoughts (I think he saw the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -interest I felt in his life, and wished to tell me -of the important event awaiting him in the -autumn) he said:</p> - -<p>"But I did not tell you.... I am already -betrothed...."</p> - -<p>And he smiled, looking questioningly into my -eyes. "It's to be in the autumn!"</p> - -<p>"Really! That's a good thing! Where is -she from?"</p> - -<p>He told me.</p> - -<p>"Has she a dowry?"</p> - -<p>"No; what dowry should she have? But she's -a good girl."</p> - -<p>The idea came to me to put to him the question -which always interests me when I come in contact -with good young people of our day.</p> - -<p>"Tell me," said I, "and forgive my asking—but -please tell the truth: either do not answer at -all, or tell the whole truth...."</p> - -<p>He looked at me quietly and attentively.</p> - -<p>"Why should I not tell you?"</p> - -<p>"Have you ever sinned with a woman?"</p> - -<p>Without a moment's hesitation, he replied -simply:</p> - -<p>"God preserve me! There's been nothing of -the sort!"</p> - -<p>"That's good, very good!" said I. "I am -glad for you."</p> - -<p>There was nothing more to say just then.</p> - -<p>"Well then, I will fetch you the books, and -God's help be with you!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -And we took leave of one another.</p> - -<p>Yes, what a splendid, fertile soil on which to -sow, and what a dreadful sin it is to cast upon it -the seeds of falsehood, violence, drunkenness and -profligacy!</p> - -<p class="p6 center">OPEN ROAD PRESS, 3 AMEN CORNER, LONDON, E. C.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="footnotes"><h2>FOOTNOTES:</h2> -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Not in the English sense, for there is no Poor-Law system -entitling the destitute to demand maintenance.</p> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> One of the most depressing features of L. N. Tolstoy's environment -is the large number of unemployed and beggars from -the adjacent highway. They wait outside the house for hours -every day for the coming of Leo Nikolayevich. The consciousness -of his inability to render them substantial aid weighs -heavily upon him, as does also the fact that, owing to insurmountable -obstacles, he cannot even feed them, and allow them to sleep -in the house in which he himself lives. These unfortunates surround -Leo Nikolayevich at the steps, and besiege him with -their importunate requests, just at the time when he seeks the -fresh air and is most in need of mental rest and solitude after -long-continued and strenuous mental labour. In view of this -fact, the idea has occurred to some of Leo Nikolayevich's -friends, of establishing in the village of Yásnaya Polyána a -lodging- and eating-house for tramps, the use of which by the -latter would save L. N. unnecessary trouble. The establishment -of such premises—L. N. has viewed the idea very favourably—would -at least afford some temporary relief to the wandering -poor who are in dire need. At the same time the peasantry of -Yásnaya Polyána would be relieved of the too heavy burden of -supporting the passing unemployed described by Tolstoy in his -article. Lastly, it would afford Tolstoy, in his declining years, -considerable mental relief, which it would seem that he has more -than deserved by his incessant labours on behalf of distressed -mankind. Perhaps among those who read the present sketches -some will be found who, prompted by the impulses animating -the author, may desire to render some material help towards the -practical realisation of the projected undertaking.</p> - -<p>Contributions may be sent to the following address: V. -Tchertkoff, Editor of the Free Age Press, Christchurch, -Hants, Eng.</p> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> A Zémsky Natchálnik is a salaried official placed in authority -in a district. He is often selected from among the local gentry, -and wields very considerable authority.</p> - -<p><a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> A primitive plough used by the peasants.</p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>The Free Age Press<br /> -POPULAR PUBLICATIONS OF<br /> -LEO TOLSTOY'S<br /> -AND KINDRED WRITINGS</h2> - -<p class="p4 center">The following are all by Leo Tolstoy</p> - -<h3>SIXPENNY SERIES (postage 1d.)</h3> -<p class="center">Also Cloth bound, 1s. net (postage 2d.), except those marked *</p> - - -<p>What is Religion?</p> - -<p>What I Believe</p> - -<p>On Life</p> - -<p>The Kingdom of God is -within You</p> - -<p>What Shall We Do?</p> - -<p>The Slavery of our Times</p> - -<p>Popular Stories</p> -<p class="i2">First and Second Series, in 1 Volume</p> - -<p>The Divine and the Human</p> - -<p>A Murderer's Remorse</p> - -<p>Tolstoy on Shakespeare*</p> - -<p>Revolution in Russia*</p> - -<p>War Album*</p> - -<p class="i2">A Peace Album. Pictures by <span class="smcap">Emile -Holarek</span>, with Readings on the subject -by <span class="smcap">Leo Tolstoy</span> and others. Edited -by <span class="smcap">V. Tchertkoff</span>. Red Covers, -thick paper, tinted pictures. Special -Propaganda Edition, 12 copies, post -free, 1s.</p> - -<p>Relations of the Sexes</p> - - -<h3>FOURPENNY SERIES (postage 1d.)</h3> - - -<p>The One Thing Needful</p> - -<p>A Great Iniquity</p> - -<p>The End of the Age and the Crisis in Russia. (Special -Edition, 1s. 6d. net.)</p> - -<p>The Spirit of Christ's Teaching</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a></span></p> - - -<h3>THREEPENNY SERIES (postage 1d.)</h3> - -<p>Demands of Love and Reason</p> - -<p>How I came to Believe</p> - -<p>Letters on War</p> - -<p>Meaning of Life</p> - -<p>Letters on the Personal Christian -Life</p> - -<p>Patriotism and Government</p> - -<p>Religion and Morality</p> - -<p>The Root of the Evil</p> - -<p>Some Social Remedies</p> - -<p>Thoughts on God</p> - -<p>Work while you have the Light</p> - -<p>Bethink Yourselves</p> -<p class="i2">Also Special Edition, Cloth Bound, 1s. net, postage 2d.</p> - -<p>Free Age Press Leaflets</p> -<p class="i2">3d. per dozen, post free; or 1s. for 100, assorted, post free.</p> - - -<p class="i2">1. Thou shall not kill. 2. How to read -the Gospels. 3. And all with one consent -began to make excuses. 4. The -Religious Education of the Young. 5. -What is to be done? 6. The Division -of Labour. 7. In the name of God, -stop a moment. 8. The Martyrdom of -the World. 9. The Imp and the Crust -of Bread (a temperance fable). 10. A -new basis of life. 11. Some thoughts on -Prayer. 12. Resist not him that is evil.</p> - - -<h3>PENNY SERIES (postage ˝d.)</h3> - - -<p><b>STORIES</b></p> - -<p>What Men Live By</p> - -<p>The Two Pilgrims</p> - -<p>Where Love is, there God is</p> - -<p>If you neglect the Fire</p> - -<p>Ivan, the Fool</p> - -<p>How much Land does a Man -Need?</p> - -<p>The Godson</p> - -<p>Overthrow of Hell</p> - -<p>King Assarhadon & other Stories</p> - - - -<p class="p2"><b>ESSAYS</b></p> - -<p>The Christian Teaching</p> - -<p>How shall we Escape?</p> - -<p>My Reply to the Synod's Edict</p> - -<p>The only Means</p> - -<p>Reason, Faith, and Prayer</p> - -<p>Appeal to the Clergy</p> - -<p>To the Working People</p> - -<p>Appeal to Social Reformers</p> - -<p>Bethink Yourselves</p> -<p class="i2">Propaganda Edition.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> -<p class="p2">Morals of Diet, 3d. net; Cloth, 6d. net; postage 1d.</p> - -<p>Portraits of Tolstoy (Six), 2d. each, post free; two for 3d., post free; -six for 7d., post free.</p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>TOLSTOY'S<br /> -Popular Stories<br /> -and Legends</h2> - - -<p class="center">First and Second Series<br /> -In One Volume, Sixpence net; Cloth, 1s. net -Postage 1˝d.</p> - - -<p class="p2"><span class="smcap">Carmen Sylva</span>, the gifted Queen of Roumania, writing to -"Die Zeit," Vienna, pays tribute to Tolstoy's sincerity -and genius in these words:</p> - -<p class="i2">"Tolstoy's short stories, of all the works which -this great man and artist has written, have made -the strongest impression upon me. I regard them -as the most perfect tales ever written. In these -popular stories a thought of the highest purity -reaches us, which to my mind is far more eloquent -than the subtlest forms. The highest art is given -us, and it will survive all times, like Dante, -Shakespeare, the Bible, for here is the Eternal -Truth. It surprises me that people speak more -about the so-called greater works of Tolstoy than -of these little jewels, which are quite unique. If -Tolstoy had written nothing but these short stories, -he would still have belonged to the greatest men -of the world. When writing them he could not -have had a base thought, must have been a friend -of suffering humanity, and a real Christian."</p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>Five Recent Stories<br /> -by Tolstoy</h2> - -<p class="center">IN ONE VOLUME<br /> -Paper Covers, 6d. net; Postage 1d. Cloth 1/6 net; -Postage 2d.</p> - -<h3>THE DIVINE AND<br /> -THE HUMAN</h3> - - -<p>The first and second of these stories deal with the -Revolution and its victims. Here is a sympathetic account -of their sufferings while in prison or <i>en route</i> to the place -of exile, with a description of the psychological processes -whereby a young revolutionist, condemned to death by -hanging, is led to a full and satisfactory understanding of -the meaning of Life by reading the Beatitudes. There is -an immediate response from within, and Svetlogoub -endures the cross, forgives his murderers, and dies with a -smile on his face.</p> - -<p>Another revolutionist, a materialist, becoming convinced -of the stupidity of existence and the hopelessness of the -struggle against reaction, commits suicide in his cell, while -an old sectarian prisoner dies happily, invoking the Lamb -of God.</p> - -<p>Here also is the story of a young Pole, who, on being -banished to a distant province, tries to escape, but is recaptured, -sentenced to receive "a thousand stripes," and -finally sent to Siberia for life.</p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>Tolstoy on the Land<br /> -Question</h2> - -<h3>To the WORKING PEOPLE</h3> - -<p class="center">THE INIQUITY OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP</p> -<p class="center">THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESS TO LAND</p> -<p class="center">THE MISTAKES OF PSEUDO REFORMERS</p> - -<p class="center">Price One Penny. Postage ˝d.</p> - -<h3>THE ROOT OF THE EVIL</h3> - -<p>The immediate cause of social injustice and misery is -land robbery and taxation. Behind that lies force, <i>i.e.</i> the -army, etc. Behind the army lies a false Christianity, with -which everyone is inoculated in youth. This is "The -Root of the Evil," and the true Christian teaching is the -remedy.</p> - -<p class="center">Price 3d. Postage 1d.</p> - -<h3>A GREAT INIQUITY</h3> - -<p>A discussion of private property in Land and the -obstacles to a better state of things, with Tolstoy's advice -to Land Reformers.</p> - -<p class="center">Price 4d. Postage 1d.</p> - -<h3>The SLAVERY of OUR TIMES</h3> - -<p>An indictment of the present social system. Tolstoy's -appeal to the individual conscience and to individual action -as the only way to social, economic, and moral improvement.</p> - -<p class="center">Price 6d. Postage 1d.</p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>A New Volume of Stories and the<br /> -Most Recent Essays by Tolstoy</h2> - -<p class="center">IN ONE VOLUME<br /> -Paper Edition, with Recent Photograph, 6d. net<br /> -Cloth Edition, with Recent Photograph, 1s. net<br /> -Postage 2d.</p> - -<h3><i>CONTENTS</i></h3> - -<p><i>Story</i>—A MURDERER'S REMORSE.</p> -<p class="i7">(<i>"Forty Years," under a new title.</i>)</p> - -<p><i>Essay</i>—THE LAW OF VIOLENCE AND THE LAW OF LOVE.</p> - -<p><i>Essay</i>—"I CANNOT BE SILENT."</p> -<p class="i7">(<i>Tolstoy's indictment of the Russian Government.</i>)</p> - -<p><i>Essay</i>—THOU SHALT KILL NO ONE.</p> - -<p><i>Essay</i>—CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND CHRISTIANITY.</p> - -<p><i>Essay</i>—LOVE ONE ANOTHER.</p> - -<p><i>Story</i>—A REPENTANT SINNER.</p> - -<h2>TOLSTOY ON THE LAND QUESTION</h2> -<p class="center">An Appeal to the Working People, 1d.</p> - -<p class="center">"A GREAT INIQUITY", 4d.</p> - -<p class="center">THE SLAVERY OF OUR TIMES<br /> -with Portrait Paper, 6d. net; Cloth, 1s. net</p> - - -<p class="p4 center">THE FREE AGE PRESS<br /> -Editor: V. TCHERTKOFF, Christchurch, Hants.<br /> -Publisher: C. W. DANIEL, 3 Amen Corner, London, E. 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