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before them； as in a bazaar； and make their choice。 The maidens
wait and think； but do not dare to say： 'Take me； young man； me
and not her。 Look at these shoulders and the rest。' We males
walk up and down； and estimate the merchandise； and then we
discourse upon the rights of woman； upon the liberty that she
acquires； I know not how； in the theatrical halls。〃
〃But what is to be done？〃 said I to him。 〃Shall the woman make
the advances？〃
〃I do not know。 But； if it is a question of equality； let the
equality be complete。 Though it has been found that to contract
marriages through the agency of match…makers is humiliating； it
is nevertheless a thousand times preferable to our system。 There
the rights and the chances are equal； here the woman is a slave；
exhibited in the market。 But as she cannot bend to her
condition； or make advances herself； there begins that other and
more abominable lie which is sometimes called GOING INTO SOCIETY；
sometimes AMUSING ONE'S SELF； and which is really nothing but the
hunt for a husband。
〃But say to a mother or to her daughter that they are engaged
only in a hunt for a husband。 God！ What an offence！ Yet they
can do nothing else； and have nothing else to do； and the
terrible feature of it all is to see sometimes very young； poor；
and innocent maidens haunted solely by such ideas。 If only； I
repeat； it were done frankly； but it is always accompanied with
lies and babble of this sort：
〃'Ah； the descent of species！ How interesting it is！'
〃'Oh； Lily is much interested in painting。'
〃'Shall you go to the Exposition？ How charming it is！'
〃'And the troika； and the plays； and the symphony。 Ah； how
adorable！'
〃'My Lise is passionately fond of music。'
〃'And you； why do you not share these convictions？'
〃And through all this verbiage； all have but one single idea：
'Take me； take my Lise。 No； me！ Only try！〃'
CHAPTER IX。
〃Do you know；〃 suddenly continued Posdnicheff； 〃that this power
of women from which the world suffers arises solely from what I
have just spoken of？〃
〃What do you mean by the power of women？〃 I said。 〃Everybody； on
the contrary； complains that women have not sufficient rights；
that they are in subjection。〃
〃That's it； that's it exactly；〃 said he； vivaciously。 〃That is
just what I mean； and that is the explanation of this
extraordinary phenomenon； that on the one hand woman is reduced
to the lowest degree of humiliation and on the other hand she
reigns over everything。 See the Jews： with their power of money；
they avenge their subjection； just as the women do。 'Ah！ you
wish us to be only merchants？ All right； remaining merchants； we
will get possession of you；' say the Jews。 'Ah！ you wish us to
be only objects of sensuality？ All right； by the aid of
sensuality we will bend you beneath our yoke；' say the women。
〃The absence of the rights of woman does not consist in the fact
that she has not the right to vote； or the right to sit on the
bench； but in the fact that in her affectional relations she is
not the equal of man； she has not the right to abstain； to choose
instead of being chosen。 You say that that would be abnormal。
Very well！ But then do not let man enjoy these rights； while his
companion is deprived of them； and finds herself obliged to make
use of the coquetry by which she governs； so that the result is
that man chooses 'formally；' whereas really it is woman who
chooses。 As soon as she is in possession of her means； she
abuses them； and acquires a terrible supremacy。〃
〃But where do you see this exceptional power？〃
〃Where？ Why； everywhere； in everything。 Go see the stores in
the large cities。 There are millions there； millions。 It is
impossible to estimate the enormous quantity of labor that is
expended there。 In nine…tenths of these stores is there anything
whatever for the use of men？ All the luxury of life is demanded
and sustained by woman。 Count the factories； the greater part of
them are engaged in making feminine ornaments。 Millions of men；
generations of slaves； die toiling like convicts simply to
satisfy the whims of our companions。
〃Women； like queens； keep nine…tenths of the human race as
prisoners of war； or as prisoners at hard labor。 And all this
because they have been humiliated； because they have been
deprived of rights equal to those which men enjoy。 They take
revenge for our sensuality； they catch us in their nets。
〃Yes； the whole thing is there。 Women have made of themselves
such a weapon to act upon the senses that a young man； and even
an old man； cannot remain tranquil in their presence。 Watch a
popular festival； or our receptions or ball…rooms。 Woman well
knows her influence there。 You will see it in her triumphant
smiles。
〃As soon as a young man advances toward a woman； directly he
falls under the influence of this opium； and loses his head。
Long ago I felt ill at ease when I saw a woman too well
adorned；whether a woman of the people with her red neckerchief
and her looped skirt； or a woman of our own society in her
ball…room dress。 But now it simply terrifies me。 I see in it a
danger to men； something contrary to the laws； and I feel a
desire to call a policeman； to appeal for defence from some
quarter； to demand that this dangerous object be removed。
〃And this is not a joke； by any means。 I am convinced； I am
sure； that the time will comeand perhaps it is not far
distantwhen the world will understand this； and will be
astonished that a society could exist in which actions as harmful
as those which appeal to sensuality by adorning the body as our
companions do were allowed。 As well set traps along our public
streets； or worse than that。
CHAPTER X。
〃That； then； was the way in which I was captured。 I was in
love； as it is called； not only did she appear to me a perfect
being； but I considered myself a white blackbird。 It is a
commonplace fact that there is no one so low in the world that he
cannot find some one viler than himself； and consequently puff
with pride and self…contentment。 I was in that situation。 I did
not marry for money。 Interest was foreign to the affair； unlike
the marriages of most of my acquaintances； who married either for
money or for relations。 First； I was rich； she was poor。
Second； I was especially proud of the fact that； while others
married with an intention of continuing their polygamic life as
bachelors； it was my firm intention to live monogamically after
my engagement and the wedding； and my pride swelled immeasurably。
〃Yes； I was a wretch； convinced that I was an angel。 The period
of my engagement did not last long。 I cannot remember those days
without shame。 What an abomination！
〃It is generally agreed that love is a moral sentiment； a
community of thought rather than of sense。 If that is the case；
this community of tho