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round…shouldered； with a long； sharp nose and bald head。 In
his bony and yellow face； on which grew a wedge…shaped beard；
shone large； restless eyes； deeply sunk in their sockets； and
the corners of his mouth drooped sadly down。 He earned his
bread； or rather his drink； by reporting for the local papers。
He sometimes earned as much as fifteen roubles。 These he gave
to the Captain and said：
〃It is enough。 I am going back into the bosom of culture。
Another week's hard work and I shall dress respectably； and
then Addio； mio caro！〃
〃Very exemplary！ As I heartily sympathize with your decision；
Philip； I shall not give you another glass all this week；〃 the
Captain warned him sternly。
〃I shall be thankful！ 。 。 。 You will not give me one drop？〃
The Captain beard in his voice a beseeching note to which he
turned a deaf ear。
〃Even though you roar； I shall not give it you！〃
〃As you like； then；〃 sighed the teacher； and went away to
continue his reporting。
23 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
But after a day or two he would return tired and thirsty； and
would look at the Captain with a beseeching glance out of the
corners of his eyes； hoping that his friend's heart would
soften。
The Captain in such cases put on a serious face and began
speaking with killing irony on the theme of weakness of
character； of the animal delight of intoxication； and on such
subjects as suited the occasion。 One must do him justice： he
was captivated by his role of mentor and moralist； but the
lodgers dogged him； and； listening sceptically to his
exhortations to repentance； would whisper aside to each other：
〃Cunning； skilful； shifty rogue！ I told you so； but you would
not listen。 It's your own fault！〃
〃His honor is really a good soldier。 He goes first and examines
the road behind him！〃
The teacher then hunted here and there till he found his friend
again in some corner； and grasping his dirty coat； trembling
and licking his dry lips； looked into his face with a deep；
tragic glance； without articulate words。
〃Can't you？〃 asked the Captain sullenly。
The teacher answered by bowing his head and letting it fall on
his breast； his tall； thin body trembling the while。
〃Wait another day 。 。 。 perhaps you will be all right then；〃
proposed Kuvalda。 The teacher sighed； and shook his head
hopelessly。
The Captain saw that his friend's thin body trembled with the
thirst for the poison； and took some money from his pocket。
〃In the majority of cases it is impossible to fight against
fate；〃 said he； as if trying to justify himself before someone。
24 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
But if the teacher controlled himself for a whole week； then
there was a touching farewell scene between the two friends；
which ended as a rule in the eating…house of Vaviloff。 The
teacher did not spend all his money； but spent at least half
on the children of the main street。 The poor are always rich
in children； and in the dirt and ditches of this street there
were groups of them from morning to night； hungry； naked and
dirty。 Children are the living flowers of the earth； but
these had the appearance of flowers that have faded
prematurely； because they grew in ground where there was no
healthy nourishment。 Often the teacher would gather them round
him； would buy them bread； eggs； apples and nuts； and take
them into the fields by the river side。 There they would sit
and greedily eat everything he offered them； after which they
would begin to play； filling the fields for a mile around with
careless noise and laughter。 The tall； thin figure of the
drunkard towered above these small people； who treated him
familiarly； as if he were one of their own age。 They called
him 〃Philip；〃 and did not trouble to prefix 〃Uncle〃 to his
name。 Playing around him； like little wild animals； they
pushed him； jumped upon his back； beat him upon his bald head；
and caught hold of his nose。 All this must have pleased him；
as he did not protest against such liberties。 He spoke very
little to them； and when he did so he did it cautiously as if
afraid that his words would hurt or contaminate them。 He
passed many hours thus as their companion and plaything；
watching their lively faces with his gloomy eyes。
25 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
Then he would thoughtfully and slowly direct his steps to the
eating…house of Vaviloff； where he would drink silently and
quickly till all his senses left him。
* * * * * * * * * *
Almost every day after his reporting he would bring a
newspaper； and then gather round him all these creatures that
once were men。 On seeing him； they would come forward from
all corners of the court…yard； drunk； or suffering from drunken
headache； dishevelled； tattered； miserable； and pitiable。 Then
would come the barrel…like； stout Aleksei Maksimoviteh
Simtsoff； formerly Inspector of Woods and Forests； under the
Department of Appendages； but now trading in matches； ink；
blacking； and lemons。 He was an old man of sixty； in a canvas
overcoat and a wide…brimmed hat； the greasy borders of which
hid his stout； fat； red face。 He had a thick white beard； out
of which a small red nose turned gaily heavenward。 He had
thick； crimson lips and watery； cynical eyes。 They called him
〃Kubar； a name which well described his round figure an
buzzing speech。 After him； Kanets appeared from some
cornera dark； sad…looking； silent drunkard： then the former
governor of the prison； Luka Antonovitch Martyanoff； a man who
existed on 〃remeshok；〃 〃trilistika〃 and 〃bankovka；〃 * and many
such cunning games； not much appreciated by the police。
Note by translator。Well…known games or chance； played by the
lower classes。 The police specially endeavor to stop them；
but unsuccessfully。
26 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
He would throw his hard and oft…scourged body on the grass
beside the teacher； and； turning his eyes round and scratching
his head； would ask in a hoarse； bass voice； 〃May I？〃
Then appeared Pavel Solntseff； a man of thirty years of age；
suffering from consumption。 The ribs of his left side had
been broken in a quarrel； and the sharp； yellow face；
like that of a fox； always wore a malicious smile。 The thin
lips； when opened； exposed two rows of decayed black teeth；
and the rags on his shoulders swayed backward and forward as
if they were hung on a clothes pole。 They called him
〃Abyedok。〃 He hawked brushes and bath brooms of his own
manufacture； good； strong brushes made from a peculiar kind
of grass。
Then followed a lean and bony man of whom no one knew anything；
with a frightened expression in his eyes； the left one of
which had a squint。 He was silent and timid； and ha