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womanwill correct her false view of life？ Where among us are the
people to be found who are convinced that every laborious life is
more worthy of respect than an idle life；who are convinced of this；
and who live in conformity with this belief； and who in conformity
with this conviction value and respect people？ If I had thought of
this； I might have understood that neither I； nor any other person
among my acquaintances； could heal this complaint。
I might have understood that these amazed and affected heads thrust
over the partition indicated only surprise at the sympathy expressed
for them； but not in the least a hope of reclamation from their
dissolute life。 They do not perceive the immorality of their life。
They see that they are despised and cursed； but for what they are
thus despised they cannot comprehend。 Their life； from childhood；
has been spent among just such women； who； as they very well know；
always have existed； and are indispensable to society； and so
indispensable that there are governmental officials to attend to
their legal existence。 Moreover； they know that they have power over
men； and can bring them into subjection； and rule them often more
than other women。 They see that their position in society is
recognized by women and men and the authorities； in spite of their
continual curses； and therefore； they cannot understand why they
should reform。
In the course of one of the tours； one of the students told me that
in a certain lodging； there was a woman who was bargaining for her
thirteen…year…old daughter。 Being desirous of rescuing this girl； I
made a trip to that lodging expressly。 Mother and daughter were
living in the greatest poverty。 The mother； a small； dark…
complexioned； dissolute woman of forty； was not only homely； but
repulsively homely。 The daughter was equally disagreeable。 To all
my pointed questions about their life； the mother responded curtly；
suspiciously； and in a hostile way； evidently feeling that I was an
enemy； with evil intentions； the daughter made no reply； did not look
at her mother； and evidently trusted the latter fully。 They inspired
me with no sincere pity； but rather with disgust。 But I made up my
mind that the daughter must be rescued； and that I would interest
ladies who pitied the sad condition of these women； and send them
hither。 But if I had reflected on the mother's long life in the
past； of how she had given birth to； nursed and reared this daughter
in her situation； assuredly without the slightest assistance from
outsiders； and with heavy sacrificesif I had reflected on the view
of life which this woman had formed； I should have understood that
there was； decidedly； nothing bad or immoral in the mother's act：
she had done and was doing for her daughter all that she could； that
is to say； what she considered the best for herself。 This daughter
could be forcibly removed from her mother； but it would be impossible
to convince the mother that she was doing wrong； in selling her
daughter。 If any one was to be saved； then it must be this woman
the mother ought to have been saved； ＇and that long before； from that
view of life which is approved by every one； according to which a
woman may live unmarried； that is； without bearing children and
without work； and simply for the satisfaction of the passions。 If I
had thought of this； I should have understood that the majority of
the ladies whom I intended to send thither for the salvation of that
little girl； not only live without bearing children and without
working； and serving only passion； but that they deliberately rear
their daughters for the same life； one mother takes her daughter to
the taverns； another takes hers to balls。 But both mothers hold the
same view of the world； namely； that a woman must satisfy man's
passions； and that for this she must be fed； dressed； and cared for。
Then how are our ladies to reform this woman and her daughter？ ｛10｝ ＇
CHAPTER IX。
Still more remarkable were my relations to the children。 In my role
of benefactor； I turned my attention to the children also； being
desirous to save these innocent beings from perishing in that lair of
vice； and noting them down in order to attend to them AFTERWARDS。
Among the children； I was especially struck with a twelve…year…old
lad named Serozha。 I was heartily sorry for this bold； intelligent
lad； who had lived with a cobbler； and who had been left without a
shelter because his master had been put in jail； and I wanted to do
good to him。
I will here relate the upshot of my benevolence in his case； because
my experience with this child is best adapted to show my false
position in the role of benefactor。 I took the boy home with me and
put him in the kitchen。 It was impossible； was it not； to take a
child who had lived in a den of iniquity in among my own children？
And I considered myself very kind and good； because he was a care；
not to me； but to the servants in the kitchen； and because not I but
the cook fed him； and because I gave him some cast…off clothing to
wear。 The boy staid a week。 During that week I said a few words to
him as I passed on two occasions and in the course of my strolls； I
went to a shoemaker of my acquaintance； and proposed that he should
take the lad as an apprentice。 A peasant who was visiting me；
invited him to go to the country； into his family； as a laborer； the
boy refused； and at the end of the week he disappeared。 I went to
the Rzhanoff house to inquire after him。 He had returned there； but
was not at home when I went thither。 For two days already； he had
been going to the Pryesnensky ponds； where he had hired himself out
at thirty kopeks a day in some procession of savages in costume； who
led about elephants。 Something was being presented to the public
there。 I went a second time； but he was so ungrateful that he
evidently avoided me。 Had I then reflected on the life of that boy
and on my own； I should have understood that this boy was spoiled
because he had discovered the possibility of a merry life without
labor； and that he had grown unused to work。 And I； with the object
of benefiting and reclaiming him； had taken him to my house； where he
sawwhat？ My children；both older and younger than himself； and of
the same age；who not only never did any work for themselves； but
who made work for others by every means in their power； who soiled
and spoiled every thing about them； who ate rich； dainty； and sweet
viands； broke china； and flung to the dogs food which would have been
a tidbit to this lad。 If I had rescued him from the abyss； and had
taken him to that nice place； then he must acquire those views which
prevailed in the life of that nice place； but by these views； he
understood that in that fine place he must so live that he should not
toil； but eat and drink luxuriously； and lead a joyous life。 It is
true that he did not know that my children bore heavy burdens in the
acquisition of the declensions of Latin and Greek grammar； and that
he could not have understood the object of these labors。 But it is
impossible not to see that if he had understood this； the influence