《05-there are no guilty people》

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THERE ARE NO GUILTY PEOPLE




I

MINE is a strange and wonderful lot! The
chances are that there is not a single wretched
beggar suffering under the luxury and oppression
of the rich who feels anything like as keenly as I
do either the injustice; the cruelty; and the horror
of their oppression of and contempt for the poor;
or the grinding humiliation and misery which
befall the great majority of the workers; the real
producers of all that makes life possible。  I have
felt this for a long time; and as the years have
passed by the feeling has grown and grown; until
recently it reached its climax。  Although I feel all
this so vividly; I still live on amid the depravity
and sins of rich society; and I cannot leave it;
because I have neither the knowledge nor the
strength to do so。  I cannot。  I do not know
how to change my life so that my physical needs
food; sleep; clothing; my going to and fro
may be satisfied without a sense of shame and
wrongdoing in the position which I fill。

There was a time when I tried to change my
position; which was not in harmony with my
conscience; but the conditions created by the past;
by my family and its claims upon me; were so
complicated that they would not let me out of
their grasp; or rather; I did not know how to free
myself。  I had not the strength。  Now that I am
over eighty and have become feeble; I have given
up trying to free myself; and; strange to say; as
my feebleness increases I realise more and more
strongly the wrongfulness of my position; and it
grows more and more intolerable to me。

It has occurred to me that I do not occupy this
position for nothing:  that Providence intended
that I should lay bare the truth of my feelings; so
that I might atone for all that causes my suffering;
and might perhaps open the eyes of thoseor at
least of some of thosewho are still blind to
what I see so clearly; and thus might lighten the
burden of that vast majority who; under existing
conditions; are subjected to bodily and spiritual
suffering by those who deceive them and also
deceive themselves。  Indeed; it may be that the
position which I occupy gives me special facilities
for revealing the artificial and criminal relations
which exist between menfor telling the whole
truth in regard to that position without confusing
the issue by attempting to vindicate myself; and
without rousing the envy of the rich and feelings
of oppression in the hearts of the poor and down…
trodden。  I am so placed that I not only have no
desire to vindicate myself; but; on the contrary; I
find it necessary to make an effort lest I should
exaggerate the wickedness of the great among
whom I live; of whose society I am ashamed;
whose attitude towards their fellow…men I detest
with my whole soul; though I find it impossible to
separate my lot from theirs。  But I must also
avoid the error of those democrats and others
who; in defending the oppressed and the enslaved;
do not see their failings and mistakes; and who do
not make sufficient allowance for the difficulties
created; the mistakes inherited from the past;
which in a degree lessens the responsibility of the
upper classes。

Free from desire for self…vindication; free from
fear of an emancipated people; free from that
envy and hatred which the oppressed feel for their
oppressors; I am in the best possible position to
see the truth and to tell it。  Perhaps that is why
Providence placed me in such a position。  I will
do my best to turn it to account。



II


Alexander Ivanovich Volgin; a bachelor and a
clerk in a Moscow bank at a salary of eight
thousand roubles a year; a man much respected in
his own set; was staying in a country…house。  His
host was a wealthy landowner; owning some
twenty…five hundred acres; and had married his
guest's cousin。  Volgin; tired after an evening
spent in playing vint* for small stakes with
'* A game of cards similar to auction bridge。'
members of the family; went to his room and placed
his watch; silver cigarette…case; pocket…book;
big leather purse; and pocket…brush and comb on a
small table covered with a white cloth; and then;
taking off his coat; waistcoat; shirt; trousers; and
underclothes; his silk socks and English boots; put
on his nightshirt and dressing…gown。  His watch
pointed to midnight。  Volgin smoked a cigarette;
lay on his face for about five minutes reviewing
the day's impressions; then; blowing out his
candle; he turned over on his side and fell asleep
about one o'clock; in spite of a good deal of rest…
lessness。  Awaking next morning at eight he put
on his slippers and dressing…gown; and rang the bell。

The old butler; Stephen; the father of a





family and the grandfather of six grandchildren;
who had served in that house for thirty years;
entered the room hurriedly; with bent legs; carry…
ing in the newly blackened boots which Volgin had
taken off the night before; a well…brushed suit; and
a clean shirt。  The guest thanked him; and then
asked what the weather was like (the blinds were
drawn so that the sun should not prevent any one
from sleeping till eleven o'clock if he were so
inclined); and whether his hosts had slept well。 
He glanced at his watchit was still early
and began to wash and dress。  His water was
ready; and everything on the washing…stand and
dressing…table was ready for use and properly laid
outhis soap; his tooth and hair brushes; his nail
scissors and files。  He washed his hands and face
in a leisurely fashion; cleaned and manicured his
nails; pushed back the skin with the towel; and
sponged his stout white body from head to foot。 
Then he began to brush his hair。  Standing in
front of the mirror; he first brushed his curly
beard; which was beginning to turn grey; with two
English brushes; parting it down the middle。 
Then he combed his hair; which was already show…
ing signs of getting thin; with a large tortoise…
shell comb。  Putting on his underlinen; his socks;
his boots; his trouserswhich were held up by
elegant bracesand his waistcoat; he sat down
coatless in an easy chair to rest after dressing;
lit a cigarette; and began to think where he should go
for a walk that morningto the park or to Lit…
tleports (what a funny name for a wood!)。  He
thought he would go to Littleports。  Then he
must answer Simon Nicholaevich's letter; but
there was time enough for that。  Getting up with
an air of resolution; he took out his watch。  It
was already five minutes to nine。  He put his
watch into his waistcoat pocket; and his purse
with all that was left of the hundred and eighty
roubles he had taken for his journey; and for the
incidental expenses of his fortnight's stay with
his cousinand then he placed into his trouser
pocket his cigarette…case and electric cigarette…
lighter; and two clean handkerchiefs into his coat
pockets; and went out of the room; leaving as
usual the mess and confusion which he had made
to be cleared up by Stephen; an old man of over
fifty。  Stephen expected Volgin to 〃remunerate〃
him; as he said; being so accustomed to the work
that he did not feel the slightest repugnance for it。 
Glancing at a mirror; and feeling satisfied with
his appearance; Volgin went into the dining…room。

There; thanks to the efforts of the housekeeper;
the footman; and under…butlerthe latter had
risen at dawn in order to run home to sharpen his
son's scythebreakfast was ready。  On a spot…
less white cloth stood a boiling; shiny; silver
samovar (at least it looked like silver); a coffee…
pot; hot milk; cream; butter; and all sorts of fancy
white bread and biscuits。  The only persons at
table were the second son of the house; his tutor
(a student); and the secretary。  The host; who
was an active member of the Zemstvo and a great
farmer; had already left the house; having gone
at eight o'clock to attend to his work。  Volgin;
while drinking his coffee; talked to the student
and the secretary about the weather; and yester…
day's vint; and discussed Theodorite's peculiar be…
haviour the night before; as he had been very
rude to his father without the slightest cause。 
Theodorite was the grown…up son of the house;
and a ne'er…do…well。  His name was Theodore;
but some one had once called him Theodorite
either as a joke or to tease him; and; as it seemed
funny; the name stuck to him; although his doings
were no longer in the least amusing。  So it was
now。  He had been to the university; but left it
in his second year; and joined a regiment of horse
guards; but he gave that up also; and was now
living in the country; doing nothing; finding fault;
and feeling discontented with everything。  Theo…
dorite was still in bed:  so were the other members
of the householdAnna Mikhailovna; its mis…
tress; her sister; the widow of a general; and a
landscape painter who lived with the family。

Volgin took his panama hat from the hall table
(it had cost twenty roubles) and his cane with its
carved ivory handle; and went out。  Crossing the
veranda; gay with flowers; he walked through the
flower garden; in the centre of which was a raised
round bed; with rings of red; white; and blue
flowers; and the initials of the mistress 
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