The Diary of a Superfluous Man, and Other Stories

"And how did it all end?" – the reader will ask.

Thus: Naúm, after having conducted his business successfully for fifteen years, sold his inn on profitable terms to a petty burgher… He never would have parted with his house if the following apparently insignificant incident had not occurred: two mornings in succession his dog, as it sat in front of the windows, howled in a prolonged and mournful manner; on the second occasion he went out into the street, gazed attentively at the howling dog, shook his head, set off for the town, and that very day agreed on the price with a petty burgher, who had long been trying to purchase his inn… A week later he departed for some distant place – out of the Government, – and what think you? that very night the inn was burned to the ground; not even a kennel remained intact, and Naúm's successor was reduced to beggary. The reader can easily imagine what rumours arose in the neighbourhood concerning this conflagration… Evidently he carried his "luck" away with him, all declared… It is reported that he engaged in the grain business, and became very wealthy. But was it for long? Other equally firm pillars have fallen prone, and sooner or later a bad deed has a bad ending.

It is not worth while to say much about Lizavéta Prókhorovna: she is alive to this day, and as often happens with people of that sort, she has not changed in the least; she has not even aged much, but only seems to have grown more lean; moreover, her penuriousness has increased to an extreme degree, although it is difficult to understand for whom she is always hoarding, since she has no children, and is related to no one. In conversation she frequently alludes to Akím, and avers that ever since she discovered all his fine qualities, she has come to cherish a great respect for the Russian peasant. Kiríllovna has purchased her freedom from Lizavéta Prókhorovna for a considerable sum and has married, for love, some fair-haired young butler or other, at whose hands she endures bitter torture; Avdótya is living, as of yore, in the woman's wing of Lizavéta Prókhorovna's house, but has descended several rungs lower, dresses very poorly, almost filthily, and retains not a trace of the cityfied affectations of the fashionable maid, or the habits of a well-to-do landlady… No one takes any notice of her, and she herself is glad that they do not; old Petróvitch is dead, but Akím is still roving on pilgrimages – and God alone knows how much longer he is destined to wander!

1

The word used is, literally, "self-fool." It was invented by Ostróvsky, in one of his most famous comedies. – Translator.

2

Some authorities assert positively that the incident narrated occurred in the Turgénieff household, and that Gerásim's mistress was the author's own mother. – Translator.

3

Sheep's-Waters or Springs. – Translator.

4

Easter. – Translator.

5

A decidedly vulgar pun in the original. – Translator.

6

Derived from tchulók, stocking. – Translator.

7

Meaning male serfs. The women and children were not reckoned. – Translator.

8

The large music-room, also used for dancing, as a play-room for the children in winter, and so forth, in Russian houses. – Translator.

9

By M. Y. Lérmontoff.

10

The pronunciation is also indicated as being faulty. – Translator.

11

Ran themselves off their legs. – Translator.

12

The mazurka, which is still a great favourite in Russia, greatly resembles the cotillon in everything except the steps, which are vivacious. Both the cotillon and the mazurka are danced – one before, the other after supper – at Court balls and other dances. – Translator.

13

Utterly insignificant. – Translator.

14

The page is called a kazák, and dressed accordingly. – Translator.

15

The burlakí on the Volga used to tow the barges from Ástrakhan to Nízhni Nóvgorod Fair, against the current. The stevedores also are called burlakí, and, as they lade the barges, their chantey runs (more literally than I have translated it above): "Yet another little time, yet again…" and so forth. – Translator.

16

A ruble, at the present time, is worth, on an average, about fifty-two cents. At the period here referred to, the silver ruble would purchase more than a ruble nowadays, while the paper ruble was worth very little. – Translator.

17

A very good preserve, with a slightly wild or bitter taste, is made from these berries in Russia. It is a favourite preserve for putting in tea. – Translator.

18

Except during Lent, and for special prayers on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Pentecost (Trinity Sunday), hardly any kneeling is prescribed by the rubrics of the Eastern Catholic Church. During Easter-tide and on all Sundays it is forbidden by the rubrics, on the ground that joy in the resurrection should overpower the sense of sin and contrition. These rules are not always regarded. But a person who kneels much is conspicuous, and spectators assume that the posture indicates great grief or contrition – as above. – Translator.

19

Many exiles caused by the French Revolution found refuge in Russia as tutors. Some founded families there, intermarrying with Russians, and their Russified names are easily recognisable. – Translator.

20

Pass through these hills and come cheerily to me: care thou not for too great a company. Come thou, and think secretly of me, that I may be thy comrade all the way.

21

In central and southern Russia where timber is scarce, fences, and even the walls of barns and store-houses, are made of interlaced boughs. – Translator.

22

The Nobles' Club. – Translator.

23

"I am a picture of sorrow,Leaning against the wall."

24

June 29 (O. S.) – July 13 (N. S.). – Translator.

25

Formerly all Moscow houses were obliged to get their water in barrels on wheels from the river or from public fountains. Birch-wood is still used for cooking and heating. – Translator.

26

A pud is about thirty-six pounds, English. – Translator.

27

A peculiarly shaped and delicious wheaten roll, which is made particularly well in Moscow. – Translator.

28

St. Petersburg. – Translator.

29

Mínin, the burgher of Nízhni Nóvgorod, and Prince Pozhársky, who led the Russians against the invading Poles in 1612, and expelled them from Russia. Their expulsion was followed by the election to the throne of the first Románoff Tzar, Mikhaíl Feódorovitch. – Translator.

30

These kisses are bestowed on the cheeks, alternately. – Translator.

31

Amy or Charity. – Translator.

32

Leipzig.

33

A desyatína is 2.70 acres. He was obliged to buy the land in his owner's name: serfs could not hold landed property. – Translator.

34

St. Petersburg. – Translator.

35

To the holy pictures. – Translator.

36

See note on p. 273. – Translator.

37

He had been a staff-officer in the civil service, according to Peter the Great's Table of Ranks. – Translator.

38

These numerous maids, in the old serf days, were employed in making the most exquisite linen, lace, embroidery, and so forth. – Translator.

39

The beard was regarded as a mark of peasant origin. – Translator.

40

Neither field-serfs nor the superior house-serfs were addressed by their patronymic (like the nobility). Dunyásha is the diminutive of Avdóty. – Translator.

41

It is customary to have a holy picture, with a shrine-lamp filled with olive-oil burning before it, in bedrooms. – Translator.

42

The difference in value between paper and silver money was considerable in those days, and the sort of currency is generally specified. – Translator.

43

In Russian: "Berries from the same field." – Translator.

44

In Russian: "If you are fond of sleighing, then be fond also of dragging the sledge." – Translator.

45

Tiny double loaves of leavened bread, like those used in preparing the Holy Communion, are sold at the entrances to churches. Any one who wishes to have the health of his living or the souls of his dead friend prayed for, buys a loaf, and sends it to the sanctuary before the beginning of the morning service, accompanied by a slip of paper, whereon is written: "For the health" (or "For the soul") "of Iván" – or whatever the friend's baptismal name may be. The priest removes from the loaf with his spear-shaped knife a triangular particle, which he places on the chalice (it is not used in the Communion), and at a certain point of the service, all these persons are prayed for, by name – the Lord being aware which of the Iváns or Máryas is intended. After the service the loaf is returned to the owner, who carries it home, and (when possible) gives it to the person who has been prayed for. It is the custom for pilgrims to the various shrines to bring back loaves of this sort to their friends, and these are highly prized. At some of the famous monasteries, instead of the customary imprint of a cross and the Greek letters meaning "Jesus Christ the Conqueror," which are used on the loaves for the Communion, a special holy bread (prosforá) is prepared for this purpose, stamped with the Saint or Saints for which the locality is renowned. In the primitive church, the worshippers were wont to bring offerings of bread, wine, oil and wheat, for the requirements of the service. As long as the congregations were not numerous, all such givers were prayed for by name. When members became so numerous that this would have been burdensome, the custom was instituted of praying for the Sovereign and his family, as representatives of all the rest: and this last custom still prevails, mingled (as above described) with a remnant of the original custom. – Translator.

46

The shrine of St. Sergius at the Tróitzky (Trinity) monastery, forty miles from Moscow. The Óptin Hermitage in Tambóff Government. "The White Shores" – the famous monasteries of Solovétzk, in the White Sea, and at Byélo-Ózero (White Lake), south of Lake Onéga. Valáam, an island in Lake Ladóga, with another famous monastery. – Translator.

47

The Korennáya Hermitage lies about sixteen miles northwest of Kursk, in southern Russia. Mtzensk, nearer the centre, is half-way between Orél and Túla. – Translator.