lecture ii-第6节
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Ouspensky's hero presents to us all the features of a hard
worker； pursuing no other object than his own interests and
welfare； whilst Mr Slatovraczky's hero appears to be 〃a person
living not after the word of man but after the word of God；〃
caring for his fellow…creatures almost as much as for
himself。（4*）
There is exaggeration in the way in which both authors
represent the modern Russian moujik； for the sense of proportion
which was so highly valued by the ancients is not always
possessed by my countrymen； but even taking into account this
partiality for certain social forms and institutions； I believe
they have rendered us a real service by pointing out the intimate
correspondence that exists between the moral character of our
peasantry and their ancient mode of li。
I must； nevertheless； confess that morality； that at least
which is concerned with the relations between the sexes； has not
much to gain from the close packing under the same roof of
persons differing in sex and age。 I leave to Mr。 Anatole Leroy
Beaulieu the task of instructing you on this subject： 〃Chez un
peuple pauvre et chez des hommes grossiers；〃 says this acute
French observer； 〃tout n'est point profit et vertu sous le regime
patriarcal。 On sait combien de maux de toutes sortes derivent
dans les grandes villes d'occident； de l'etroitesse des logements
et de l'entassement des individus。 Les incony enients ne sont pas
moindres en Russie。 Quand une etroite izba （chaumiere） reunit
plusieurs generations et plusieurs menages； que durant les
longues nuits d'un long hiver les peres et les enfants； les
freres et leurs femmes couchent pele…mele autour du large poele；
il en resulte une sorte de promiscuite aussi malsaine pour l'ame
que pour le corps。 Chez le moujik； alors meme que les enfants
maries habitaient plusieurs izbas disposees autour de la meme
cour； l'autocratie domestique etait un danger pour l'integrite et
la chastete de la famille。 De meme que le proprietaire noble sur
les serves de ses domaines； le chef de maison s'arrogeait parfois
une sorte de droit du seigneur sur les femmes soumises a son
autorite。 Le chef； designe du surnom le Vieux； qui； grace a la
precocite des marriages； avait souvent a peine quarante ans；
prelevait sur ses belles filles un tribut que la jeunesse ou la
dependance de ses fils leur defendait de lui contester。 Il
n'etait point rare de voir ainsi le foyer domestique souillie par
l'autorite qui en devait maintenir la purete。（5*）
It may also certainly be question ed how far the loss of a
spirit of personal enterprise； and the removal of a strong
feeling of self…reliance ought to be considered beneficial。 I
have no doubt that if modern Russia produces on the minds of
foreign observers an impression as of a land of paupers； the
reason of it； or at least one of the reasons； is to be found in
the prevalence of these old communistic institutions。 We must not
forget that it is the principle of self…help that has created the
material growth of England and of the United States of America。
But in entering on these discussions I trench on very uncertain
ground。 The relative advantages and disadvantages of
individualism and of communism have furnished matter for warm
controversy from the time of Plato down to the time of Ruskin and
of Spencer； and we need not discuss them here。 I think it better
to state that the Russian peasant； at least in our time； is not
insensible to the advantages of individualism； as is well shown
by the fact that between two and three million divisions of House
Communities have been effected since the day when the liberated
serf obtained the right to make them。 If divisions of family
property were rare before 1861； the year of the abolition of
serfdom； the reason lies in the fact that the manorial lords and
the State were alike interested in the preservation of the system
of Undivided Households。 The natural responsibility of the
members for the payment of taxes and for the execution of those
various kinds of agricultural labour which serfs were bound to
perform on the lands of the manor； were advantages far too
precious to be easily abandoned。 It was； and it still is； for the
interests of the national treasury that these divisions should
not take place。 It is for this reason that the Government；
concealing its real designs under a show of good…will towards an
old and venerable institution； has recently taken measures to
prevent further divisions。 It is no longer with the majority that
the decision is to rest in questions of this kind； but with the
chief of the household； a person who is； of course； as a rule；
interested in the maintenance of non…division。
The reasons which are brought forward by the peasants to
justify their breaking up of Undivided Households are generally
the following： Non…division； they say； causes the able and
laborious to work for the idle and incapable。 It is unjust to
force an unmarried person to divide his savings with a relative
enjoying the pleasures of married life and a numerous progeny；
who； on account of their youth； are not yet able to earn anything
by the work of their hands。 They also affirm that； as the
dwelling…place is too small to accommodate a large family； they
are forced to divide in order to live with decency。
It is also often said that disputes among the women are the
direct cause of separation； while； again； some peasants frankly
avow that they insist on leaving their communistic mode of life
in order to have their own homes and to be their own masters。（6*）
If the objections just mentioned are not those of individualism；
I do not know what individualism is。
It is in the most fertile regions of Russia in Little
Russia and New Russia that divisions have been most numerous。
in these parts small families are already the general rule； as
the black soil of those districts is rich enough to pay the taxes
that are levied； and the peasant is not alarmed by the prospect
of being deprived of the aid of his relatives。 The spirit of
independence of the Cossacks； which all those who are acquainted
with them readily acknowledge； explains to a great extent the
reason why the undivided household is dying out in the southern
and south…western parts of Russia。
The northern provinces will certainly sooner or later follow
the same path； and the patriarchal house community will disappear
in Russia； just as it has disappeared in France； Italy； and
Spain； and as it is disappearing in our days in Servia and
Croatia。 For we must not think that this system was altogether
unknown to the people of Western Europe。 Not only in Ireland；
where its previous existence had been recognised by Sir Henry
Maine； but also among the German and Latin races； the undivided
household was； a few centuries ago； a still living institution。
Guy Coquille； a legal writer of the sixteenth century； speaks of
them in the province of Nivernais； and they have recently been
discovered in the old charters of Berry。 The 〃consorteria〃 of
medieval Tuscany； the 〃genealogie〃 of the old Alemannic law； and
the still existing 〃Companias〃 of Spanish Galicia； are but
different names to designate the Undivided household。 If these
have disappeared； or are likely to disappear； in the near future；
it is because they have been forced to yield to the requirements
of individualism。 I see no reason why the same thing should not
happen in Russia。
NOTES：
1。 Charousin； 〃The Cossack Communities of the Don〃 （Moscow；
1883）； p。 74。
2。 〃The Pravda of Jaroslav〃； published by Kalachev； ss。 88； 89。
3。 This word appears； for instance； in the following sentences；
〃No political assembly of the 'siabri' ought to exist。〃 〃If any
one convenes it； let him lose his ears。〃
4。 The two novels to which I allude are； 〃The Power of the Land；〃
by Ouspensky； and 〃The Solid Base〃 （Oustoi）； by Slatovraczky。
Both novels were published in Moscow。
5。 〃L'Empire des Tzars et les Russes；〃 p。 488。
6。 Compare what M。 Dobrotvorsky says about the family in the
Government of Vladmir （Juridical Journal； Moscow； 1889； vol。 ii。
p。 283）。
