登陆注册
5382300000057

第57章 CHAPTER VIII(6)

Woman, therefore, as woman, is not deserving of much consideration, but a particular woman, as Head of a Household, is entitled to speak on all questions directly affecting the household under her care. If, for instance, it be proposed to increase or diminish her household's share of the land and the burdens, she will be allowed to speak freely on the subject, and even to indulge in personal invective against her male opponents. She thereby exposes herself, it is true, to uncomplimentary remarks; but any which she happens to receive she is pretty sure to repay with interest--referring, perhaps, with pertinent virulence to the domestic affairs of those who attack her. And when argument and invective fail, she can try the effect of pathetic appeal, supported by copious tears.

As the Village Assembly is really a representative institution in the full sense of the term, it reflects faithfully the good and the bad qualities of the rural population. Its decisions are therefore usually characterised by plain, practical common sense, but it is subject to occasional unfortunate aberrations in consequence of pernicious influences, chiefly of an alcoholic kind. An instance of this fact occurred during my sojourn at Ivanofka. The question under discussion was whether a kabak, or gin-shop, should be established in the village. A trader from the district town desired to establish one, and offered to pay to the Commune a yearly sum for the necessary permission. The more industrious, respectable members of the Commune, backed by the whole female population, were strongly opposed to the project, knowing full well that a kabak would certainly lead to the ruin of more than one household; but the enterprising trader had strong arguments wherewith to seduce a large number of the members, and succeeded in obtaining a decision in his favour.

The Assembly discusses all matters affecting the Communal welfare, and, as these matters have never been legally defined, its recognised competence is very wide. It fixes the time for making the hay, and the day for commencing the ploughing of the fallow field; it decrees what measures shall be employed against those who do not punctually pay their taxes; it decides whether a new member shall be admitted into the Commune, and whether an old member shall be allowed to change his domicile; it gives or withholds permission to erect new buildings on the Communal land; it prepares and signs all contracts which the Commune makes with one of its own members or with a stranger; it interferes whenever it thinks necessary in the domestic affairs of its members; it elects the Elder--as well as the Communal tax-collector and watchman, where such offices exist--and the Communal herd-boy; above all, it divides and allots the Communal land among the members as it thinks fit.

Of all these various proceedings the English reader may naturally assume that the elections are the most noisy and exciting. In reality this is a mistake. The elections produce little excitement, for the simple reason that, as a rule, no one desires to be elected. Once, it is said, a peasant who had been guilty of some misdemeanor was informed by an Arbiter of the Peace--a species of official of which I shall have occasion to speak in the sequel--

that he would be no longer capable of filling any Communal office;

and instead of regretting this diminution of his civil rights, he bowed very low, and respectfully expressed his thanks for the new privilege which he had acquired. This anecdote may not be true, but it illustrates the undoubted fact that the Russian peasant regards office as a burden rather than as an honour. There is no civic ambition in those little rural commonwealths, whilst the privilege of wearing a bronze medal, which commands no respect, and the reception of a few roubles as salary afford no adequate compensation for the trouble, annoyance, and responsibility which a Village Elder has to bear. The elections are therefore generally very tame and uninteresting. The following description may serve as an illustration:

It is a Sunday afternoon. The peasants, male and female, have turned out in Sunday attire, and the bright costumes of the women help the sunshine to put a little rich colour into the scene, which is at ordinary times monotonously grey. Slowly the crowd collects on the open space at the side of the church. All classes of the population are represented. On the extreme outskirts are a band of fair-haired, merry children--some of them standing or lying on the grass and gazing attentively at the proceedings, and others running about and amusing themselves. Close to these stand a group of young girls, convulsed with half-suppressed laughter. The cause of their merriment is a youth of some seventeen summers, evidently the wag of the village, who stands beside them with an accordion in his hand, and relates to them in a half-whisper how he is about to be elected Elder, and what mad pranks he will play in that capacity.

When one of the girls happens to laugh outright, the matrons who are standing near turn round and scowl; and one of them, stepping forward, orders the offender, in a tone of authority, to go home at once if she cannot behave herself. Crestfallen, the culprit retires, and the youth who is the cause of the merriment makes the incident the subject of a new joke. Meanwhile the deliberations have begun. The majority of the members are chatting together, or looking at a little group composed of three peasants and a woman, who are standing a little apart from the others. Here alone the matter in hand is being really discussed. The woman is explaining, with tears in her eyes, and with a vast amount of useless repetition, that her "old man," who is Elder for the time being, is very ill, and cannot fulfil his duties.

"But he has not yet served a year, and he'll get better," remarks one peasant, evidently the youngest of the little group.

同类推荐
  • 五行大义

    五行大义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上洞玄宝元上经

    太上洞玄宝元上经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北户录

    北户录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Song and Legend From the Middle Ages

    Song and Legend From the Middle Ages

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 笠阁批评旧戏目

    笠阁批评旧戏目

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我是仙人怕谁啊

    我是仙人怕谁啊

    做为一个从仙界被诬陷迫害到人间的修仙者,他可以看穿很多事情和人心,作为强者他也有七情六欲,为什么要限制自己呢。
  • 海贼之病态人生

    海贼之病态人生

    魂穿到属于海贼的大航海时代,以恶魔果实打造最强躯体。自然系?超人系?动物系?先来接我一拳试试。“凯多,我听说你死不了?过来试试咱俩谁的狗命更硬!!”【剧情以原创为主,非跟船。】---------书友群:87664372!已有完本作品【死神之狂徒】【我真的不想穿越】【如何让我遇到你】等,完本有保证,入坑请放心。
  • 给经理人每天看的管理学

    给经理人每天看的管理学

    中国有句老话,叫做“春生,夏长,秋收,冬藏”,说的是世间万物的发展总是在“生长”与“收藏”间相互交替。企业的发展也是如此,只重业务(生长)而轻管理(收藏),很可能会刚站起来又很快倒下去,甚至被市场迅速淘汰掉。领导者学好管理、用好管理、企业才能做大做强,基业长青。
  • 本人独自在家(好看系列)

    本人独自在家(好看系列)

    在成长的道路上,最快乐的体验是求知;在探索的过程中,最需要的帮助是引导。希望这套书能引导小朋友们在知识的海洋里快乐遨游,成为小朋友们的良师益友!
  • 深宫楚歌笙

    深宫楚歌笙

    “如果再来一次,我还是会踏出楚家庄,踏上木鸢,会选择砸进他的喜轿里,会选择在这后宫里一步一步攀爬,走这一世一样的路。一切事情都环扣的恰到好处,每一步都没有别的路可以走,只有向前,才能活下来。”
  • 楚游日记(节选)

    楚游日记(节选)

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 伪装成妖灵界大少爷的注意事项

    伪装成妖灵界大少爷的注意事项

    一个是任意随性的不良少女,一个是人见人爱的优等生,这样的两个人的相处方式是?“凭什么?”——一直过的随心所欲的颜依为了扮演好玩世不恭的大少爷不得不小心谨慎起来?“我刚开始有点喜欢他,没想到他竟然想掐死我!”“走着瞧。”——一直顺风顺水的寒湘要在妖灵界最底层和各种难缠的家伙们斗智斗勇?“这种除了我以外所有NPC都开了挂的感觉是怎么回事!”“在妖灵界,你能找到你想要的一切。”不约而同来到妖灵界的我们,到底是为了什么?这一切究竟是阴谋还是命运?谢谢各位看官赏脸来看,喜欢就收藏一下,爱您。
  • 糖尿病科学养生滋补食谱

    糖尿病科学养生滋补食谱

    本书的食谱在兼顾中国传统饮食的基础上,更多地引入现代营养饮食方法,反映了当代营养学治疗糖尿病的新理论、新方法和新技术。本书内容丰富,原料易懂,制作简便,安全可靠,既适合广大糖尿病患者及家属选用,也是临床营养师及医护人员的理想参考书。
  • 血海深仇

    血海深仇

    张家峁二百零四口乡亲惨遭鬼子屠杀,只有强子等三人幸免于难。为了报这血海深仇,强子等人钻山林,搞武器,救国民党军军官,成立抗日游击军,和鬼子进行殊死搏斗......
  • 一笑倾城:傲娇王妃又撩人

    一笑倾城:傲娇王妃又撩人

    她叫王沐,18岁妹子一枚,竟然一朝成了14岁的王府弃女王慕儿,不过这副躯体也太弱鸡了吧,一副营养不良的样子!