登陆注册
5382300000082

第82章 CHAPTER XII(5)

Some idea of the relative numerical strength of these three categories may be obtained from the following figures. Thirty years ago in European Russia the merchant class (including wives and children) numbered about 466,000, the burghers about 4,033,000, and the artisans about 260,000. The numbers according to the last census are not yet available.

In 1870 the entire municipal administration was reorganised on modern West-European principles, and the Town Council (gorodskaya duma), which formed under the previous system the connecting link between the old-fashioned corporations, and was composed exclusively of members of these bodies, became a genuine representative body composed of householders, irrespective of the social class to which they might belong. A noble, provided he was a house-proprietor, could become Town Councillor or Mayor, and in this way a certain amount of vitality and a progressive spirit were infused into the municipal administration. As a consequence of this change the schools, hospitals, and other benevolent institutions were much improved, the streets were kept cleaner and somewhat better paved, and for a time it seemed as if the towns in Russia might gradually rise to the level of those of Western Europe. But the charm of novelty, which so often works wonders in Russia, soon wore off. After a few years of strenuous effort the best citizens no longer came forward as candidates, and the office-

bearers selected no longer displayed zeal and intelligence in the discharge of their duties. In these circumstances the Government felt called upon again to intervene. By a decree dated June 11, 1892, it introduced a new series of reforms, by which the municipal self-government was placed more under the direction and control of the centralised bureaucracy, and the attendance of the Town Councillors at the periodical meetings was declared to be obligatory, recalcitrant members being threatened with reprimands and fines.

This last fact speaks volumes for the low vitality of the institutions and the prevalent popular apathy with regard to municipal affairs. Nor was the unsatisfactory state of things much improved by the new reforms; on the contrary, the increased interference of the regular officials tended rather to weaken the vitality of the urban self government, and the so-called reform was pretty generally condemned as a needlessly reactionary measure. We have here, in fact, a case of what has often occurred in the administrative history of the Russian Empire since the time of Peter the Great, and to which I shall again have occasion to refer.

The central authority, finding itself incompetent to do all that is required of it, and wishing to make a display of liberalism, accords large concessions in the direction of local autonomy; and when it discovers that the new institutions do not accomplish all that was expected of them, and are not quite so subservient and obsequious as is considered desirable, it returns in a certain measure to the old principles of centralised bureaucracy.

The great development of trade and industry in recent years has of course enriched the mercantile classes, and has introduced into them a more highly educated element, drawn chiefly from the Noblesse, which formerly eschewed such occupations; but it has not yet affected very deeply the mode of life of those who have sprung from the old merchant families and the peasantry. When a merchant, contractor, or manufacturer of the old type becomes wealthy, he builds for himself a fine house, or buys and thoroughly repairs the house of some ruined noble, and spends money freely on parquetry floors, large mirrors, malachite tables, grand pianos by the best makers, and other articles of furniture made of the most costly materials. Occasionally--especially on the occasion of a marriage or a death in the family--he will give magnificent banquets, and expend enormous sums on gigantic sterlets, choice sturgeons, foreign fruits, champagne, and all manner of costly delicacies.

But this lavish, ostentatious expenditure does not affect the ordinary current of his daily life. As you enter those gaudily furnished rooms you can perceive at a glance that they are not for ordinary use. You notice a rigid symmetry and an indescribable bareness which inevitably suggest that the original arrangements of the upholsterer have never been modified or supplemented. The truth is that by far the greater part of the house is used only on state occasions. The host and his family live down-stairs in small, dirty rooms, furnished in a very different, and for them more comfortable, style. At ordinary times the fine rooms are closed, and the fine furniture carefully covered.

If you make a visite de politesse after an entertainment, you will probably have some difficulty in gaining admission by the front door. When you have knocked or rung several times, some one will come round from the back regions and ask you what you want. Then follows another long pause, and at last footsteps are heard approaching from within. The bolts are drawn, the door is opened, and you are led up to a spacious drawing-room. At the wall opposite the windows there is sure to be a sofa, and before it an oval table. At each end of the table, and at right angles to the sofa, there will be a row of three arm-chairs. The other chairs will be symmetrically arranged round the room. In a few minutes the host will appear, in his long double-breasted black coat and well-polished long boots. His hair is parted in the middle, and his beard shows no trace of scissors or razor.

同类推荐
  • Early Kings of Norway

    Early Kings of Norway

    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。
  • 陈秋岩诗集

    陈秋岩诗集

    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。
  • 二十四画品

    二十四画品

    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。
  • 通制条格

    通制条格

    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。
  • 比丘尼受戒录

    比丘尼受戒录

    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。
热门推荐
  • 许你独一无二

    许你独一无二

    唐青雨的标签众多,制药天才,学霸女神,天价心理咨询师,但其实她是一个“戏精”冒牌货!她冒充的是叶璟年的老婆!
  • 这种事不必向老板请示

    这种事不必向老板请示

    优秀的员工,肯定善于处理和老板的关系。优秀的员工懂得“不必请示”的精髓。对于优秀员工来说,“不必请示”是一种理念,一种和老板形成最佳关系的理念。“不必请示”的关键在于员工要积极主动,在于员工要读懂老板,知道怎么管理老板。
  • 魔王独宠呆萌妃

    魔王独宠呆萌妃

    一朝穿越,原本在现世里无依无靠的孤儿变成了王爷的庶女,本来以为能够过上好日子,却没有想到遭人计算被逐出王府,在跨出王府的那一刻,宫小暖就暗暗发誓,再见之时定是你们的忌日。他是人人都敬畏的魔王,却只独宠她一人,只倾心她一人。他深情:“即使知道是利用,我也心甘情愿。”她不屑:“我也只是个替身而已。”他说:“以后,我只为你终守一生。”她不言。历经磨难,历经风雨,她一直被伤害的内心是否可以渐渐愈合?
  • 倾城魔妃:逆天召唤师

    倾城魔妃:逆天召唤师

    据说,百里家让一个“没女”当了少主?要颜值没颜值,要实力没实力,要IQ没IQ?放屁!当众人鄙视的小废物再次睁开双眼,一双魔眼震慑天下,天才召唤师之名响彻苍澜大陆!没颜值?看她倾城之姿颠覆众生!没实力?看她强悍召唤兽闪瞎一众狗眼!没IQ?看她腹黑狡诈玩死一大票人!欠她的,伤她的,必将百倍讨回,让你血债血偿!然而……这个从一开始就以她为容器,背景无比强悍的灵魂体……大神,请问您是来撩我的吗?这个问题……大神很淡定地表示,嗯,本皇就是来撩你的!一念倾心,万年倾情。断不开的纠葛,只因为当初,多看了你一眼。
  • 诡报记者:午夜心跳,office离魂实录(新惊魂六计)

    诡报记者:午夜心跳,office离魂实录(新惊魂六计)

    午夜心跳,office离魂实录.不可终结的秉烛夜谈,等你来参加。 身临其境的感觉、凄婉的情感、恐怖的气氛、悬念重重的故事,就藏匿在我们身边……
  • 美丽新世界

    美丽新世界

    公元26世纪,在一个“新世界”里,近乎所有人都住在城市,并说着同一种语言。这些人在出生之前,就被预设成为贵、低、贱几种种姓,于工业化的育婴房里成批生产。在乌托邦集权主义者的统治下,新社会“安定、本分、稳定”,偶有对现状产生怀疑或叛逆心态者,均被视为不安定因素放逐到边远地区。在那里,人人安居乐业、衣食无忧,但家庭,个性,甚至喜怒哀乐却消失殆尽……
  • 善神传

    善神传

    好吃吗?”朝阳何尝不知他吃的是姐姐的肉?只是为了他那天龙帝干万人民!上辈子他好歹是神|此仇必须报
  • 百位世界杰出的谋略家(上)(世界名人成功启示录)

    百位世界杰出的谋略家(上)(世界名人成功启示录)

    人类的未来充满了希望,明天的世界令我们无比期待。从历史中汲取知识,感悟人生,追求真理,是每个生活在21世纪的现代人的价值取向。在无比灿烂的历史星空中,众多世界杰出人物犹如明烁夺目的明星,让历史的时空如此地浩瀚,并给后人留下了一份极其珍贵的文化遗产与智慧结晶。期望本书能让广大读者,尤其是青少年朋友们,从世界杰出的人物身上,学习与借鉴人生的智慧,创造卓越的人生。
  • 6点27分的朗读者

    6点27分的朗读者

    吉兰·维尼奥勒是钢铁怪兽“碎霸500”砸书机的仆人,每天过着从书籍化浆厂到家两点一线的生活,乏味而孤单。早晨6点27分,吉兰准时搭上去工厂的快铁列车,他总是挑一张靠门边的橘红色折叠座位坐下,然后小心翼翼地从皮包里拿出一个文件夹,又从文件夹里拿出一张夹在吸墨纸之间的书页,这页书是他头一天从怪兽的牙齿下偷偷保存下来的。吉兰把书页端放在垫板上,清了清嗓子开始大声朗读起来。不论是快铁中每天过着乏味生活的上班族,还是养老院中的老人们,都渴望从一两页断简残编的朗读声中,短暂地进入不一样的生活。有一天,吉兰在列车箱中捡到了一个U盘,其中装满了一个陌生女孩的文字,他的人生轨迹渐渐发生改变。
  • 限时抢婚:呆萌替身新娘

    限时抢婚:呆萌替身新娘

    大婚当日,他当着众宾客的面,深情款款的对着她叫着别的女人名字说:“宝儿,我真想化作你无名指上这颗戒指,这样我就能套住你的心一辈子。”这厮人前明明还在走温柔深情硬汉风,谁知道人后邪恶本质被揭露。“不准再去做那种不着调的工作。”“boss大人,你这分明就是职业歧视。我无非动动嘴皮子,而你……”“呵……钱多多,真有你的,你还真是演戏的行家……”话未说完,某人神色诡异的向她逼进……