A Reckless Character, and Other Stories Part 43

And if people retort in the name of truth,--all he has to do is to repeat the famous question: "What is truth?"

And therefore, let us drink and be merry--and pray.

July, 1881.

THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE

In days of doubt, in days of painful meditations concerning the destinies of my fatherland, thou alone art my prop and my support, O great, mighty, just and free Russian language!--Were it not for thee, how could one fail to fall into despair at the sight of all that goes on at home?--But it is impossible to believe that such a language was not bestowed upon a great people!

June, 1882.

ENDNOTES:

[1] See endnote to "Old Portraits," in this volume.--TRANSLATOR.

[2] The Vigil-service (consisting of Vespers and Matins, or Compline and Matins) may be celebrated in unconsecrated buildings, and the devout not infrequently have it, as well as prayer-services, at home.--TRANSLATOR.

[3] Meaning the odour of the oil which must be used in preparing food, instead of b.u.t.ter, during the numerous fasts.--TRANSLATOR.

[4] The custom of thus dressing up as bears, clowns, and so forth, and visiting all the houses in the neighbourhood, is still kept up in rustic localities. St. Vasily's (Basil's) day falls on January 1.--TRANSLATOR.

[5] An arshin is twenty-eight inches.--TRANSLATOR

[6] A park for popular resort in the suburbs of Moscow.--TRANSLATOR

[7] Incorrectly written for Poltava.--TRANSLATOR

[8] The fatter the coachman, the more stylish he is. If he is not fat naturally, he adds cushions under his coat.--TRANSLATOR.

[9] That is, to the Trinity monastery of the first cla.s.s founded by St.

Sergius in 1340. It is situated about forty miles from Moscow, and is the most famous monastery in the country next to the Catacombs Monastery at Kieff.--TRANSLATOR.

[10] p.r.o.nounced _Aryol_.--TRANSLATOR.

[11] Such a sledge, drawn by the national team of three horses, will hold five or six persons closely packed.--TRANSLATOR.

[12] The word he used, _mytarstvo_, has a peculiar meaning. It refers specifically to the experiences of the soul when it leaves the body.

According to the teaching of divers ancient fathers of the church, the soul, as soon as it leaves the body, is confronted by accusing demons, who arraign it with all the sins, great and small, which it has committed during its earthly career. If its good deeds, alms, prayers, and so forth (added to the grace of G.o.d), offset the evil, the demons are forced to renounce their claims. These demons a.s.sault the soul in relays, each "trial," "suffering," or "tribulation" being a _mytarstvo_.

One ancient authority enumerates twenty such trials. The soul is accompanied and defended in its trials by angels, who plead its cause.

Eventually, they conduct it into the presence of G.o.d, who then a.s.signs to it a temporary abode of bliss or woe until the day of judgment. The derivation of this curious and utterly untranslatable word is as follows: _Mytar_ means a publican or tax-gatherer. As the publicans, under the Roman sway over the Jews, indulged in various sorts of violence, abuses, and inhuman conduct, calling every one to strict account, and even stationing themselves at the city gates to intercept all who came and went, _mytarstvo_ represents, in general, the taxing or testing of the soul, which must pay a ransom before it is released from its trials and preliminary tribulations.--TRANSLATOR.

[13] A folk-tale narrates how the Tzar Arkhidei obtained his beauteous bride by the aid of seven brothers called "The Seven Semyons," who were his peasants. The bride was distant a ten years' journey; but each of the brothers had a different "trade," by the combined means of which they were enabled to overcome time and s.p.a.ce and get the bride for their master.--TRANSLATOR.

[14] The word used in Russian indicates not only that he was a hereditary n.o.ble, but that his n.o.bility was ancient--a matter of some moment in a country where n.o.bility, both personal and hereditary, can be won in the service of the state.--TRANSLATOR.

[15] The change to _thou_ is made to express disrespect.--TRANSLATOR.

[16] A simple card-game.--TRANSLATOR.

[17] The word used is _popadya_, the feminine form of _pop(e)_, or priest. _Svyashtchennik_ is, however, more commonly used for priest.

--TRANSLATOR.

[18] June 29 (O. S.), July 12 (N. S.).--TRANSLATOR.

[19] In former days the sons of priests generally became priests. It is still so, in a measure.--TRANSLATOR.

[20] Therefore, there would be no one to maintain his widow and daughters, unless some young man could be found to marry one of the daughters, be ordained, take the parish, and a.s.sume the support of the family.--TRANSLATOR.

[21] Parish priests (the White Clergy) must marry before they are ordained sub-deacon, and are not allowed to remarry in the Holy Catholic Church of the East.--TRANSLATOR.

[22] A sourish, non-intoxicating beverage, prepared by putting water on rye meal or the crusts of sour black rye bread and allowing it to ferment.--TRANSLATOR.

[23] One of the ancient religious ballads sung by the "wandering cripples." Joseph (son of Jacob) is called by this appellation, and also a "tzarevitch," or king's son. For a brief account of these ballads see: "The Epic Songs of Russia" (Introduction), and Chapter I in "A Survey of Russian Literature" (I. F. Hapgood). This particular ballad is mentioned on page 22 of the last-named book.--TRANSLATOR.

(N.B. This note is placed here because there is no other book in English where any information whatever can be had concerning these ballads or this ballad.--I.F.H.)

[24] Ecclesiastics are regarded as plebeians by the gentry or n.o.bles in Russia.--TRANSLATOR.

[25] In the Catholic Church of the East the communion is received fasting. A little to one side of the priest stands a cleric holding a platter of blessed bread, cut in small bits, and a porringer of warm water and wine, which (besides their symbolical significance) are taken by each communicant after the Holy Elements, in order that there may be something interposed between the sacrament and ordinary food.--TRANSLATOR.

[26] That is, the particle of bread dipped in the wine, which is placed in the mouth by the priest with the sacramental spoon.

--TRANSLATOR.

[27] Turgenieff labelled this story and "A Reckless Character,"

"Fragments from My Own Memoirs and Those of Other People." In a foot-note he begs the reader not to mistake the "I" for the author's own personality, as it was adopted merely for convenience of narration.--TRANSLATOR.

[28] The Russian expression is: "A black cat had run between them."--TRANSLATOR.

[29] In Russia a partial second story, over the centre, or the centre and ends of the main story, is called thus.--TRANSLATOR.

[30] In Russian houses the "hall" is a combined ball-room, music-room, play-room, and exercising-ground; not the entrance hall.--TRANSLATOR.

[31] We should call such a watch a "turnip."--TRANSLATOR.

[32] The author is slightly sarcastic in the name he has chosen for this family, which is derived from _telyega_, a peasant-cart.--TRANSLATOR.

[33] St. Petersburg.--TRANSLATOR.