Tsar； who again lost consciousness。 This time he
found himself in a peasant's cottage。 The peas…
anta man of forty； with red face and blood…
shot eyeswas furiously striking the face of an
old man； who tried in vain to protect himself from
the blows。 The younger peasant seized the beard
of the old man and held it fast。
〃For shame！ To strike your father！〃
〃I don't care； I'll kill him！ Let them send
me to Siberia； I don't care！〃
The women were screaming。 Drunken officials
rushed into the cottage and separated father and
son。 The father had an arm broken and the son's
beard was torn out。 In the doorway a drunken
girl was making violent love to an old besotted
peasant。
〃They are beasts！〃 said the young Tsar。
Another touch of his guide's hand and the
young Tsar awoke in a new place。 It was the
office of the justice of the peace。 A fat； bald…
headed man； with a double chin and a chain round
his neck； had just risen from his seat； and was
reading the sentence in a loud voice； while a crowd
of peasants stood behind the grating。 There was
a woman in rags in the crowd who did not rise。
The guard gave her a push。
〃Asleep！ I tell you to stand up！〃 The
woman rose。
〃According to the decree of his Imperial
Majesty〃 the judge began reading the sen…
tence。 The case concerned that very woman。
She had taken away half a bundle of oats as she
was passing the thrashing…floor of a landowner。
The justice of the peace sentenced her to two
months' imprisonment。 The landowner whose
oats had been stolen was among the audi…
ence。 When the judge adjourned the court the
landowner approached； and shook hands； and the
judge entered into conversation with him。 The
next case was about a stolen samovar。 Then
there was a trial about some timber which had
been cut； to the detriment of the landowner。
Some peasants were being tried for having as…
saulted the constable of the district。
When the young Tsar again lost consciousness；
he awoke to find himself in the middle of a vil…
lage； where he saw hungry； half…frozen children
and the wife of the man who had assaulted the
constable broken down from overwork。
Then came a new scene。 In Siberia； a tramp
is being flogged with the lash； the direct result of
an order issued by the Minister of justice。 Again
oblivion； and another scene。 The family of a
Jewish watchmaker is evicted for being too poor。
The children are crying； and the Jew； Isaaks； is
greatly distressed。 At last they come to an ar…
rangement； and he is allowed to stay on in the
lodgings。
The chief of police takes a bribe。 The gov…
ernor of the province also secretly accepts a bribe。
Taxes are being collected。 In the village； while
a cow is sold for payment； the police inspector is
bribed by a factory owner； who thus escapes taxes
altogether。 And again a village court scene； and
a sentence carried into executionthe lash！
〃Ilia Vasilievich； could you not spare me
that？〃
〃No。〃
The peasant burst into tears。 〃Well； of
course； Christ suffered； and He bids us suffer
too。〃
Then other scenes。 The Stundistsa sect
being broken up and dispersed； the clergy re…
fusing first to marry； then to bury a Protestant。
Orders given concerning the passage of the Im…
perial railway train。 Soldiers kept sitting in the
mudcold； hungry； and cursing。 Decrees is…
sued relating to the educational institutions of the
Empress Mary Department。 Corruption ram…
pant in the foundling homes。 An undeserved
monument。 Thieving among the clergy。 The
reinforcement of the political police。 A woman
being searched。 A prison for convicts who are
sentenced to be deported。 A man being hanged
for murdering a shop assistant。
Then the result of military discipline： soldiers
wearing uniform and scoffing at it。 A gipsy en…
campment。 The son of a millionaire exempted
from military duty； while the only support of a
large family is forced to serve。 The university：
a teacher relieved of military service； while the
most gifted musicians are compelled to perform
it。 Soldiers and their debaucheryand the
spreading of disease。
Then a soldier who has made an attempt to
desert。 He is being tried。 Another is on trial
for striking an officer who has insulted his mother。
He is put to death。 Others； again； are tried for
having refused to shoot。 The runaway soldier
sent to a disciplinary battalion and flogged to
death。 Another； who is guiltless； flogged； and
his wounds sprinkled with salt till he dies。 One
of the superior officers stealing money belonging
to the soldiers。 Nothing but drunkenness； de…
bauchery； gambling； and arrogance on the part of
the authorities。
What is the general condition of the people：
the children are half…starving and degenerate； the
houses are full of vermin； an everlasting dull
round of labour； of submission； and of sadness。
On the other hand： ministers； governors of prov…
inces； covetous； ambitious； full of vanity； and
anxious to inspire fear。
〃But where are men with human feelings？〃
〃I will show you where they are。〃
Here is the cell of a woman in solitary confine…
ment at Schlusselburg。 She is going mad。 Here
is another womana girlindisposed； violated
by soldiers。 A man in exile； alone； embittered；
half…dead。 A prison for convicts condemned to
hard labour； and women flogged。 They are
many。
Tens of thousands of the best people。 Some
shut up in prisons； others ruined by false educa…
tion； by the vain desire to bring them up as we
wish。 But not succeeding in this； whatever might
have been is ruined as well； for it is made impos…
sible。 It is as if we were trying to make buck…
wheat out of corn sprouts by splitting the ears。
One may spoil the corn； but one could never
change it to buckwheat。 Thus all the youth of
the world； the entire younger generation； is being
ruined。
But woe to those who destroy one of these little
ones； woe to you if you destroy even one of
them。 On your soul； however； are hosts of them；
who have been ruined in your name； all of those
over whom your power extends。
〃But what can I do？〃 exclaimed the Tsar in
despair。 〃I do not wish to torture； to flog； to
corrupt； to kill any one！ I only want the welfare
of all。 Just as I yearn for happiness myself； so I
want the world to be happy as well。 Am I actu…
ally responsible for everything that is done in my
name？ What can I do？ What am I to do to
rid myself of such a responsibility？ What can I
do？ I do not admit that the responsibility for all
this is mine。 If I felt myself responsible for one…
hundredth part of it； I would shoot myself on the
spot。 It would not be possible to live if that were
true。 But how can I put an end； to all this evil？
It is bound up with the very existence of the
State。 I am the head of the State！ What am I
to do？ Kill myself？ Or abdicate？ But that
would mean renouncing my duty。 O God； O God；
God； help me！〃 He burst into tears and awoke。
〃How glad I am that it was only a dream；〃
was his first thought。 But when he began to
recollect what he had seen in his dream； and to
compare it with actuality； he realised that the
problem propounded to him in dream remained
just as important and as insoluble now that he was
awake。 For the first time the young Tsar became
aware of the heavy responsibility weighing on him；
and was aghast。 His thoughts no longer turned
to the young Queen and to the happiness he had
anticipated for that evening； but became centred
on the unanswerable question which hung over
him： 〃What was to be done？〃
In a state of great agitation he arose and went
into the next room。 An old courtier； a co…worker
and friend of his father's； was standing there in
the middle of the room in conversation with the
young Queen； who was on her way to join her
husband。 The young Tsar approached them； and
addressing his conversation principally to the old
courtier； told him what he had seen in his dream
and what doubts the dream had left in his mind。
〃That is a noble idea。 It proves the rare
nobility of your spirit；〃 said the old man。 〃But
forgive me for speaking franklyyou are too
kind to be an emperor； and you exaggerate your
responsibility。 In the first place； the state of
things is not as you imagine it to be。 The people
are not poor。 They are well…to…do。 Those who
are poor are poor through their own fault。 Only
the guilty are punished； and if an unavoidable
mistake does sometimes occur； it is like a thunder…
boltan accident； or the will of God。 You have
but one responsibility： to fulfil your task coura…
geously and to retain the power that is given to
you。 You wish the best for your people and God
sees that。 As for the errors which you have com…
mitted unwittingly； you can pray for forgiveness；
and God will guide you and pardon you。 All the
more because you have done nothing that demands
forgiveness； and there never have been and never
will be men possessed of such extraordinary qual…
ities as you and your father。 Therefore all we
implore you to do is to live； and to reward our
endless devotion and love with your favour； and
every one； save scoundrels who deserve no happi…
ness； will be happy。