The courtyard girls are the landowner's concubines. Mass practice of rape of serf children and women by landowners under tsarism

All the following days at the Kirsanov estate the only conversation was about Varya’s future marriage. Nikolai Petrovich and Agafya Semyonovna, as sensible people, decided not to stop only at considering the candidate for husband of the daughter of the neighboring landowner Ivan Snegirev, but to think about other possible options, of which, it must be said, there were not so many. Prince Pyotr Elizarovich Kalachev, a widower and an ancient old man, was not suitable for the role of Varenka’s husband. The fact that he was fabulously rich did not help the situation. During rare visits to the Kirsanovs, the prince constantly forgot where he was, moreover, he was deaf in his ears, so he endlessly asked his interlocutors. The Kirsanovs also did not like the next candidate. It was Count Nevolin - a man who seemed dishonest. It was rumored that he was an avid card player and a frequent visitor to taverns. So this candidacy was rejected immediately. Another game also did not take place. A close friend of Agafya Semyonovna, a lady like her, wooed Varvara with her young son. But the problem was that the young man himself was still green and showed no interest in the bride, and the initiative to marry him came solely from his caring mother. That was the end of the short list of contenders for Varya’s hand.

Only Ivan Ivanovich Snegirev remained. He was given preference because he is a thrifty man, not too old, but already has sufficient life experience, and is quite rich. An important criterion when choosing a future husband was the fact that the estates of the Kirsanovs and Snegirevs were located next door. After all, Varvara did not want to travel far from home, otherwise she could see her family at least every day. Agafya Semyonovna insisted most of all on her daughter’s marriage to her neighbor. In the district, everyone she knew vied with each other to tell her that Varenka’s alliance with Ivan Ivanovich would be a profitable match. Varvara will not know troubles and troubles and, in the opinion of the prudent mother, will be behind him as if behind a stone wall, and therefore happy. After much hesitation and doubt, it was decided to give Snegirev’s consent to a quick wedding with Varvara.

Vladimir hurried to Snegirev’s estate, deciding to get to know his sister’s future husband better. He did not know Ivan Ivanovich at all, since he himself had not been in Kirsanov for a long time, and Snegirev had not long ago settled in these parts. Vladimir planned this visit for a reason. His main goal was, among other things, to see Alice at least out of the corner of his eye, although he unsuccessfully hid this fact even from himself...

Kirsanov quickly reached the neighboring estate: fortunately, it was located nearby. He remembered these places by heart, since all his childhood he ran to this yard - to fool around with the neighbor's children, and most importantly - to see the blond serf girl with the beautiful name Alice. Here is the manor's house. It was approximately the same as the Kirsanovs' house, only a little larger - the same architectural design, the same two floors with high windows. The same small veranda, decorated with stucco, as theirs. Around the estate there was a small garden with apple, cherry and pear trees, which in this winter season stood completely bare, and their branches bent under the weight of the snow.

The door was opened to him by the owner of the house himself in a long striped robe, tied at the waist with a belt with golden tassels. Both were silent for several moments, looking at each other appraisingly. Vladimir noted that Snegirev was a middle-aged man, tall and stocky. His round face with a large nose was framed by greasy hair of an indeterminate color, parted in the middle. Small dark eyes looked carefully and studyingly. Snegirev was smoking a pipe. He had the appearance of a man pleased with himself, important and respectable. Ivan Ivanovich also examined the guest. In front of him stood a handsome, confident young man, dressed in the latest metropolitan fashion, on whose face a bright, inquisitive mind was clearly visible.

“Hello, dear sir,” Snegirev said with a bow. – I’m glad to see you, Vladimir Nikolaevich. Well, why are you standing in the hallway? Come in, let's have some tea.

Vladimir proceeded to the living room, where the serf maid was preparing the table. He looked around: the large spacious room was furnished quite richly, but Kirsanov did not notice the presence of taste in the interior. Clumsy paintings of still lifes and country landscapes hung here and there on the walls with colorful wallpaper; the sofas and armchairs were littered with pillows of different shapes, colors and sizes; At the head of the table stood a huge samovar with a copper belly polished to a shine.

Vladimir had been to the Snegirevs’ estate before, when the late Margarita Nikolaevna, Ivan Ivanovich’s mother, ruled here. At that time, everything here was different: the desire for luxury and the impeccable taste of the hostess, a former St. Petersburg lady of state, were felt in the decoration of the house. Now everything has literally changed in the situation, and, as it seemed to Vladimir, not for the better.

“Have a bite of my jam, dear Vladimir Nikolaevich,” Snegirev intoned when Vladimir settled down at the table in one of the spacious armchairs. - This year such a noble raspberry was born! They were already collecting and collecting...

Here Ivan Ivanovich drew attention to the ancient ring that adorned the ring finger of Vladimir’s left hand.

What a lovely thing,” he couldn’t help exclaiming, looking at the facets of a large emerald.

Thank you. “This is a family heirloom,” Kirsanov said rather dryly. For some reason he didn’t like Snegirev at first glance, but since the decision to give Varya for him was made, Vladimir had no choice but to voice it. - But I come to you on business.

Did they really come to tell me Varenka’s answer? - the neighbor squinted.

You guessed it, Ivan Ivanovich. Father and mother thought for a long time and decided to marry Varya to you. She agrees to become your wife.

What happiness! - Snegirev sang. - Now you and I will become related in the near future. Let me hug you, darling! - He hugged Vladimir and kissed him on the cheeks.

For some reason, Kirsanov felt disgusted, because Snegirev seemed somehow fake to him. There was something ingratiating in his demeanor.

Vladimir! Do you mind if I call you that?

Kirsanov nodded reluctantly.

Varenka will move in with me immediately after the wedding, but my estate requires major renovations. What if you, in a kindred way, helped me fix the roof and add an extension? The barn is completely leaky - it also needs to be patched up...

Kirsanov frowned. This man began to irritate him.

Let’s do this,” continued the practical neighbor, “send your serfs to me.” Let them start doing the repairs now, so that when Varya moves in with me, everything will be ready for us. Okay, relative? – Snegirev winked disgustingly at his future brother-in-law.

At this point it became completely unbearable for Vladimir to talk to this man, who had only practical benefits on his mind. But he still held back.

“We’ll think about this issue some more,” he answered dryly. – I don’t decide this - ask your mother and father.

What about the dowry?

This is also not for me,” the young prince bluntly interrupted him.

“Okay,” Ivan Ivanovich hastened to change the subject. - Why are we all tea and tea? Let's have a drink of my plum liqueur on this occasion, shall we? Alice! – he shouted in an unexpectedly authoritative tone. - Where the hell are you, bungler?! – and then smiled guiltily at Vladimir. - Such an awkward girl, everything falls out of her hands. And it’s all the dead mother’s fault - she cheated the hangers-on!

... Alice... Vladimir, as soon as he heard this name, almost choked on his tea. Then Alice entered the room with a tray in her hands, not daring to raise her eyes to the gentlemen. In a simple, rough dress and a white apron, she was still as beautiful as an angel. Her blonde, wavy hair was pulled back into tight braids at the back of her head. There were curls curling beautifully at the temples, which had gotten out of the hairstyle. She began to place a decanter of liquor, two cut glasses and plates of appetizers on the table. Vladimir almost suffocated from the rising feelings, but continued to remain calm. Suddenly Alice recognized him, blushed with embarrassment, and her hands began to tremble.

Why are you, girl, getting up on the wrong foot?! The day has just started, and your hands are already shaking! – Ivan Ivanovich shouted at her menacingly. - I have trouble with these serfs! Mother dissolved them, may she rest in heaven! This one, for example, lived with her like a god in her bosom! She thinks of herself as a mistress, you shameless woman!

Alice began to pour the liqueur into Kirsanov’s glass, and then their eyes met. She gasped and knocked back the full glass. The red liquid splashed right onto Vladimir's coat.

Oh, you wretch! – Snegirev seethed, roughly grabbing her thin wrist.

“Nothing, nothing,” said Prince Kirsanov, taking off his frock coat and hanging it on the back of his chair.

Alice took the coat and awkwardly began to rub the stain with her hands.

Oh you chicken! Did you want Porky? - Snegirev roared, completely forgetting about the guest in his anger. - Yashka! Come here, you idiot!

Our friend Yashka Fedotov stood at attention like a bayonet in front of the formidable master.

Well, take her into the yard and pour her some hot drinks on the first day! – Snegirev pointed to Alisa, who turned pale and could barely stand on her feet from fear.

What are you talking about, sir?! - Vladimir was amazed, starting to boil. - Flog for such a minor offense?! Stop it!

Why not flog? The whip is sometimes useful! - Snegirev raged. - It’s a good thing to dirty guests with wine! Ten lashes for her, the clumsy fool, to be more attentive in future! Did you hear that, Yakov?!

The execution began right there – right in front of the guest. Snegirev was not at all embarrassed by Vladimir’s presence during the flogging of the serf. Yashka had no choice but to lead Alice to the yard, but inside he was raging with hatred for the tyrant. Snegirev also went out into the yard to enjoy how Yashka would flog the poor girl. Vladimir hurried after them. On orders, Yashka took the whip, but did not want to beat Alice.

No,” he said firmly. “You’d better whip me, not her!”

Look, a hero has emerged,” Snegirev laughed evilly. - Hey, Prokhor, Semyon! Take this holy fool away and lock him in the barn. I’ll deal with him later - I’ll have him torn out for disobedience.

Two hefty men came up and took the struggling Yashka away, who, forgetting about himself, wanted to protect Alice at all costs. Vladimir looked at all this with a shudder. It was unbearable for him to endure this performance any longer. He simply could not allow Alice, his beloved, sweet and best in the world, to be beaten and humiliated by some rude village lout. And Snegirev, maddened with rage, took up the matter himself. He grabbed the rod and already raised it over the trembling Alice...

Here Vladimir’s patience reached its limit. He snatched the rod from the scoundrel's hands.

Oh, you nonentity! – Vladimir shouted to Snegirev, turning white with anger. - Don't you dare touch her! Otherwise you will taste my fists yourself!

What-o-o????? – hissed the rather surprised Snegirev, terribly widening his ox eyes at Vladimir. - I want to and will hit! At least I’ll beat her to death like a beast. She is my property! And you, puppy, are not my order!

Vladimir barely restrained himself from grabbing the scoundrel by the breasts, but he understood that this was not the act of an adult man. Therefore he said the following:

Listen, sell the girl to me.

Snegirev squinted. Something is wrong here, he thought.

What do you need it for? – he was sincerely amazed. - This stupid woman doesn’t know how to do anything around the house. When he starts washing the dishes, he ends up filling half the plates. He can’t even serve it on the table like a human being. Only losses from her. It's a gift that she's cute. Then he looked carefully at Vladimir, then at Alice, and suddenly it dawned on Ivan Ivanovich. He realized that young Kirsanov treated this serf in a special way, and with a trained eye he caught that Vladimir was seriously falling for this beautiful girl.

Hee hee hee, it turns out you’re a prankster, Vladimir Nikolaevich,” Snegirev jokingly shook his plump finger at him. - I understand you, if I were younger, I wouldn’t have missed such a cutie either!

Shut up, scum! – Kirsanov muttered through his teeth.

Don't get angry, you brat! We will soon be relatives; we don’t need unnecessary arguments. Have it your way – I’ll sell you this doll.

Snegirev realized that Vladimir was ready to pay any money for Alice, and therefore set an exorbitantly high price for her. Vladimir took a stack of banknotes from his coat pocket and, wincing, handed them to Snegirev. He greedily rushed to count them. Having counted the money, he raised a questioning glance at Vladimir.

This is not enough. I see, for you, Mr. Kirsanov, this girl is worth twice as much! If you added your wonderful ring to the price... But I still don’t understand why you were so given it?! They've probably decided to make her his mistress?!

How dare you, pig! Here, take it and choke! – with these words, Vladimir took off his finger an expensive ring with a large emerald, which cost fabulous money and for which one could buy almost half a village of serf souls, and threw it to Snegiryova.

“Take the girl,” the villain rejoiced, immediately putting the ring on his plump finger.

As he was leaving, Kirsanov said:

Yes, here’s another thing: you won’t see Varvara like your own ears! Judging by the way you treat the servants, I can imagine what a “sweet” life awaits my sister with you!

But let me! Do you have the right to decide what should be and what should not be? In the end, your father has the final say.

Farewell!

Stop getting excited, young man! Let’s better come to an agreement: you will not interfere with my marriage with Varvara Nikolaevna, and I, in turn, will keep my mouth shut. Then your respectable parents will not know that their beloved son is getting mixed up with the courtyard girls.

I have the honor! - Vladimir said. “Let’s go,” he said to Alice, who was tearful and shocked to the core. She slowly followed him.

On the way to the Kirsanov estate, both Vladimir and Alisa were silent at first. Vladimir was embarrassed because he involuntarily showed his true attitude towards Alice. He reproached himself for not being able to contain his feelings, and his love, which he had so carefully hidden, burst out like a whirlwind. He felt that Alice understood this. After all, even a blind man could see that the young prince could not so reverently protect a girl he was indifferent to, forgetting about everything in the world. Alice, who had already somewhat come to her senses after what had happened, looked at Vladimir as a hero, her savior. She regarded his action as the height of nobility. He paid an exorbitant amount of money for her, for which he could have bought a whole village of serfs like her... He quarreled to smithereens with Snegirev, and yet he almost became his relative... But the most important thing is that Alisa again felt, that she is dear to him, that he still burns with love and passion for her. She read this in his eyes, in his words, in Vladimir’s entire behavior in Snegirev’s house... But why, why then, there, by the river, was he so cruel?...

Vladimir, I am so grateful to you..., - here she corrected herself, - to you....

Kirsanov again put on a mask of coldness and indifference.

“Don’t,” he interrupted her somewhat rudely, “just be careful not to think that I protected you out of love.” This is not true at all. I felt sorry for you on a purely human level. I couldn’t allow this monster to beat you like a dog.

Alice was painfully pricked by his last words, spoken in such an arrogant tone. But she understood what was going on. Yes, Vladimir still loves her... And he loves her no stronger than before the separation! Everything about him spoke of this...

And Yashka? Would you really stand up for him so ardently? Would they even give up the family ring for him? – Alice looked slyly into the eyes of her new master. There was a challenge in her quiet but firm voice. Vladimir was confused. He could not admit that his action was determined not so much by the noble qualities of his soul as by love, although this was obvious.

Yashka? And what? I’ll buy Yashka too! Really, why is he worse than you?! I'll go and buy it tomorrow!

Alice understood that Yashka, having disobeyed the tyrant master, fell into his disfavor, which brought disaster upon himself.

Oh, that would be just wonderful! – she cried joyfully, for a moment forgetting about her differences with Kirsanov. “Vladimir, you are so kind...” She almost threw herself on his neck.

For you – Vladimir Nikolaevich,” Kirsanov forced her to instantly descend to the ground. Alice lowered her eyes offended, but remained silent. They didn't say a word the rest of the way home.

Vladimir's parents and sister were waiting at home. They sat in the living room, silent and excited. Agafya Semyonovna was wrapped in a new shawl that Volodenka had brought her from St. Petersburg, and every now and then she glanced out the window. Nikolai Petrovich pretended to be carried away by the book, but in fact all his thoughts were only about Varya’s fate. Varvara herself seemed a little pale, only her cheeks glowed with a blush, betraying the confusion of her feelings. Finally Vladimir appeared. Alice followed him modestly.

Come in,” Vladimir said to Alice deliberately unceremoniously.

Nikolai Petrovich and Agafya Semyonovna looked at their son questioningly. They remembered that it was with this fragile neighboring serf girl that their son had fallen madly in love with before leaving for St. Petersburg. Varya was also puzzled. Her eyes widened.

What is this, mon cher? Why did you bring Ivan Ivanovich’s serf to us? – Agafya Semyonovna could not restrain herself. In her loving eyes one could read misunderstanding and hidden fear.

Now she will be a servant in our house,” Vladimir announced to his parents and sister, pointing to Alice, who timidly hesitated in the doorway, modestly looking down. – I bought it from Snegirev. Yes, by the way, I think Varya shouldn’t marry this disgusting man.

Alisa was hiding behind Vladimir’s back all this time.

Wait in the corridor,” he told her commandingly.

Nodding obediently, the girl left.

Here Vladimir told the whole story with Snegirev to his family, keeping silent, however, about some details and his emotions. He also did not say that he gave Snegirev a family ring of extraordinary value.

What a surprise,” the elder Kirsanov was amazed when Vladimir finished speaking. “And we thought of entrusting this man with the fate of our daughter... You’re right, son, Varvara would have suffered grief with him.” Snegirev seemed to us to be the sweetest person, but he turned out to be selfish, and even a tyrant...

Well, Varenka, that means it’s not fate. “Don’t worry,” said Princess Kirsanova, turning to her daughter, who was greatly impressed by Vladimir’s story.

And I, mother, must admit, I don’t regret this turn of events at all. And in general,” she announced, “I don’t want to get married yet.” - Childish joy was visible on the young girl’s face.

Nikolai Petrovich stroked his daughter’s head approvingly. Frankly speaking, he himself did not want such a fate for Varvara - to sit forever in the wilderness, whileing away her days with embroidery and idle conversations with the neighboring ladies. Varenka, with her spirituality, penchant for art, and dreaminess, will soon wither away in the village with her boring husband. The old prince wanted something different for the children. St. Petersburg is where real life is! There they give balls more often, there is opera, and theaters, and you can make interesting acquaintances. It’s not like in Kirsanov - balls are given once a season (and then at best), the same people are all around - all neighboring landowners. Either the Kirsanovs go to visit the Martynovs, then the Martynovs go on a return visit to the Kirsanovs. Boredom... Therefore, unlike his wife, who did not even want to think about Varenka and Volodya leaving their father’s house for a long time, protected them, cherished them in every possible way and protected them from the harsh truth of life, Nikolai Petrovich wanted the children to move to St. Petersburg, and saw their future is there.

There is no need to be upset about this Snegirev. “No matter what is done, everything is for the better,” said the father of the family.

“And I’m still racking my brains with this new serf that Volodya bought today,” Agafya Semyonovna said thoughtfully, meaning Alice. - Where should I define it? I remember that from childhood this girl was under the special care of the late Margarita Nikolaevna, may she rest in heaven. She’s no good in the kitchen, and she won’t be of much use in the field either...

Father, mother, Volodya,” Varvara suddenly turned to her family. Her eyes were shining. - Can Alice become my maid? She could help me choose dresses for the evening, clean the room, choose a hairstyle and jewelry. I’m bored with Anisya and Tatyana, who don’t even know how to read—there’s absolutely nothing to talk to them about. And with the old governess, Madame Julien, who, although very dear to me, sometimes does not understand me at all. And Alice is educated, albeit a serf. I would have more fun with her.

As you wish, darling. Indeed, this is not a bad idea,” the princess agreed. “Then I’ll go show her her new duties, explain everything and bring her up to date.” Please excuse me.

Agafya Semyonovna got up, rustling her dress, and went out into the corridor, where Alice was still standing timidly, fiddling with her starched apron.

“Varenka, go to your room,” said Nikolai Petrovich.

There was some kind of wariness in his gaze. Vladimir immediately noticed this and realized that his father wanted to talk to him alone, and this conversation would most likely concern Alice... And his fears were confirmed. As soon as Varvara easily walked, walking with soft slippers on the parquet floor, up the stairs to her bedroom, Nikolai Petrovich made a gesture to his son to understand that he should remain in place and not go anywhere - there would be a serious conversation. To his surprise, Vladimir realized that he was quite worried. You need to collect your thoughts and under no circumstances give your father the opportunity to understand what he really feels. No, he is no longer the naive youth he was before, and he will not show his weakness to anyone. And even more so for his father... Vladimir felt the heat rush into his face. Is he really afraid? After all, this is his father - the one who always shared his interests, indulged all his boyish games and amusements, the one whom he loved and whom he tried to imitate. Oh, how many hours like this passed in this cozy old living room talking with Nikolai Petrovich! How much laughter and cheerful conversations these walls, covered with golden wallpaper with a green pattern, remembered, this grandfather clock with heavy weights, the marble bust of Caesar on the mantelpiece... How he loved to play chess with his father on the long winter evenings. Everything here has not changed at all, as if time stood still and these years of separation did not exist.

Nikolai Petrovich sat comfortably in his favorite chair, upholstered in dark green velvet, wearing his usual dressing gown, as always. The same youthful, fit as before, although at the temples, as Vladimir noticed, gray hair was already streaked with silver. Vladimir chuckled to himself - but his father finally got rid of his old-fashioned Catherine wig! And how he loved him! I powdered it with flour and curled it, removed it only at night and stored it on a special stand. I thought the century would not part with him! But no - the craving for the progressive in Prince Kirsanov defeated the old habit, which Vladimir was very happy about.

“I’ll tell you what, son,” Nikolai Petrovich began in a strange voice. Vladimir felt that the prince was extremely collected and was now selecting every word, and that this conversation was difficult for him, but necessary. - Now that the serf you saved lives with us, you need to control yourself. I remember how you treated her before, before you left.

“What are you talking about, dad?” - the young barchuk pretended that he did not understand what was going on and tried with all his appearance to show indifference to what was happening.

Your escape with that peasant woman is still before my eyes.

The prince remembered that foggy early morning when the fugitives were caught on the old broken road that led through the forest.

He will not forget how desperately Vladimir’s eyes burned then, his hot speeches, the metal in his voice... And later, getting ready for St. Petersburg, his son did not utter a word all day. He didn’t even kiss his mother goodbye, but only a silent reproach could be read in his gaze... It was this icy gaze that the prince was afraid of all the years of Vladimir’s studies; Until his son’s arrival, he was worried that he had lost him forever. But Vladimir returned completely different, as if nothing had happened...

And what? Do you think I’m still so stupid that I’ll run away from home with this rootless girl again in a crappy carriage without any means of support? - Vladimir chuckled. - No, father, that was a long time ago. Now I'm not the same.

Yes, I see that life in the capital has changed you. - Nikolai Petrovich looked carefully at the matured Vladimir and found that he had really changed: he picked up fashionable words, began to speak French fluently, wore a modern hairstyle and dress. In a word, he acquired the luster of a true Petersburger. But what embarrassed the prince was that, as it seemed to him, his boy had become very arrogant and even mocking.

Yes, father, you are right. Among the wonderful flower garden of roses that surrounded me in the capital, Alice can only be compared to a field daisy.

Well, don't tell me, son. This girl is really very pretty. And her manners are not bad.

For our outback, it’s possible. But not for St. Petersburg. Father, I’ll tell you quite frankly: I bought the girl from Snegirev only out of pity. I don't feel anything more for her.

That’s wonderful,” Nikolai Petrovich rose from his chair. - And don't forget about it. I'm glad that we understood each other.

Vladimir nodded.

Agafya Semyonovna nodded her head and ordered Alice to follow her. She showed the girl the entire estate and announced that now Alice would have new responsibilities: she would become a servant of Agafya Semyonovna’s beloved daughter, seventeen-year-old Varenka. Alice, not without surprise, looked at the tastefully decorated rooms of the Kirsanov estate and found their decoration very worthy. She had a perfect idea of ​​what the manor’s house looked like, because she lived on Snegirev’s estate. But taste, a sense of proportion in everything, the combination of wealth and modesty inherent in intelligent persons, made a pleasant impression on Alice.

Alice realized that the master's chambers were located on the second floor, where a wooden staircase led, the railings of which were decorated with large polished balls. The most spacious of them belonged to the prince and princess. Next came smaller rooms - the bedrooms of Vladimir and Varenka, which were connected by a common balcony. On the ground floor of the mansion there is a living room, kitchen and servants' quarters.

It should be noted that a woman’s hand was immediately felt in the house, because Agafya Semyonovna managed the household affairs. The princess was never known for her toughness; She treated the servants with understanding, although she could scold them well for their offense, but immediately regret the words spoken in the heat of the moment.

Princess Kirsanova showed Alice her new room, where she would now live - not the smallest, but not the largest - exactly the same as that of the other Kirsanov serfs, whose duties included serving the masters around the house.

There were seven servants: two cooks, a laundress, two girls (one with the lady, the other with Varvara), a stove maker and a groom. The latter was old and was no longer doing his job well. Varvara also had an old governess, a Parisian woman, who raised the young princess from childhood and taught her French.

“Here, my dear, this is where you will live now,” said Agafya Semyonovna to Alice.

Thank you very much, I am very grateful to you,” the girl said, bowing.

Indeed, the room was quite good. Clean, bright and generally very comfortable: near a small window overlooking the courtyard there was a wooden bed, neatly made; An old but strong wardrobe could hold the entire simple wardrobe of a maid. The rough, but at the same time durable table was covered with a colorful tablecloth with floral patterns. The same curtains decorated the window. Two chairs with slightly wobbly legs stood at the table. Of course, it’s not rich, but you can live. And much better than in a damp and cold hut, where you had to huddle with your grandmother and burn a torch in order to somehow warm up. The greedy Snegirev didn’t even provide enough firewood for his servants - there was only enough for half the winter... And the winters were harsh...

“Get comfortable,” said Agafya Semyonovna and was already turning to leave, but suddenly changed her mind. “Yes, here’s another thing,” she frowned, “it was all, of course, a long time ago, but forget about dreaming about my son.” And remember your place.

Alice bit her lip.

I hope you understand me, beauty.

With these words, Agafya Semyonovna left. But a bitter aftertaste remained in Alice’s soul.

On the same day, Vladimir hurried to Snegirev’s estate to buy the groom Yashka. Kirsanov understood that there was no point in delaying, because the guy would face a severe flogging for disobedience, and this could not be allowed.

The day gradually faded; A lilac twilight fell on the village. Vladimir always loved this hour - he liked the rapid transition of a short winter day to a chilly night. The last ray of sunlight slid across the snowy surface, illuminating everything around with a soft pink caramel light. And then it disappeared, giving way to thick purple shadows that lay on the snow in bizarre patterns.

The same massive door, the same garden, sleeping under a layer of snow. Vladimir felt that he was gradually boiling - rage was again taking over him. Remembering how this clumsy hillbilly Snegirev, who was not worth even Alice’s hair, tried to raise his hand against her, young Kirsanov clenched his teeth, and his clenched fists turned white. Just to hold back and not lose composure...

Vladimir unceremoniously burst into Snegirev’s room, almost knocking down his servant, who was about to report the arrival of the young master, but did not have time. Ivan Ivanovich lazily sat in a velvet chair, in the same long master's robe, finishing a cup of tea with raspberries and snacking on a huge sugar bun. On the plump finger of his left hand was a large emerald ring.

Snegirev almost choked on his bun and coughed so hard that his face turned burgundy and large tears appeared in his eyes.

What do you need? – he finally cleared his throat and inquired, surprised by such a daring visit from Kirsanov.

“I came for the groom,” said Vladimir, with difficulty suppressing his hatred. - I think that's enough. – He handed Snegirev a hefty stack of banknotes.

Ivan Ivanovich immediately softened, and a condescending smile began to play on his clean-shaven face again.

Hmm... Groom? Yashka, or what? You, my dear, seem to have decided to buy up all my household. But it's up to you. Why not. – Snegirev squinted.

Where is he? – Vladimir was clearly losing patience.

“He’s been lying in the stable since lunch,” the scoundrel said with a grin, examining his ring, “apparently, Prokhor and Semyon gave him a good hard time - after the spanking the fool didn’t get up.” Maybe he's already dead like a dog? You, Vladimir Nikolaevich, would not be lazy and go to the stables yourself and take a look - do you still need such a worker?

Having barely listened to Snegirev, Kirsanov rushed into the yard. He unlocked the heavy bolt of the wooden stable and literally flew inside.

Two bay mares silently chewed hay. Yashka was not visible... When the young prince’s eyes got used to the twilight, he made out that something was moving in the darkness. Yakov was lying on the floor covered with frozen straw. Scarlet blood came out through a torn shirt made of rough cloth...

What a monster this Snegirev is! Hey you guy! - Vladimir bent over Yashka. - Now I am your new master. Forget the old master. You are alive?

“Alive,” the poor fellow responded barely audibly.

Can you go?

Yashka stood up, groaning, but almost fell. He became very weak after being brutally beaten with rods.

“Let me help,” Vladimir offered his help.

Thank you, Vladimir Nikolaevich, but I’ll do it myself somehow. - Yashka, with his characteristic modesty, refused help, especially since it was offered by a man of noble blood, which embarrassed him greatly.

Staggering, Yakov slowly followed the new master. On their way out, they came across Snegirev, who could not deny himself the pleasure of once again mocking Yashka and the unlucky young barchuk, who for some reason decided to buy up his servants. A mocking expression froze on Ivan Ivanovich’s face.

Perhaps you, Mr. Kirsanov, will take away the grandmother who lived with the girl Aliskaya? Why do I need this old one?! What do I get from it? And so I’ll get rid of their rotten hut, so that it’s free, even if I can disassemble it for firewood - and that’s good for the household!

And I'll take it! – Vladimir even responded cheerfully. – The peasants have to deal with you alone. And they are people too!

So, Alice began to live on the Kirsanov estate. The grandmother was moved in with her on the same day, to the great joy of both.

Praskovya Nikitichna never tired of rejoicing at her new home and repeated that she would pray for Vladimir Nikolaevich, that he saved her Alice from the tyrant’s wrath and gave them a warm shelter. She couldn’t imagine how they would have survived this winter in the old hut, which was completely rickety from heavy snowfalls and dilapidation and was barely standing.

And Yakov, a strong and hard-working guy, was hired as a groom. Vladimir’s father and mother were delighted to have such a valuable worker, because Lukich, their groom, although still strong, was so old that no one could tell how old he really was. As soon as Yashka’s wounds healed, which happened quite quickly, thanks to his youth and excellent health, he began his duties.

All three - Alisa, Praskovya Nikitichna, and Yashka - were very happy about this turn of events. They finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, now they are no longer afraid of the cold winter with severe frosts, snowstorms and winds.

Serfdom existed in Rus' de facto since the 11th century, but was officially confirmed by the Council Code of 1649 and abolished only in 1861.

In 1741, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna issued a letter banning serfs from being loyal, thereby indicating that involuntary people were not even included in the rank of members of society. Violence against serfs was the norm in Russia in the 18th century.
Peasants were treated like livestock, they married for aesthetic reasons (for example, because of their height - very comfortable and beautiful), they were not allowed to remove bad teeth so as not to lose their “marketable appearance” (ads for the sale of serfs were side by side in the newspaper with notes about the sale of a samovar , bird cherry flour, hounds and sows). You could beat a slave as much as you wanted, the main thing was that the serf did not die within 12 hours. Below are the most important villains of the era.

Nikolay Struisky

Lev Izmailov

Otto Gustav Douglas

Daria Saltykova (Saltychikha)

VIRTUALITY

Serf girl.
This story happened when serfdom existed in Rus'. This right belonged to people who were awarded the title of nobleman from the day of their birth. This group of people, on whom the king’s power rested, enjoyed his special honors, including the right to dispose of the lives of their subjects, who were given over to his power for life.

But my story will be about an honest and free man named Ivan Zakharov. Ivan came to the big city as a poor man. Unlike other people of his level, who, having caught fire, immediately go out, had an iron character and perseverance. Having become an apprentice to a jeweler, he worked with great diligence. The owner noticed him and made him a master. Ivan increased his diligence and tried to adopt the techniques of his craft everywhere. Then he began to come up with more skillful techniques himself, and independently began to make many discoveries in the art of jewelry.

He worked hard and tirelessly. Until late at night, the light from the lamp burned in the window of his workshop. Ivan diligently hammered, sharpened, filed, cut, bent, turned, soldered.
Need gave birth to work. Labor gave rise to high diligence. Diligence created wealth.
He built his own house. He set up a workshop and a small store in the house, where he began selling his wonderful products. Many townspeople became its frequent visitors and customers.

Despite the temptations of the big city, our Ivan lived modestly. Even in the blooming time of his youth, he never succumbed to the temptations of life that was seething around him.
Ivan was a simple man with the most ingenuous concepts. He was afraid of God, then of thieves, of nobles of every level, but most of all he was afraid of all sorts of troubles and worries.
Over time, he learned to go his own way. Don't run about other people's business. Don't lend your clothes yourself, and don't lend money to your neighbor.

Keep your ears open, don't let yourself be fooled, don't talk about what you're doing. There's no point in even throwing out the water. Don’t be forgetful, don’t trust anyone with your worries or your wallet.

All these simple everyday rules allowed him to trade to his advantage, which he did without offending anyone.

People said about him that Ivan was created as if with one blow, hewn from one piece. Such people are always superior to those they were created several times.
That’s how virtuous Ivan Zakharov was. Why did our master remain as lonely as a finger, when his natural properties could be appreciated by everyone?

If you begin to criticize our hero, the question arises: do you know what love is? I'm afraid you don't know completely...
A lover is supposed to go somewhere, return from somewhere, listen, lie in wait, be silent, speak. Then shrink, then turn around. It grows, it shrinks. To please, to strum some instrument, to repent, to trudge to distant lands.

Go out of your way to get bird's milk, caress her cat or dog, be friends with her friends. Find out what her family likes, don’t step on anyone’s feet, don’t break dishes. Take the moon out of the sky, pour it from empty to empty. Talk nonsense, jump into fire and water. Admire the outfits of your beloved, and repeat this a thousand times. Dress up like a peacock yourself. Make jokes aptly, sharply. Overcome suffering with laughter. Curb your temper.

Walk from morning to night with a sweet smile. But it is known that it is difficult to please nice people - they wag their tail and say goodbye, even without explaining the reasons! She herself doesn’t really know the reasons, but she demands from her lover that he knows!

Some men in such circumstances become gloomy, angry, go crazy, and do all sorts of stupid things. This is what distinguishes a man, for example, from a dog. This explains that dogs have no soul. Do not want? – she sniffed it one last time and ran on.
A lover must be a jack of all trades: he is a magician and a warrior, a king, a slacker, a simpleton reveler, a liar, a braggart, an informer, a windbag, a heir, a red tape, a spendthrift, a fool, a holy fool.

After listening to all this, a prudent person will neglect love. And indeed. Indulging in this activity, self-respecting men, first of all, are forced to spend: time, life, blood, cherished words, not counting the heart, soul, brain. It is precisely these human qualities that beauties crave beyond measure. Chatting nicely among themselves, they say to each other: “If a man didn’t give me everything he has, then he didn’t give me anything!” And some, frowning their brows, are still not happy that the man is hurting himself for her sake: “What nonsense, he’s trying hard!”

And respected Ivan Zakharov, you know, melted silver and gold. Looking at the bustle around him, he could not ignite the fantastic patterns of love in his heart, so as to decorate it, be reflected in it, play out in intricate inventions. Everything was explained simply; nowhere did he find a living model for this mystery of the soul.

You understand that in no country do virgins fall out of the blue into the arms of a man, just as fried chicken does not fall from the sky. So our goldsmith remained chaste.

It cannot be said that Ivan Zakharov was colder than ice, no, that’s not true. He could not see the delights that nature generously bestowed on some of his customers. But, having listened to their amusing chatter, behind which sly thoughts were hidden, he understood that by flirting with him, they were simply trying to achieve a reduction in the price of jewelry.

But still. The beauties achieved their goal, but in a completely different area - he walked home after work, dreamy like a poet, yearning like a cuckoo without a nest. In these dreams, a kind and hardworking wife already appeared. And approaching his house, he already mentally had a dozen children from this imaginary wife.

He embodied his yearning dreams in beautiful trinkets, and the delighted buyers did not know how many wives and children were hidden in these beautiful little things!
So our talented jeweler would have passed into another world as a bachelor, but in the forty-first year of his life this is what happened! One fine day, our hero was walking outside the city. Unbeknownst to himself, he entered the field owned by the nobleman Prince K.

In the middle of the meadow, he met a young girl dragging a little cow behind her. Passing by the jeweler, the girl bowed warmly to him, smiled and said, “Good day, my lord!”

Either the innocent beauty of a pretty girl’s face, or a friendly voice, or maybe thoughts about marriage that haunted him, but Ivan fell in love instantly and passionately.
- Dear girl, you must be poor if you don’t know rest from work on Sunday?
- I am the prince’s serf girl. Out of his kindness, he allows our cow to graze in his meadow, but after lunch.
- Is your cow so dear to you?
- Yes, my lord, she is the nurse and drinker of my entire family.
- Such a beauty and alone in the field?! There are probably a lot of willing young men out there to win your heart?
- No, that's not true at all. Everyone knows that I am a serf girl. If someone marries me, he automatically becomes the prince's serf. It’s especially offensive that when the prince pleases, I will be married to the same serf man.

Talking so leisurely, they walked to the girl’s house. The jeweler admired the girl’s beautiful face and her slender figure. Although he was a virgin with a pure heart and thoughts, he could not bring himself not to guess the lovely snow-white breasts that the girl hid with charming bashfulness, under a rough scarf.

All this excited him, aroused his thirst, like a bowl of cold water seduces a tired traveler.
In a word, walking next to this wonderful creature, our Ivan languished with sudden love. The stricter the ban on this fruit, the more the jeweler languished.

Suddenly the girl offered to milk him with cow's milk, since the day was hot. Ivan refused and, unexpectedly for himself, burst out with a passionate declaration of love.

I don't want milk, but I want you. If you don't mind, I want to ransom you from the prince!
- This is impossible! For many unfortunate generations my ancestors belonged to the prince. And the grandfathers lived this way, and the grandchildren will live this way. I am destined to forever be a serf to the prince. And my children will be serfs. The prince wants all the people who belong to him to have offspring.
- Wasn’t there a fine fellow who would dare to buy such a beauty back to freedom?
- Will is too expensive. Those who liked me leave as quickly as they appear.
- And you can’t run away?
- Oh, you can't. The prince has long arms, and the royal law on serfs is very strict. If I am caught, I will be shackled, and my darling may lose not only his freedom, but also all his property. I'm not worth such sacrifices! So I live in complete obedience, apparently this is my fate.
- What’s your name, dear girl?
- Masha.
- And my name is Ivan. Ivan Zakharov, goldsmith. And here's what I'll tell you, my dear. Never in my life have I liked any woman as much as you. Do you also know...? I walked along this field with thoughts of choosing a girlfriend, and I met you. In this I see an indication from heaven. If you don’t hate me, if you’re ready to forget that I’m already many years old, consider me your friend, and then... maybe even your husband!

Hearing such sweet words for a woman’s heart with a declaration of love, the girl blushed wonderfully, lowered her happy eyes, and burst into tears:
- My dear Ivanushka! I do not want to become the cause of many of your griefs as soon as you begin to ask the prince to ransom my will. A few kind words are enough for me.
- Dear Mashenka! You don't know anything about me yet. I'm a fairly rich man. I will spare nothing to gain freedom for my future wife.
- Ivanushka! Give up these thoughts. - The girl said, shedding tears - I will love you all my life and so on. Without these strict conditions.
- Come on Mashenka, let’s agree this way. Next Sunday, I will come to this field again.
- My good lord! I will definitely be waiting here for you. If I am severely punished after this, it doesn’t matter. I'm not afraid. Come, my dear.
- The girl returned home late in the evening, for which she received a strong beating, but did not feel the beating.

Good-natured Ivan has lost his appetite. He even closed his workshop and store, so he fell in love with this wonderful serf girl. I thought about her, saw only her everywhere. When a man is in such a stage of falling in love, it is quite decent to begin to act, and actively.
The jeweler was a careful man.

Therefore, to talk with the prince, I decided to resort to the help of a respectable patron. He did not have any difficulties in this matter, since many illustrious ladies were ready to assist in such a pleasant issue for women as love!
Princess M., who had great weight in the royal court, volunteered to accompany the jeweler and help in his efforts to ransom the serf maiden.

The prince received the guest and the jeweler accompanying her with great respect. The princess took the trouble to start the conversation:
- Illustrious prince! I am here on a very pleasant matter for me. I want to help unite two hearts of lovers.
- Princess! I'd be happy to be of assistance, but I don't know what you're talking about.
- Here is our court jeweler, who is inflamed with love for the girl who, unfortunately, is your serf. Therefore, I petition you for freedom for this girl. On our part, you can count on fulfilling any of your wishes.
- Who is she?
- The girl's name is Masha.
- Ah, ah! They told me something, but I didn’t attach any importance to it. In any case, we will have to discuss the terms of the buyout. Are you ready for this conversation?
- Your Excellency! - our loving jeweler entered the conversation - I decided to make for you a wonderful golden vase strewn with precious stones. I am sure that you will not find one like this in Russia.
- Of course, I won’t refuse such a gift. But... - the prince looked expressively at the princess - I am not free to change the royal decree.
- What decree?
- When the tsar granted estates to me and other high-ranking persons, his decree established that all peasants became our serfs. And their children, and their children's children. It was especially stated that a person from outside, if he marries my serf, becomes a serf for the rest of his life. This is the royal decree! - the prince threw up his hands - It’s not in my power to correct the king! So, only a person who has lost his mind can decide to do this.
- Illustrious prince! I am such a person. I lost my mind in love with this poor girl. I am more touched by her tender and kind heart than by her bodily perfections. But what strikes me most is your hard-heartedness, for there is a way out of any situation. You just have to want it. In a word, my fate is in your hands, and excuse my words. So! Even if all my property becomes your property, and I become your serf, your power still has a limit.
“What is this,” the prince asked, angry at the impudent speeches of the commoner, “how did you put the limit?”
- This limit is in my head. Not a single most powerful force has power over my talent and all the ideas for future creations. All this is hidden in my mind!

Listening to this angry exchange, the princess was no longer glad that she got involved in the story. She looked in fear, first at the enraged prince, then at her beloved jeweler. For all his talents, the jeweler remained an invisible figure on the surface. The prince had the power to erase this obstacle with one movement of his hand. It is not known how it would all end, but fortunately, Mashenka was brought into the hall.

The prince ordered in advance to prepare the subject of conversation, for his own examination, and as a subject of bargaining. The maids did their best. Mashenka sparkled like a silver dish, carefully wiped by a busy housewife. She was dressed in a beautiful white dress with a pink belt, her legs were shod in elegant shoes, from which beautiful legs in white stockings peeked out.

Mashenka looked royally beautiful. Seeing the girl, Ivan was stupefied with delight. Even the prince and princess admitted to themselves that they had never seen such perfect beauty.
The first to perk up was the princess, who realized that the continued presence of such a beautiful girl would threaten the jeweler with frustration and all sorts of dangers.

Therefore, she politely apologized and grabbed the stunned Ivan by the hand and led him into the carriage. All the way she tried to persuade the jeweler to renege on his word to the girl, since with her feminine instinct she guessed that the prince would not let such a charming bait out of his hands.
A short time later, the princess received a letter from the prince.

In it, he once again confirms that if he marries the girl Masha, the jeweler Ivan Zakharov must give all his goods in favor of the prince, and recognize himself and his future children as serfs. As a special favor, the prince left the young couple a home and a jewelry workshop. There they could live and work. But once a year, husband and wife are required to stay in human quarters for a week in order to confirm their state of slavery.

Ivan was in despair. He could not even kidnap Masha, since the prince ordered the girl to be especially guarded, which was immediately done. The jeweler had only one thing left to do - complain to his customers about the cruelty of the prince and his unhappy love. As a result, this story began to be widely discussed in society. Everyone, without exception, sided with the poor jeweler. This murmur even reached the king.

After listening to this sad story, the king first shed tears of pity, and then became angry with the prince. When he appeared before the eyes of the angry ruler, he asked:
- Why are you a prince, you don’t want to listen to the voice of great love and don’t follow mercy?
- Sir, judge for yourself! All state laws are interconnected like links in a chain. Once one link falls out, everything collapses. If my serf is taken against our will, then a rebellion may soon arise in the state. They will refuse to pay duties to the treasury, and it won’t be far off that the crown will be removed from your head, sir!

The last circumstance immediately cooled the royal anger, and he, waving his hand, released the prince.

Still, the visit to the palace was not in vain for the prince. He was an experienced dignitary, and decided, out of sin and the royal anger, to defuse the situation. As a result, the jeweler was allowed to see Mashenka, under strict supervision. The girl was brought in, dressed in luxurious dresses, like a court lady. The lovers were only allowed to see each other and talk to each other. The supervision was so strict that the lovers could not even secretly exchange kisses.

The prince thereby achieved his goal. Unable to endure this slow torture, the jeweler in love decided to sign all the necessary papers and contracts.
The rumor that the famous jeweler, for the sake of his beloved, decided to part with his fortune and secure himself, voluntarily becoming the property of the prince, everyone wanted to look at him.

The store began to be crowded with court ladies, beautiful women who selected countless pieces of jewelry for themselves, just to talk longer with the jeweler. And if others could equal Mashenka’s beauty, not one of them had her kind heart.
On the eve of the final transition to slavery and love, the jeweler melted all the gold, made a crown from it, without much effort, fitted all the precious stones on it, and took it to the queen.

Your Majesty! I don’t know who to entrust my wealth to, so I’m handing it over to you. Tomorrow I will have nothing left of my own - everything will go to the prince. I know that you have repeatedly expressed words of pity towards me. Therefore, be generous and accept this crown. I dare to hope that if my children become free, and bad things happen to me, I hope for your generosity towards them.
- I accept the gift, my poor man! Sooner or later, the prince will need my help. Then, believe me, I will remember you.

The wedding of the jeweler, who deprived himself of his freedom for this purpose, attracted a countless crowd. “You will always remain a noble man, in spite of the prince!” - eminent citizens shouted to the groom.
Inspired by popular support, the newlyweds showed themselves worthy of each other in an intimate duel. Husband Ivan repeatedly won, and his beloved wife responded to him in battle, as befits a healthy peasant girl.

This lasted for the entire first month, and the newlyweds, like doves, began to build themselves a cozy nest. Mashenka enjoyed an unprecedentedly bright and cozy home. She transferred her light of love and reassurance to the customers who crowded the store. The buyers carried away this light, enchanted by the young hostess.

After the honeymoon ended, the unexpected happened. The prince entered the house that already belonged to him. Calling the jeweler and his wife, who were frozen with surprise, to him, the prince said:
- I brought you my good decision. I don’t want to be a tyrant in the eyes of society, so I decided - you are free! This freedom will not cost you anything.

Ivan and his wife fell to their knees and cried with joy. The jeweler, with great honor and respect, escorted the prince's carriage through the entire city.

The events did not end there. One fine day, the servant reported to the prince that the jeweler wanted to see him. Entering the prince's office, the jeweler placed a mahogany casket in front of him. The prince opened the casket and closed his eyes. In the casket lay a wonderful golden cup of marvelous shape. It was all decorated with precious stones.

Remember, Prince, on my first visit I promised to create this cup for you. I am keeping my promise. Please accept it as a gift for your kindness, in memory of the happiest married couple in the world.
When the jeweler left, the prince sat in the office for a long time, looking at the goblet. True love triumphs over everyone!

(based on "Persistence in Love" by Honore de Balzac)

Landowners begrudged peasant women in order to sell their children and travel abroad with the proceeds.

155 years ago, Emperor ALEXANDER II, who received the nickname Liberator from the grateful people, issued a Manifesto on the abolition of serfdom. This is where “the country of slaves, the country of masters” ended and “Russia, which we lost,” began. A long overdue, belated reform opened the way to the development of capitalism. If it had happened a little earlier, we would not have had a revolution in 1917. And so the former peasants still remembered what the landowners did to their mothers, and it was beyond their strength to forgive the bars for this.

The most striking example of serfdom is the famous Saltychikha. There were many complaints about the cruel landowner both under Elizaveta Petrovna and under Peter III, but Daria Saltykova belonged to a wealthy noble family, so the peasant petitions were not allowed to proceed, and the informers were returned to the landowner for exemplary punishment.
The order was violated by Catherine II, who had just ascended the throne. She took pity on two peasants - Savely Martynov and Ermolai Ilyin, whose wives Saltychikha killed in 1762. Investigator Volkov, sent to the estate, came to the conclusion that Daria Nikolaevna was “undoubtedly guilty” of the deaths of 38 people and was “left in suspicion” regarding the guilt of the deaths of another 26.
The case received wide publicity, and Saltykova was forced to be sent to prison. Everything is just like with modern Tsapki. Until the crimes became completely outrageous, the authorities preferred to turn a blind eye to influential murderers.

“There is no house in which there would not be iron collars, chains and various other instruments of torture...” - Catherine II later wrote in her diary. She made a peculiar conclusion from this whole story - she issued a decree prohibiting peasants from complaining about their masters.
Any attempts by peasants to seek justice were regarded, according to the laws of the Russian Empire, as a rebellion. This gave the nobles the opportunity to act and feel like conquerors in a conquered country, given to them “to be poured out and plundered.”
In the 18th - 19th centuries, people in Russia were sold wholesale and retail, with the separation of families, children from parents and husbands from wives. They sold it “for import” without land, put it in the bank or lost it at cards. Slave markets operated legally in many large cities, and an eyewitness wrote that “whole barges of people were brought to St. Petersburg for sale.”
After some hundred years, this approach began to threaten the country’s national security. Russia lost the Crimean campaign of 1853 - 1856 to England, France and Turkey.
“Russia lost because it lagged behind both economically and technologically from Europe, where the industrial revolution was going on: a steam locomotive, a steamship, modern industry,” explains academician Yuri Pivovarov. - This offensive, insulting defeat in the war prompted the Russian elite to reform.
There was an urgent need to catch up and surpass Europe, and this could only be done by changing the socio-economic structure in the country.

Orgy after the show

One of the most common entertainments of noble society was the theater. It was considered special chic to have, in every sense of the word, your own. Thus, it was said with delight about the director of the Imperial Theaters and the Hermitage, Prince Nikolai Yusupov, that in his Moscow mansion he kept a theater and a group of dancers - twenty of the most beautiful girls selected from among the actresses of the home theater, to whom the famous dance master Yogel gave lessons for huge money. These slaves were prepared in the princely mansion for purposes far from pure art. Publisher Ilya Arsenyev wrote about this in his “Living Word about the Inanimate”: “In Lent, when performances at the imperial theaters stopped, Yusupov invited his bosom friends and acquaintances to a performance of his serf corps de ballet. The dancers, when Yusupov gave the famous sign, immediately lowered their costumes and appeared before the audience in their natural form, which delighted the old people, lovers of everything elegant.”
Serf actresses are a source of special pride for the owner. In a house where a home theater is set up, the performance often ends with a feast, and the feast often ends with an orgy. Prince Shalikov enthusiastically describes the Buda estate in Little Russia: “The owner of the estate, it seems, was really not used to being stingy and understood a lot about entertainment: musical concerts, theatrical performances, fireworks, gypsy dances, dancers in the light of sparklers - all this abundance of entertainment is completely disinterested offered to welcome guests."
In addition, an ingenious labyrinth was built in the estate, leading into the depths of the garden, where the “island of love” lurked, inhabited by “nymphs” and “naiads”, the way to which was shown by charming “cupids”. These were all actresses who had recently entertained the landowner’s guests with a performance and dances. The “cupids” were their children from the master himself and his guests.
A huge number of bastards is one of the most characteristic signs of the era. Particularly impressive is the almost Gogolian story about a certain gallant guardsman, given in the study “Serf Russia. History of People's Slavery" by Boris Tarasov:
“Everyone decided that the glorious guardsman had decided to turn into a provincial landowner and take up farming. However, it soon became known that K. had sold out the entire male population of the estate. Only women remained in the village, and K.’s friends were completely unclear how he was going to run the household with such strength. They did not give him any questions and finally forced him to tell them his plan. The guardsman said to his friends: “As you know, I sold the men from my village, only women and pretty girls remained there. I am only 25 years old, I am very strong, I am going there as if to a harem, and will start populating my land. In about ten years I will be the real father of several hundred of my serfs, and in fifteen I will put them on sale. No horse breeding will give such an accurate and sure profit.”

The right of the first night is sacred

Stories like this were not out of the ordinary. The phenomenon was of an ordinary nature, not at all condemned among the nobility. The famous Slavophile and publicist Alexander Koshelev wrote about his neighbor: “A young landowner S., a passionate hunter of women and especially fresh girls, settled in the village of Smykovo. He did not allow the wedding otherwise than for a personal actual test of the bride’s merits. The parents of one girl did not agree to this condition. He ordered both the girl and her parents to be brought to him; chained the latter to the wall and raped their daughter in front of them. There was a lot of talk about this in the district, but the leader of the nobility did not lose his Olympian calm, and he got away with the matter happily.”
The historian Vasily Semevsky wrote in the magazine “Voice of the Past” that some landowners who did not live on their estates, but spent their lives abroad, specifically came to their estates only for a short time for nefarious purposes. On the day of arrival, the manager had to provide the landowner with a complete list of all the peasant girls who had grown up during the master’s absence, and he took each of them for himself for several days: “when the list was exhausted, he went on a trip and, hungry, returned there again the next year.”
The official Andrei Zablotsky-Desyatovsky, who, on behalf of the Minister of State Property, collected detailed information about the situation of serfs, noted in his report: “In general, reprehensible connections between landowners and their peasant women are not at all uncommon. The essence of all these cases is the same: debauchery combined with greater or lesser violence. The details are extremely varied. Some landowners force him to satisfy his bestial impulses simply by the force of power and, seeing no limit, reaches the point of frenzy, raping young children...”
Compulsion to debauchery was so widespread on landowner estates that researchers were inclined to distinguish from other peasant duties a kind of “corvee labor for women.”
After finishing work in the field, the master's servant, one of the trusted ones, goes to the courtyard of one or another peasant, depending on the established “queue”, and takes the girl - daughter or daughter-in-law - to the master for the night. Moreover, on the way he goes into a neighboring hut and announces to the owner there: “Tomorrow go winnow the wheat, and send Arina (wife) to the master.”
After this, should we be surprised at the Bolsheviks’ idea of ​​common wives and other sexual liberties in the first years of Soviet power? This is just an attempt to make lordly privileges available to everyone.
Most often, the patriarchal life of the landowner was modeled after the way of life of Pyotr Alekseevich Koshkarov. The writer Yanuariy Neverov described in some detail the life of this rather wealthy gentleman, about seventy years old: “About 15 young girls made up Koshkarov’s household harem. They served him at table, accompanied him to bed, and kept watch at his bedside at night. This duty had a peculiar character: after dinner, one of the girls loudly announced to the whole house that “the master wants to rest.” This was a signal for his wife and children to go to their rooms, and the living room turned into Koshkarov’s bedroom. A wooden bed for the master and mattresses for his “odalisques” were brought there, placing them around the master’s bed. The master himself was doing evening prayer at this time. The girl, whose turn it was then, undressed the old man and put him to bed.”

Concubine - neighbor's wife

The landowner's hunting trips often ended in the robbery of passers-by on the roads or the destruction of the estates of unwanted neighbors, accompanied by violence against their wives. Ethnographer Pavel Melnikov-Pechersky in his essay “Old Years” cites the story of a courtyard prince: “Twenty versts from Zaborye, there, beyond the Undolsky forest, there is the village of Krutikino. It was in those days of retired corporal Solonitsyn. Due to injury and wounds, that corporal was dismissed from service and lived in his Krutikhin with his young wife, and he took her out of Lithuania... Prince Alexei Yurich took a liking to Solonichikha and said that he would not regret anything for such a fox...
...I whooped in Krutikino. And there the lady is walking around in the raspberry patch in the garden, playing with the berries. I grabbed the beauty across the belly, threw it over the saddle and back. He galloped up to Prince Alexei Yuryich and laid the little fox at his feet. “Have fun, your Excellency.” We look, the corporal is galloping; I almost jumped on the prince himself... I really can’t tell you how it happened, but the corporal died, and the Lithuanian girl began to live in the outbuilding in Zaborye.”
The reason for the very possibility of this state of affairs was explained by the famous memoirist Elizaveta Vodovozova. According to her, in Russia the main and almost only value was money - “everything was possible for the rich.”
Every Russian landowner dreamed of becoming a kind of Kirill Petrovich Troekurov. It is noteworthy that in the original version of “Dubrovsky,” which was not passed by the imperial censor, Pushkin wrote about the habits of his hero: “A rare girl from the courtyard avoided the voluptuous attempts of a fifty-year-old man. Moreover, sixteen maids lived in one of the outbuildings of his house... The windows in the outbuilding were blocked by bars, the doors were locked with locks, the keys to which were kept by Kirill Petrovich. Young hermits went to the garden at the appointed hours and walked under the supervision of two old women. From time to time, Kirill Petrovich married off some of them, and new ones took their place...”
On the estates, for another ten years after the manifesto of Alexander II, there were a great many cases of rape, persecution by dogs, deaths from beatings and miscarriages as a result of the beating of pregnant peasant women by landowners.
The Bare refused to understand the changed legislation and continued to live in the usual patriarchal way of life. However, it was no longer possible to conceal crimes, although the punishments applied to landowners were very conditional for a long time.

Quote

Valery ZORKIN, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation:
“With all the costs of serfdom, it was precisely it that was the main bond holding the internal unity of the nation...”

Like behind a stone wall

Upon learning of the abolition of serfdom, many peasants experienced a real shock. If from 1855 to 1860 there were 474 popular uprisings recorded in Russia, then in 1861 alone there were 1,176. According to the testimony of contemporaries, for a long time after liberation there were those who yearned for the “good old days.” Why?

* The landowner was responsible for maintaining the serfs. So, if there were crop failures, it was the owner who was obliged to buy bread and feed the peasants. For example, Alexander Pushkin believed that life for a serf peasant was not so bad: “Duties are not burdensome at all. The capitation is paid in peace; corvee is defined by law; quitrent is not ruinous... Having a cow everywhere in Europe is a sign of luxury; For us, not having a cow is a sign of poverty.”
* The master had the right to judge the slaves himself for most offenses, except for especially serious ones. Punishment usually amounted to flogging. But government officials sent the perpetrators to hard labor. As a result, in order not to lose workers, landowners often concealed murders, robberies and major thefts committed by serfs.
* Since 1848, serfs were allowed to purchase (albeit in the name of the landowner) real estate. Owners of shops, factories and even factories appeared among the peasants. But such serf “oligarchs” did not seek to buy their freedom. After all, their property was considered the property of the landowner, and they did not have to pay income tax. All you have to do is give the master a fixed amount of quitrent. Under such conditions, business developed rapidly.
* After 1861, the freed peasant still remained tied to the land, only now he was held not by the landowner, but by the community. Everyone was bound by one goal - to buy back the community plot from the master. The land intended for redemption was overvalued by half, and the interest rate for using loans was 6, while the “regular” rate on such loans was 4. The burden of freedom turned out to be unbearable for many. Especially for a servant who is accustomed to eating crumbs from the master's table.

The Russians had it the worst
In most of the territory of Russia there was no serfdom: in all Siberian, Asian and Far Eastern provinces and regions, in the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia, in the Russian North, in Finland and Alaska, peasants were free. There were no serfs in the Cossack regions either. In 1816 - 1819, serfdom was abolished in the Baltic provinces of the Russian Empire.
In 1840, the chief of the gendarme corps, Count Alexander Benckendorff, reported in a secret report to Nicholas I: “In all of Russia, only the victorious people, the Russian peasants, are in a state of slavery; all the rest: Finns, Tatars, Estonians, Latvians, Mordovians, Chuvashs, etc. - free..."

Eye for an eye
A number of family chronicles of noble families are replete with reports of the violent death of noble landowners killed for cruel treatment of serfs. This list includes the uncle of the poet Mikhail Lermontov and the father of the writer Fyodor Dostoevsky. The peasants said about the latter: “The beast was a man. His soul was dark."