Russian Nihilism, Chapters I and II [pp. 219-231]

APPLETONS' JO URNAL.
of this doctrine of universal chaos; we must not
omit to speak also of M. Tschernyschewsky, who
has done more than any one else to propagate it
in Russia. Formerly editor of a monthly review
called the" Sowremennik," which was suppressed
in x862 on account of its radicalism, he was sen tenced in i864 to sixteen years' penal servitude
in Siberia for having propagated revolutionary
doctrines. This he had chiefly effected by means
of a novel which he had written, entitled "What
is to be done?" and which, although strictly for bidden in Russia, has been printed both at Berlin
and in Switzerland. This book has been de scribed as being not only the encyclopedia, the
dictionary of Nihilism, but also as a guide to the
practical application of the new doctrine. In its
characters Nihilist principles are personified, and
examples given as to the means to be employed
for their realization. We are shown the ideal of
a future state of society, absolutely free from all
law and control.
The aim of the author, as stated in the preface, is to increase the type of people which he
describes, and it must be acknowledged that his
teaching seems too well calculated to effect his
object among those prepared to receive it. Twenty or even sixteen years ago Nihilism was comparatively rare in Russia, whereas to-day it has
spread throughout the empire. Notwithstanding
that the book is strictly forbidden in Russia, we
are confidently assured that there is hardly a student of either sex at the universities and colleges
who has not read, and almost learned by heart,
this most baneful piece of literature.
The first Nihilist with whom we have to deal
in the novel is a poor medical student of the name
of Alexander who "finds it cheaper to get drunk
than to eat or dress himself decently." In illustration of his faithfulness to Nihilistic principles
we are favored with the particulars of an intrigue
with a rich danseute, which lasted a fortnight, at
the end of which she becomes tired of him and
turns him out of the house.
We next find him giving lessons to the son
of a government clerk, who manages to combine
the business of a pawnbroker with his official
functions. Finding that the pawnbroker has a
pretty daughter of rather an independent character, named Vera, he first of all converts her to
Nihilism by means of conversations and books,
and then persuades her to make a runaway match
with him "in order to escape from the authority
of her parents." The success of their plans of
elopement was partly due to the friendly services
of a Madame Julie Letellier, one of the most notorious lionnes of St. Petersburg, "whose language was such that it caused even the greatest
iolissons of the upper classes to blush." At a
breakfast given by this lady to the newly married
couple, both the hostess and her two guests drink
so much champagne that they all become quite
tipsy. Julie, remembering that Vera was now a
married woman, judged that it was no longer
necessary to be guarded in her conversation, and
ended by enthusiastically describing orgies in the
most licentious of colors. "Suddenly Julie arose
from the table and pinched Vera, who quickly
rose in her turn and pursued her friend all through
the rooms, jumping over chairs and tables."
Having finally succeeded in catching Julie, a
struggle ensues, which ends by the two women
falling down together in a drunken sleep on the
sofa, while Alexander also falls asleep in another
corner of the room.
A month or two later Vera takes it into her
head to earn her own living; accordingly she sets
up a dressmaking business under the immediate patronage of Julie and her friends. Twenty
young needlewomen belong to this establishment, which is conducted according to Nihilist
notions. At the end of every month the net
profits are equally divided among all the members, Vera merely taking her share with the rest.
The young women all live in the same house and
take their meals together; in this manner they
are able to economize a great deal by buying all
their provisions and necessaries at wholesale
prices. They appear to have possessed everything in common and to have contented themselves with little, for M. Tschernyschewsky expressly informs us that the twenty young ladies
only had five umbrellas among them. The
financial success of the undertaking is so great
that we actually find the girls at a loss how to
invest their earnings profitably. Taking advantage, however, of Vera's experience in the matter, they use their money to set up a pawnbroker's
business in connection with the dressmaking establishment. The author does not inform us
whether the pawnbroking is also conducted according to Nihilistic principles.
About a year after their marriage a third Nihilist makes his appearance on the scene. He is
a medical student named Kirsanoff. We are informed that he is exceedingly clever, that he had
thoroughly mastered the French language by
reading through eight times a French version of
the New Testament, "a well-known book "; and
finally that he had written a treatise on physiology which "even the great Claude Bernard of
Paris had alluded to in terms of respect." In
the same manner as Alexander is distinguished
for perseverance, so is Kirsanoff remarkable for
his kindness of heart, of which the following instance is given: Having fallen in love with a grisetle, of notoriously drunken habits, he allowed
her to come and live with him as soon as she had
earned a sufficient sum of money by her vile trade
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