Who has erected the churches?
We! Who contributes the most money to the government? The
merchants! Gentlemen! to us alone is the work dear for its own
sake, for the sake of our love for the arrangement of life, and
we alone love order and life! And he who talks about us merely
talks, and that's all! Let him talk! When the wind blows the
willow rustles; when the wind subsides the willow is silent; and
neither a cart-shaft, nor a broom can be made out of the willow;
it is a useless tree! And from this uselessness comes the noise.
What have they, our judges, accomplished; how have they adorned
life? We do not know it. While our work is clearly evident!
Gentlemen of the merchant class! Seeing in you the foremost men
in life, most industrious and loving your labours, seeing in you
the men who can accomplish and have accomplished everything, I
now heartily, with respect and love for you, lift my brimming
goblet, to the glorious, strong-souled, industrious Russian
merchant class. Long may you live! May you succeed for the glory
of Mother Russia! Hurrah!"
The shrill, jarring shout of Mayakin called forth a deafening,
triumphant roar from the merchants.
Pages:
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599