laws of sociology leads to a better constitution of society. But
what if we, the unscientific people, say: "You are perishing in
vice, you are dying of hunger, you are pining away, and killing each
other; so do not grieve about this; when you shall have all perished,
and hundreds of thousands more like you, then, possibly, science may
be able to arrange everything in an excellent manner." For men of
science, the census has its interest; and for us also, it possesses
an interest of a wholly different significance. The interest and
significance of the census for the community lie in this, that it
furnishes it with a mirror into which, willy nilly, the whole
community, and each one of us, gaze.

The figures and deductions will be the mirror. It is possible to
refrain from reading them, as it is possible to turn away from the
looking-glass. It is possible to glance cursorily at both figures
and mirror, and it is also possible to scrutinize them narrowly. To
go about in connection with the census as thousands of people are now
about to do, is to scrutinize one's self closely in the mirror.

What does this census, that is about to be made, mean for us people
of Moscow, who are not men of science? It means two things. In the
first place, this, that we may learn with certainty, that among us
tens of thousands who live in ease, there dwell tens of thousands of
people who lack bread, clothing and shelter; in the second place,
this, that our brothers and sons will go and view this and will
calmly set down according to the schedules, how many have died of
hunger and cold.

And both these things are very bad.