M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin "History of one city": description, heroes, analysis of the work. "History of one city": analysis of the work by chapters Brief description of the history of one city by chapters

From the publisher

The publisher, having a long-standing intention to write the history of some city or region, discovers in the archives of the city of Glupov a bunch of notebooks called "Glupovsky Chronicler". The chronicle covers the period from 1731 (that is, from the accession of Anna Ioannovna) to 1825 (the Decembrist uprising). The chronicle is preceded by an "inventory" compiled by the last chronicler, and completed by several children's notebooks, "containing original exercises on various topics of administrative and theoretical content" - "about the administrative unanimity of all chiefs", "about the specious appearance of city governors", "about the saving grace of pacification (with pictures)”, “thoughts in the recovery of arrears”, “perverse course of time”, declaration of “strictness”.

The publisher notes that the content of the Chronicler is in many ways fantastic, but he considered it his duty to preserve all the details. “From the first minute to the last, the formidable image of Mikhail Petrovich Pogodin did not leave the publisher” (historian and publicist, owner of a huge library of ancient Russian manuscripts, monarchist).

Appeal to the reader from the last archivist-chronicler This chapter is the only one in the "History of a City", written on behalf of the chronicler Pavlushka Masloboinikov and stylized in the language of the eighteenth century. Of the four archivists, two bear the surname Tryapichkin (see The Inspector General by N.V. Gogol). Foolov is compared with ancient Rome - on the basis of the fact that it was built on seven hills (Russia was considered the "Third Rome"), and because it has its own "glorious Nero and Caligula, shining with valor" (both emperors became famous not so much for their courage, but for their cruelty and tyranny). Both in Foolovo and in ancient Rome, “a great many carriages break down and just as countless horses are beaten. The only difference is that dishonor shone in Rome, and piety shone with us, violence infected Rome, and meekness infected us, vile mob raged in Rome, and we have bosses.

About the origin of the Foolovites

In ancient times, a people lived in the north, nicknamed the bunglers - "because they had the habit of "pulling" their heads on everything that they met on the way." In the neighborhood lived tribes of lip-slappers, kosobryukhy, rukosuev, blind-bearers, bast-footers, thick-eaters, walrus-eaters and the like. They had no religion, no government, and they were constantly at enmity with each other. It was the bunglers who first came up with the idea of ​​unification and autocracy. At the suggestion of the bunglers, representatives of all tribes compete in the ability to bang their heads; the primacy remains with the bunglers, who declare themselves in charge and begin to "settle themselves inside, with the obvious goal of achieving some kind of order." They do it in original ways - “The Volga was kneaded with oatmeal, they dragged the calf to the bathhouse, then they boiled porridge in a purse, then they drowned the goat in malted dough, then they bought a pig for a beaver and killed a dog for a wolf, then they lost bast shoes and looked around the yards: there were bast shoes six, but they found seven; then they met the crayfish with a bell ringing, then they drove the pike from the eggs, then they went to catch a mosquito for eight miles, and the mosquito sat on the nose of the Poshekhonets, then they exchanged the father for a dog, then they caulked the prison with pancakes, then they gave the demon to the soldiers, then they propped up the sky with stakes finally got tired and waited to see what would come of it.

But nothing happened. The pike sat on the eggs again; the pancakes with which the prison was caulked, the prisoners ate ... And the strife and hubbub went even worse than before ... There is no order, and it’s full ... Then they decided to look for a prince for themselves.

The bunglers are looking for the prince and straying in three pines, and in a swamp, and in a clearing, where they are led by an innovative thief. The last prince agrees to own the bunglers, but sends the innovator thief himself as governor. Arriving home, the bunglers found the city of Foolov. The thief-innovator is dissatisfied with the obedience of his subjects and provokes riots, which he himself suppresses. The governors are repeatedly replaced, but the state of affairs remains the same: exorbitant requisitions and oppression, then riots, then the brutal suppression of riots, then the governor does something completely ugly (one stole, another gave all the women to himself for disgrace, the third killed and burned too many people and etc.). The prince, having found out about this, exclaims: “There is no stupidity of bitterness, like stupidity!”. He personally goes to Foolov and shouts: "I'll screw it up!"

With this word began historical times.

The "Inventory to the mayors" follows, in which information about the mayors of Glupov is briefly presented, which is expanded into specific scenes in subsequent chapters.

Among those to whom separate chapters are not devoted are Klementy Amadeus Manuylovich (“taken out of Italy by Biron ... for skillful cooking of pasta; then, being suddenly promoted to the proper rank, sent by the mayor”), Urus-Kugush-Kildibaev Manyl Samylovich (famous “with insane courage and even once took the city of Foolov by storm”), Lamvrokakis (“a runaway Greek, without a name and patronymic and even a rank, caught by Count Kirila Razumovsky in Nizhyn, in the market. He traded Greek soap, sponge and nuts; moreover, he was a supporter classical education. In 1736 he was found in bed, bitten by bugs") and so on.

organ

In August 1762, Dementy Varlamovich Brodasty arrived in Foolov. He is "silent and gloomy" and constantly shouts: "I will not stand it!". The townsfolk, who like the boss to behave kindly, are unhappy with Brodyst. he locks himself in his office, does not eat or drink, but writes orders for a general flogging. Residents are horrified, not unreasonably believing that "he will flog the whole city in such a manner." Rumors spread about the mayor that he is not a man, but a werewolf: strange things have been noticed behind Brodyst. At night, he secretly receives the watchmaker Baibakov, who takes something carefully wrapped in a rag out of the mayor's house.

Soon, "the most eminent representatives of the Foolov intelligentsia" receive subpoenas in which they are ordered to stay with Brudastoy "for suggestion." The townsfolk gather, hand over offerings to the mayor, which he favorably accepts, but in the end, suddenly, trying to shout: “I won’t stand it!”, Only hisses something unintelligible and rushes headlong into his apartment.

After a while, the clerk discovers that the head of the chief lies separately from the body, on top of the papers, like a paperweight. They call on Baibakov, who tells the story of his visits to Brodasty. The mayor demanded (in writing) that the watchmaker repair the mechanism (organ) in his head, but Baibakva did not succeed, and the head was sent to St. Petersburg. An answer was received from the capital that the head was repaired and sent back to Foolov, but it never arrives with the mail. The fact is that the head was sent with a boy who, not knowing how to properly store such a thin instrument, put his head under the carriage bench. The head rolled out from there and said: “I will ruin!” The frightened boy threw out his head. She was picked up and placed next to the body of the murdered Life Campanian. At the same time, Baibakov puts his former head on the body of the real mayor. The two mayors meet before the eyes of the astonished Foolovites. The crowd dispersed slowly and in silence.

The Tale of the Six Mayors

Due to the fact that Foolov was left without a mayor, within seven days "power" passes from hand to hand of six women, each of whom believes that she has the right to occupy the chair of the head of the city.

“Iraida Lukinichna Paleologiva, a childless widow of an uncompromising character, courageous build, with a dark brown face, reminiscent of old printed images,” was once married to a man who corrected the position of mayor somewhere. On this basis, she invades the treasury with a sword in her hand, takes the treasurer and accountant prisoner and promises the townsfolk plenty of vodka.

At this time, a certain staff officer nominates Clementine de Bourbon, whose father was once the mayor, but having lost at cards, as the mayor. was fired. Anarchy is raging in Foolov; from time to time someone is thrown from the bell tower. Clementine, at the head of the crowd that has gone over to her, is moving towards the house of Iraida. She, unable to withstand the siege, "collecting the money stolen from the treasury, in the sight of everyone flew into the air along with the treasurer and accountant."

The Clementine is replaced and put into a cage by a German Amalia Stockfish (who once lived with a certain mayor “in pompadours”). A “Polish intrigue” is being built against Amalia: pans Kshepshytsyulsky and Pshekshytsyulsky begin to promote Anelya Lyadokhovskaya (who also once visited the mayor). Anela overthrows Amalia and puts her in a cage with Clementine. In the morning the women eat each other.

Two more applicants are announced in the suburban settlement: Dunka Tolstopyataya and Matryonka Nozdrya. An unprecedented number of people are thrown from the bell tower - so that only the "most well-intentioned" survive. In the Pushkar settlement, a cockroach factory lights up. Matryonka is drowned in the river. Anelya returns home, the gentlemen open a confectionery, and Dunka fires a cannon at the crowd. Then she releases bedbugs on the people, who, frightened by the brew poured on them, turn back and “eat up” Dunka to death.

News about Dvokurov

The following characterization of Dvoekurov has been preserved in the Chronicle: “Having a considerable growth ... he gave a firm hope that ... But, seized with horror, he could not fulfill this ... Remembering, he was sad all his life ...” “Dvoekurov’s activity in Foolov was, undoubtedly fruitful. The mere fact that he introduced mead and brewing, and made the use of mustard and bay leaves obligatory, proves that he was in a straight line the ancestor of those bold innovators who, three-quarters of a century later, waged wars in the name of the potato. But the most important matter of his city administration is, undoubtedly, a note on the need to establish an academy in Foolov.

hungry city

In 1776, Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko became the mayor of Glupov - a man whose main quality the chronicler calls simplicity. “He did not interfere in anything, was content with moderate tributes ... he went out in a greasy dressing gown on the porch of the mayor’s house and played socks with his subordinates, ate fatty foods, drank kvass and liked to equip his speech with the caressing word “brother-sudarik” ”. He forcibly takes away the beautiful Alena Osipova from her lawful and beloved husband, who was stubborn for a long time, but yielded after her husband Mitka was arrested, beaten and sent to Siberia. A drought sets in in Glupov. The townsfolk blame Alena for everything and demand decisive action from the mayor to eliminate the natural disaster (that is, give Alena to be torn to pieces). The mayor writes dispatches to all places where they can send bread, or rather a team of soldiers, but in the end Alena is thrown from the bell tower.

thatched city

The next passion of the brigadier, the archer Domashka, turns out to be the complete opposite of Alena: “how much the latter was smooth and feminine in all movements, just as the first was sharp, decisive and courageous.”

On the eve of the feast of the Kazan Mother of God, a fire starts. The city burns for two days, two settlements burn without a trace. The people again demand that Ferdyshchenko be held accountable, and he is content to let Domashko go “for the guardianship” (that is, for general use) and publicly ask for forgiveness.

fantasy traveler

"Ferdyshchenko took it into his head to travel." He goes to the city pasture, where he does not know what to do with himself. The city meets the mayor with show-off (people dress up, cook greasy food, play musical instruments and cry with tears of tenderness. During the feast, Ferdyshchenko becomes ill and dies.

Wars for enlightenment

“Basilisk Semenovich Borodavkin ... amazed with his quickness and some unheard-of administrative corrosiveness, which manifested itself with particular energy in matters relating to a eaten egg ... During the day, he, like a fly, flickered around the city, observing that the townsfolk had a cheerful and cheerful look ; at night - he put out fires, made false alarms and generally took him by surprise. Wartkin constantly screams, sleeps with one eye open, and writes (he is drafting a project on the expansion of the army and navy, one line every day). He is tormented by a thirst for activity, but he does not know what to do such an unusual thing. Wartkin starts wars for education - he forces the townsfolk to sow mustard, while firing cannons and cruelly pacifying the recalcitrant. “There were four wars for education. One of them is described above; of the remaining three, the first was intended to explain to the Foolovites the benefits of building stone foundations under the houses; the second arose as a result of the refusal of the townsfolk to breed Persian chamomile, and the third, finally, had a reason to spread a rumor about the establishment of an academy in Foolov.

The era of dismissal from wars

Mayor Mikaladze attracts the hearts of the townsfolk with graceful manners and complete indifference to drill, discipline and military uniform. He has a weakness for the female sex. Mikaladze does not interfere in anything, does not bother anyone, does not punish anyone. He is considered the founder of the "peaceful path, along which the Foolovian civilization almost went." Mikaladze, on the basis of weakness for the female sex, died "from exhaustion."

To replace him, the mayor Benevolensky arrives, who enthusiastically scribbles new laws. The laws are sometimes laconic: “Every person walks dangerously; the farmer, let him bring gifts.” At the request of the merchant Raspopova, who is on close terms with him, Benevolensky enters into correspondence with Napoleon, inviting the latter to visit Foolov. The “treason” becomes known, Benevolensky is arrested, and Lieutenant Colonel Pryshch arrives in Foolov.

He decides to continue the “peaceful” policy of Mikaladze, does not delve into anything, allows everything, the Foolovites are getting richer, abundantly supplying offerings to the new mayor. A pimple sleeps on a glacier. The leader of the nobility, a lover of delicious food, discovers that a constant appetizing smell comes from Pimple. It turns out that the mayor has a stuffed head.

Worship of Mammon and Repentance

State Councilor Ivanov arrived in Foolov, "but turned out to be so short that he could not contain anything spacious." Ivanov dies of fright, "having received too extensive a Senate decree, which he did not hope to understand."

After Ivanov, the Foolovites were ruled by Viscount Du-Charriot, under whom the “shameless Foolovian frenzy” began: people threw bread under the table, crossed themselves with a “frantic custom”, worshiped idols, spoke a half-human language, lost respect for their elders; cocottes appeared in Foolov. Du Chario liked to feast on frogs and dress up in women's clothes. Later he turned out to be a girl and was expelled from the city.

Erast Andreevich Sadtilov approved of the licentiousness of the Foolovites, although he was distinguished by sensitivity and had a penchant for writing. He searched for the lost peace of mind with the help of the pharmacist Pfeifersha and the blessed Aksinya and Paramon. Under their influence, Sadtilov turns from an indulgent of his own weaknesses into an ascetic. Blazhennenkih appoints to leadership positions. Under the influence of Sadtilov, representatives of the intelligentsia read articles by N. Strakhov, then they begin to writhe, jump, spin, sing and shout - “admire”.

In the midst of one of these admirations, the “sectarians” discover the new mayor, the “terrible” Grim-Burcheev, standing at the door.

Confirmation of repentance.

Conclusion

Gloomy-Grumbling was “a man of medium height, with a kind of wooden face, obviously never illuminated by a smile... His eyes are gray, sunken, overshadowed by somewhat swollen eyelids; the look is clear, without hesitation; the nose is dry, descending from the forehead in an almost straight direction and down ... the jaws ... with some inexplicable bouquet of readiness to split or bite in half ... This portrait gives a very heavy impression. Before the eyes of the viewer rises the purest type of idiot. “He did not recognize reason at all and even considered it his worst enemy ... Before everything that looked like fun or just leisure, he stopped in bewilderment.” Gloomy-Grumbling caused unaccountable fear in the townsfolk and earned the nickname "Satan."

The way of life of the new mayor is Spartan: he sleeps on the ground, gets up at dawn and immediately starts marching. In his youth, he distinguished himself by allowing his finger to be cut off to prove his love for his boss.

Ugryum-Burcheev intends to arrange the life of the city on the model of a communist concentration camp: to redistribute people into families (according to the principle of growth), in each family there should be a couple of old people, a couple of parents, a couple of teenagers and a couple of babies. Such "settled units" are an integral part of platoons, companies and regiments, into which the entire population is divided. According to Ugryum-Burcheev, everyone should work from sunrise to sunset, having fun marching, eating black bread in specially designated places. All this happens under the supervision of soldiers with guns, firing into the sun every five minutes. “In this fantasy world, there are no passions, no hobbies, no attachments. Everyone lives every minute together, and everyone feels alone. Life is not distracted for a moment from the fulfillment of countless foolish duties ... "

But the appearance of the city does not meet the ideals of Ugryum-Burcheev. He decides to stop the river and for this purpose drives the population into the water and forces people to throw garbage into the river. His plan is a disaster. Grim-Grumbling starts demolishing dwellings, and logs are also thrown into the water, but the river still does not stop. People get sick from constant exposure to water. Gloomy-Grumbling sets off from the city and orders a new Foolov to be laid on a completely level ground.

During the construction of a new city, "bad passions" appear among the inhabitants and "unreliable elements" are found. The chronicler delves into the history of "stupid liberalism", recalls the story of Ion Kozyr, who preached "the cohabitation of the virtuous with the virtuous, the absence of envy, grief and worries, meek conversation, silence, moderation." The mayor Borodavkin, having read the book of Jonah and seeing in it a lot of ideas harmful to his reign, ordered the book to be destroyed, and Jonah to be made a laughingstock. Under Gloomy-Grumbling, “unreliable elements” managed to displace the horror of the mayor from the minds of the townsfolk and explain that in front of them is only an idiot, and not a wise and far-sighted villain.

Gloomy-Grumbling issues a decree on the appointment of spies, designed to inform the mayor of any signs of treason. At this point the story breaks off; there is only an indication that an unheard-of hurricane and tornado swept over Glupov, the sun faded, and the inhabitants rushed to the ground. Gloomy-Grumbling “disappeared, as if melted into the air. History has stopped flowing."

History of one city(summary by chapter)

Chapter content: Organ

The year 1762 was marked by the beginning of the reign of the mayor Dementy Varlamovich Brodasty. The Foolovites were surprised that their new ruler is sullen and says nothing but two phrases: "I will not tolerate it!" and "I'll ruin it!" They did not know what to think until the secret of Brodystoy was revealed: his head is completely empty. The clerk accidentally saw a terrible thing: the mayor's torso, as usual, was sitting at the table, but the head was separately lying on the table. And there was nothing in it at all. The townspeople did not know what to do now. They remembered Baibakov, the clock and organ master, who had recently visited Brudastom. After questioning Baibakov, the Foolovites found out that the head of the mayor was equipped with a musical organ, which played only two pieces: “I won’t stand it!” and "I'll ruin it!" The organ broke down, damp on the way. The master could not fix it on his own, so he ordered a new head in St. Petersburg, but the order was delayed for some reason.

There was an anarchy, the ending of which was put by the unexpected appearance of two absolutely identical impostor rulers at the same time. They saw each other, "measured each other with their eyes," and the inhabitants, who watched this scene, silently slowly dispersed. A messenger who arrived from the province took both "mayors" with him, and anarchy began in Glupovo, which lasted a whole week.

The history of one city (full text chapter by chapter)

organ

In August 1762, an unusual movement took place in the city of Glupov on the occasion of the arrival of a new mayor, Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty. The inhabitants rejoiced; not yet seeing the newly appointed ruler in the eyes, they were already telling jokes about him and calling him "handsome" and "clever". They congratulated each other with joy, kissed, shed tears, entered the taverns, left them again, and again entered. In a fit of delight, Foolov's old liberties also came to mind. The best citizens gathered in front of the cathedral bell tower and, having formed a nationwide assembly, shook the air with exclamations: our father! our handsome man! smart one is ours!

Even dangerous dreamers appeared. Guided not so much by reason as by the movements of a grateful heart, they asserted that trade would flourish under the new mayor, and that sciences and arts would arise under the supervision of district overseers*. They didn't refrain from making comparisons. They remembered the old mayor who had just left the city, and found that although he was also handsome and smart, but that, behind all that, the new ruler should already be given the advantage alone because he was new. In a word, in this case, as in other similar ones, they fully expressed: both the usual Foolovian enthusiasm and the usual Foolovian frivolity.

Meanwhile, the new mayor turned out to be silent and gloomy. He galloped to Foolov, as they say, with all his might (the time was such that not a single minute could be lost), and barely broke into the boundaries of the city pasture, when right there, on the very border, he crossed a lot of coachmen. But even this circumstance did not cool the enthusiasm of the inhabitants, because the minds were still full of memories of recent victories over the Turks, and everyone hoped that the new mayor would take the Khotyn fortress by storm for the second time *.

Soon, however, the townsfolk became convinced that their jubilations and hopes were, to say the least, premature and exaggerated. The usual reception took place, and here, for the first time in their lives, the Foolovites had to experience in practice what bitter trials the most stubborn love of the authorities can be subjected to. Everything at this reception happened somehow mysteriously. The mayor silently walked around the ranks of bureaucratic archangels, flashed his eyes, said: “I will not tolerate it!” - and disappeared into the office. The officials were dumbfounded; behind them, the townsfolk were dumbfounded.

Despite their irresistible firmness, the Foolovites are a pampered and extremely pampered people. They love to have a friendly smile on their boss's face, so that from time to time kind jokes come out of his mouth, and they are perplexed when these lips only snort or make mysterious sounds. The boss can take all sorts of measures, he may even not take any actions, but if he does not scribble at the same time, then his name will never become popular. There were truly wise mayors, those who were not alien even to the thought of establishing an academy in Foolov (such, for example, is the civilian adviser Dvoekurov, listed under the "inventory" under No. 9), but since they did not call the Foolovites either "brothers" or "Robyatami", then their names remained in oblivion. On the contrary, there were others, although not really stupid ones - there were no such people - but those who did average things, that is, flogged and collected arrears, but since they always said something kind at the same time, their names not only were recorded on the tablets, but even served as the subject of a wide variety of oral legends.

So it was in the present case. No matter how the hearts of the townsfolk were inflamed on the occasion of the arrival of the new chief, but his reception significantly cooled them.

What is this! - snorted - and the back of the head showed! we didn’t see the backs of our heads! and you like to talk to us! you caress something, caress something penetrate! you threaten something threaten, but then have mercy! - So the Foolovites spoke, and with tears they recalled what bosses they used to have, all friendly, but kind, but handsome - and all in uniforms! They even remembered the fugitive Greek Lamvrokakis (according to the “inventory” under No. 5), they remembered how the brigadier Baklan arrived in 1756 (according to the “inventory” under No. 6), and what a fine fellow he showed himself to the townsfolk at the very first reception.

An onslaught, - he said, - and, moreover, speed, condescension, and, moreover, severity. And, besides, prudent firmness. Here, gracious sirs, is the object, or rather the five objectives, which I, with God's help, hope to achieve through certain administrative measures, which form the essence, or rather the core, of the campaign plan I have considered!

And then, deftly turning on one heel, he turned to the mayor and added:

And on holidays we will eat pies with you!

So, sir, how the real bosses accepted! - the Foolovites sighed, - and what about this one! snorted some nonsense, and that was it!

Alas! subsequent events not only justified the public opinion of the townsfolk, but even surpassed their wildest fears. The new mayor locked himself in his office, did not eat, did not drink, and kept scratching something with a pen. From time to time he ran out into the hall, threw a pile of written sheets to the clerk, said: “I won’t stand it!” - and again hid in the office. Unheard-of activity suddenly began to boil in all parts of the city; private bailiffs galloped; quarterly galloped; the assessors galloped; the watchmen* forgot what it means to eat, and since then they have acquired the pernicious habit of grabbing pieces on the fly. They seize and catch, whip and flog, describe and sell... And the mayor sits still, and scrapes out more and more new urges... A rumble and crackle rush from one end of the city to the other, and over all this hubbub, over all this confusion, like a cry of a predatory birds, ominous reigns: "I will not tolerate!"

The fools were horrified. They recalled the general section of the coachmen, and suddenly the thought dawned on everyone: well, how he will flog the whole city in such a manner! - finally, they resorted to the history of Glupov, began to look for examples of saving city governors in it, found an amazing variety, but still did not find anything suitable.

And at least he would say in deeds, since he needs it from the bottom of his heart! - the embarrassed townsfolk talked among themselves, - otherwise it circulates, and go on!

Foolov, careless, good-natured and cheerful Foolov, despondent. There are no more lively gatherings behind the gates of houses, the clicking of sunflowers has ceased, there is no money game! The streets were deserted, predatory animals appeared in the squares. People left their homes only out of necessity and, showing frightened and exhausted faces for a moment, were immediately buried. Something similar happened, according to old-timers, during the time of the Tushino tsar *, and even under Biron, when a walking girl, Tanka Clumsy, almost brought the whole city under execution. But even then it was better; at least then they understood at least something, but now they felt only fear, an ominous and unaccountable fear.

It was especially difficult to look at the city late at night. At this time, Foolov, already a little animated, completely froze. Hungry dogs reigned in the street, but even they did not bark, but in the greatest order indulged in effeminacy and licentiousness of morals; dense darkness enveloped the streets and houses, and only in one of the rooms of the mayor's apartment did an ominous light flicker, long after midnight. The awakened inhabitant could see how the mayor was sitting, bent over, at his desk, and everything was scratching something with a pen ... And suddenly he would come to the window, shouting "I will not tolerate it!" - and again sits down at the table, and again scratches ...

Ugly rumors began to circulate. They said that the new mayor was not even a mayor at all, but a werewolf sent to Foolov out of frivolity; that at night, in the form of an insatiable ghoul, he hovers over the city and sucks blood from sleepy inhabitants. Of course, all this was told and passed on to each other in a whisper; although there were daredevils who offered to fall on their knees without exception and ask for forgiveness, but even those took thought. What if this is exactly what is needed? what, if it is considered necessary that in Foolov, for his sake, there should be just such, and not another, mayor? These considerations seemed so reasonable that the brave men not only renounced their proposals, but immediately began to reproach each other for confusion and incitement.

And suddenly it became known to everyone that the mayor was secretly visited by the clock and organ master Baibakov. Reliable witnesses said that once, at three o'clock in the morning, they saw how Baibakov, all pale and frightened, left the mayor's apartment and carefully carried something wrapped in a napkin. And what is most remarkable of all, on this memorable night, not only was not one of the townsfolk awakened by the cry “I will not tolerate!”, but the mayor himself, apparently, stopped for a while critical analysis of the arrears of registers * and fell into a dream.

The question arose: what need could the mayor in Baibakovo have, who, in addition to drinking without waking up, was also an obvious adulterer?

Tricks and tricks began in order to find out the secret, but Baibakov remained dumb as a fish, and for all exhortations he limited himself to shaking all over. They tried to get him drunk, but he, not refusing vodka, only sweated, but did not give out a secret. The boys who were in his apprenticeship could report one thing: that one night a police soldier really came, took the owner, who returned an hour later with a bundle, locked himself in the workshop and since then has been homesick.

Nothing more could be found. Meanwhile, the mysterious meetings between the mayor and Baibakov became more frequent. With the passage of time, Baibakov not only ceased to yearn, but even dared to such an extent that he promised the mayor of the city himself to give him without credit for the soldiers * if he did not give him a shkalik every day. He sewed himself a new pair of dresses and boasted that one of these days he would open such a store in Foolov that he would throw himself in Winterhalter's nose.

In the midst of all this talk and gossip, suddenly, as if from heaven, a subpoena fell, inviting the eminent representatives of the Foolov intelligentsia, on such and such a day and hour, to come to the mayor for suggestion. The eminent were embarrassed, but began to prepare.

It was a beautiful spring day. Nature rejoiced; sparrows chirped; the dogs squealed with joy and wagged their tails. The townsfolk, holding paper bags under their arms, crowded into the courtyard of the mayor's apartment and tremblingly awaited a terrible fate. Finally, the expected moment arrived.

He went out, and for the first time the Foolovites saw on his face that friendly smile that they longed for. It seemed that the beneficial rays of the sun also had an effect on him (at least, many inhabitants later claimed that they saw with their own eyes how his tails were shaking). He walked around all the townsfolk in turn, and although silently, but favorably accepted from them everything that followed. Having finished with this matter, he retreated somewhat to the porch and opened his mouth ... And suddenly something inside him hissed and buzzed, and the longer this mysterious hissing lasted, the more and more his eyes spun and sparkled. “P…p…spit!” finally escaped from his lips ... With this sound, he flashed his eyes for the last time and rushed recklessly through the open door of his apartment.

Reading in the Chronicler a description of an event so unheard of, we, witnesses and participants in other times and other events, of course, have every opportunity to treat it in cold blood. But let us transport our thoughts a hundred years ago, put ourselves in the place of our glorious ancestors, and we will easily understand the horror that should have seized them at the sight of these revolving eyes and this open mouth, from which nothing came out, except for hissing and some kind of a meaningless sound, unlike even the striking of a clock. But it was precisely in this that the good quality of our ancestors consisted, that, no matter how shocked they were by the spectacle described above, they were not carried away either by the revolutionary ideas fashionable at that time *, or by the temptations represented by anarchy, but remained true to the love of the authorities, and only slightly allowed themselves to condole with and blame their more than strange mayor.

And where did this scoundrel come from to us! - said the townsfolk, asking each other in amazement and not attaching any special meaning to the word "scoundrel".

Look brothers! how could it be for us ... we wouldn’t have to answer for him, for the scoundrel! - added others.

And after all that, they calmly went home and indulged in their usual activities.

And our Brady would have remained for many years the shepherd of this heliport, and would have rejoiced the hearts of the chiefs with his diligence, and the inhabitants would not have felt anything unusual in their existence, if a completely accidental circumstance (a simple oversight) had not stopped his activity in its full swing.

A little later after the reception described above, the clerk of the mayor, having entered his office in the morning with a report, saw the following spectacle: the mayor's body, dressed in a uniform, was sitting at a desk, and in front of him, on a pile of arrears of registers, lay, in the form of a dandy paperweight , a completely empty head of the mayor ... The clerk ran out in such confusion that his teeth chattered.

They ran for the assistant to the mayor and for the senior quarterly. First of all, he attacked the latter, accused him of negligence, of indulging insolent violence, but the quarterly justified himself. He argued, not without reason, that the head could be emptied only with the consent of the mayor himself, and that a person who undoubtedly belonged to the craft workshop took part in this case, since on the table, among the material evidence, were: a chisel, a gimlet and an English file. They called the chief city doctor for advice and asked him three questions: 1) could the head of the city head separate from the head of the body without hemorrhage? 2) is it possible to assume that the mayor took off his shoulders and emptied his own head? and 3) is it possible to suppose that the mayor's head, once abolished, could subsequently grow again by some unknown process? Aesculapius thought about it, muttered something about some kind of "city governor's substance" supposedly exuding from the city governor's body, but then, seeing himself that he had reported, he evaded direct resolution of questions, responding that the secret of building a city governor's body had not yet been sufficiently examined by science .

After hearing such an evasive answer, the assistant mayor was at a dead end. He had one of two things to do: either immediately report what had happened to his superiors and in the meantime begin an investigation at hand, or else remain silent for a while and wait for what would happen. In view of such difficulties, he chose the middle path, that is, he proceeded to an inquiry, and at the same time ordered everyone and everyone to keep the deepest secret on this subject, so as not to excite the people and not to plant unrealizable dreams in them.

But no matter how strictly the guards guarded the secret entrusted to them, the unheard-of news of the abolition of the mayor's head spread throughout the city in a few minutes. Many of the townsfolk cried because they felt like orphans, and moreover they were afraid to fall under the responsibility for obeying such a mayor, who had an empty vessel on his shoulders, instead of a head. On the contrary, although others also wept, they asserted that for their obedience, not punishment awaits them, but praise*.

In the club, in the evening, all available members were assembled. They were agitated, interpreted, recalled various circumstances and found facts of a rather suspicious nature. Thus, for example, Assessor Tolkovnikov said that one day he came unawares into the mayor's office on a very necessary matter and found the mayor playing with his own head, which he, however, immediately hastened to attach to the proper place. Then he did not pay due attention to this fact, and even considered it a figment of the imagination, but now it is clear that the mayor, in the form of his own relief, from time to time took off his head and put on a yarmulke instead, just as the cathedral archpriest, being in his home circle, takes off his kamilavka and puts on a cap. Another assessor, Mladentsev, recalled that one day, walking past the watchmaker Baibakov's workshop, he saw in one of its windows the head of the mayor, surrounded by metalwork and carpentry tools. But Mladentsev was not allowed to finish, because, at the first mention of Baibakov, everyone remembered his strange behavior and his mysterious nightly trips to the mayor’s apartment ...

Nevertheless, no clear result came out of all these stories. The public even began to incline in favor of the opinion that this whole story was nothing but the invention of idle people, but then, recalling the London agitators * and passing from one syllogism to another, they concluded that treason had made its nest in Foolov himself. Then all the members became agitated, made noise and, having invited the superintendent of the public school, asked him a question: were there examples in history when people ordered, waged wars and concluded treaties, having an empty vessel on their shoulders? The superintendent thought for a minute and answered that much in history is shrouded in darkness; but that there was, however, a certain Charles the Innocent, who had on his shoulders, although not empty, but still, as it were, an empty vessel, and waged wars and concluded treatises.

While these rumors were going on, the assistant to the mayor did not doze off. He also remembered Baibakov and immediately pulled him to account. For some time, Baibakov locked himself up and did not answer anything except “I don’t know, I don’t know”, but when he was shown the material evidence found on the table and, moreover, they promised fifty dollars for vodka, he came to his senses and, being literate, gave the following testimony :

“My name is Vasily, Ivanov’s son, nicknamed Baibakov. Glupovsky workshop; I don’t go to confession and Holy Communion, because I belong to the sect of the freemason, and I am a false priest of this sect. He was sued for cohabitation out of wedlock with the suburban wife Matryonka, and was recognized by the court as an obvious adulterer, in which rank I still am. Last year, in the winter - I don’t remember what date and month - being woken up in the night, I went, accompanied by a tenth policeman, to our mayor, Dementy Varlamovich, and, having come, found him sitting and with his head first in that, then on the other side, gently waving. Lost my mind with fear and, moreover, being burdened with alcoholic drinks, I stood silent at the threshold, when suddenly the mayor beckoned me with his hand to him and handed me a piece of paper. On a piece of paper I read: "Do not be surprised, but fix the spoiled one." After that, the mayor took off his own head and handed it to me. Looking closer at the box before me, I found that it contained in one corner a small organ capable of playing some simple pieces of music. There were two of these plays: “I will ruin!” and "I will not stand it!". But since the head became somewhat damp on the road, some of the pins loosened on the roller, while others completely fell out. From this very fact, the mayor could not speak clearly, or they spoke with the omission of letters and syllables. Noticing in myself the desire to correct this error and having received the consent of the mayor, I wrapped my head in a napkin with due diligence and went home. But here I saw that I had vainly relied on my zeal, for no matter how hard I tried to fix the pegs that had fallen out, I had so little time in my enterprise that at the slightest negligence or a cold the pegs fell out again, and lately the mayor could only say: -spit! In this extreme, they set out to rashly make me unhappy for the rest of my life, but I deflected that blow, suggesting that the mayor ask for help in St. Petersburg, to the clock and organ master Winterhalter, which they did exactly. Quite a bit of time has passed since then, during which I daily looked at the head of the mayor and cleaned the rubbish out of it, in which occupation I was also on the morning when your high nobility, due to my mistake, confiscated the instrument belonging to me. But why the new head ordered from Mr. Winterhalter has not yet arrived is unknown. I believe, however, that beyond the flooding of the rivers, according to the current spring time, this head is now somewhere inactive. To your Excellency’s question, firstly, can I, in the case of sending a new head, approve it, and, secondly, will that approved head function properly? I have the honor to answer this: I can approve and it will act, but I cannot have real thoughts. The obvious adulterer Vasily Ivanov Baibakov had a hand in this testimony.

After listening to Baibakov's testimony, the assistant to the mayor realized that if it was once allowed that there was a mayor in Foolovo who had a simple head instead of a head, then, therefore, this is how it should be. Therefore, he decided to wait, but at the same time sent a compelling telegram to Winterhalter * and, having locked the mayor's body with a key, directed all his activities to calming public opinion.

But all the tricks were already in vain. Two more days passed after that; Finally, the long-awaited St. Petersburg mail arrived; but brought no head.

Anarchy began, that is, anarchy. The places of presence were deserted; arrears accumulated so much that the local treasurer, looking into the treasury drawer, opened his mouth, and so he remained open-mouthed for the rest of his life; the guards got out of hand and brazenly did nothing; official days have disappeared*. Moreover, the murders began, and on the very city pasture the torso of an unknown person was raised, in which, although they recognized the Life Campanian by the tails, neither the police captain nor the other members of the temporary department, no matter how hard they fought, could not find separated from torso of the head.

At eight o'clock in the evening, the assistant to the mayor received the news by telegraph that the head had been sent long ago. The assistant to the mayor was dumbfounded completely.

Another day passes, and the mayor's body still sits in his office and even begins to deteriorate. The love of the authorities, temporarily shocked by the strange behavior of Brodystoy, steps forward with timid but firm steps. The best people go in procession to the assistant mayor and urgently demand that he give orders. The assistant to the mayor, seeing that arrears were accumulating, drunkenness was developing, truth was being abolished in the courts, and resolutions were not being approved, turned to the assistance of the staff officer*. This latter, as an obligatory person, telegraphed about the incident to the authorities, and by telegraph received the news that he, for an absurd report, was dismissed from the service.

Hearing about this, the assistant to the mayor came to the office and began to cry. The assessors came - and also wept; The lawyer appeared, but even he could not speak because of tears.

Meanwhile, Winterhalter was telling the truth, and the head was actually made and sent in time. But he acted recklessly, instructing the delivery of it by post to a boy who was completely ignorant of the organ business. Instead of keeping the parcel carefully on the weight, the inexperienced messenger threw it to the bottom of the cart, while he himself dozed off. In this position, he rode several stations, when he suddenly felt that someone had bitten his calf. Caught unawares by the pain, he hastily untied the sackcloth in which the mysterious treasure was wrapped, and a strange sight suddenly presented itself to his eyes. The head opened its mouth and rolled its eyes; not only that, she loudly and quite distinctly said: “I will ruin!”

The boy was simply terrified. His first move was to throw the talking baggage onto the road; the second is to discreetly descend from the cart and hide in the bushes.

Perhaps this strange incident would have ended in this way, that the head, having lain for some time on the road, would have been crushed in time by the carriages of the passing by, and finally taken out to the field in the form of fertilizer, if the matter had not been complicated by the intervention of an element to such a degree of fantastic, that the Foolovites themselves - and they have become a dead end. But let's not preempt events and let's see what's going on in Foolov.

Foolov boiled. Not seeing the mayor for several days in a row, the citizens became agitated and, not in the least embarrassed, accused the assistant to the mayor and the senior quarterly of embezzling state property. Holy fools and blessed wandered around the city with impunity and predicted all sorts of disasters for the people. Some Mishka Vozgryavy assured that he had a sleepy vision at night, in which a formidable husband appeared to him and a cloud of bright clothes.

Finally, the Foolovites could not bear it; led by their beloved citizen Puzanov*, they lined up in squares in front of government offices and demanded an assistant to the mayor before the people's court, threatening otherwise to smash both him and his house.

Anti-social elements rose to the top with terrifying speed. There was talk of impostors, of some Styopka, who, leading freemen, not later than yesterday, in front of everyone, brought together two merchant wives.

Where did you take our father? - screamed the host, angry to the point of fury, when the assistant to the mayor appeared before him.

Atamans-well done! where can I get it for you, if it is locked with a key! - persuaded the crowd of a trembling official, caused by the events from an administrative stupor. At the same time, he secretly blinked at Baibakov, who, seeing this sign, immediately disappeared.

But the excitement did not subside.

You're lying, you moneybag! - answered the crowd, - you purposely collided with the quarterly to get rid of our father!

And God knows how the general confusion would have been resolved if at that moment the ringing of a bell had not been heard and after that a cart had not driven up to the rebels, in which sat the police captain, and next to him ... the disappeared mayor!

He was wearing a Life Campanian uniform; his head was heavily soiled with mud and beaten in several places. Despite this, he deftly jumped out of the cart and glared at the crowd with his eyes.

I will ruin! he thundered in such a deafening voice that everyone instantly fell silent.

The excitement was crushed at once; in this crowd, which had recently been so menacingly buzzing, there was such silence that one could hear a mosquito buzzing, flying in from a neighboring swamp to marvel at "this ridiculous and laughable stupid confusion."

Instigators forward! - commanded the mayor, raising his voice more and more.

They began to choose instigators from among the non-payers of taxes, and they had already recruited about a dozen people, when a new and completely outlandish circumstance gave the matter a completely different turn.

While the Foolovites were mournfully whispering, remembering which of them had accumulated more arrears, the town governor's droshky, so well-known to the townsfolk, imperceptibly drove up to the gathering. Before the townsfolk had time to look back, Baibakov jumped out of the carriage, and behind him, in the sight of the whole crowd, was exactly the same mayor as the one who, a minute before, had been brought in a cart by the police officer! The fools were so dumbfounded.

The head of this other mayor was completely new and, moreover, varnished. It seemed strange to some perspicacious citizens that a large birthmark, which had been on the mayor's right cheek a few days ago, now ended up on the left.

The impostors met and measured each other with their eyes. The crowd slowly and silently dispersed

You read the summary (chapters) and the full text of the work: The history of one city: Saltykov-Shchedrin M E (Mikhail Evgrafovich).
You can read the whole work in full and brief contents (by chapters), according to the content on the right.

Classics of literature (satire) from the collection of works for reading (stories, novels) of the best, famous satirical writers: Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin. .................

"The History of a City" was written by Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin. A well-known Russian writer in a satirical novel ridiculed all the vices of contemporary society and rulers.

After the work was published in 1870, reproaches and accusations rained down on the author of belittling the history of Russia and mocking the authorities and people. However, the novel at the same time became very popular, its characters turned out to be too recognizable.

In contact with

M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin "History of one city": a summary

"From the Publisher" and "Message to the Reader"

These two chapters can be combined with a brief retelling of the "History of one city" . In the first, the author claims that his work is about a real city. The novel tells only the biographies of the rulers. But it doesn't have to be taken literally. Less grotesque, but such events are rather common in many cities that have undergone such changes over time.

The "Appeal" is written on behalf of the last archivist who completed the "Chronicle". He characterizes the work as a history of the relationship between the authorities and the people. Throughout the book, a number of mayors will be introduced, who ruled the city at certain intervals.

"On the Root of the Origin of the Foolovites" and "Inventory of the Mayors"

The first chapter is a kind of preface to future events. It tells about the war of ancient tribes with speaking names . Among them:

• bunglers;
• walrus eaters;
• thick-eaters;
• onion eaters;
• frogs;
• skew-bellied.

The bunglers won, but they didn’t really know what to do with this victory, which means they needed to find a ruler who would maintain order. But this task was not so easy. To whatever prince they turned, everywhere they were refused, because the people were reputed to be stupid. There is nothing to do, I had to ask for help from a thief - a newcomer. It was he who found them a prince. Yes, although he agreed to rule, he had no intention of living among the people of the Foolovites, as he called the bunglers, so he made the thief his governor. So Novotor turned out to be the head of the city with the new name of Gluupovo.

The townspeople turned out to be submissive, and the newcomer wanted riots so that there was someone to pacify. In addition, he stole a lot, for which the prince decided to punish him by hanging. But the culprit escaped this fate by killing himself with a cucumber.

So the city was left without a ruler, so the prince had to look for others. Three mayors were sent in turn, but all of them had an unclean hand and stole. The prince had no choice but to come to his people and threaten with flogging.

The "Inventory" contains only information about the twenty-two rulers of Glupovo and what they became famous for.

"Organchik": features of the physiology of the ruler

So, the year 1762 came, and Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty became the head of the city. He was a gloomy and silent ruler. All that was heard from him was that "I will not tolerate" and "I will ruin." The Foolovites were very surprised by this, but soon the reason for such reticence was clarified.

Once the clerk went to Brudastom with a report, but he saw the ruler in a very strange form. Dementy Varlamovich, who was sitting in his place, was without a head, it lay separately from the owner on the table and was completely empty. Not every day you see such a sight, the townspeople were amazed.

A certain Baibakov, who was an organ master, was able to clarify the situation. It turned out that the ruler of Glupov was not an easy one. In his head was an organ that played a couple of pieces of music. They were called "ruin" and "I will not tolerate." These are the words that the people heard from their mayor. But the head was damp, broken and in need of repair. Yes, so difficult that Baibakov was unable to cope, he had to ask for help in St. Petersburg. A new serviceable head was expected from there.

But while they were waiting for her, impostors appeared in the city. They did not stay as rulers for long, they were quickly taken away from there. Stupid was once again left without a leader, which was followed by anarchy lasting a week.

"The Tale of the Six Mayors"

During this difficult period, the townspeople undertook whole hostilities, as well as drowned and threw each other from the bell towers. At the same time, mayors appeared near the city. Yes, not one, but six at once:

• Iraida Lukinichna Paleogolova;
• Clementine de Bourbon;
• Amalia Karlovna Stockfish;
• Nelka Lyadokhovskaya;
• Dunka the thick-footed;
• Matryonka-nostril.

Each applied for this post for their own reasons. Amalia already had a similar experience in the past, while Iraida believed that she should become a mayor by inheritance from her husband, and Klemantinka from her father. The rest of the women did not have good reasons for such claims at all.

"News about Dvoekurov"

The end of the atrocities was put by the newly arrived Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. He is remembered for his positive influence on the affairs of the city. In Glupovo they began to brew honey and beer, eat mustard and bay leaves. Even the establishment of its own city academy was expected.

Three chapters about Ferdyshchenko

"Hungry City", "Straw City" and "Fantastic Traveler" - in all these three chapters we are talking about a new ruler who lingered in the city for six whole years. It was Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko. And everything was going well in Gluupovo until Pyotr Petrovich fell in love with the coachman's wife Alyonka. The woman refused the courtship of the mayor, for which her husband was sent to Siberia. Then Alyonka changed her mind. But to covet the neighbor's wife was a sin for which the city paid with drought and the famine that followed.

People were dying and blaming Ferdyshchenko for everything. They sent a walker to him, but they did not wait for him back. Then they sent a petition, but it also remained unanswered. They decided to take revenge on the ruler through a new wife, Alyonka. They threw her from the bell tower, and in the meantime Peter asked for help from his superiors. He asked for bread, to feed the hungry, and instead of food, the military arrived.

However, despite all the hardships endured by the city, Ferdyshchenko's passion for other people's wives did not pass. His next victim was archer Domashka. And this sin did not pass without a trace for the city. Fires started, settlements burned. That's when the mayor took a back seat and let the woman go, but called the team.

He ended the reign and life of Ferdyshchenko on a journey through the city pasture. By order of the ruler himself, he was welcomed everywhere and heartily fed. In less than three days, he could not stand so many meals and died from overeating.

"Enlightenment Wars"

However, he was quickly found a replacement in the form of Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin. He approached the matter thoroughly and studied the entire history of the city. Basilisk liked the government of Dvoekurov, and he decided to imitate him. However, since the reign of Semyon Konstantinovich time passed, and the Foolovites stopped using mustard. The new mayor gave the order to start sowing again, and even added the production of Provencal oil on his own. But the townspeople did not like this idea.

As a result, Basilisk went to war on the Streltsy settlement, which seemed to him a haven for rebels. The campaign lasted nine days, but was difficult and confusing. It happened to fight with their own, who did not recognize each other in the dark. Many living soldiers were replaced with tin ones. However, it was possible to reach the intended goal. Yes, but no one was there. There was nothing left to do, as soon as the logs were taken away from the houses, the settlement had to surrender. Wartkin liked the campaigns, and he spent three more for the sake of enlightenment:

• for the benefit of stone foundations;
• for the cultivation of Persian chamomile;
• against the academy.

The wars depleted the city's reserves, and the next ruler of the Rogues contributed even more to this.

"The era of dismissal from wars"

Then the case was taken over by the Circassian Mikeladze, who, in general, did not care about Glupov, he was hunting for women's skirts, while the city was resting. But this could not continue for a long time, and he was replaced by Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky, who was a friend of Speransky. He, on the contrary, was eager to work, especially legislation. However, he did not have the right to invent his own laws, and then he resorted to secretly writing them, and then anonymously distributing them around the city. It did not end in anything good, he was expelled from the mayors on charges of connection with.

It's Lieutenant Colonel Pimple's time. The city flourished under him, but not for long. The fact is that the head of the head of the city turned out to be stuffed. This was felt by the leader of the nobility, attacked Pimple and ate minced meat.

"Worship of mammon and repentance"

The next ruler of little use to the city was a state councilor named Ivanov. He was small and unsightly, he soon died. He was replaced by the Viscount de Chario. But the emigrant had too much fun, and besides, he turned out to be a girl. This all led to his return abroad.

Then the time came for the state adviser Erast Andreevich Sadtilov. Not only that, by the time he came to power, the Foolovites suddenly forgot the true religion and began to worship idols, so he completely brought the city to debauchery and laziness. Nobody cared about the future, they stopped sowing, which naturally ended in famine. Meanwhile, Erast was having fun with balls. So everything would have continued if he had not met the pharmacist's wife, who showed him the right path. Standing on the side of good, he exalted the holy fools and the poor, and the townspeople repented. But stop the hunger this did not help, and Sadtilov was dismissed.

"Surrendering to Repentance: Conclusion" and "Substantiating Documents"

The last of the bosses described was the idiot Ugryum-Burcheev. He decided that a decent city should have the same streets, houses and people. To do this, Gluupovo had to be destroyed in order to found a new city in its place with the name Nepreklonsk. But then a new obstacle appeared - the river, which Ugryum-Burcheev in his city did not want to see. Not having come up with a way out better than throwing garbage at the water, the mayor went on the offensive. This, of course, did not solve the problem, and therefore it was thought up to rebuild the city in a new place.

Why this venture failed, the publisher does not explain. He only says that the records of this were lost, and at the end of history a certain “it” came, because of which the sun faded and the earth shook. Gloomy-Grumbling hastened to disappear.

At the end of the story, there are "Supporting Documents" compiled by some former mayors and containing recommendations for managing the city.

Allusion Analysis

It will be useful to read this work in full, and not just to get acquainted with the summary of the "History of one city" in the chapters given above or on the briefli website. Only in this way can you feel the atmosphere of the book, which cannot be conveyed in abbreviation.

In the novel, one can trace parallels with such historical events as palace coups, and also recognize in some personalities the images of real-life rulers. Eg:

Thus, the story of Mikhail Evgrafovich is relevant in all historical eras. The people have the ruler they deserve. Behind the parody, exaggerations and fantastic incidents, one can see the history of not one particular city in Russia, but the situation in the country as a whole. The author masterfully describes the mores of power and the obedience of the people, as well as their relationship.

HISTORY OF ONE CITY

According to original documents, published by M. E. Saltykov (Shchedrin)

For a long time already I had the intention to write the history of some city (or region) in a given period of time, but various circumstances prevented this enterprise. Mostly, however, the lack of material, any reliable and plausible, prevented. Now, rummaging through the Foolovsky city archives, I accidentally came across a rather voluminous bunch of notebooks, bearing the general name of the "Folupovsky Chronicler", and, having examined them, I found that they can serve as an important help in the implementation of my intention. The content of the Chronicler is rather monotonous; it is almost exclusively limited to the biographies of the city governors, who for almost a whole century controlled the fate of the city of Glupov, and a description of their most remarkable actions, such as: an early ride on the post office, the energetic collection of arrears, campaigns against the townsfolk, the construction and disorder of pavements, the taxation of tax-farmers, etc. Nevertheless, even from these meager facts, it is possible to grasp the physiognomy of the city and trace how its history reflected the various changes that simultaneously took place in the higher spheres. So, for example, the mayors of the time of Biron are distinguished by their recklessness, the mayors of the time of Potemkin - by diligence, and the mayors of the times of Razumovsky - of unknown origin and chivalrous courage. All of them whip the townsfolk, but the first ones absolutely whip, the second explain the reasons for their management by the requirements of civilization, the third want the townsfolk to rely on their courage in everything. Such a variety of events, of course, could not but affect the innermost warehouse of philistine life; in the first case, the townsfolk trembled unconsciously, in the second they trembled with the consciousness of their own benefit, in the third they rose to a trembling full of confidence. Even an energetic ride on the postal - and that inevitably had to have a certain share of influence, strengthening the philistine spirit with examples of horse vigor and restlessness.

The chronicle was maintained successively by four city archivists and covers the period from 1731 to 1825. This year, apparently, even for archivists, literary activity has ceased to be accessible. The appearance of the "Chronicler" has a very real look, that is, one that does not allow for a moment to doubt its authenticity; its sheets are just as yellow and dotted with scribbles, just as eaten by mice and polluted by flies, like the sheets of any monument of Pogodin's ancient repository. One can feel how some archival Pimen was sitting over them, illuminating his work with a tremulously burning tallow candle and in every possible way protecting him from the inevitable curiosity of Messrs. Shubinsky, Mordovtsev and Melnikov. The chronicle is preceded by a special code, or "inventory", compiled, obviously, by the last chronicler; in addition, in the form of supporting documents, several children's notebooks are attached to it, containing original exercises on various topics of administrative and theoretical content. Such, for example, are the arguments: “about the administrative unanimity of all city governors”, “about the plausible appearance of city governors”, “about the salutary pacification (with pictures)”, “thoughts when collecting arrears”, “the perverse course of time” and, finally, a rather voluminous dissertation "About severity." It can be affirmatively said that these exercises owe their origin to the pen of various city governors (many of them are even signed) and have the precious property that, firstly, they give an absolutely correct idea of ​​the current state of Russian spelling and, secondly, they depict their authors much fuller, more demonstrative and more figurative than even the stories of the Chronicler.

As for the internal content of the Chronicler, it is predominantly fantastic and in places even almost unbelievable in our enlightened time. Such, for example, is the completely inconsistent story about the mayor with music. In one place, the Chronicler tells how the mayor flew through the air, in another - how another mayor, whose feet were turned back with his feet, almost escaped from the boundaries of the city government. The publisher, however, did not consider himself entitled to withhold these details; on the contrary, he thinks that the possibility of such facts in the past will point the reader even more clearly to the abyss that separates us from him. Moreover, the publisher was guided by the idea that the fantastic nature of the stories does not in the least eliminate their administrative and educational significance and that the reckless arrogance of the flying mayor can even now serve as a saving warning for those of today's administrators who do not want to be prematurely dismissed from office.

In any case, in order to prevent malicious interpretations, the publisher considers it his duty to make a reservation that all his work in this case consists only in the fact that he corrected the heavy and outdated style of the Chronicler and had proper supervision of spelling, without in the least touching the content of the chronicle . From the first minute to the last, the formidable image of Mikhail Petrovich Pogodin did not leave the publisher, and this alone can already serve as a guarantee with what respectful trepidation he treated his task.

Appeal to the reader from the last archivist-chronicler

If the ancient Hellenes and Romans were allowed to give praise to their godless chiefs and hand over to posterity their vile deeds for edification, will we, Christians, who received light from Byzantium, turn out to be less worthy and grateful in this case? Can it be that in every country there are both glorious Nerons and Caligulas, shining with valor, and only in our own country we will not find such? It is ridiculous and absurd to even think of such a clumsy thing, let alone to preach it aloud, as some freedom-lovers do, who therefore believe their thoughts to be free, that they are in their head, like flies without shelter, flying here and there freely.

Not only a country, but every city, and even every small whole, - and that Achilles has and cannot not have its own valor shining and appointed by the authorities. Take a look at the first puddle - and in it you will find a reptile, which surpasses and obscures all other reptiles with its heroism. Look at the tree - and there you will see some boughs greater and stronger than others, and consequently, the most valiant. Look, finally, at your own person - and there you will first of all meet the head, and then you will no longer leave the belly and other parts unmarked. What, in your opinion, is more valiant: is your head, although stuffed with a light filling, but behind all this grief rushing, or striving to ́ lu belly, for that only and suitable for manufacturing ... Oh, truly your frivolous free-thinking!

Such were the thoughts that prompted me, a humble city archivist (receiving two rubles a month of maintenance, but also glorifying everything), together with my three predecessors, with unwashed lips, to sing the praise of those glorious Nerons, who are not godless and deceitful Hellenic wisdom , but with firmness and bossy boldness, our glorious city of Foolov was prenaturally decorated. Not having the gift of versification, we did not dare to resort to rattling and, relying on the will of God, began to expound worthy deeds in an unworthy, but characteristic of us language, avoiding only vile words. I think, however, that such a daring undertaking of ours will be forgiven us in view of the special intention that we had when embarking on it.

Retelling plan

1. The chronicler introduces the reader to the purpose of his work and the history of the origin of the Foolovites.
2. Characteristic features of 22 rulers of the city of Glupov.
3. The life of the mayor Brodasty, who had an organ in his head.
4. Struggle for power in Foolovo.
5. Board Dvoekurova.
6. Quiet years and famine under the mayor Ferdyshchenko.
7. "Progressive" activity of Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin.
8. Many different rulers of the city, who made changes in his way of life.
9. Corruption of the morals of the city.
10. Gloomy-Grumbling.
11. Composition of Vasilisk Borodavkin about the obligations of the mayor.
12. The work of Xavier Mikaladze on the external and internal appearance of the ruler.
13. The composition of the mayor Benevolsky about the kindness of the ruler.

retelling

Chapter 1. Address to the reader

From the last archivist-chronicler. The work is written in the form of a chronicler's narration, stylized as an old style, then the narration is conducted on behalf of the author, publisher and commentator of archival materials. The goal is to “depict successively the mayors who were appointed to the city of Foolov from the Russian government at different times.”

Chapter 2

The chapter is a retelling of the chronicle, an imitation of the "Tale of Igor's Campaign": the inhabitants of the city, who were called bunglers, are described, their life, communication with neighboring tribes is told. The prehistoric times of the city of Foolov seem unreal (fantastic), absurd, and the actions of the peoples living in ancient times are stupid, unconscious.

Chapter 3

This chapter is a commentary on subsequent chapters. Each of the 22 rulers of the city of Glupov passed away for an absurd reason. For example, Fotiy Petrovich Ferapontov was torn to pieces by dogs in the forest; Lamvrokanis - eaten by bedbugs in bed; Cormorant Ivan Matveyevich - broken in half during a storm ... Each image is individual and at the same time typical. In the inventory of city governors, brief characteristics of Foolov's statesmen are given, the most stable negative features of Russian reality are shown satirically.

Chapter 4

With this chapter, the author opens the biographies of Foolov's mayors on the example of the life of Brudasty - a "fool", "scoundrel", "evil dog". In the head of this figure, instead of the brain, something like a hurdy-gurdy operates, periodically playing two shouts: “I will ruin!” and "I will not stand it!". Saltykov-Shchedrin ridicules the brainlessness of the bureaucratic Russian state power.

Brusty would still have ruled the city for a long time, if not for one circumstance. One morning a clerk came into the mayor's office for a report and saw that the chief's body was sitting at a desk, and an empty head was lying in front of him. Following the clerk, an assistant to the mayor, a senior quarterly, and the chief city doctor visited the office. None of them could understand how the head of the mayor could separate from the body without hemorrhage. Rumors spread throughout the city that the mayor, whom everyone obeyed, had an empty vessel on his shoulders instead of a head. In the evening, all the members gathered in the club and began, excitedly, to recall various circumstances and find facts on the above case. And Brudasty's assistant remembered that he had once seen the chief's head on the watchmaker Baibakov's desk. A watchmaker was called in for questioning, who said that one night he was taken to the mayor to have his head repaired. Having examined the head of Brodystoy, the watchmaker realized that it contained an organ that performed simple pieces of music: “I will ruin!” and "I will not stand it!". After listening to Baibakov's testimony, the mayor's assistant sends a telegram to Winterhalter and proceeds to calm the public unrest. A few days later, Winterhalter sends another (new) head. And the Foolovites, who by that time were very agitated, calmed down when they saw the mayor again. The two mayors met in the same office. Baibakov delivered the corrected head of the chief. The fools were so dumbfounded. The impostors met and measured each other with their eyes. The crowd that had been watching this scene dispersed slowly and in silence.

Chapter 5 A picture of Foolov's civil strife

In this chapter, the writer sarcastically describes the reign of the crowned heads. After a short period of dual power, a messenger arrives in the city of Foolov from the province and takes away both impostors. A struggle for power begins in the city.

The first mayor was Iraida Lukinishna Paleologova. She took possession of the treasury of the city by cunning and decided to bribe the people by throwing copper money into the crowd. The next morning, the assistant to the mayor joined the fight, he wanted to take back the reins of government. Iraida ordered all her rivals (enemies) to be seized and, under the threat of reprisal against them, forced them to recognize her as the mayor.

But another woman appears in the city - Clementine de Bourbon - who also set a goal to become the head of the city of Foolov. In the struggle for power, Clementine won.

But things in Foolov became more and more confused. A third contender appeared, a native of Reval, Amalia Karlovna Stockfish, who bribed the townspeople with vodka. The drunken crowd caught Clementine and, putting her in a cage, took her to the square. Meanwhile, Amalia Stockfish took over the reign, and Clementine was in a cage. The townspeople, coming to the square, teased her. In response, she began to say that she, whatever she was, was the daughter of the mayor. Then the Foolovites thought about it and decided that Klemantinka was telling the truth and that she should be released.

Nelka Lyadokhovskaya appeared in the city, who interrogated Amalia, ordered her to be locked in the same cage with Clementine. The next morning, rumors spread around the city that the dissolute girls had eaten each other.

Before the Foolovites had time to get used to the rule of Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, two more appeared: Dunka the fat-footed and Matryona the nostril. Both justified their rights to power by the fact that they had repeatedly visited the mayors for a treat.

The Foolovites had to deal with three applicants at once. The people began to resent. But on the seventh day after the beginning of the indignation, the Foolovites triumphed. Finally, the "existing" mayor arrived in their city - state councilor and gentleman Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. Thus ended this "idle and laughable frenzy ..." and did not repeat itself.

Chapter 6

The biography of the mayor did not reach his contemporaries, who could understand the theory of his government. Dvoekurov's most important work was a note on the need to establish an academy in Foolov.

One of Dvoekurov's successors, Borodavkin, failed to realize the attempt to open the academy. And the merit of Dvoekurov is that he contributed to the development of education in the city.

Chapter 7

In this chapter, the writer tells how for six years the city of Foolov did not burn, did not starve, did not experience any epidemic diseases or bestial cases, and the people attributed such prosperity to the simplicity of their boss, Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko.

But in the seventh year of the reign of this mayor, changes took place: he threw off his oily robe and began to walk around the city in a uniform. At the beginning of 1776, visiting a tavern, the mayor saw Alena Osipova there and fell in love with her. Alenka had a husband - Dmitry Prokofiev. Alenka refused Ferdyshchenko's offer to live with him in love. Then the mayor decided to take revenge on her. He ordered to move two disabled people to the apartment where Alena and her husband lived. Alena drove these invalids away. The next time the foreman again made signs to Alena in the tavern and was again refused. In the evening, the woman, falling at her husband's feet, said that she would have to become the mayor's mistress. Alena's husband, Mitka, rebelled, began to threaten her with violence. Upon learning of this rebellion, the mayor ordered that he be punished for it. The rebel was chained and taken away. Alena rushed to the foreman in the yard. The brigadier tried to persuade her to love, but Alyonka did not cheat on her husband. Mitka was accused of setting fire to the mayor's yard and sent to Siberia. Alenka sobbed.

All the Foolovites paid for the sins of the brigadier: famine set in the city, people began to die. Blaming Alena for all the sins, the Foolovites dealt with her: “they carried her to the upper tier of the bell tower and threw from there more than fifteen fathoms to a peal from a height ...” Her body was smashed by hungry dogs. And bread appeared in the city after this bloody drama.

Chapter 8

This chapter is about how the brigadier fell in love with archer Domashka. She, using the location of the mayor (brigadier), pushed the gunners and archers. The city suffered the most from this hatred. On the first day of his voluptuousness with Domashka, the foreman climbed up with her to the tower of the mayor's house and drank dead drunk.

And here again the disaster befell the city. On the eve of the feast of the Kazan Mother of God, on July 7, a fire broke out. The author gives a detailed description of this event. The result of the fire was that the crowd, left without shelter, food and clothing, poured into the city, into its center. Only in the evening the fire began to subside, because it began to pour rain. The Foolovites blamed the foreman for all these troubles and began to demand from him an answer for his sins. The brigadier brought Domashka out to the furious archers. The woman, with her impudent smile, was able to appease the crowd with her behavior: The foreman, repentant, shed crocodile tears, the Foolovites rejoiced at their success. The foreman began to write a denunciation of the Foolovites, who raised a revolt against him, the head of the city. Foolovtsy, having learned about this, were numb with fear.

Chapter 9

No sooner had the Foolovites moved away from the fire, when the brigadier's frivolity almost brought a new disaster upon them. Ferdyshchenko decided to capitalize on the use of pastures. He "imagined that the grasses would turn greener and the flowers would bloom brighter as soon as he rode out into the pasture." He left on Nikolin's Day, and ordered the Glu-Povites to beat in the basins. The foreman told the old men who met on the pasture to show what sights they had. It turned out that there were no sights, except for one dunghill. The foreman got drunk to the point of disgrace and began to frighten the Foolovites that he would burn them all. His batman Vasily Chernostup tried to calm him down.

The next day, driving across the pasture, they met a shepherd. For three days they interrogated him about what happened in the pasture. The shepherd could not explain anything. The Brigadier moved on. The fame of his travels grew by leaps and bounds. The Foolovites decided to celebrate this in the field; while waiting for their boss, they put on new clothes. Coming out of the chaise, the foreman shed a tear when he saw such a picture. He understood that people's love is a force containing something edible.

At lunch the tables were set and dinner began. The brigadier drank two glasses of clean water before dinner and added more during dinner, and suddenly he remembered that he had to run somewhere. The Foolovites tried to keep their mayor, but after the second break (there was a pig in sour cream), he became ill, but he ate another goose with cabbage. After that, his mouth twisted.

A week later, the mayor Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin arrived in the city, from which the "golden age of Glupov" began.

Chapter 10

In this chapter, the author gives a detailed description of the new mayor who replaced Ferdyshchenko. Pointing to the peculiarities of his manner and methods of governing the city, Saltykov-Shchedrin shows as one of the distinguishing features of the character's character his ability to "shout at any time" and shout to achieve a goal. Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin won benefits for the Foolovites. He slept with only one eye, the other, not sleeping eye, was constantly watching everything. Borodavkin was also a writer. For ten years he wrote a project "about the thing of the army and fleets ..." and every day he added one line to it. The mayor's writings were quite a voluminous notebook, which included three thousand six hundred and fifty-two lines.

Borodavkin was waiting for a call - a call to overthrow Byzantium, to rename it the city of Ekaterinograd. But there was no such call. And troops on foot and horseback passed through the city of Foolov. The new mayor considered all the options for managing the city by his predecessors and chose Dvoekurov's version of government to emulate. Dvokurov did a lot for the Foolovites: he paved the streets, collected arrears, patronized the sciences and petitioned for the establishment of an academy, introduced mustard and bay leaves into use. Wartkin decided to do the same with Provence oil. According to the stories and legends of the inhabitants, Borodavkin learned that all the innovations introduced by Dvoekurov were not supported by the two mayors who followed him and dirtied them. And Wartkin set a goal - to save a dying civilization. He decided to start his reforms by enlightening the Foolovites, who were desperately resisting this. The war for education has begun. Wartkin, having made several attempts, realized that in some cases, many-mindedness is tantamount to bewilderment. And he decides to form a trustworthy reserve out of tin soldiers. Mustard was nevertheless approved everywhere.

There were four wars for education in total. But, having won, Wartkin begins the struggle against enlightenment: he burned the settlement, ruined it, squandered it. In 1798 he died.

Chapter 11

This chapter tells that the wars for enlightenment, which later turned into wars against enlightenment, so exhausted the Foolovs that the inhabitants felt the need to free the city from wars in general. The mayor Negodyaev fell in 1802 for disagreeing with Novosiltsev and Stroganov about constitutions. In place of Negodyaev, the mayor was appointed "Circassian" Mikaladze, who hardly "had a clue" about constitutions. The new mayor was in a military rank, always walked in an unbuttoned frock coat, gave his subordinates a hand, indulged in passion in the ladies' society and in this passion found himself an untimely death. Nevertheless, the appointment of Mikaladze was "an extremely gratifying phenomenon" for the Foolovites. During the reign of Mikaladze's predecessor, Captain Negodyaev, the city of Foolov turned into a disorderly heap of blackened and dilapidated huts, only the moving house proudly raised its tower to the sky. There was no food, no clothes, the Foolovites were overgrown with hair and sucked their paws. And so Mikaladze undertook reforms, the essence of which was as follows: stop education, do not issue laws. A month later, the wool on the Foolovts began to shed; after another month, they stopped sucking their paws, and six months later, the first round dance took place in Glupovo, at which the mayor himself was present and treated women with printed gingerbread.

Many, studying the reign of Mikaladze, noted its imperfection. He had his shortcomings and mistakes. Mikaladze died in 1806 from exhaustion.

In place of the mayor of Mikaladze, the State Councilor Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolsky, a friend and comrade of Speransky in the seminary, was appointed. The author notes Benevolsky's inclination from early youth to legislation: being a seminarian, he "drew several laws". Feofilakt Irinarkhovich, continuing the work begun by Mikaladze, introduces his additions and changes. He makes an attempt to make the city of Foolov a second-law city. But his request was not accepted in the province. Nevertheless, the Foolovites lived well. Hiding from the Foolovites in the house of the merchant Raspopova, the mayor began to write sermons, orders and secretly distribute them. The Foolovites did not understand Benevolsky and did not support his orders and the charter on respectable baking pies. He left the city for the region, "where Makar did not drive calves."

Lieutenant Colonel Pryshch appeared to replace Benevolsky. Describing the appearance, character traits, demeanor of the new mayor, the narrator notes his liberality: he did not issue laws, did not arrange parades ... During these years, the Foolovites healed well: "everyone ate real bread, cabbage soup with welding." Pimple looked at the life of the Foolovites and rejoiced. The general abundance was also reflected in him: his barns were bursting with offerings, chests could not contain silver and gold, banknotes lay on the floor. A year has passed. The fortune of the Foolovites doubled and tripled. The townspeople began to notice special qualities of mind and heart in their boss; his stomach was very strong, in it "all sorts of pieces disappeared in the grave", his head was stuffed. Thanks to these circumstances, the Foolovites achieved prosperity.

Chapter 12

The author describes the difficult days for the Foolovites that came after the numerous changes of city governors. Due to the absence of mayors, the city's district governors ruled for some time. There was famine in the city. The quarters decided to poison all the dogs in the Gostiny Dvor in order to have access to the shops at night.

State Councilor Ivanov arrived in the city. But he did not rule the city for long. There are two versions of his death: the first is that Ivanov died of fright, having received too extensive a Senate decree, which he did not hope to understand; the second version was that Ivanov did not die, but was dismissed because his head, due to the gradual drying of the brain (from the uselessness of them in use), went into its infancy. During the reign of Ivanov, the Foolovites continued their prosperous life.

In 1815 Ivanov was replaced by a French native, Viscount du Chario. At that time, Paris was taken; Napoleon was expelled to Saint Helena. Du Chario liked the stuffed pies. Having eaten his fill, he demanded that they show him places where you can have fun. Having fun tirelessly, almost every day the mayor arranged masquerades, "he did not do any business and did not interfere in the administration."

The Foolovites began to build a tower so that its upper end rested against the sky, but they did not complete the tower. The Foolovites got the idols of Perun and Volos from the archive, "noble people of both sexes began to bow to Perun, and the smerds made sacrifices to Volos." In the city of Foolovo, the corruption of morals developed by leaps and bounds. A new language was formed, half-human, half-monkey; noble persons walked the streets and sang. Respect for elders disappeared, self-interest prevailed, and the Foolovites decided to sell the old men and women into slavery. And the Foolovites continued to consider themselves the wisest people in the world.

The State Councilor Erast Andreyevich Sadtilov found Foolov's affairs in this position. He was by nature a sensitive and shy person. He composed the story "Saturn, stopping his run in the arms of Venus", which combined the tenderness of Apuleius with the playfulness of Guys. Under the name of Saturn, he portrayed himself, under the name of Venus - the then-famous beauty Natalia Kirillovna de Pompadour.

The licentiousness of the Foolovites pleased the new mayor. The Foolovites themselves felt happy and content, and as such did not want to hinder the happiness and contentment of others. Everyone was in a hurry to live and enjoy: Sadtilov was also in a hurry. He was careless in his official duties, easily concealed government money. Melancholy thought that everyone could parasitize and that the productive forces of the country would not only not dry up from this, but even increase. This was his first delusion. The second misconception is the fascination with the brilliant side of the domestic politics of their predecessors. Having fallen in love with Aksinyushka, Sadtilov, as it were, was renewed. Aksinyushka helped the poor and the crippled.

Chapter 13

The anti-utopianism and prophetic meaning of this chapter is clear: the perverted idea of ​​equality turns into barracks leveling, unanimity is replaced by unanimity and is supported by a system of total denunciation, and these nightmares are justified in reality by “past and present disasters.” The idea of ​​leveling Gloom-Burcheev is embodied in the outward appearance of the "idiot".

The landscape, which for the writer has become the personification of normal life, is the only opponent of the inhuman, dead idea of ​​the state. The chapter ends with the disappearance of Moody-Grumbling, he has vanished into thin air.

Chapter 14

I. Thoughts on the unanimity of the mayor, as well as on the autocracy of the mayor and other things

The first part of this chapter consists of the writings of Foolov's mayor Vasilisk Borodavkin. He writes about the rights and duties of the head of the city. "Rights - so that the evildoers tremble, and the rest obey." “Obligations are to use measures of meekness, but not to lose sight of the measures of severity.” He proposes to encourage science, but to fight free thought. Borodavkin warns that mayors should be prudent in considering their own actions. The duties of the mayor are expressed in greetings and wishes, a smile should play on the face.

He gives sound advice to mayors on how to act in a given situation: he proposes to abolish the administration, to establish an educational city governor's institute (to feed the mayors not with mother's milk, but by decrees of the ruling Senate and instructions from the authorities), to educate in each mayor a person who fulfills all the instructions of the highest authorities ; recommends that from time to time secret congresses of town governors be held in provincial cities, and awards be presented to them.

The autocracy of city governors consists in conquering the elements. One city governor complains that the sun rises every day in the east, and he can order that it rise in the west; it is impossible to stop the passage of time.

II. About the plausible appearance of all city governors

In the composition of the mayor, Prince Xavier Georgievich Mikaladze, valuable instructions are given, advice on how the mayor should look outwardly: to have a specious appearance, not huge growth, proportionality in all parts of the body and to have a clean face (without warts and rashes), eyes should be gray, capable of expressing and mercy, and severity. Mikaladze describes in detail why these characteristics are needed. For example, a clean face adorns not only the mayor, but every person. It provides numerous services: it ensures the trust of the authorities, the love and devotion of subordinates. The slightest wart can disturb harmony.

Each mayor must secretly communicate with the female sex.

III. Charter on the kindness characteristic of the city governor

Mayor Benevolsky gives fifteen practical advice on the respectable behavior of mayors. Each city governor must be kind-hearted, have the ability to listen to the inhabitants who come to him, not to interfere with them doing their own business. Punish for the sins of every inhabitant, and protect the mayor himself from this. To issue good laws, not to put pressure on gatherings and festivities, to introduce education with moderation, to avoid bloodshed. For the rest, do as you please.