More than 120 years ago, Alexander III signed a decree according to which the supposed twenty begging bastinado.This decree, like so many others like him, did not affect the number of beggars.As long as people were willing to give alms, the number of those wishing to receive it is not reduced."Workers rukoprotyazhnogo production," as they called themselves, many pre-revolutionary beggars earn more than factory workers, and for this were willing to suffer and bastinado ...
Professional beggars always gone after the really needy.According to historians, the spread of poverty in Europe contributed to the arising in the XIII century mendicant religious orders, whose livelihood was collecting alms.Example Franciscans, accustomed as people need to get at the purse, followed by dubious characters who do not have any relation to monasticism.
However, Russia has long existed in the legal form of alms.Alms and asked prisoners under investigation for whom money is the only source of livelihood.Across the country, there were collectors in the repair and construction of temples.Should have a special permit, and ledger entries for alms.Finally, there was a significant number of pilgrims to the holy places, where farmers willingly allowed to spend the night, fed and supplied with money.There was nothing wrong, because with the pilgrimage and alms began many monks.Although in order to get alms, it does not necessarily have been a stranger, prisoners or victims of the fire.The fact is that organized philanthropy in Russia almost was not, but in the distribution of poor people did not stint.For example, Gubkin Moscow merchant, who died in Moscow in the 80s of the XIX century, has left for distribution to the poor 50 thousand rubles.
Actors and role
Next to these strangers, prisoners, crippled and fire victims always went the crowd of professionals, as appropriate for posing as the wandering monk, for the victims of the fire, for the disabled.Professional beggar - a point guard play an actor who can only change the costume, and maybe get into the role quite seriously.So, in the middle of the XIX century, the inhabitants of the nearby villages from Moscow specially sent into the city without a passport and try to get.In prison, they tried to stay as long as possible, fooling the police questioned them.While there was an investigation, the detained prisoners were able to beg, and concluded in Moscow, served very well.
course, not all so deeply to get used to the image.In most cases, completely missing the appropriate costume props so uncomplicated.Most city streets could meet a woman with a sick child in her arms, and instead of the child's mother is unhappy nosila- often wrapped in a blanket log.Her colleagues collected money for the burial of a newborn, the city streets wearing cover from baby coffin.Next to them, and just went out of the hospital, which needed money for a ticket home.A separate genre was to collect alms at the bride's dowry.Working in this role had every chance of success, because the Moscow merchants in the late XIX century, stands out capital, the interest from which went to the dowry to the poor burghers.
the porch and cemeteries operated by professionals only."Mantis" sitting around the temples, and the "gravediggers" waiting for carp (so-called in the jargon of the poor deceased) and begged the relatives of the deceased.It was the most profitable places, so miserable gang jealously watched to ensure that this does not wormed stranger.
"Humpbacks," unlike the "praying mantis" and "gravediggers" did not sit on the ground, and walked through the city, showing his true or false deformity.And in the villages willingly served "fire victims".The province, dominated by wooden buildings, fires were afraid of panic.After hearing about a large fire, the poor immediately rushed to the scene closer to impersonate the victims.At the same time the real fire victims differed from professional beggars that beg dressed neatly and only as long as gaining an amount sufficient to start building a new home.
One of the most popular majors were miserable "erusalimtsy" that is imaginary strangers and pilgrims.In dress and manner of conversation "erusalimtsy" were similar to these monks.They wore all dark, it was a good-looking, and their extent, and the money allegedly going to take a long-distance pilgrimage to pray for all benefactors.
Job
Beggars often united in cooperatives like thieves.He supervised the team of elder or chieftain, who listen without question.In Moscow, this gang rented a separate house or basement and had a common treasury, common table, and sometimes common wives.
There were stray cooperatives, which often consisted of a blind and crippled.In summer, they bypassed the town, village fairs, and in the winter were divided into small groups and moved on sledges.The money earned is strictly divided equally, only the owner of the horse was getting double the amount.
Before the big fairs and church celebrations formed temporary miserable farm.For example, in 1873, "Penza province news" described the recruitment of the poor on the eve of the fair.A few days before the start of trading fools, cripples, poor and beggars gathered just outside the city, where the "manager" (the beggar, who went to leadership positions) examined the candidates and select the most promising, that is the most miserable and ugly.Under the contract, each beggar received from 3 to 10 rubles.in a day.Thus formed a solid gang resold people monitor places where they served the best.
Beginners taught to show physical defects and simulate the disease, keep your feet for hours in contorted position, rolling eyeballs, and even fight in an epileptic fit.
Child labor
many begin to comprehend the specifics of the profession from an early age, especially because children are always served much more readily than adults.Infant could be hired (in the slums of St. Petersburg called the children convulsions).
blind children currently employed as allowed by paying their parents 3-8 rubles.in year.Since the freaks were fed better than healthy children, children often bought specially maimed.Such "plastic surgery" had a very venerable tradition, and the mention of it still contained in the royal decree of the XVII century.Opened a criminal case on charges of deliberate maiming of children was difficult, but in the press accounts of these stories appear regularly.
temple builders
most respectable view of poverty was allegedly collecting money not for himself, and for the repair of churches.This business engaged residents located in the Arzamas district of the village leech lake.I must say that such fishing require serious preparation.The fact that the garbage had to be in possession of documents of the parish, in whose favor he begging, and every penny vyproshennuyu stored in a special statement.The absence of these securities at serious trouble.
Synod tried to rein in the self-styled collectors, issuing in 1876 a special decree that a temple could collect only his parishioners.This resolution caused "by fishing a serious blow, but a loophole could still be found. Now they have to pay more and parishioner, in whose name the credits will be issued. As the pictures in the papers there was no major difficulties when dealing with other people's papers did not occur. It must be said thatthe fishery require significant initial investment. On the one bearing of papers and clothes took about 200 rubles.
part-
Many sat begging has become something of a seasonal work: in some villages peasants free from agricultural work while building houses inothers were engaged in carting, and in third was collected alms. In one of the districts of the Vologda province with the wallet went about a quarter of the population. At the beginning of November, when the crop is harvested, they took the knapsack and left to return home in February or March.
near Moscowthe center of the village was begging Shuvalovo (between Bohr and Borodino). Life "Shuvalikov" (so called Shuvalov touring) had a clear rhythm, allows you to combine begging with agricultural work.They went to work three times a year.The first exit (from August 6 to October 1), they went to the black earth provinces (Tula, Yelets, Zadonsk, Voronezh), which told of a terrible crop failure and hail battered crops.During the second exit (from 15 November to 15 March) "Shuvalikov" visited Poland, Finland and the Baltic States, where toured in the role of victims of the fire.A third exit (from sowing to the end of Peter's Day), they visited the capital and suburban locations, posing as monks gather on Mount Athos.
Bogorodsk district (currently called the Bogorodsk Noginsk) Moscow province there were a miserable area known as the Lead.Locals were generalists and requested all: on poverty, on Pogorelov, Mount Athos and other monasteries.At the same time they had launched production of false evidence (local slang such paper called "viktorki"), so that the poor Bogorodskaya not have to spend money on bribes to officials.
State control
According to traditional notions good ruler should not deal with begging, and generously giving alms.In the annals contained the story of how Prince Vladimir distributed to the poor 300 hryvnia.In "Domostroi" contains such a requirement: "... The poor and the sick, and pilgrims drafted into his house, and, in strength, feed and water."The power for the time being followed these appeals.In the wake of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich fed 300 poor and, according to the chronicle, each of them was given a double fault at Charco and a mug of honey.And after Easter 1665, in the chambers of Alexei Mikhailovich dinner 60 poor, which, in addition to lunch and even given to 7 rubles.money.
destroy this idyll of Peter I, who not only banned begging, but also introduced penalties for those who give alms.First time convicted nischelyubtsa should be fined 5 rub., And recaptured - 10 rubles.In one of Peter's decree says that the poor "spiritually harmful compose songs and mock groans before the people sing and simple ignorant fool in exchange for a reward, the eyes of the blind babies, hands evert and other members of the harm, that was just the poor."Peter wanted the money that were distributed in the form of alms, went to the monastic organization of shelters for the homeless.But a fleet and defeat the Swedes turned out to be an easier task than to beat the poor.As soon as' not trying to punish them: Batog beaten, sent to prison, recorded a soldier, just sent out of sight - nothing helped.
From the middle of the XIX century were created community committees, which fed and clothed the poor, as well as trying to fit them into normal life.However, in practice it often ended in expulsion.Although there were successful attempts.So, at the beginning of the XX century St. Petersburg Partnership to combat the housing shortage in the harbor built (on Vasilyevsky Island) for the poor quarter for up to 2000 people.The "Havana town" combines two types of apartments: separate rooms for singles with shared kitchens and apartments for family.Here was a school, a library, and so on. D. The financing of this project involved not only public organizations, but also the St. Petersburg Duma.
virtual victory
first result of the revolutionary events, which is felt poor, was the abolition of privileges of the nobility.The fact is that in the early XX century, the poor noble titles had in boarding house special, a comfortable room - with a mattress, a blanket and a pillow.In addition, a nobleman could get for free from the rooming house owner paper and ink.
October Revolution the poor did not notice at first, as the Bolsheviks was clearly not up to them.Authorities have struggled with homelessness and beggars on older did not pay attention.According to the census in 1923 there were 50 thousand. The poor, and in the 1926 census - more than 160 thousand.
And in the middle of the 30s, the Bolsheviks won if not a social phenomenon, then, at least, the word "begging".While fleeing from the collectivization of the peasants are forced to beg and the number of beggars tens of thousands of print fade any kind mention of begging.Street beggars really become much smaller.Rigid passport system, limited mobility, constant checking of documents - all this greatly complicates the lives of the poor.In large cities, they caught more or less successfully, but in the province was more free.
After the war the country went thousands of demobilized soldiers, who did not find themselves in civilian life.About how they played their roles, it can be judged by the song of those years about the fact that "I was a scout battalion" and "fascist bullet-villain tore my ability."However, among the poor, met veterans and high-class professionals.For example, in 1947, he was arrested recidivist thief VB Vaisman, who lost his legs during his escape from the camp.By purchasing 20 thousand awarding book twice Hero of the Soviet Union, he sought an audience with the major superiors, who willingly lent 'hero' money.
in the 70s with the advent of the first Soviet hippies begging suddenly became a youth fashion.Nastrelyat money on alcohol or a trip to another city became de rigueur.On hippie jargon is called "walk on Asuka."Begging young people from wealthy families found themselves almost the only innovation that emerged during the Soviet era.After the same as the canceled article about vagrancy, profession -nischego revived just did a tremendous pace ...
A.Malahov
Photo source: stat17.privet.ru
Source Articles "Interesting newspaper. Secret History "
