“Neighborhood” is one of the most important troubles of village life. I knew one Vologda landowner who, at every opportunity, repeated the following words: “Thank God, I have no neighbors,” and, I admit, I could not help but envy this happy mortal. My village is located in one of the most populous provinces in Russia. I am surrounded by a great variety of neighbors, starting with well-meaning and respectable landowners, dressed in spacious tailcoats and the most spacious vests, and ending with notorious revelers wearing Hungarian shorts with long sleeves and the so-called “Fima” knot on the back...