Vronsky's Finances

[John Dunn]

Perhaps someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I assume the reason for Vronskii's hierarchy of repayment is that a gambling debt is a debt of honour, in the sense that repayment cannot be enforced through the courts.  Though a gentleman who found himself in the position of being taken to court by his tailor would, no doubt, cease to be a gentleman and in consequence be invited to continue his career somewhere outside the officer corps of the Imperial army.

John Dunn.


-----Original Message-----
From: Jules Levin <ameliede at EARTHLINK.NET>
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:18:04 -0800
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Vronsky's Finances


I believe that somewhere at a soiree Vronsky mentions that a gentleman pays
his gambling debts before he pays his tailor.  This hit home with me, since my
greatgrandfather owned a masterskaya on Kronshtadt supplying uniforms and
accoutrements, including weapons, to officers.  (I know this seems improbable,
but I can send a jpg photo of an advert. he ran in Kronshtadtskiy 
Vestnik, 1878.)
Jules Levin

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John Dunn
SMLC (Slavonic Studies)
University of Glasgow
Hetheringon Building
Bute Gardens
Glasgow G12 8RS
U.K.

Tel.: +44 (0)141 330 5591
Fax: +44 (0)141 330 2297
e-mail: J.Dunn at slavonic.arts.gla.ac.uk

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