The Album (Chekhov)
Division into chapters is editorial.
Presentation of the album to Zhmyhov
Kraterov, a thin and slender titular councillor, stepped forward to address his superior, Zhmyhov. With formal deference, he began delivering a prepared speech to honor his boss on a special occasion.
Another subordinate named Zakusin prompted Kraterov during his speech, eager to contribute his own prepared words. Zakusin was noticeably nervous, with perspiration appearing on his brow as he added flourishing phrases about justice and progress to the presentation.
"Your Excellency! Moved and touched to the bottom of our hearts by the way you have ruled us during long years, and by your fatherly care... we beg your Excellency to accept in token of our respect and profound gratitude this album"
The subordinates presented Zhmyhov with an album containing their portraits as a token of their respect and gratitude. They expressed hope that he would continue to guide them for many years to come. The presentation was clearly meant to honor Zhmyhov's leadership and commemorate his jubilee.
Zhmyhovs emotional reaction and speech
A tear trickled down Zhmyhov's wrinkled cheek as he received the album. He was genuinely moved by this unexpected celebration of what he called his "modest jubilee." In a shaking voice, he expressed his deep appreciation for the gesture.
"Gentlemen! I did not expect, I had no idea that you were going to celebrate my modest jubilee... I am touched indeed... very much so... I shall not forget this moment to my dying day, and believe me... no one is so desirous of your welfare as I am"
Zhmyhov assured his subordinates that everything he had done was for their benefit. Overcome with emotion, he kissed Kraterov, who turned pale with delight at this unexpected honor. The civil councillor then made a gesture indicating he was too moved to speak further and shed tears as though the album was a precious gift he was losing rather than receiving.
After regaining his composure and saying a few more heartfelt words, Zhmyhov shook hands with everyone present. He then went downstairs amid loud cheers, got into his carriage, and drove away with their blessings following him. As he sat in his carriage, he experienced a flood of joyous feelings unlike any he had known before, and once again shed tears of happiness.
The jubilee dinner celebration
At home, new delights awaited Zhmyhov. His family, friends, and acquaintances had prepared an elaborate ovation for him. The celebration made him feel as though he had rendered truly great service to his country, and that without him, the nation might have been in dire straits.
The jubilee dinner was filled with toasts, speeches, and tears. Before dessert was served, Zhmyhov addressed the gathering, speaking about his dedication to public service. He emphasized his principle that public servants exist for the public, not the other way around. He mentioned the album his subordinates had presented him with earlier, showing it to his dinner guests.
"Gentlemen! Two hours ago I was recompensed for all the sufferings a man has to undergo who is the servant, so to say, not of routine, not of the letter, but of duty! The public does not exist for us, but we for the public"
The festive faces of the dinner guests bent over the album to examine it. Zhmyhov's daughter Olya admired the album, commenting on how pretty and expensive it must have been. She asked her father to give it to her, promising to take good care of it.
What happens to the album afterward
After dinner, Olya carried the album to her room and locked it in her table drawer. The next day, she removed the clerks' photographs from the album, threw them on the floor, and replaced them with pictures of her school friends. The government uniforms made way for white pelerines as she repurposed the album for her own use.
Zhmyhov's little son Kolya found the discarded photographs of the clerks and began playing with them. He painted their clothes red, added green mustaches to those who had none, and gave brown beards to the beardless officials.
When he had finished painting the photographs, Kolya cut the little men out of the cardboard and began using them as toy soldiers, pricking their eyes with a pin. He took special interest in the image of Kraterov, the titular councillor who had presented the album. Kolya fixed Kraterov's picture to a matchbox and carried his creation to his father's study.
"Papa, a monument, look!" Kolya proudly announced. Zhmyhov burst out laughing at his son's creativity. He lurched forward, looked tenderly at the child, and gave him a warm kiss on the cheek. "There, you rogue," he said affectionately, "go and show mamma; let mamma look too." The precious album that had been presented with such ceremony had quickly become nothing more than a child's plaything.