Answer:
I think that this quote is trying to describe that the traditions that have been passed down and used time and time again by the 'primitive' will forever be more tangible. Because when he says "the fantasy of modern times" it's almost like he is claiming that they are just ideas and wishes and wants for this more modern society and way of living, whereas, with the "lore of the primitive" these normal methods of survival have been used and proven effective over again. A good comparison to that phrase could be, "if it ain't broke don't fix it", which is essentially what I think that Anton Chekhov was trying to say.
He is joking. D) He is joking because Mr. Brishner is fat and slovenly
the answer is A, he wrung as much water out of the towel as he could before hanging it up.
When I was travelling in Mexico, on my own, recently graduated from university, on my way to Central and South America, and I was in Mexico City, I wanted to see the ruins of Teotihuacan but didn't know how to get there and my Spanish was rather limited as I was just learning to speak it. So in the streets behind the Zocalo cathedral, I asked some small kids how to get there, but I pronounced it something like Tee oh tee wa can and they both giggled and after I explained I wanted to see the pyramids they said that is Tay oh tee wacan is the correct pronounciation so that is an example of how I learned my Spanish and Indian names on my trip. The told me where to get the bus.
