Despite his friends’ efforts, Papadiamantis remained destitute. Alcoholism and continuous fasting exhausted him and aggravated his stomach problems. Vlachogiannis secured some translation projects but the use of the demotic Greek (and not katharevousa, which was the official standard at the time) resulted in accusations that Papadiamantis had been bribed by the Russians to write in the "vulgar" language. He wore rags. The publisher Alexandros Pallis sent a care package with suits, shirts and coats from London. The women who accompanied Papadiamantis in the church vigils gave him clothes and gifts. People asked the state to support the acclaimed writer, who now also suffered from paralysis in his hands and was unable to work.