To Al. P. Chekhov, 27–30 December 1886. Moscow.
Ал. П. Чехову, Между 27 и 30 декабря 1886 г. Москва.
Headnote
1 Written from Moscow between 27 and 30 December 1886 to Chekhov’s older brother Alexander Pavlovich ("Al."), who had recently taken up a new post away from Moscow. It is one of many short, teasing notes the brothers exchanged: Anton acknowledges a letter from Alexander but mock-scolds it as "vile and immoral" for dwelling on trivial gossip – a goose, a girl named Tanka, an unnamed fiancee – while saying nothing about the substantial news of his new job and colleagues.
2 The letter is a tiny, high-speed specimen of the brothers’ habitual comic register: an absurd opening salutation ("A strap off your trousers!"), a demand for a full report written immediately, a mock-formal sign-off ("I have the honor to be... Dr. A. Chekhov"), and a postscript scolding Alexander for pretentiously signing minor notes with his full name and the childhood nickname "Tyoma" together, which Anton finds ridiculous and self-important.