To A. Ya. Lipskerov, 1 January 1888. Moscow.
А. Я. ЛИПСКЕРОВУ, 1 января 1888 г. Москва,
Headnote
1 A brief New Year’s note, written in Moscow on 1 January 1888, to Abram Yakovlevich Lipskerov, editor-publisher of the Moscow daily "Novosti dnya" ("News of the Day"), a paper in which Chekhov had himself published fiction.
2 The letter is purely a favor on behalf of a friend: Alexander Lazarev, a fellow humor writer who published under the pen name "A. Gruzinsky" in journals such as "Oskolki,Budilnik," and "Sverchok." Chekhov recommends Lazarev’s novel-in-progress to Lipskerov for serialization, drawing on his own standing at the paper to smooth the introduction – a small, characteristic instance of Chekhov quietly promoting a lesser-known colleague.
Dearest
Добрейший
Abram Yakovlevich! My good friend Al. S. Lazarev, who writes for "Oskolki," "Budilnik," and "Sverchok" under the pseudonym "A. Gruzinsky," a talented man, is writing a novel, which I advised him to publish in "Novosti dnya," where I myself once published a novel. If you agree, then write to him about it...
Абрам Яковлевич! Мой хороший приятель Ал. С. Лазарев, пишущий в "Осколках", "Будильнике" и "Сверчке" под псевдонимом "А. Грузинский", человек талантливый, пишет роман, который я посоветовал ему напечатать в "Новостях дня", где и сам печатал роман. Если Вы согласны то напишите ему об этом...