Ivan Leontyevich Leontyev (Shcheglov), February 28, 1888. Moscow.
И. Л. ЛЕОНТЬЕВУ (ЩЕГЛОВУ), 28 февраля 1888 г. Москва. 28.
Headnote
1 Written from Moscow on February 28, 1888, to the writer Ivan Leontyev (who wrote under the pen name Shcheglov), whom Chekhov here addresses teasingly as "captain" – a nod to Leontyev’s earlier military service. Chekhov answers a letter about travel plans, promising to pass through Petersburg before a planned trip south or to the Volga.
2 Most of the letter concerns a proposed group photograph of a circle of writers – Chekhov, Leontyev, Korolenko, Garshin, and several others – that Chekhov cannot manage to sit for on the timeline proposed, since he will be away in April. He suggests postponing the sitting or having individual "medallion" portraits made from photographs instead, and asks Leontyev to confirm who else is to take part.
3 Chekhov also apologizes for having volunteered Leontyev, without asking first, to write for the newspaper "Russkiye Vedomosti," brushes off a compliment about an unfinished novella with a joking proverb, and closes with news of spring’s approach and warm regards.