Letter · 1888

To G. M. Chekhov, 10 September 1888. Moscow.

Г. М. ЧЕХОВУ, 10 сентября 1888 г. Москва.

Headnote

1 Written from Moscow on 10 September 1888 to Georgy Mitrofanovich Chekhov ("Zhorzh"), Anton’s young cousin in Taganrog, son of his uncle Mitrofan Yegorovich Chekhov. Chekhov apologizes for having passed through Taganrog on 6 August without stopping to visit, and explains that after a month of hard travel he simply wanted to get home.

2 He recounts the itinerary of his recent trip through the Crimea and Transcaucasia – Sukhum, Novy Afon, Poti, Batum, Tiflis, Baku – and the steamers he traveled on, with a plan to reach Constantinople and Old Athos the following year. He reports that his brother Mikhail ("Misha") had told him Georgy would be in Moscow that winter, asks after a Dr. Yeremeev, and closes with greetings to the household and a courtesy to Georgy’s mother.

10 September 1888. Moscow.
10 сентября 1888 г. Москва.
10 Sept.
10 сент.
Thank you, dear Georgy, for your letter, and forgive me, please, for not having called on you when I passed through Taganrog.
Спасибо тебе, милый Георгий, за письмо и прости, пожалуйста, что я проездом через Таганрог не побывал у вас.
I wanted with all my heart to see you, to spend some time in Taganrog, to walk in the garden; I had been dreaming of it since winter, but the trouble was that when I passed through Taganrog and looked from the station at the Mikhailovskaya church (it was 6 August, the feast of the Transfiguration), I felt out of sorts and was quite unable to carry out my wish and yours – that is, to stay in Taganrog. For a whole month I had been travelling about the Crimea and Transcaucasia and was terribly worn out; I had come to loathe the railway carriages, the views, the towns, and I thought of nothing but getting home as quickly as possible, where my family and my work were waiting for me impatiently. I did not let you know of my passing through, because I was afraid of pulling you away from your business, and your uncle away from his holiday rest.
Всей душой хотел я повидаться с вами, пожить в Таганроге, погулять по саду; мечтал об этом еще зимою, но беда в том, что когда я проезжал через Таганрог и с вокзала глядел на Михайловскую церковь (это было 6 августа, в день Преображения), то чувствовал себя не в своей тарелке и решительно не был в состоянии исполнить свое и твое желание, т. е. остаться в Таганроге. Целый месяц я ездил по Крыму и Закавказью и утомился страшно; мне опротивели и вагоны, и виды, и города, и я думал только о том, как бы скорее попасть мне домой, где меня с нетерпением ожидали семья и работа. Не дал же я вам знать о своем проезде, потому что боялся оторвать тебя от дела, а дядю от праздничного отдыха.
I was in the Crimea, in Sukhum, Novy Afon, Poti, Batum, Tiflis, Baku; I bathed in the Black Sea and the Caspian; I travelled on the steamers "Grand Duke Mikhail," "Yunona," "Dir," "Dedushka"; I was on the "Pushkin" and on the "Kotzebue," and next year I shall go on the "Olga" to Constantinople, and from there to Old Athos.
Был я в Крыму, в Сухуме, Новом Афоне, Поти, Батуме, Тифлисе, Баку, купался в Черном и в Каспийском морях, ездил на пароходах: "В. к. Михаил", "Юнона", "Дир", "Дедушка", был на "Пушкине" и на "Коцебу", а в будущем году поеду на "Ольге" в Константинополь, а оттуда в Старый Афон.
Misha told me you’d be in Moscow this winter. I shall be very glad, and I’ll do everything I can so that you won’t find it dull.
Миша говорил, что ты зимою побываешь в Москве. Буду очень рад и употреблю все силы, чтобы тебе не показалось скучно.
Do you know anything of Dr. Yeremeev?
Не знаешь ли чего о докторе Еремееве?
My regards to everyone. I kiss your mother’s hand and wish her health. Be happy, and may the angels of heaven keep you.
Поклон всем. Твоей мамаше целую руку и желаю здоровья. Будь счастлив, и да хранят тебя ангелы небесные.

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To G. M. Chekhov, 10 September 1888. Moscow.

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