To V. A. Tikhonov, 30 November 1891. Moscow.

Written 30 November 1891 from Moscow to Vladimir Alexeyevich Tikhonov (1857–1914), the playwright, prose writer, and editor of Sever with whom Chekhov carried on a long, jocular correspondence.

Chekhov sends Tikhonov a short, sentimental story for family reading, explaining that it is the same piece once slated to be called "Obyvateli" ("The Townsfolk") but now retitled; he offers to send a story actually called "Obyvateli" in March if Tikhonov wants this one under its new title, and says the choice is Tikhonov’s. He tells him to send the story back if it seems long and dull, and offers to write something else, noting there is still time before January for proofs to go back and forth. He recommends that Sever take on Viktor Bilibin – known by his Oskolki byline "Igrek" – for feuilleton writing, calling him the most talented of the Petersburg columnists, and gives his address. He jokes about his own poverty in biblical language, says he has "put his teeth on the shelf," and asks Tikhonov to send money soon. He encloses a subscription form asking that Sever be sent to an address and charged against his fee, closes with good wishes, and adds a postscript asking whether Tikhonov received a story sent a week earlier by his friend N. M. Yezhov.