To I. P. Chekhov, April 1891. Rome.
И. П. ЧЕХОВУ, 3 (15) апреля 1891 г. Рим.
Headnote
A brief travel note of 3 (15) April 1891, from Rome, to Chekhov’s brother Ivan Pavlovich ("Ivan," a schoolteacher), part of the famous 1891 European travel series. Chekhov reports he is leaving Rome for Naples that day, alive and well and loaded with cheap photographs; compares St. Peter’s unfavorably to St. Mark’s in Venice and to Rome’s own St. Paul’s, allowing only that the churches there are generally magnificent; notes a visit to the Vatican; and signs off with his travel joke-name "Antonio."
3 April.
3 апрель.
Today I am leaving Rome for Naples. Alive and well. I am bringing back with me a great many photographs, which are cheap here.
Сегодня из Рима уезжаю в Неаполь. Жив и здрав. Везу с собою много фотографий, которые здесь дешевы.
I have seen St. Peter’s. But I find it no better than St. Mark’s in Venice, and no better than the Roman church of St. Paul’s. Generally speaking, the churches here are magnificent.
Видел храм св. Петра. Но нахожу, что он не лучше венецианского св. Марка и не лучше римской церкви св. Павла. Вообще говоря, церкви здесь великолепны.
Well, keep well.
Ну, будь здоров.
Yours, Antonio.
Твой Antonio.
On the reverse:
На обороте:
Russia, via Mosca.
Russia, via Mosca.
г. Судогда Владимирск губ., Дубасовский завод