To the Chekhovs, 1891. Paris.
ЧЕХОВЫМ, 19 апреля (1 мая) 1891 г. Париж.
Headnote
A short note of 19 April (1 May) 1891, written on arrival in Paris, part of the famous 1891 European travel series. The party has changed plans on the fly: instead of the Milan/Italian-lakes route announced in earlier letters, they left Nice at noon and reached Paris by an overnight train the next morning, Chekhov catching his first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower through the fog from the station. He reports travel fatigue and a firm homeward plan – departing Paris on Monday for Russia, expecting to see the family by Friday at the latest – closes with his familiar "Antoine" signature, and the note carries its own address panel (addressed to his sister Maria Pavlovna at the family’s Moscow apartment).
19 April.
19 апр.
Everything has changed under our zodiac. Instead of going to Milan, as I wrote, we went to the hearth of civilization – Paris. We left Nice at noon and arrived in Paris at 8 in the morning. The train tore along like a madman. Riding from the station, I saw the Eiffel Tower in the fog, and now I am sitting in my room, washing up and putting my mug in order.
Всё изменилось под нашим зодиаком. Вместо того чтоб ехать в Милан, как я писал, мы поехали в очаг цивилизации – Париж. Выехали из Ниццы в полдень и приехали в Париж в 8 часов утра. Поезд лупил, как сумасшедший. Едучи с вокзала, видел в тумане Эйфелеву башню, а теперь сижу в номере, умываюсь и привожу свое рыло в порядок.
We’ll leave Paris on Monday straight for Russia, so we’ll see each other no later than Friday. The sooner the better, for I am already bored and the novelty has set my teeth on edge.
Из Парижа выедем в понедельник прямо в Россию, стало быть, увидимся не позже пятницы. Чем раньше, тем лучше, ибо я уже соскучился и новизна набила мне оскомину.
Be well.
Будьте здоровы.
On the reverse:
На обороте:
To Maria Pavlovna Chekhova.
Moscow, Malaya Dmitrovka, Firgang’s house.
Russie, Moscou.
Russie, Moscou.