Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Anton ChekhovI am neither gay nor bored, but there is a sort of numbness in mysoul. I like to sit without moving or speaking. To-day, for instance,I have scarcely uttered five words. That’s not true, though: I talkedto a priest on deck.We begin to come across natives; there are lots of Tatars: they area respectable and well-behaved people.I beg Father and Mother not to worry, and not to imagine dangerswhich do not exist.* * *Excuse me for writing about nothing but food. If I did not writeabout food I should have to write about cold, for I have no othersubjects.141