Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Anton Chekhovmouth, in one’s nose, in one’s pockets; when you look at yourself inthe glass, you think your face has been painted. When, on reachingIrkutsk, I washed at the baths, the soapsuds off my head were notwhite but of an ashen brown colour, as though I were washing ahorse.When I get home I will tell you about the Yenissey and the Taiga—very interesting and curious, for it is something quite new to a European;everything else is ordinary and monotonous. Roughly speaking,the scenery of Siberia is not very different from that of EuropeanRussia; there are differences, but they are not very noticeable.Travelling is perfectly safe.Robbers and highwaymen are all nonsense and fairy tales. A revolveris utterly unnecessary, and you are as safe at night in theforest as you are by day on the Nevsky Prospect. It’s different foranyone travelling on foot ….173