Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Letters of Anton Chekhov to His Family and Friends with biographical sketchsuccessful with the census of the children, on which I am buildinggreat hopes.I dined at Landsberg’s; I sat in the kitchen of the former BaronessGembruk …. I visited all the celebrities. I was present at a flogging,after which I dreamed for three or four nights of the executionerand the revolting accessories. I have talked to men who were chainedto trucks. Once when I was drinking tea in a mine, Borodavkin,once a Petersburg merchant who was convicted of arson, took ateaspoon out of his pocket and gave it to me, and the long and theshort of it is that I have upset my nerves and have vowed not tocome to Sahalin again.I should write more to you, but there is a lady in the cabin whogiggles and chatters unceasingly. I haven’t the strength to write. Shehas been laughing and cackling ever since yesterday evening.This letter will go across America, but I shall go probably notacross America. Everyone says that the American way is duller andmore expensive.To-morrow I shall see Japan, the Island of Matsmai. Now it istwelve o’clock at night. It is dark on the sea, the wind is blowing. Idon’t understand how the steamer can go on and find its directionwhen one can’t see a thing, and above all in such wild, little-knownwaters as those in the Gulf of Tartary.When I remember that I am ten thousand versts away from myworld I am overcome with apathy. It seems I shall not be home fora hundred years.... God give you health and all blessings. I feel dreary.202