Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Letters of Anton Chekhov to His Family and Friends with biographical sketchTO MADAME STANISLAVSKY.YALTA, September 15, 1903.… Don’t believe anybody—no living soul has read my play yet; Ihave written for you not the part of a “canting hypocrite,” but of avery nice girl, with which you will, I hope, be satisfied. I have almostfinished the play, but eight or ten days ago I was taken ill, withcoughing and weakness—in fact, last year’s business over again.Now—that is to-day—it is warmer and I feel better, but still I cannotwrite, as my head is aching. Olga will not bring the play; I willsend the four acts together as soon as it is possible for me to set towork for a whole day. It has turned out not a drama, but a comedy,in parts a farce, indeed, and I am afraid I shall catch it from VladimirIvanitch* .….I can’t come for the opening of your season, I must stay in Yaltatill November. Olga, who has grown fatter and stronger in the summer,will probably come to Moscow on Sunday. I shall remain alone,and of course shall take advantage of that. As a writer it is essentialfor me to observe women, to study them, and so, I regret to say, Icannot be a faithful husband. As I observe women chiefly for thesake of my plays, in my opinion the Art Theatre ought to increasemy wife’s salary or give her a pension! …*Nemirovitch Dantchenko418