Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Letters of Anton Chekhov to His Family and Friends with biographical sketchApril 8, 9, and 10.Frightfully dull. It is cold and grey …. During all my stay inTaganrog I could only do justice to the following things: remarkablygood ring rolls sold at the market, the Santurninsky wine, freshcaviare, excellent crabs and uncle’s genuine hospitality. Everythingelse is poor and not to be envied. The young ladies here are not bad,but it takes some time to get used to them. They are abrupt in theirmovements, frivolous in their attitude to men, run away from theirparents with actors, laugh loudly, easily fall in love, whistle to dogs,drink wine, etc ….On Saturday I continued my journey. At the Moskaya station theair is lovely and fresh, caviare is seventy kopecks a pound. At RostdovI had two hours to wait, at Taganrog twenty. I spent the night at anacquaintance’s. The devil only knows what I haven’t spent a nighton: on beds with bugs, on sofas, settees, boxes. Last night I spent ina long and narrow parlour on a sofa under a looking-glass ….58