Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Letters of Anton Chekhov to His Family and Friends with biographical sketchand it seems to me that she has not been happy for a single instantand never will be.The third daughter, who has finished her studies at Bezstuzhevka,is a vigorous, sunburnt young girl with a loud voice. Her laugh canbe heard a mile away. She is a passionate Little Russian patriot. Shehas built a school on the estate at her own expense, and teaches thechildren Krylov’s fables translated into Little Russian. She goes toShevtchenko’s grave as a Turk goes to Mecca. She does not cut herhair, wears stays and a bustle, looks after the housekeeping, is fondof laughing and singing.The eldest son is a quiet, modest, intelligent, hardworking youngman with no talents; he has no pretensions, and is apparently contentwith what life has given him. He has been dismissed from theUniversity* just before taking his degree, but he does not boast of it.He speaks little. He loves farming and the land and lives in harmonywith the peasants.The second son is a young man mad over Tchaikovsky’s being agenius. He dreams of living according to Tolstoy.* * *Pleshtcheyev is staying with us. They all look upon him as a demigod,consider themselves happy if he bestows attention onsomebody’s junket, bring him flowers, invite him everywhere, andso on …. And he “listens and eats,” and smokes his cigars whichgive his admirers a headache. He is slow to move, with the indolenceof old age, but this does not prevent the fair sex from takinghim about in boats, driving with him to the neighbouring estates,and singing songs to him. Here he is by way of being the same thingas in Petersburg—i.e., an ikon which is prayed to for being old andfor having once hung by the side of the miracle-working ikons. Sofar as I am concerned I regard him—not to speak of his being a verygood, warm-hearted and sincere man—as a vessel full of traditions,interesting memories, and good platitudes.… What you say about “The Lights” is quite just. You say that*Translator’s Note: On political grounds, of course, is understood.80