Letter to Maria Alexandrovna Ulyanova, February 13, 1910

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February 13, 1910

Mother dearest,

A few days ago I received letters from you and Anyuta. A big, big merci for them. I have now completed the affairs that obliged me to answer Manyasha too briefly and hurriedly (I shall soon be writing to her).

I received the chessmen[1] a long time ago—I simply forgot to mention them. I have so few opportunities to play here that I have probably forgotten everything.

I was very pleased to learn that you are satisfied with your flat and with the landlady, and that you are better and have begun to go out. It would be good if you could get out of Moscow earlier in spring and go to somewhere on the Volga or to the country. It is sure to be unpleasant in Moscow in spring.

We are having wonderful weather. The water in the Seine is still high but the floods are rapidly subsiding; they have caused tremendous damage (our part of the city was not touched at all).

I had a short letter from Mitya with the news that he is recovering. I am angry with myself for not having found time to answer him. It seems, indeed, that the Paris streets with their devilish traffic are not the only places where it is dangerous to ride....

I sometimes see Avgusta Pavlovna here. Her relatives are in Moscow—do you ever see them? She is very nice.

I embrace you fondly, my dear, and hope you keep well.

Yours,

V. U.

Best regards from all.

  1. The chessmen mentioned here were turned on a lathe by Lenin’s father, Ilya Ulyanov. Lenin’s mother sent him the chessmen in memory of his father. When Lenin moved from Galicia to Switzerland at the beginning of the First World War the set was lost.