125. To HIS MOTHER

First published in 1929 in the journal Proletarskaya Revolyutsiya No. 11. Sent from Prague to Moscow. Printed fromthe original. · page 322 · Translated by The Late George H. Hanna

March 2, 1901

Mother dearest,

This is to tell you of a change in my address. I have moved together with my landlord:

Herrn Franz Modrav\v cek, Vr\v sovice bei Prag, No. 384. Oesterreich.[1]

I am going to Vienna now.[2] It seems that there is no Russian consul here (!) and I must have my signature witnessed on my application for Nadya’s passport. I hope to be able to write something to you from Vienna.

I am sorry I have not studied Czech. It is interesting that it is very much like Polish and contains many old Russian words. I recently went away for a time and when I returned to Prague its Slav character struck me very forcibly—names ending in -\v cik, -\v cek, etc., words like lze, lekarna, and so on and so forth. The weather is now warm and springlike and I shall probably have a nice trip to Vienna.

Are you all well at home? How are Mitya’s affairs? I embrace you fondly, my dear, and send regards to all.

Yours,
V. U.


[1] F. Modracek, through whom Lenin maintained a correspondence with Russia, moved to a new address.—Ed.

[2] Lenin went to Prague and Vienna to organise Krupskaya’s journey abroad.