76. To N. A. SEMASHKO

First published in part on January 30, 1924 in Leningradskaya Pravda No. 23. Published in full on January 21, 1925 in Izvestia No. 17. Printed from the original. · page 89

28.II.1921

Comrade Semashko
Nikolai Alexandrovich:

I now have with me Comrade Ivan Afanasyevich Chekunov, a very interesting toiling peasant, who is propagating communist principles in his own way.^[1]

He has lost his spectacles and paid 15,000 rubles for the trash! Could you help him to get good spectacles?

I earnestly request you to help and ask your secretary to let me know whether you have managed to do so.

Yours,
Lenin

Notes

[1] After his talk with I. A. Chekunov, Lenin made the following inscription opposite Chekunov’s name in the margin of the visitors’ register: “This old man has a good head, but is not in the Party because of his religious convictions” (Ogonyok No. 29, July 15, 1962).