V. I.

Lenin

59

To:   HIS SISTER MARIA

November 11, 1898

We received your letter, Manyasha, and were very glad to have it. We have now got out the maps and are trying
to find out just where Brussels is—the devil take it. We
have discovered it and have given it some thought—a stone’s throw from London, and from Paris and from
Germany, which puts it pretty well in the very centre of
Europe.... Yes, I do envy you. During the first period of my
exile I decided not to look at a map of European Russia
or Europe; there was always such a bitter taste in my mouth
when I opened those maps and looked at the various black
dots on them. Now it does not worry me, I have learned to
be patient and look at the maps more calmly; we even begin
to wonder which of those dots it would be interesting to
reach later on. During the first half of my exile I looked
mostly backwards, I suppose, but now I am looking ahead.
Oh well, qui vivra, verra . [1]

As for newspapers and books, please get hold of whatever you can. Send all sorts of
catalogues from second-hand booksellers and bookshops in
all languages. There is a request I should like to make of
you today, but I have decided to put it off till next time.
I would remind you of what I wrote to you or to Anna last
year—the most interesting newspapers are the official organs that contain verbatim reports of parliamentary
discussions. If you find out where such newspapers are sold
(are there only Belgian or are there also French and English
newspapers in Brussels?) and send the interesting issues (you keep up with the press, I hope?), it will be fine. I
advise you not to confine yourself to Belgian newspapers
but to subscribe to some German paper; you will not forget
the language, and will get excellent reading material; the cost
of the newspapers is not great.

Are you going home for Christmas?

Yours,

V. U.

After a long wait I have received my collection of articles
at
last. [2]

I will ask Anyuta to send you a copy.

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Notes:
[1]
He who lives will see (Fr.).— Ed .

[2]
Economic Studies and Essays .— Ed .