V. I.

Lenin

98

To:   HIS MOTHER

September 1, 1899

I did not manage to write to you on Sunday, Mother dearest, and am writing in the middle of the week.

Yesterday we received books by Bernstein and

Vandervelde [1] and two issues of Moskovskiye Vedomosti —Bernstein
was wrapped in one of them—and half another issue (No. 223)
came in a separate packet , which surprised us more than a
little. Has something been lost, or has there been a mistake?

As regards Bernstein—I have decided that I may consider it mine; Manyasha did not say exactly that she wants
it back by a certain date, but wrote that she is taking steps
to obtain another copy. I need that book very much. If,
contrary to expectations, Manyasha needs the copy she sent
me, she should write to me about it immediately .

Nadya and I started reading Bernstein’s book immediately; we have read more than a half and its contents
astonish us more and more as we go on. It is unbelievably weak
theoretically—mere repetition of someone else’s ideas.
There are phrases about criticism but no attempt at serious,
independent criticism. In effect it is opportunism (or rather, Fabianism—the original of many of Bernstein’s
assertions and ideas is to be found in the Webbs’ recent books),
unbounded opportunism and possibilism, and cowardly opportunism at that, since Bernstein does not want to attack
the programme directly. There is little doubt but what it will be a fiasco. Bernstein’s statement that many Russians
agree with him ... (pp. 170 and 173, footnotes) made us
very indignant. We people here must indeed be getting “old” and must be “lagging behind” the “new words”... copied
from Bernstein. I shall soon be writing to Anyuta on this
subject in detail. [2]

Yesterday (at long last!) we received Webb, Volume II in English (no German—we are asking for it today)—
without any letter or news about the first volume!

I now find that it is essential to make a few changes and
add something to my article against Bulgakov. I will do
this in the rough copy I have here. I ask Anyuta to demand
the immediate return of the second article and to keep it
until she receives my corrections. [3]

We have little news. Anatoly gets worse and worse.
Gleb is leaving soon for Nizhneudinsk (Irkutsk Gubernia)
to work on the railway. Yelizaveta Vasilyevna yesterday
received a money order for 100 rubles.

Many kisses for you, Yours,

V. U.

Regards from all.

P.S. I have found out that the Frankfurter Zeitung is delivered to someone not far from here, so you need not
subscribe to it. I ask Manyasha to obtain for me (order
from Dresden or try to find them among acquaintances)
issues of the Sächsische Arbeiterzeitung for 1898 (1)
containing Parvus’s articles against Bernstein and (2) issues
Nos. 253, 254 and 255 for
1898. [4]