Date: 1901-03-22
Source: ru:PSS/v46

Source: PSS, Volume 46

Dear P. B.! I have received all your letters and conveyed to your aunt the greetings from her old friend**. You need not have worried about addresses or imagined that anything had changed. I still live at the same place, and you should continue to write to me at the same address:

* The Iskra newspaper. Ed.

** Referring to Dobrojanu-Ghera (Kats, K. A.). Ed.

Herrn Georg Rittmeyer, Kaiserstraße 53/0, Munich. Inside: for Meyer.

I am not expecting my wife anytime soon: her confinement is only due to end on Sunday, and afterward she will need to make a few necessary trips—so it is highly unlikely that she will be able to return before the second half of April. Even when she does come back, you can still address your letters to Rittmeyer, since he will always forward them to me, and I, in turn, will promptly notify you of any change in my address.

There has been an unpleasant development with “Zarya.” This capricious patron, Dietz, flatly rejected your editorial piece, fearing references to “Iskra,” detecting a whiff of “group tendencies” and the like, and citing the fact that both Bebel and Singer (shareholders in his G.m.b.H.*), are wary of the 95th issue and similar matters.

To our great regret, we were forced to decline your article and instead publish a brief note “To Our Readers.” This new form of censorship is truly appalling! Even the cover suffered: they went so far as to strike out “several Russian Social Democrats.” When, oh when, will we finally shake off the “guardianship” of these Dreck-Genoss’**?!

Things are no better with the “calf” (Judas): we received a letter from his friend (= the supposed source of funds = golden bug***), which was extremely angry—alleging that I was sending 200 (two hundred!) rubles to “The Contemporary Review,” and reminding us that this money was intended not for you personally, but specifically for that enterprise. We are all outraged, and we have decided: first, to refrain from publishing any statements about coalition; second, to send an ultimatum to the calf and to his “friend,” demanding either solid financial support for our enterprise—or else we will withdraw entirely; third, to conclude Witte’s memorandum 96.

Well, isn’t it clear—have we once again been duped by Judas??

Still, there is some consolation: No. 2 of “Iskra” has arrived safely in Russia and is enjoying considerable success; correspondence is pouring in. In Russia, who knows what is happening: demonstrations—

* – G.m.b.H. – “Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung” (“Limited Liability Company”) – Dietz’s publishing house. Ed.

** – those worthless comrades. Ed.

*** – “golden bug”; the Golden Bag (a pseudonym used by D. Zhukovsky). Ed.

F. I. DANU. MARCH 22, 1901

in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kharkov, Kazan—and even in Moscow, where martial law has been declared (where, incidentally, my younger sister was taken into custody, along with my brother-in-law, who had never taken part in anything whatsoever!), fierce clashes, overcrowded prisons, and much more.

In the coming days, we are expecting the departure—finally!—of our brother* and our mutual friend, Feld, who has thus far fulfilled all requirements without fail.

We will print the May issue**, and then move on to No. 3 of “Iskra,” and perhaps even tackle No. 4 right away—there is plenty of material to work with.

“Zarya” is reportedly set to appear on Saturday—and will be sent directly to you from Stuttgart.

Our financial situation is very precarious. Therefore, for the time being, we must absolutely refrain from incurring any expenses related to hiring a courier (whom you had envisioned as a carrier).

Please accept my warmest regards. Yours, Meyer

---

Sent from Munich to Zurich

First published in 1925

in Lenin Collection III

Printed from manuscript