V. I.

Lenin

224

To:   HIS MOTHER

May 27, 1912

Mother dearest, I returned to Paris yesterday from a short business
trip [1] and found your letter with the bad news about Anya
and
Manyasha. [2] I am sure they will not be able to hold them long because the absurdity of such an arrest is
obvious. Things have come to such a pass that they say straight
out to Anyuta “Not for long!” In the provinces today they probably pick up people for no reason at all, “just
in case”.

Have you any acquaintances, my dear? Does anybody visit you? Sudden loneliness is the worst thing that can
happen at such times. Do you get letters and news from
Mitya and Mark?

Have you any acquaintances in St. Petersburg? It would be a good idea to write to them, if there are any, and tell
them about what has happened, perhaps they can get some
information. Sometimes the provincial administration is
overzealous, especially now, after May Day.

I embrace you fondly, my dear, and hope you keep well and active.

Yours,

V. U.

P.S. We have not yet decided what to do for the summer.
It isn’t hot yet.

---
Notes:
[1]
It has not been established where Lenin went. According to
G. M. Vyazmensky, Director of the Archives of Russian
Social-Democracy in Berlin, Lenin visited the archives in summer of
1912 and saw there the Izvestia TsK R.S.D.R.P. (Bulletin of
the C.C., R.S.D.L.P.) for 1907, which he had been looking for
over a long period. It is possible that the journey of which Lenin
speaks was to Berlin.

[2]
On May 7, 1912 Lenin’s sisters Maria and Anna were arrested in
Saratov in connection with the case of the Saratov R.S.D.L.P.(B.).