London, 6 February 1892 
122 Regent’s Park Road, N. W. 

Dear Sir, 

Se io lo conosco,* the illustrious Bovio? Ma dopo molt anm, dopo 
la vecchia Internazionale,” when 1 encountered his articles at every 
turn in Italian socialist literature. At the time, I used to read them, 
and the more I read the less clear they became — ho capi nagott.© To 
use his own words, non ricordo tempo pi confusionario.* To make things 
worse, in the end I did not know which of the two of us, he or I, was 
the confustonario.© However, on the whole, he is a good fellow, a ped- 
ant, it is true, but a generous and amiable one (which is never the 
case with our German pedants}) and, as you say, a Victor Hugo type, 
a grandiose character, a man of broad views, who reconciles you with 
his personality, even if you fight the party which he supports. I quite 
understand that he should be idolised by your youth. If I were young, 

* Do I know him-° T do, I have known him for many years, ever since the old Inter- 
national -° indeed, I couldn’t make tail or head of them-? I cannot remember a time 

more muddleheaded. -* muddleheaded 

Engels to Mendelson. 1] February 1892 355 

I would be mad about him, I would worship him, but unfortunately 
I am 71, not 17. 

This is my answer. Naturally it is slightly touched with irony — 
without which I would be unable to communicate with him — but, 
I hope, it is a civil answer. Would you be so kind as to translate it into 
Italian? 

Sempre suo* 

F. Engels