Letter Marco to Cesar - 3rd August 1877 Archive Number 875
(Translated from the French)
Dear old chap,
I was sure you would not abandon me and I say to you in my turn that what you do will not be wasted. I do not know if, as you say, they are extravagances in George's household. I think it can only be with books (which he does not read much, let it be said in passing). It cannot be because of meals since I think they must be pretty stingy if one can judge theirs, by what we have on Thursdays when I am there. That leaves clothes; Here I have no information, except that with three children, and above all three daughters, it cannot be a light burden, for everything has literally doubled in price Furthermore, since you tell me that he has sent you some figures, as I do not understand these at all, I will say nothing more about that point and I certainly think that if Georges could do something for me he would; to think otherwise would be too distressing. In your last letter you gave me the impression that you were complaining that I had not really described Maurice fully to you. I was perfectly well aware of what you
tell me in your letter of today; but I did not mention it to you because I was convinced that the fault was rather his father's severity than anything to do with him and I was also convinced that by a good deal of kindness allied to much firmness one would achieve success and I hope indeed that you will. Do not think, as you seem to think, that I prefer the care of strangers to that which would be given to me by relations; far from it; but what can one do? Since this is impossible, one must resign oneself to it. But there is another point. All the doctors I know, Spaak, Dugnolle, Deroubaix, etc. advise me to live in a warmer and more settled climate than this one and, although I have never feared death, I can say sincerely that I do feel a certain apprehension about the return of winter, for my legs no longer function, they completely refuse to work. If I do not expire next winter, I will see if there is any possibility of going to Tuscany. With this in mind, I am going to economise as hard as I can so as to be able to make the journey and, the Lord willing, I shall succeed. The last two Thursdays I have not been to see Georges because the weather has been too bad. Here we are experiencing a summer which bears a strong resemblance to a continuation of winter; no warmth and lots of rain. I am really afraid that the winter will be very severe, for the last one was much too mild for this terrible country. I am not going to talk to you about politics; no one can understand them; however, the Russians are perhaps sorry, at the present time, that they set themselves up, as the champions of the Christians in the East, particularly as it is nothing more than a pretext.
Look after your health well; for this year 77 is a year of misfortune and those, as we say, che la passeranno liscia [who get through it easily] will be very lucky...
Much love from me to everyone and with love to you as always,
Your affectionate father,
M.A.
3.8.77
Dear old chap,
I was sure you would not abandon me and I say to you in my turn that what you do will not be wasted. I do not know if, as you say, they are extravagances in George's household. I think it can only be with books (which he does not read much, let it be said in passing). It cannot be because of meals since I think they must be pretty stingy if one can judge theirs, by what we have on Thursdays when I am there. That leaves clothes; Here I have no information, except that with three children, and above all three daughters, it cannot be a light burden, for everything has literally doubled in price Furthermore, since you tell me that he has sent you some figures, as I do not understand these at all, I will say nothing more about that point and I certainly think that if Georges could do something for me he would; to think otherwise would be too distressing. In your last letter you gave me the impression that you were complaining that I had not really described Maurice fully to you. I was perfectly well aware of what you
tell me in your letter of today; but I did not mention it to you because I was convinced that the fault was rather his father's severity than anything to do with him and I was also convinced that by a good deal of kindness allied to much firmness one would achieve success and I hope indeed that you will. Do not think, as you seem to think, that I prefer the care of strangers to that which would be given to me by relations; far from it; but what can one do? Since this is impossible, one must resign oneself to it. But there is another point. All the doctors I know, Spaak, Dugnolle, Deroubaix, etc. advise me to live in a warmer and more settled climate than this one and, although I have never feared death, I can say sincerely that I do feel a certain apprehension about the return of winter, for my legs no longer function, they completely refuse to work. If I do not expire next winter, I will see if there is any possibility of going to Tuscany. With this in mind, I am going to economise as hard as I can so as to be able to make the journey and, the Lord willing, I shall succeed. The last two Thursdays I have not been to see Georges because the weather has been too bad. Here we are experiencing a summer which bears a strong resemblance to a continuation of winter; no warmth and lots of rain. I am really afraid that the winter will be very severe, for the last one was much too mild for this terrible country. I am not going to talk to you about politics; no one can understand them; however, the Russians are perhaps sorry, at the present time, that they set themselves up, as the champions of the Christians in the East, particularly as it is nothing more than a pretext.
Look after your health well; for this year 77 is a year of misfortune and those, as we say, che la passeranno liscia [who get through it easily] will be very lucky...
Much love from me to everyone and with love to you as always,
Your affectionate father,
M.A.
3.8.77