L E T T E R S

11picture, and that is why I delayed somewhat in writing to you. There are manyartists. Almost every tenth house features a display of pictures meant to attractpeople who are seeking an artist’s services. Unfortunately, in my case, atpresent I lack the necessary means, i.e., an equal exchange of money. Finally, Iam forced to attribute my tardiness to laziness, but not to lukewarmness.Dear Alexandra, once again today I take pen in hand, and begin to writeto you; but, as if for spite, I’m not sure that I will be able to finish, for it isalready about 11 P.M. However, I prefer to write at least by bits, rather thanpostpone writing completely. Just as I was writing the above paragraph itbegan to grow dark. The dinner hour is approaching. Note: I eat dinner, aseveryone here does, about 5 o’clock. A friend of mine came by to ask whetherwe could get together. Since today is such a great Feast, and since I alwaysremain a Catholic, the occasion called for a better dinner. Yesterday, on theVigil, I had a poor meal: bouillon, a piece of meat, and a glass of wine... notthe customary partaking of several dishes: mushrooms, fish, pancakes, andpierogi with poppy seeds. We chose to go to the Palaise Royale for a two-franc[half ruble] dinner.On the way we stopped to visit with a few of our compatriots at aspecial gathering with music, and so with dancing as well. Everyone there washomesick... longing for something or someone. Everyone was tied up withwork. None of these people is very rich. In such cases you amuse yourself asbest you can. That’s the way it is when you are poor. I had to take the part ofthe girl in the Polonez. The dinner was not bad for two francs: soup, a choiceof three entrees, dessert, and a bottle of wine. Everything was clean. Thespecial feature of this place is that it is not just men, but women also who comehere to eat. These are women of a higher class. It is much more pleasant todine in good company. Bread is very expensive here now; but by comparisonmeat is disproportionately far more expensive. As a result, one must bereconciled to eating horse meat steaks, roast dog, or cat meat. While none ofthese are poison, neither are they very appetizing. Don’t think that I am joking