LETTERS ABOUT WRITING
377
the coatroom swearing loudly and assuring people that authors haven't
the right to depict women who aren't ideal, etc.
You have also lost sight of the fact that a good gynecologist can–
not be stupid or a mediocrity. His mind, even if
it
has had only
moderate training, shines more brightly than
his
bald spot; you,
however, noticed the bald spot and stressed it and threw the mind
overboard. You noted and stressed as well that a kind of grease oozes
out of this fat man-brrr I-and completely lost sight of the fact that
he is a professor, i.e., has thought and done things for some years
that set him above millions of people, above all the little Veras and
Taganrog Greek young ladies, above all meals and wines. Noah had
three sons, Shem, Ham, and,
I
think,
J
apheth. The only thing Ham
noted was that his father was a drunkard, he completely lost sight
of the fact that Noah was a genius, that he built an ark and saved
the world. Writing people ought not imitate Ham. Put that in your
pipe and smoke it.
I
don't dare ask you to be fond of gynecologists
and professors, but
I
venture to remind you of justice, which is more
precious> than air to the objective writer.
The little girl in the merchant's family is done beautifully. The
passage in the doctor's speech where he talks of his disbelief in medi–
cine is good, but it isn't necessary for him to take a drink after every
sentence. The fondness for corpses shows your exasperation with your
captive thought. You have not seen corpses.
Now to move from the particular to the general. Let me advise
you to watch your step. What you have here is not a short story or
a novel, not a piece of artistry, but a long row of heavy, dismal
barracks.
Where is the architectural construction that once so enchanted
your humble servant? Where is the airiness, the freshness, the grace?
Read your story through: a description of a dinner, then a descrip–
tion of passing women and misses,-then a description of a party,–
then one of a dinner ... and so on and on-endlessly. Descriptions,
descriptions and more descriptions-and no action at all. You should
start right off with the merchant's daughter, stick to her, and throw
out the little Veras, throw out the Greek girls, throw out every–
thing ... except for the doctor and the merchant's spawn.
We must have a talk.
So
it seems you are not moving to St.
Petersburg.
I
was counting on seeing you, as Misha assured me you
