Great Russians among the Poles on Little Russians

In Poronin in 1913, a surprised Volodya realised that he understood Ukrainian poorly.

After yesterday’s bombardments, this Bolshevik failure to understand has been entrenched for decades to come. There will be no agreement.

‘Many kisses, dear Mummy, and greetings to everyone. (…) We went to a Ukrainian evening in honour of Shevchenko. I understand Ukrainian very poorly. We live as before. A warm embrace and best wishes for your health. Your V. U.’

A letter dated 16 February 1913, sent from Kraków to Vologda. More precisely, it is a postscript to a letter addressed to ‘Maria Alexandrovna’, signed ‘Your Nadya’, reporting on the inconveniences of life in Kraków. 

‘Here in Kraków it is damp, while in Poronin everything will certainly pass very quickly. Volodya likes Poronin very much, especially walking in the mountains. This year we intend to employ a permanent maid, so that there will be less trouble with the household and we can go on long excursions.’