Kousma

Overview

Valet of Marie's father, Constantin Bashkirtseff, at Gavronzi and Poltava in 1876. The Mon Journal t.9 index has «Kousma, serviteur de Constantin Bashkirtseff». Marie: «Kousma valet de chambre de mon père» (067.0983, 067/1876-11-15). Kousma is Marie's French spelling of the Russian first name Kuzma; his surname is not given.

Relevance to Marie

• 29 September 1876: named, with Stépann, in the burglar alarm Marie stages at night in her father's rooms at Gavronzi («Ai ! Stépann, Kousma ! Ici, au secours !», 066.0548).
• 30 October 1876: meets Marie and her uncle and aunt at the station on the way to Poltava (067.0388) and reports papa's near-quarrel with Michel Eristoff («Au dire de Kousma», 067.0391).
• 15 November 1876: begs to go west with her and escorts her horses with Chocolat; Marie describes him as «une manière de lunatique» who ran off to lie in the garden after his own wedding (067.0983). When the horses have to be left behind at Volochisk, he is given written instructions and five hundred roubles (067.1010, 067.1021); on 28 November she complains that papa made her give him the money, «que Kousma est en train de manger en route» (067.1348).

References in Diary

• First mentioned: 1876-09-29 (066.0548)
• 1876-10-30 (067.0388, 067.0391); 1876-11-15 (067.0983, 067.1010, 067.1021); 1876-11-28 (067.1348)

See also #Papa, #Chocolat.