Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff

It is my father's name day1 — see my letter to Julian.

C'est la fête de mon père, voyez ma lettre à Julian.

No one was invited, as I wished — but company came all the same. M. Oustimovitch, Marshal of the Nobility; Alexandre and his young son Etienne; MM. Staritsky, Trégouboff, Wolkowitsky, Michel Orloff and Lihopoy, who went to fetch me a charming easel in Kharkov. There are all those peasant tributes I describe to Julian, then dinner — but nothing amuses me... and there is nothing amusing.

On n'a invité personne selon mon désir mais il est venu du monde tout de même. M. Oustimovitch, maréchal de la noblesse, Alexandre et le petit Etienne son fils; MM. Staritsky, Trégouboff, Wolkowitsky, Michel Orloff et Lihopoy qui est allé me chercher un charmant chevalet à Karkoff. Il y a toutes ces ovations des paysans dont je parle à Julian, puis le dîner, mais rien ne m'amuse... et il n'y a rien d'amusant.

Notes

Name day (la fête): in Russian Orthodox tradition, one celebrates one's name day — the feast of one's patron saint — often with more festivity than one's birthday. This was a significant occasion for the Bashkirtseff household.