132 - Jurgis Kasimirovich BALTRUCHAITIS (1873–1944)

Jurgis Kasimirovich BALTRUCHAITIS (1873–1944) Unfinished letter, in Russian, addressed to Alexander Alexandrovich BLOK (1880–1921), dated April 20, 1907: “Dearest Alexander Alexandrovich, Thank you for your letter. I am delighted that you have rested—that you are resting—“far from the usual vanity.” For that, I am green with envy toward you. The sight of immensity is capable of banishing all confusion and torment from the soul. One of the greatest blessings. At one time I advocated “isolation and the earth” as a remedy for all human ills. *** has that unsettling expression of “pathos/emphasis of the expanse.” It regenerates us. And in reality, what do all our forgetfulness and entanglements—as well as the pursuit of happiness—mean in the face of a moment of oneness with the world, something that is exceedingly rare in life!?! “Dear Alexander Alexandrovich, Thank you for your letter. I’m glad you’ve rested—and are resting—‘far from the usual hustle and bustle.’ I envy you deeply for this. The sight of open space is capable of squeezing every trace of turmoil and anguish out of the soul. This is the highest blessing of all things. I once preached the cure for all human ills through “distance and earth.” * has that stirring little phrase, “the pathos of space.” It is this that revives us. And what, in truth, do all our moments of oblivion and union—including the sought-after sensual pleasure—mean in the face of that fleeting moment of union with the world, which occurs even in the life of the most insignificant of the insignificant?!?” MC Provenance -Jurgis Kasimirovich Baltruchaïtis (1873–1944), Lithuanian diplomat and poet. -Their son, Jurgis Jurgissovich Baltruchaïtis (1903–1988), historian. -His wife, Hélène Baltruchaïtis (1908–2004), née Castel-Focillon, daughter of Henri Focillon (1881–1943). -Then through descent.