In the Research Department of Manuscripts of the Russian State Library, in the personal fund of V. I. Dahl, an unpublished manuscript of the memoirs of his granddaughter O. P. Demidova is kept. In her extensive memoirs (168 pages long), two chapters devoted to the last period of V. I. Dahl's life in Moscow are of the greatest interest. They contain unknown information about the family life, hobbies, leisure activities, and friends and acquaintances of Vladimir Ivanovich. Memoirs are published in a slightly reduced format. Dali in Moscow Absolutely everyone liked the new home. The house was extremely well bought. Now it is hard to believe that for 40,000 rubles it was possible to purchase such a property. It was located in Presnya on the corner of Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, just opposite the Zoological Garden. The house itself stood at the back of the courtyard and was separated from the street by a cast-iron grating with two gates at each end. Between the front of the house and the railings was a large and beautiful lawn lined with trees. The one-story house was built in a chamber, the legs of which (with a mezzanine above them) were turned into the courtyard, between them was a shady garden. Outbuildings, kitchens, barns, cellars, stables - there were more than enough. The house belonged to a big gentleman, Ivanenko, a southern landowner, and in a bitter moment was let down for a song with all the furniture. Its modest new owners could only shake their heads at the thought of its heating costs. Under the word environment I mean- page 27 I don't buy paintings, statues, collections, or family silverware, but only furniture and household utensils, but that's enough to keep me from spending any more money. There were about three dozen rooms in the house. That was the expanse! Big hall, little hall, big living room, little living room, and all that sort of thing. There was a place for everyone and everything. In addition to the bedroom, my grandmother had her own room ... Read more