We continue the presentation of the series dedicated to the newspaper "Curierul Slănicului Moldova" (from the collection of the "Mihai Eminescu" Central University Library in Iași - BCU), the first in Romania to reflect the life of a spa resort.
In fact, a diary of the Slănic-Moldova resort that covers a historical period less known to the general public, that of "La Belle Époque"; an overtime model of promoting spa tourism of the "Pearl of Moldavia", as the resort was named for the first time, even by this newspaper.
In this episode: "Curierul Slănicului Moldovai", No. 3, Year VIII, Tuesday, July 13, 1910.
From the summary of this issue: the well-argued speech of Prof. Dr. Ludovic Russ Junior – the resort's medical inspector, on the occasion of the double inauguration on June 27; a secret prayer for continuity in the leadership of Slănic; impressions about Slănic conveyed to readers by a "Troubadur"; a new medical facility and a clinical analysis laboratory, in the special treatment section of the "Racoviță" hotel; how is life in Slănic; new information and new important visitors to Slănic.
The day of June 27, 1910 will undoubtedly remain a reference date in the history of the Slănic-Moldova resort, which consecrates two great achievements, particularly important in terms of the development and modernization of the tourist infrastructure of the town: the road that connects the resort with the rest of the country and the new inhalation and compressed air establishment, the Inhalator, one of the most modern in Europe at that time. In the last episode, we presented and played some fragments of the speech of the head of epitropia, CB Pennescu, and in this issue follows that of Prof. Dr. Ludovic Russ junior, doctor-inspector of the resort and professor of the Medical Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine in Iași. In this speech, as in the case of the one given by epitrope Pennescu, information and data appear for the first time, extraordinary for the evolution of Slănic Moldova: "It is precisely the 25th season since I was appointed doctor-inspector of these Baths, by The Epitropia of ``Sf. Spiridon's House'', at that time composed of Mr. Nicolae Gane (writer and politician, friend of Slănic, na), Alexandru Vârnav Liteanu (for his contribution to the construction of the Slănic Baths, one of the mineral springs bore his name , n. a) and the late Vasile Ghiorghian (politician, Minister of Agriculture, Domains, Commerce and Industry in IC Brătianu's cabinet and prefect of Iași county, na). Already after the first year, I recognized that Slănicu is in great need of an inhalation facility, especially since the chloro-sodium carbonate mineral waters found in this resort are so effective in respiratory ailments, as is Spring No. 1, a double Selters (ie twice as valuable as the world famous mineral water Selters from Germany, na). So, back then, in 1886, I had requested through my report, the establishment of a larger and more equipped inhaler - showing that Slănic must become a Bad Reichenhall of Romania and this all the more, the more he has over the Reichenhall , the great advantage - as I have already shown - of also possessing mineral waters for internal cures, so indicated also in diseases of the respiratory organs".
The doctor Ludovic Russ junior also mentions the fact that a more complex inhaler could not be installed, because Epitropia was occupied at that time with a series of large projects to transform Slănic, among which some burning issues, such as the expropriation of the villagers, the construction of new villas and hotels, Casino etc. However, in order to at least facilitate the study of the climate of Slănic, "absolutely necessary study for a spa resort", Epitropia granted the sum of
1.000 lei for the establishment of a meteorological station. So, the installation of the weather equipment was done by the teacher, engineer and meteorologist Ștefan C. Hepites (b. February 5/17, 1851, Brăila – September 15, 1922, Brăila), the creator of the first meteorological station in Romania, which he installed in 1878, in Brăila. In 1884 he was appointed director of the Meteorological Institute of Romania, newly established in Herăstrău (Bucharest), where he created the first central meteorological station in Romania, and only three years later he also installed a weather station in Slănic-Moldova; then organized the national weather network, which at the end of 1893 had 159 weather stations in operation; he is also responsible for the establishment of the first earthquake recording station, as well as the introduction of the metric system in our country. All "thermometric, barometric, hydrometric and other" observations were conducted in Slănic for two years and were published in the Official Gazette. "Following the subsequent meteorological observations, the climate of Slănic could be determined to some extent. It's only regrettable that, after a while, these observations stopped being made," says prof. dr. Louis Russ Jr. We also learn from his lordship's speech that Epitropia, in spite of so many expenses, granted another amount, quite consistent, in order to purchase surgical instruments for emergency operations in cases of accidents, devices for fractures and dressings of all kinds , which should not be missing from any resort. Next, I highlight from the speech of doctor Russ and other data and information especially valuable for the history of the resort. So, on August 14, 1896, the first pneumatic chamber for six people started operating in the resort, in which year 55 sessions were performed, with an income of 165 lei. Also in 1896, 716 sessions of compressed air were performed, with an income of 2.161 lei and 50 money, and in 1897, 814 sessions, worth 2.326 lei and 50 money. Over the years, the number of compressed air sessions increased, reaching 1907 in 1.500, while, in the case of Bulling inhalations, the number of sessions increased from 800 in 1904 to 1.458, in 1907. These figures showed how necessary a new and more modern inhalation facility was for Slănic, because, until then, as is clear from the speech, there were some inconveniences, mentioned in the annual reports of 1905 and 1906, drawn up by the doctor Russ junior : ,,The devices heated with spirit lamps, which vitiated the air, were installed in a wooden building. On July 6, 1908, the edifice in which Bulling's compressed-air apparatus and thermo-variators were installed was destroyed by a great fire (recorded in an episode of the 1908 issue, n. a.), which, fortunately, produced only material losses, not human lives. However, this catastrophe activated the reconstruction of the inhalation and compressed air facility, on the model of the one in Bad Reichenhall, in Germany," said Prof. dr. Louis Russ Jr. Then, throughout the speech and towards its end, doctor Russ highlights the efforts and direct involvement of the formidable trio of epitropians, C. B. Pennescu, Dimitrie Botez and prof. dr. Emil Pușcariu, as well as the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Vasile G. Mortun.
"A secret prayer" is clearly the title of the article from the "Notes and impressions" column, which is devoted to continuity in the administration of the resort: "It is the prayer of the good that sprouted on the hills and mountains of Slănic and that does not want to move away, but wants to grow and bring as many benefits as possible to the public interest. And this prayer, concretizes the entire need, I could say the pain of our Slănic, it means the unspoken fear of permanent changes, it produces the horror of the eternal changes in the management of Epitropia and implicitly, of the administration of Slănic. Nothing more than continuity in administration, nothing more than the same management and direction is the supreme desire, which is the desire of everyone! It must be understood once and for all that real progress, real benefits can only be made when the institutions are long placed under the same guiding and skilled hand. Continuity in leadership, here is the secret prayer of Slănic".
Regarding the choice of holiday destinations, the readers are given a beautiful presentation of the image of Slănic, in optimistic, attractive and colorful touches: "There is no other corner more divine and beneficial for our weakened body and for our nerves." sleitei, than ``Slănicul din Moldova''. This proved a long experience for us, for a number of years, after we wandered around, from place to place, until we were lucky enough to step, for the first time, on the land of Slănic in Moldova... Because, whoever has seen this fairy-tale sight once, has no more courage to look for another place to rest during the summer. I shuddered with joy to see myself again in the brain of the Oituz mountains, not to participate in the multitude of fun and parties organized in Slănic, but to rest for a summer season, with a lot of use, from all points of view. And I will tell my readers the adventures and many interesting things from Slănic, for its visitors, but... ``between four eyes''".
The article, titled "To my readers" is signed "The Troubadour" and I discovered that this is the pseudonym of Barbu Lăzăreanu (born Avram Lazarovici, 1881 - 1957), publicist, bibliographer, philologist, poet and prose writer, Romanian folklorist of Jewish origin, but first of all, "a commentator of the Romanian language". He was director of the Academy Library and a member of the Romanian Academy. In this case, he addressed his readers, especially from the newspapers for which he was editor and collaborator: "Adevărul", "Dimineața", "Vremea", "Romanian Life", "Contemporanul", , ,Rampa", Literary and artistic truth", etc. He was saved during the deportation of the Jews by Queen Mother Elena of Romania and his doctor and friend, Victor Gomoiu. Being a convinced communist militant, he founded and led as rector, the first workers' university in Romania, which later became the "Ștefan Gheorghiu" Academy of Social-Political Studies (cf. referatele.com - "Barbu Lăzăreanu biography ”, at https://www.referatele.com/referate/romana/Barbu-Lazareanu/index.php).
And if we still talked about the two great achievements of Slănic, the new road and the inhaler, it is appropriate to point out two other new inaugurations (another double, after the one on June 27), which took place on July 1, 1910: the laboratory for clinical analyses, authorized by Epitropie, under the direction of Professor Dr. Ludovic Russ junior, and the medical electricity facility (electrotherapy, hydrotherapy), both located in a special section arranged on the ground floor of the "Racoviță" hotel. Blood pressure measurement, laryngoscopic examination, etc. were performed in the medical analysis laboratory, and the new medical electricity installation was equipped with hydroelectric baths for galvanotherapy, ionization, vibration massage. Doctor Russ Jr. ran the testing lab and personally handled the procedures in the new medical facility.
In the article "Life in Slănic" we are urged to spend as much time as possible in the middle of nature in Slănic-Moldova: "There are many and many who know how to take advantage of their holiday, enjoying in this way the short time they have ; and know that this is the most beautiful and pleasant life that someone can lead in Slănic: to spend a whole day in the middle of the forest, reading, working (handiwork, na), writing, meditating, even tickling and breathing the clean air and inhaling the healthy smell of fir trees".
Among the information contained in this issue, I list a few: Minister Vasile G. Morțun, after receiving the issues published so far from "Curierul Slănicului", wanted to convey his thanks for the way this newspaper contributes to "the rise and progress of Slănicului" "; in a correspondence from Iasi published in the "Minerva" newspaper on Tuesday, July 6, 1910, we read, among other things, that many residents of Iași have established their summer residence in this superb resort, which, following recent improvements, could rivaled many others from abroad, especially since more and more foreign visitors began to arrive here, from countries such as Bulgaria, Austria, Russia, etc.; to the multitude of entertainments and means of relaxation in Slănic, one more is added: the establishment of a fencing school, under the direct coordination of the master Babeș from Iași, at the spa hall of the resort; a new series of improvements is announced to be made in the resort: the construction of a modern hydrotherapy establishment near the Racoviță hotel, the resort's sewerage and water supply and the construction of two large restaurants, a local pharmacy, on the right bank of the Slănic river, grocery, shops; this summer, among the distinguished visitors of the resort was the doctor-journalist Adolf Steuerman-Rodion (1872 - 1918), staying with his family at the hotel "Racoviță" and considered by his contemporaries as "one of the most talented journalists , not only from Iasi, but from the whole country". A doctor by profession, but also a "Germanophile" publicist, Adolf Steuerman-Rodion participated in the great conflagration from 1914 to 1918, as a military doctor, but also as a faithful war reporter. Mobilized in the Cașin Valley in the "moment of the national call" - August 15, 1916 - the doctor-publicist stood out for his exemplary attitude, participating in the entire Romanian campaign, until the army's withdrawal to Moldova. Strongly affected by the dramatic experiences lived on the front, but also by the ethnic injustices he faced (the problem of the naturalization of Jews, anti-Semitism, that of Jewish doctors in the army, who were unequally treated and remunerated, or the expulsion of Jewish soldiers from the army) , Major Adolf Steuerman ended his days on September 21, 1918. Steuerman-Rodion remained in the history of the Romanian press and culture as representing the image of the Jewish intellectual, faced with numerous ethnic problems, which manifested themselves in Romania in the first decades of the 474276789657262th century (cf. societeatea evreiasca.ro – Irina Spirescu, at https://www.facebook.com/societateaevreiasca/photos/medicul-jurnalist-adolf-steuerman-rodion/XNUMX/).
Project initiated and carried out by the County Public Service for the Promotion of Tourism and the Coordination of Rescue Activity Bacău (SPJPTCAS), with the support of the "Mihai Eminescu" Central University Library from Iași (BCU Iași), the "Lucian Blaga" Central University Library from Cluj ( BCU Cluj) and the daily "Deseptarea".
Source: BCU Iasi, BCU Cluj; Photo old images Slănic-Moldova: Eng. Mihai Ceucă Collection, Bacău. Thanks to his lordship, a large part of the photos published in the issues of this publication are also found in the presented episodes, to which many others are added.
Photo by Stefan Hepitas: the dosaresecrete.ro website, at https://dosaresecrete.ro/stefan-hepites-primul-roman-care-a-cercetat-starea-vremii/?utm_content=cmp-true.
CLAIMS: The copyright for the publication of these texts is owned by SPJPTCAS Bacău, through the person of Romulus-Dan Busnea, with the consent of BCU Iași and BCU Cluj. In accordance with the Copyright and Related Rights Act, no material contained in this series may be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written consent; The adaptation, annotations and additions to all the numbers in the collection of this unique and original newspaper are intended to complete and clarify many information and aspects of the daily life of the resort, as well as of the personalities of the time, which were not fully presented in the pages of the newspaper, precisely for the fact that they were known to the world at that time, in this case to those from the Moldova area, where most of the resort's visitors came from.
(Will follow)
