79. Victor Wodiczka

Died on July 14, 1898

The Austrian writer Victor Wodiczka died in Graz on July 14. In him, we have lost a person who was likeable in every respect. He first became known to a wider public through his story “Der schwarze Junker” (The Black Junker). Of his later works, I would like to mention the appealing book “Aus Herrn Walthers jungen Tagen” (From Mr. Walther's Young Days). A fine and thoughtful artist can be recognized in his works. I met Wodiczka years ago and spent many an inspiring hour with him. Then life took us in different directions. For a long time, I only heard about him what everyone else heard: his interesting works of art. Suddenly, the newspapers report briefly that the man from whom I had expected so much has died at the age of [forty-seven]. I would like to express here, at this point, the painful feeling that has overcome me at the news of the passing of the man I so admired.