May 19

Today we continue our look through Eva’s Poesiealbum which we began in yesterday’s post. I assume that every inscription was a familiar quotation and have included the author when I was able to find it. These works of art put to shame the scrawls I made in friends’ autograph books and yearbooks when I was in school.

Poesie p12.png

[by Otto von Leixner]

Do not judge man’s worth
Quickly after a brief time.
Above there are moving waves,
But the pearl lies at the bottom.

In friendly memory of
Friedl Schätter

Vienna May ‘34


Poesie p13.png

Should someone do something nice for you,
Look upon him kindly!
And give him a kind good word –
Because that is easily done

In friendly memory of your classmate
Edith Wurth

Vienna, 16 May 1934


Poesie p14.png

In friendly memory
of
Lina Deutsch
20 June 1934


Poesie p15.JPG

6 May 1934

To have understanding of somebody’s sorrow,
To take pity, to be mild with every mistake,
This is how in these times
You recognize the chosen soul
      (M.E.E.)

In memory of
Susi Teraunten


Poesie p16.JPG

Clever was the man who
Created the first record book
And remembered his friends.
Because if they are in need,
as so often happens, if they disappear,
so at least you can find them again in your family book.

In friendly memory of your classmate
Stephanie Marchart

 Vienna, 30 April 1934

This post makes reference to the German friendship book, the precursor to the Poesiealbum.


Poesie p17.JPG

With many share your joys,
With all share your happiness and jokes.
With only a few noble people, share your sorrows,
Only with chosen people share your heart.
(Salis)

In friendly memory
Your classmate
Eva Ried

I found a slightly different version of this saying, which translates as:

Share your joys with many,
With all cheerfulness and joke,
With a few noble ones your sorrows
And elect only your heart.
by Johann Gaudenz von Salis-Seewis


Poesie p18.JPG

To be content is a great art
To appear content is just empty smoke
To become content is a great joy
To remain content is a masterwork

In friendly memory,
Christl Eichinger

14 June 1934

[German proverb]


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Dreams are not deeds
And without work
You cannot achieve anything!

Your classmate,
Gerthe Riegler

Vienna, 30 June 1934


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Be always happy and in a good mood,
No sorrow should cloud your heart
Joy should always accompany you
Never should worries and pain meet you.

In friendly memory,
Imgard Mohr

27 June 1934