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Ernestina Jelovšek |
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Memories of Dr France Prešeren
(...)
Let me add a few of Prešeren's general thoughts on confession.
He told them to my mother when she asked him whether he
went to confession. But I have to emphasise that her question
belongs to a later period in time. Prešeren said: "For
a man, there is nothing more humiliating - almost disgraceful
- as a confession. If somebody has done something wrong
and realises it, he should try and amend it; it is a sin
to harm another. But if I do not amend the wrong, no priest
can give me absolution in the name of Almighty God."
(...)
Andrej Smole, whose years spent abroad completely destroyed
his nervous system, suddenly died on 30th November 1840
from a nervous stroke (Nervenschlag).
It was his name-day and Smole invited a few friends for
dinner - "to eat rabbit"; it goes without saying that
Prešeren was invited. And just as Prešeren entered the
room, Smole collapsed, due to a stroke. Prešeren caught
him in his arms. They sent for a doctor and a priest,
but Smole did not utter another word.
Prešeren, out of breath, crushed and astonished, came
to tell my mother that he had lost his best friend. And
my poor, childish mother, instead of commiserating with
him in his painful loss, asked: "And who ate up the rabbit?";
deeply offended, he turned away.
(...)
Maybe somebody reading this book in years to come will
welcome reading the contents of Prešeren's will. The document
goes as follows:
"On 6th February 1849 Dr France Prešeren, witnessed by
Matevž Mayer, Anton Ahčin and Valentin Čimžer, made his
last will by mouth, which was recorded on 15th of February
1849, reference 9651 under ./. at the Imperial regional
court in Kranj." The words recorded in his will were as
follows:
"As a certain person keeps pestering me to make my will,
I declare that: I have no property anyway, but should
there be anything left, it should be given to the children
I have with Ana Jelovšek in Ljubljana. The furniture and
bedding I leave to my sister who lived with me, that is
Katarina Prešeren, whilst my other siblings have no right
to my legacy." He added: "And my gold pocket watch is
also to become the property of the two Jelovšek children."
When Dr Prešeren repeated that this was his last will,
he added: "Should I think of anything else later, I shall
send for you again."
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