Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
School Years (1890–1903)
SCHOOL YEARS (1 890-1 903) 1890 SCHOOL YEARS 1890-1903 1890 19 January - Bartok records in his note-book: “No. 106 Nagyszöllős, Ugocsa county, Hungary, at quarter to 4 in the afternoon mum and Auntie Irma were ill with the Russian cold”. He continues his piano studies and begins composition, but he educates himself by other methods as well. He is a subscriber of the youth periodical Little Paper, he sends in solutions of their riddles regularly, and he himself also makes up puzzles, for one of which he gets an answer in the 14th issue of Volume XXXVIII on 4 April 1890 as follows: “ Béla Bartok. I will use the form of one, I will make the picture puzzle designed. It is a pity that you are careless about the appearance of your substantial letter.” 17 July - He receives the second school report for year 4 with 8 outstanding and 2 excellent (gymnastics and singing!) grades. Summer of 1890 or 1891 - The widowed Mrs Béla Bartok spends 9 days at Borkút (Szolnok-Doboka county) with her 2 children, but her daughter Elza cant bear the high altitude, and they are compelled to return home to Nagyszöllős, passing through Máramarossziget. In September - Bartok enrolls in year 1 of the state civil school as there was no grammar school in Nagyszöllős. 20 October - It snowed in Nagyszöllős, which Bartok would specially note on 25 October. 21
