H. Boros Vilma: Stein Aurél ifjúsága: Hirschler Ignác és Stein Ernő levelezése Stein Aurélról 1866–1891 (A MTAK kiadványai 61. Budapest, 1971)
Jegyzetek
139 of the camels hurt during the jo 1 rneys that were sometimes very dangerous and tiresome. This feature of Aurel Stein's character leads immediately up to another statement: the intimate connection among the members of the family, each loving and helping the other, was another source of inspiration In his youth. The birthday of the head of the family was especially an occasion for a family reunion, when members of the family staying away from home wrote greetings to the "father". In Aurel Stein's papers 2 letters out of the 4 are such greetings. (Save these two letters no writings remained from his Lahore period.) E. Stein and L Hirschler showed great care and affection in paving the way for Aurel's further studies. Being an acquaintance of Ágoston Trefort, then the Minister of Education, I. Hirschler managed to get a scholarship for his nephew, later to have Aurel's travelling expenses to India paid. I. Hirschler and E. Stein travelled frequently about the Alps and this enabled Aurel to stay in the Alps and to wander about during the summer holidays. Though at first he, the bookworm, had to be torn away almost forcibly from his books and studies, but during these travels - without anybody noticing it - he observed the secrets and learned the practice of Alpinism. This knowledge was completed by a skill in mapping that he acquired during his one year's service as a volunteer in 1885-86 in the Ludovika Military Academy of Budapest. As their correspondence shows , his uncle gave some practical medical advice too, and the proper observance of this might also have contributed to Aurel's extraordinary physical abilities, to his wonderful health. He owes his warm and tender heart to his mother, and his liberality to his father,though this inclination to generosity is frequently disliked by E. Stein. This feature, however, turned out to be very important naturally within limits - during Aurel Stein's expeditions, where the rite of giving presents is of special importance.
