Kalla Zsuzsa: Beszélő tárgyak. A Petőfi család relikviái (Budapest, 2006)

Zsuzsa Kalla: The history of the Petőfi relics

Pál Gyulai claimed that his sister-in-law had asked him to put her diary and letters in her coffin, hut in October 1908, when the remains of the Petőfi family members were transferred to a single grave in the Kerepesi cemetery, no documents were found. What really became of the papers was revealed in Júlia’s will of 2nd September 1868, in which she entrusted them to József Tóth. Another document connected to the story is the inventory of estate prepared by József Tóth. Although the items no longer exist, the list, written on headed paper, is interesting:

‘List of those objects which are in my possession according to the will of the deceased:

1. Manuscript poems, old and unpublished original tales, his Andersen translation, and his diary from 1831 to 1860.

2. Books: Shakespeare, Andersen, Heine, The Foreign Lyre.

3. Pictures: George Sand. A drawing of Erdőd. A little child. Venice.

4- A small clock

5. A telescope

6. 1 breast-pin

7. 1 curtain

8. 1 sealed package not to be opened for 9 years.

Besides these I have in my possession:

1 handkerchief, 1 tablecloth, 1 neckerchief.

1 comb, 1 hairbrush, 1 coffee cup (being the objects he used last) 1 flower’ (OSZK [National Széchenyi Library] Kt. Fond VII 198)

The treasures of Júlia Szendrey’s letter chest were first published by Lajos Mikes and Lantos Rt. in 1928 and again in 1930 in the form of the previously mentioned romantic biography.

THE PETŐFI SOCIETY

During its seventy years the Petőfi Society changed its image several times. Initially, from 1876 to the end of the century, it was a movement organised by a group of friends and literary people. Then, reaching the peak of its popularity at the turn of the century, it became part of the establishment after the 1893—94 Jókai anniversary and membership, being those fighting for the ideas of national conservatism, carried a certain social standing and prestige. The third period came after the First World War, when the Society saw a decline in popularity. Its members chanted the official ideology and took refuge beneath the protective wings of

the state. After the Second World War the Society underwent a transformation, becoming a writer’s society, and finally disbanded in 1948.

The question is what kept this social movement alive for such a long time. The original idea of publishing periodicals and books came to nothing, interest in provincial campaigns declined, and the Petőfi House only stirred emotions while it was still a concept. Readings, banquets, festivals and, particularly at the beginning of the century, foundations brought real success, in other words events that offered an occasion for public appearances. The Petőfi Society’s campaigns gave an opportunity to those who wished to become active on the periphery of political and cultural life and wanted to prove their patriotism and sense of community, and writers could also experience popularity. When it was a ‘movement’ the meetings were organised by only five or ten people but later, when grand celebrations were a feature, different clubs, committees and offices were established, and members and supporters were allocated roles according to their positions and importance in the social hierarchy.

The Society, which formed in 1876, had good reasons for choosing Petőfi as its epynom. Although Petőfi’s memory had become more and more popular - for example, in 1860 Albert Pákh’s newspaper, Vasárnapi Újság, dedicated a whole column to Petőfi’s death and the circumstances surrounding it, and in 1861 a steamboat was named after him - neither the Academy nor the Kisfaludy Society commemorated the 50th anniversary of his death. By using Petőfi’s name the founders wanted to make clear the position they were adopting in relation to these literary authorities. Pál Gyulai remarked rather maliciously that one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Society was that ‘the Kisfaludy Society seemed rather particular about who they chose to be members’ (Gyulai 1901, 158), and disregarded insignificant writers. In the Petőfi Society a new generation, a new literary concept, was seeking its place in public life. The presidency was conferred on Petőfi’s friend Jókai, whose authority was absolute and whose one-time close relationship with the poet was an integral part of the cult. After the first general assembly a banquet for sixty people was held in the Archduke István Hotel, and it was to Jókai rather than to Petőfi that Gusztáv Lauka addressed his congratulatory speech.

The founders included Tamás Szana, Ede Pau196