DLA037-0043  Translation

DR OTTÓ LÉGRÁDY

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF PESTI HIRLAP

Budapest, 26th September 1936

Dear Friend,

It was with great pleasure that I read in your letter that your health is – thank God – on the road to recovery as planned.^[1] I am pleased to see that you are looking after yourself and are trying to abide by your doctor’s instructions. This is absolutely your duty because it is not only yourself but the entire world that is counting on your good health: your admirers and supporters await many more splendid works by your hand.

Knowing how keen your many Hungarian friends were to know about the state of your health, I have been happy to publish the good news in the attached communiqué.

It was kind of you, in your debilitated state, to have remembered the three portraits due to be painted here.^[2] It is perhaps unnecessary for me to mention how sorry our friends concerned in this matter were to hear of your illness, and how glad they are that you are making speedy progress in your recovery. Naturally what is most important to each of them is not how quickly the portraits can be painted, but

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that you should get better as soon as possible.

I am sure you will be interested to know, in this regard, that there will probably be a fourth gentleman soliciting you for a portrait. A few days ago I spoke to Prince Pál Eszterházy, Hungary’s largest landowner,^[3] and suggested to him that he should approach you about having his portrait done. It seems that he liked the idea and was very pleased when I promised to let him know when your trip to Hungary eventually comes to pass.

My grateful thanks for taking the trouble to write to me in person, despite your illness, to let me know how you are.

My respects to your dear wife,^[4]

Sincerely affectionate greetings from your friend,

Ottó Légrády

1 enclosure

Editorial Note:

Doctor Ottó Légrády (1878–1948), editor-in-chief of the Pesti Hírlap newspaper from 1919 to 1944.

AH (translation)

13/08/2025