Méledic (fragments) was published in Bucharest in 1898 by the Royal Court printing house F. Göbl Fils. Its author, A. de Richard, describes himself as a “mining engineer, officer of the Star of Romania, commander of several orders, member of scientific societies”. The book is written in French.
It covers Meledic’s mineral waters, the spa, oil, excursions and legends. Below are a few extracts in English translation; the French original can be seen on the pages reproduced at the end.
“Mélédic, in Slavonic: place of rest, has been visited since the most distant times.”
A. de Richard, Méledic (fragments), 1898, page 39 (translated from French)
Extracts (translated from French)
“Romanians are neither seafarers nor explorers; the oriental soul within them hardly draws them to adventures of any length in search of the unknown, which demand an effort.”
Page 37
“This spot is Mélédic, formerly Ménédic (district of Buzeu), which, before Prince Couza secularised the monasteries’ estates, belonged to the monastery of Vintila-Voda. Mélédic, in Slavonic: place of rest, has been visited since the most distant times.”
Page 39
“Mr Stéfanesco-Savigny is having cowsheds built for a herd of 80 choice cows, where luxury cheeses and the fine butter that only special pastures can give will be made.”
Page 45
Read more extracts
“A chalet with a 26-metre frontage and a depth of 13 metres, with 9 large rooms, cellars, an attic and outbuildings, built of stone and wood by Mr Stéfanesco-Savigny on the bank of the Slanic, at a fixed cost of 6,000 francs, shows on what economical terms one may enjoy, in this marvellous landscape, the most delightful country holiday in all of Romania.”
Page 45
“These plum trees bring a good return, and this year their yield is estimated at about 2,500 vedre (30,000 litres) of strong tzuica, rightly renowned throughout the country.”
Page 48
“In any case, if Romanians follow the example of the French, they will recognise that they have in abundance what they go looking for far away, and if they grow wise, they will spend at home what they waste abroad. What better way to curb the yearly exodus than to make Mélédic a resort as pleasant and comfortable as those set up with such taste in other countries?”
Page 55
“The value of Mélédic will very soon increase with the building of the railway from Boboc to Mélédic, the end of the line. As soon as it is in operation, a crowd of operators will appear, taking advantage of a means of transport that allows the output of a deposit of great importance, in both quantity and quality, to be sold.”
Page 73
“The phenomenon of the perpetual fires can be seen in two places in the commune of Lopatari, 3 km from the Mélédic cottage (district of Buzeu). To visit these fires at leisure, without rushing through the delightful scenery of the upper Slanic, takes less than six hours.”
Page 80
“The boldest of these exploiters has just received a well-deserved but too lenient punishment: the mayor of Lopatari, who had murdered an unfortunate Italian who threatened to denounce him for the counterfeit money with which he had paid him. Four years’ imprisonment!”
Page 84
The book’s pages (French original)
