His Last Days
“HE sea—do you know how I love it! To lie in the hot sand, and silently gaze seawards. To become healthy—healthy! That will be a life, such as you have not lived before.” So he spoke to his loyal nurse but a few days before, when his journey was being planned. We, too, were more hopeful and yearned for the Friday on which he would arrive in Vienna.
In the afternoon Oscar Marmorek received a telegram, bidding him to come at once to Eldach, and bring two doctors with him, as Herzl, attacked by a continuous cough, had become worse. When I met Marmorek and heard the reason for this emergency call, I became very anxious. We decided to take the family physician, Dr. Bondi, and also Dr. Gustav Singer to the patient. With feverish impatience we waited for the departure of the train that would take us, Marmorek, Singer, A. H. Reich and myself to Eldach. An old Christian friend of Dr. Herzl joined us at the station, whilst Dr. Bondi had managed to depart by an earlier train. In our anxiety the express seemed to make no headway.
We had decided that Marmorek and Singer should at once visit Herzl, whilst the presence of the remaining three should not be mentioned to him until the next morning, so that the sudden appearance of many people should not shock him.
We had been seated about five minutes, awaiting the result of the medical consultation, when I was hastily called to Herzl. His wife had acquainted him with my presence, and he at once called for me. I hurried through the darkening
garden to the covered pavilion in which my true friend and leader lay. Before I entered his wife joined me; and after a friendly greeting begged me to remain with him. Often during the preceding weeks I had begged to be allowed to nurse him, but as long as Mrs. Herzl could compose herself, she would not move from her husband's bedside, and barely permitted the nurses to help her. How ready was I, therefore, to be of service. Mrs. Herzl led me through an ante-room, another door—and I saw him with outstretched hands, and heard the voice that could caress so well when he greeted a friend: “My dear Werner”, for a few seconds I was so overcome that I had to support myself at the foot of the bed; but a moment later I stood beside him and pressed his hands and looked into his loving face, that smiled discouragingly: And whilst the physicians were still in the ante-room, we arranged that I should remain with him, and with the nurse, attend him. Alas! The time I had to devote to him was all too short; all too soon I was relieved of my task.
The physicians came and told me that they had diagnosed bronchial catarrh, and gave their directions, which the patient promised to obey. For a moment they spoke encouragingly to him, endeavoring to raise his spirits; and then I was alone to keep watch and ward for my dear patient during the night.
With his usual courtesy, he begged me to excuse his demanding a sacrifice from me. Only when I had repeatedly assured him that hundreds envied me because I was permitted to be so close to