LAZAR K. LAZAREVIĆ _(1851-1891) like the Russian Checkov, was both man
of science and artist. He devoted his youthful years and his life to the
practice and study of medicine, having been appointed in 1885 as
physician to the King of Serbia. During the war between Turkey and
Serbia (1876-78) he served as surgeon, and after that he headed the
staff of a hospital in Belgrade._
_As a writer he has reproduced humble life oftenest, and he has left
some imperishable portraits of old Serbian characters which can no
longer be found to-day. He has that peculiar mental equipment, which is
found almost exclusively among the Balkan people, the union of sentiment
and ironic humor. He is considered a masterly writer of the short story
of peasant life as it is understood in Slav countries._