Bethlen Naptár, 1943 (Ligonier)
Charles Papp: To thine own self be true
114 BETHLEN NAPTÁR TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE By Rev. Charles Papp, So. Norwalk, Conn. It has been my intention to write an article some time in which I might pour out my heart to that generation of Americans of Americans of Hungarian extraction of which I am one. I hesitated only because of my consciousness of my inability to do justice to the theme I had selected. The theme, which deserves more than I can give it, because it presents problems that many thousands of my generation must face. Because these problems are so very pressing, I shall endeavor to express some thoughts with such poor words as lie at my command. Some sixty years ago humble, poor Hungarian men and women began a journey into a world they did not know. They had heard of its fabulous wealth, its opportunities, its freedom, its inherent greatness. They dreamed of becoming a part of that viril, young, progressive nation where the individual had a value such as it had no where else in the world. They longed to set their feet upon the shores of America. To achieve this they saved their pennies. Families pooled their resources and sent one son who through honest labor earned enough to pay for the passage of another member of the family. Many a small farm, a humble home went to pay for the passage of those first pioneers who with their last penny, their utmost sacrifice paved the road for. you and me in this our country, America. Let us picture them as thy came. Poorly clothed, carrying their meager belongings in poorly constructed satchels. Speaking no word of English, guided by men often unscrupulous they came face to face they knew not whah I have always had a great admiratioin for those American pioneers who went into the unknown forests to carve the path for generation yet unborn and lay the foundation for a nation destined to lead the
