Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1956-02-01 / 2. szám

TESTVÉRISÉG

5

of freedom and independence to an enslaved nation.

★ ★ ★

Among the American-Hungarians, probably from the time of the unveiling, it was generally believed that the statue in Budapest was the first — and for some time at least — the only Washington statue in Europe.

This, however, was a mistake. At the time of the unveiling of the Budapest statue, there were several Washington statues in European countries.

In Paris there were already two Washington monuments. The first one, a statue with the heroic-sized figures of Washington and Lafayette, clasping hands, was the gift of a Hungarian immigrant, Joseph Pulitzer, the publisher of the New York “World”. This memorial was unveiled December 1, 1895. It stands on the Avenue des Etats Unis. The other one is an equestrian statue of Washington, the joint creation of the famed Daniel Chester French, the artist of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C., and Edward C. Potter. This statue stands on the Place de Jena, near the Troca- dero. Its exact replica adorns the entrance to Washington Park, in Chicago.

In England there were several Washington statues and busts. A life-sized statue stands on Trafalgar Square, in London, at the entrance to the National Gallery. Maybe it was more than a coincidence that the figure of Washington is smaller that those of the other nearby statues.

The famous French sculptor, Jean Antoine Houdon, came to America during Washington’s lifetime to make a statue of Washington after personal modeling. Washington consented and the result is an outstanding artistic creation, which now stands in Richmond, in the state capitol of Virginia.

Replicas of this statue were sent to England, Ireland and France as gifts of the United States. The first one stands in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the second one in the City Hall in Liverpool, and the third one went to Sulgrave Manor, the ancient manor house of the Washington ancestors.

There are several Washington statues and busts made by European artists, but most of these are now in the United States.

What recognition has been given from the American side to the Washington statue in Budapest?

The answer to this question, unfortunately, is not a satisfactory one. The truth is that hardly anybody knows anything about it. American tourists, going to Budapest, greet it with

pleasant surprise, but very few people know about it officially.

There is probably only one book extant which deals with the statues erected in Washington’s honor — F. D. Whittemore’s “George Washington in Sculpture”, which was published in 1933. The book carefully describes every existing Washington statue, publishing the picture of each one, including the medals and bas-reliefs. The only picture missing is that of the Budapest statue, although, owing to a chance happening, there is mention made of it.

The chance happening was furnished by an American lady tourist from Chicago, who visited Budapest sometime during the thirties. There, to her great surprise and joy, she discovered the Washington statue. In one of her letters, which probably were published, she wrote about this discovery, but without mentioning the name of the sculptor, Bezerédi, whose name consequently is not mentioned in the Whittemore book. The lady from Chicago mentions that the statue was erected by the “citizens of Budapest”, although the pedestal contains the inscription with large letters in English: “To the memory of Washington — the Hungarians of Amerika, 1906.” (The word “America” is spelled with a “K”.)

The lady remarks that the head of the statute reminded her of the creation of Houdon, and the American eagle at the base, with spread wings, properly warms the American heart. In 1932 memorial trees were planted around the statue which, as the book states correctly, was unveiled September 16, 1906.

It is surprising, says the lady traveler, how little we know about this event — although, with a little effort, she could have had all the information necessary. Evidently, it was erected by such Hungarians who were not American citizens, she adds. This last remark is true since at that time the great bulk of the Hungarians in the United States was not as yet naturalized.

The negligence concerning the Budapest Washington statue is a sad commentary on the clumsiness of the Hungarians themselves, who so easily allow their best achievements to be forgotten, instead of using them as proofs of their cultural progress.

It would be high time for this historical gift of the American-Hungarians to again become the center of interest on the occasion of the 50th anniversary. When the anniversary date arrives in September, perhaps it would be possible to place the wreath of today’s American-Hungarians before the American eagle of the statue, in memory of the man whose heritage is still the last and only hope of the Hungarian people and of the entire humanity.