Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-06-01 / 6. szám
FRATERNITY 15 are made with proper selections of old Carpathian spruce and maple, and careful workmanship. Yet, when you know the story of Louis Fejszes, the artist, you will understand why there can be such throbbing eloquence in these thin shells of wood. Born in Hungary In a certain range they are sheer moonlight, lonely and bewitched. Again, crisp and gay, conjuring up swift pictures of the country wedding or fiery gypsy dance. Louis was born in Szatmár, Hungary, 58 years ago. Not many Hungarian lads escape the violin. He had hoped some day to master the instrument. Europe went suddenly afire with World War I. Louis was swept into the Hungarian army and served three years with the artillery. He walked out of the shambles — actually walked nearly 2,000 miles to reach his native Transylvania. The political upheavals of the time appeared hopeless to Louis. He learned the shoemaking trade, then came to America. Ballet Shoes Louis worked in Cleveland, then went to Detroit. There he met the late Michael Bodak, an excellent violin maker, whose work is scarce and brings high prices. Louis had lost $25,000 during the depression, but he worked hard to save $1,500 to buy Bodak’s masterpiece, a violin varnished in such deep colors as to be almost black. This instrument still is Louis’ favorite, and has a place of honor in the little fiddle shop. The other day a very pretty ballet dancer thought she had gotten into the wrong place when she took the door to the violin shop and interrupted a visiting fiddler in the middle of a schmalzy melody. She wanted a pair of specially made dancing shoes. Louis put down the violin neck he was carving and assured her he was her man. HUNGARIAN BOY FIRST IN LORAIN HIGH SCHOOL We are glad to announce that Alexander Daroczy, Jr., a member of our Branch 31, finished the Lorain High School with an amazing high scholastic record as the first among 351 students. This brilliant young man has many-sided talents. Beside being an eminent pupil in the school, he is also a prominent member of the “Junior Achievement” where he recently received an award for his diligence and good business sense. He speaks Hungarian fluently and enjoys the same enviable popularity among the older Hungarians of his community as among his schoolmates. While we are congratulating his proud parents, Alexander Daroczy, Sr., and his charming wife, we wish our best to young Sándor, too. May God allow him to accomplish many more similar achievements, thus making him an outstanding representative of Hungariandom in America.
