The Eighth Tribe, 1977 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-08-01 / 8. szám
Page 14 THE EIGHTH TRIBE August, 1977 These early Hungarian village houses had neither windows, nor chimneys, and thus the smoke was forced to escape either through the door, or through any of the openings that remained in the roof structure. They were, therefore, far from pleasant and comfortable. Yet, they were no less so than most of the peasant dwellings of contemporary Europe. Because of this lack of comfort, the Magyars usually spent most of the spring, summer and autumn in airy, spacious tents, which they pitched close to their winter houses, in the vicinity of the open-air “summer kitchen.” In a limited sense, therefore, they continued their system of dual habitat. While the reason for this was their desire to escape from their stuffy winter houses, this system may also be viewed as a throwback to the ancient nomadic way of life, which required them to drive their herds back and forth between their summer and their winter grazing grounds. Most of the houses were surrounded by trenches. This was especially true for the larger houses that were set apart from the smaller huts of the poor. Moreover, the villages themselves were also surrounded by a complicated system of earthworks, including trenches and ramparts. Similar earthwork was also used to protect the corrals and sheds of their livestock, amongst which there was a growing preponderance of cattle, as opposed to horses. While there were considerable differences among the houses in a village — which reflected the differences in the social and economic position of their owners — not even the largest and most pretentious of them could compete with the felted yurts of the clan and tribal aristocracy. These yurts were large tent-like structures, which were made of wooden frames and covered by cured felt. They were made shining white by means of powdered bone. The entrance and the interior walls of these yurts were covered with brocade and exquisitely woven rugs. Their interiors were also enriched with elaborately carved couches and stools, which were generally covered with soft finished leather and furs. While the owners of these yurts normally used wooden implements and earthenware, they also had numerous gold, silver and zink containers. But the latter were usually offered only to guests. Drinkwater was held in large porous “water-skins,” which kept the water cool by evaporation. These hanging water bags, usually called csörgő (trickle), were also used by their owners as shower baths. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus found these csorgós so convenient that he had one installed in his own battle tent. (Interestingly enough, although 45 Professor August Molnár followedup with explanatory comments to the visitors present that Kováts thereafter did serve in the American Revolution, only to be killed in action and subsequently was memorialized at The Citadel, South Carolina for his heroic endeavors. Other historical memorabilia of events or individuals were also available, providing a most enlightening edification about some of our Hungarian heritage and culture. Displayed within the quarters of the Hungarian Civic Association was a fascinating accumulation of numerous individually created, embroidered or handcrafted articles. Women of varied ages and Hungarian-American backgrounds were on hand to demonstrate and discuss particular fields of interests, such as embroidery, as well as its progressive stages and aspects of creative expression as an art form plus regional identification regarding the numerous items which had been made by themselves or others over the years and donated for exhibition. Blouses, dresses, aprons, pillowcases, among many other articles bad been made at weekly classes where Mrs. Elizabeth Orvos provided instructions; some of the current students grouped together in front of a lavish backdrop of individually made, embroidered garments and furnishings (see photo). A youngster with a fencing sbirt, daughter of Mrs. Orvos, also was included as a participant. One of the members of the sewing class, Ms. Mary Lestak, spoke enthusiastically about the instruction received over the past year and that she was “looking forward next to making an embroidered pillowcase” as one of her special projects. In addition, Mary said she “not only received a great deal of satisfaction from this type of enjoyable and constructive activity but learned something more about ber Hungarian cultural background”; these aspects are of deep interest since she mentioned that being born in Buffalo, New York and residing now in the New Brunswick area for the past three years made her somewhat lacking in familiarity of facts about Hungary. Among those who have attended the embroidery class sponsored by the Hungarian Civic Association, 208 Somerset St., New Brunswick, N. J., instructed by Mrs. Elizabeth Orvos, are—Ilona B artos, Grace Flissar, Ilona Forester, Lillian Gonzol, Mary Ann Horvath, Marcia Jasinski, Grace Kovács, Mary Lestak, Marianne Orvos, Margaret Telegdy, Jolán Varga and Betty Vick. Altogether, the eventful day contained something for everyone—whether young/mature, Hungarians IMagyarophiles, men/women, and those seeking aesthetic/gastronomic pleasures for mind, body or soul! —M. Takacs Barboe News In Briefs:— Philip N. Kaiser, 64, the new U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, arrived in Budapest from London to take up his new duties. He replaces Eugene W. McAuliffe, who had left Budapest in April 1976. Since then Charge Clayton Mudd headed the Budapest Embassy. A banking and labor expert, Kaiser’s governmental career dates to 1949, when he was named assistant secretary of Labor by President Harry S. Truman. In 1961, President Kennedy appointed him U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and Mauretania. In 1969, Kaiser became chairman of the Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., in London. During the 1976 presidential campaign, he represented Democrats abroad on the Democratic Party platform and chaired the subcommittee on foreign affairs. He is married and has three sons.
