The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1984 (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1984-03-01 / 3. szám
I Trivia from here and there THE MAN CALLED KOSSUTH: Dressed in a black, Hungarian galasuit adorned with silver buttons, and wearing a sword, Louis Kossuth cut quite a figure. His beard became known as the “Kossuth Beard”, while his plumed hat was called the “Kossuth Hat”. Not only did this hat become fashionable headwear among the “Young Bucks of Broadway”, but it was also adopted everywhere as a symbol of revolution. So much so, in fact, that, in Italy for example, several wearers of the “Kossuth Hat” were arrested, tried, and sentenced to be shot! * * * * * Louis Kossuth meant “big business" for entrepreneurs all over the world. Pamphlets, photographs, and souvenirs appeared like mushrooms after a fine Spring rain and sold like hot cakes. The street hawkers raked in tremendous profits, but Kossutn never got a dime from them! ***** When Kossuth visited New York on December 6, 1851, he was welcomed by more than 200,000 wildly cheering Americans. This enthusiastic reception prompted many writers and journalists to compare it with those rendered to Washington and Lafayette and to claim that the turn-out for Kossuth equalled both! ***** While in America, Kossuth delivered more than 500 speeches, which set a public speaking-record that has never been beaten. Hundreds of poems, songs, and books were written about him and each became “best sellers”. The American Press adopted him as an idol, streets and parks were named in his honor, and even some male babies were christened “Louis Kossuth.” He appeared before Congress and had lunch at the White House with President Millard Fillmore. Page 12 Wherever he went, he was hailed as the “Hero of the Hour” and he was winedand-dined by political “movers-andshakers”. Yet. strange as it may seem, his visit to and tour of the United States was not successful. Kossuth did not get the kind of meaningful help that he had hoped to get! ***** Kossuth enjoyed a worldwide reputation not only because of his political activities, but also because of his unique talent as an orator. He could deliver a polished speech at a moment’s notice. But. what amazed audiences the most, was his mastery of and fluency in English. How, they wondered, did he learn it? Before he was elected to the National Diet in 1847. Kossuth was involved in the preparation and publication of summaries of its proceedings, litis was considered an illegal activity and. when he defied an official order to cease and desist, he was placed under arrest, tried, and sentenced to serve four years in prison. It was while he was in prison that he learned and mastered English with the help of a Bible, an old English grammar, and. most important of all. Shakespeare. The w orks of Shakespeare not only taught him the language, but also provided him with ideas which helped to broaden his perspectives. He became so "Shakespearean” during the three years he actually served in prison that, when Justin McCarthy , an English contemporary, heard him speak, he remarked: “He has mastered our tongue as few foreigners have ... his English was the noblest in its style ... he spoke the English of Shakespeare!" ***** While prison gave Kossuth an opportunity to learn English, to think, and to formulate plans for the future, it also presented him with an additional bonus — one which was just as important and even more lasting. While incarcerated, he was visited by Theresa Meszlcnyi, a woman he had met only once before, who was intelligent, thoughtful, and well-read. Her visits blossomed into romance and, upon his release from prison, they got married. Although the marriage caused quite a stir at the time because she was a Catholic while Kossuth was a Protestant, it endured and was blessed with three children. As it turned out. it was with her support that Kossuth was able to further his political ambitions and it was she who inspired him all the days of his life! ***** In retrospect, it is not unreasonable to assume that, had Kossuth succeeded in achieving the real objective of his American visit (1851-52). the history of Hungary since that time would have not taken the tragic course that it did. Hungary would have become a firmly established Democracy: she would have fought together with the Allies in World Wars 1 and II: and. today, she would be a free nation of East Central Europe and a powerful bastion of Democracy. Ironically enough, however, while the destiny of Hungary was sealed by the state of domestic politics when Kossuth came here and his “principles of intervention for non-intervention" rejected with great indignation by Congress, his basic idea has become one of the corner stones of American foreign poliev todav! 846-9669 HUNGARIAN PASTRY SHOP OPEN: Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 8 to 6 Sunday: 8 to 5 George Rosta, Sr. 160 Easton Avenue Elizabeth Rosta New Brunswick. N.J. 08901 Eighth Hungarian Tribe
