Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1940-04-11 / 15. szám
April 11, 1940 My Travels Abroad with the Verliovay By Alexander J. Goydan Verhovayak Lapja Page 1 We awoke on the morning of our first day in Budapest fully refreshed and ready to see the sights of one of the greatest cities in the world, with the enthusiasm of a child eagerly waiting to be taken to the city to see the various children’s displays in large store windows. We had our daily programs and the rising hour was set for the hour of nine. Breakfast was served in the Metropole dining room. After that we were ready to start on the tour of the city. The group was gathering from all sections of the hotel, and when finally the huge modern “autobus” arrived at 11:30 a. m., we were ready to start. Once in the bus, the roll call was read by Fay-Fisher who, learning that everyone was present, ordered the bus to start out. We had on English speaking guide who explained the various buildings, streets and boulevards as we passed along. Along the route we passed the Na tional Museum, Royal Hungarian Opera House, parks and public buildings. The various public squares attracted our attention considerably as there we found traffic very dense, street oars completing their runs and usually a large number of people taking walks. Mo numents and statues to great leaders and the men of Hungaiy were erected there. As we passed the fa mous places, such as Library Square, Petőfi Square, Appony Square we stopped to admire those great men represented by the statues. We were impressed by the names given to the streets and boulevards. Each street was named for some notable man in Hungary or in the history of the world, such as Rákóczi, Kossuth, Arany János, Zrínyi, Gróf Tisza István and many other illustrious leaders. Public squares were named in honor of Mussolini and Hitler and a boulevard is named for the Regent of Hungary, Admiral Nicholas Horthy. We made a number of stops. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier we placed a wreath and paid tribute to the honored dead. We placed a wreath at the statue of George Washington with fitting ceremony and respect. As we made those stops we were not alone as curious onlookers; newspaper men and photograph ers were continually at our heels. At the Kerepesi Cemetery we paid homage to the greatest Hungarian patroit of all time, Louis Kossuth. Here in this cemetery are buried the great of Hungary. The mausoleum of Louis Kossuth and the huge edifice erected to his memory is one of the greatest and most famous in that famous cemetery. It was a warm afternoon. When we reached the St. Gellért Hotel and saw the Gellért Wave Baths we were fit to be tied. The refreshing and cooling atmosphere we witnessed, the hundreds of bathers in the pool, tempted us terribly. Outdoors was a pool which was all the more inviting as artificial waves were created by some unseen method which made the onlooker stand in amazement. Here were waves just like those of the ocean, and located not far from the shores of the Danube. Wandering indoors, we came upon another pool. It was a mineral bath and was heated to any desired temperature. We chatted continously as we walked thru the magni ficent building. We were asked in English what part of the United States we were from, as the man and the woman who asked were also from the United States. Once again I came upon people from the Pittsburgh area, and remembered the truth of the saying that “It’s a small world after all.” Another surprise that came to us was our meeting the wife of Sigmund Romberg. She sat in a huge armchair in a comer of the room and smiled gracefully as we talked with her. The lady was aged and was indeed glad to meet some of her compatriots from America. Our program was planned so we had to continue on our way. We could go only a limited distance into the Royal Courtyards, as automobiles are not permitted Once in the courtyard of the Royal Palace we viewed the historical buildings and wandered into the Coronation Church. We saw the Right Hand of St. Stephen in its state of preservation. Posing for pictures at the Fountain King Matthias and viewing the city from the highest point in the Palace yards we continued on our way. On our way out we stopped to witness the changing of the guards. Two sentries had been walking back and forth in front of a closed door. Their steps were slow and well timed and the only sound that could be heard was the ominous clicking of their steel plated heels upon the marble floors. Rifles were lowered and the relief guards saluted the others with the precision of a regulated clock. The guard had changed and once again the utter stillness was broken only by the clop-clop of their steel plated heels. We next stopped at the Fisher’s Bastion, which at one time served as the defender of the ramparts around the Coronation Church. Here was a series of buildings constructed of white stone in the Gothic architecture of olden times, but so modern that even today it is a rare piece of art. From the high walls of the Bastion the view of the city is indescribably beautiful. Situated on the Buda side of the Danube, a far reaching view of old Buda and new Pest, the winding Danube with its connecting bridges, of which there are seven, the distant St. Margaret’s Island, the Houses of Parliament, the location presents a sight not easily forgotten. The day was growing short, and having seen many interesting sights (much too many to appreciate fully in just one day), we returned to our hotel for supper and a good cleaning, as in the evening we were scheduled to see Budapest at night. PITTSBURGH, PA. Hotel Schenley Ball Room Wednesday Evening, April 17th at 8:30 o'clock Sonata Recital by Two Distinguished Hungarian Artists BELA FRANCIS BARTÓK and ARANYI Composer-Pianist Concert Violinist (To Be Continued) PERSONAL NOTE: News has reached me that my grandfather, Dolinái János, my mother’s father, died on March 9th, in the village of Kisvárda, county of Szabolcs. He was born eighty years ago in the city of Munkács. I can not pay enough tribute to my grandfather who, altho aged, but in excellent health, accompanied me on my trips to the various cities and villages to visit relatives and friends of my friends in the States. He never complained of those tireEome journeys that I made with his guidance. It was all the same to him how we traveled. All he would say was, “When do we start?” Being a retired railread conductor of the MÁV, he knew trains and knew them well. The irony of this little story is, that my aunt, youngest sister of my mother, left Kisvárda only two days ahead of grandfather’s death, and arrived in this country to reside here per manently. My aunt learned of her father’s death when PROGRAM Mozart Sonata for violin and piano, Koechel No. 296 Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano by Bartók Kreutzer Sonata by Beethoven Tickets $1.65 (Including Tax) Students 55c On sale now by May Beegle. 551 Union Trust Bdlg., Telephone ATIantic 3051 and at Mellor's, 604 Wood Street, ATIantic 3783 Mr. Bartok’s fame as a composer and piano-virtuoso is worldrenowned. His compositions include Symphonic works, Chambermusic compositions, Piano Concertos, Hungarian folk songs for voice and orchestra, as well as compositions of various other forms. Among his orchestral works, Bartok’s “Dance Suite“ written in 1923, met with universal success. Within a single year over forty of the major symphonies in Europe featured it on their programs, thus making it the outstanding orchestral composition of the season. Mr. Aranyi is one of the most talented violinists of the present day, whose European reputation as a concert artist preceded him to America, where he has enjoyed great success during the past five years. WHERE DO ELEPHANTS GO TO DIE? It is often said that the remains of elephants which die a natural death are never found in their native haunts and that the qestion is a mystery to scientists. Numerous hunters report that they never find the skeletal remains of elephants in the jungles. An Englishman, who had charge of the capture of elephants for the government, says he never found the carcass of a dead animal. The natives in parts of Africa and Asia account for this fact by saying that all wild elephants go to a certain secluded spot to die. This supposed graveyard of elephants is known in legend as the valley of Ivory Many ivory hunters have dreamt of finding this place with its untold wealth of tusks. Needless to say the belief is a myth. There is no great mystery as to what becomes of dead elephants. Collectors for the American Museum of Natural History report that the bones of wild animals of any kind are rarely found in Africa. The same is true in most regions. There are several reasons for this. she arrived. I met him only once but feel I knew him well. His saying was, “I never had a chance to see the man (Goydan József) who married my daughter but I have the satisfaction of seeing the son of my daughter.” Mav he rest in peace! Wild animals commonly attempt to hide when they feel death approaching. Even a domestic dog will often conceal itself when sick. Elephants ape no exception to this rule. They usually die singly and far from the settlements. Climatic conditions in Africa and southern Asia cause the carcasses to decay rapidly. The natives, carnivorous animals, carrion birds and insects make quick work of the flesh; rodents frequently contribute to the rapid disposal of the bones. Thus an elephant dying in the jungle would quickly disappear. After the bones are cleaned of their flesh they are soon scattered far and wide. Within a year or two the remaining parts such as ohe skull and larger bones are completely overgrown by mosses, underbrush and other vegetation. In fact the factors contributing to the elimination of such remains are so numerous and work so rapidly that it is not surprising that elephant bones are not a common sight. Dr. William M. Mann, director of the National Zoological Park, says when he was in Africa in 1926 his guide took him to a place where a hunter had killed a large elephant only the year before. A part of the skull and a couple of widely separated bones were all that could be found of the remains. —Washington Bureau.--------------O-------------Don’t put off till tomorrow to get that life insurance . . . tomorrow may never come . . . for you!
