Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1940-05-30 / 22. szám
\ May 30, 1940_____________________________________ THE TRANSYLVANIA QUESTION IN PRESENT-DAY LITERATURE By Eugene Horvath Page 3 During the past two decades Hungarians have written comparatively less about Transylvania, its past and present, than Rumanians. Hungarian historical science has refrained from being drawn into a controversy. There was no need to repeat its long-established views based on historical facts. It did not keep on reiterating —in the present difficult times, which as regards the relations between Hungary and Rumania may be described as a truce so far as the Press is concerned, it could not keep on reiterating—its opinions. Silence, however, in the present instance does not mean that the Hungarians have abandoned their firmly fixed opinions; on the contrary, it means that Hungarian historical science wishes to respect the truce, and does not consider this a proper time for polemics, nor does it see any reason why it should declare its views every now and then, or state its attitude over and over again. The reverse may be observed on the other side, where the truce is being violated by repeated efforts to justify the Rumanian point of view and present what Rumanians consider the facts of the case in various new lights. To mention only one or two striking examples, let us first take John Lupas’ article published in the “Excelsior” of Bucharest, on 10th February, in which, by means of a scientific analysis of the name “Erdély,” the writer tries to draw the conclusion that “Transilvania” is the more correct and suitable form. This opinion was echoed on 23d February, in the Bucharest “Universul” by Seisanu, himself a Transylvanian, who was obviously inspired by Lupas’ article. Lupas definitely states that he was impelled to write it because “the time has come to issue instructions, not only to all schools, but also to the administrative, military, educational and economic departments to use the name Transilvania and nothing else. This would be of great service in standardizing the use of 'this name, and would also eliminate the confusion arising in books translated from foreign languages into Rumanian in which Ardeal and Ardelean are used instead of Transilvania and Transilvan.” We are justified in supposing that this was also the object of Seisanu’s article, although even a cursory glance reveals signal differences between the two. Lupas’ article is, namely, a serious article absolutely nationalistic in character, while Seisanu’s is propaganda pure and simple. Lupas does not deny that the word Ardeal is of Hungarian ori gin, but Seisanu declares it is merely a corruption of Ardelan, the name of a Persian province, and has nothing in common with the Hungarian word Erdély. We have no means of as certaining which name would be more acceptable to the inhabitants; and we certainly do not wish to interfere if the Rumanians prefer to use the name Transilvania instead of Ardeal. It is only from a scientific, and absolutely non-political, point of view that we have some observations to make, lest by failing to do so we should create the impression that we have no conviction of our own, and confirm Lupas‘ assertion that the name Ardeal is a word derived from the Hungarian. (The same is true of “Transylvania,” for, although there is no trace of Hungarian in that word, it is a Latin translation of a Hungarian expression and therefore continues to have a Hungarian meaning.) We fully agree with Lupas’ theory based on historical facts that in the beginning Transylvania was called Ultrasylvania. We are glad that M. Lupas has noticed this, for it brings us nearer to the Hungarian origin and meaning of the word. The designation “Ultrasylvania” was namely applied to the part of Hungary lying beyond the forests and which in Hungarian was therefore called “Erdőelve.” Lupas’ theory must, however, be modified, for the Hungarian name was not derived from the Latin, on the contrary, the Latin name Transylvania is a translation of the Hungarian word “Erdély.” It was only in the eyes of the Hungarians and viewed from Hungary that Transylvania was “the land beyond the forests” (we must not forget that the word land does not always mean a State, especially here), for that part of the Hungarian State lay beyond the wooded regions that separated it from the center. Although our historians have not hitherto dealt exhaustively with the history of deforestation, S. F. NEWSREEL BRANCH 498, ALIQUIPPA, PENNSYLVANIA HELLO, FOLKS. THE FERRET took the words right out of my mouth. Everybody who knows FLASH asks him the whereabouts of the good old stuff that used to ap pear in the paper. He just replies that the editors want different columns. FLASH and I went out a few times and interviewed people who read the Journal. We asked such questions as: What kind of column attracts more attention? Would you like see the reappearance of the type of columns originally written by SILENT? The answers in general were: “The ones that attract more attention are the ones we want, and that come from members. The other columns are all right, too, but have some of this and some of that. Yes, we would like to see SILENT reappear with his old columns. Yes, we were a little burned up when he put some thing in the paper about us, but we soon forgot it in a few days.” Now that I have a general idea that the readers want me back, I’ll resume my old stuff. Many people have Said that SILENT has got yellow and quit. Well, that’s not why I quit. It was because I couldn’t get my hand to write one of those new columns. Well, here I go. I’ll give a few samples to let everybody know what to expect. You ask for it: you get it. Come you two Irene B.’s of Beaver Falls, don’t do that again. Don’t blush when some one asks you for a dance. My, my, Olga V., you are a good dancer and attractive, too. Never danced like that since I began. I’ll never forget the last three dances. They were real “csardasing.” Next month when 1 come around I’ll be one year older but not old enough to vote. Until we meet again when news starts flying, I’ll keep —SILENT. P. S.: The S. F. NEWSREEL means SILENT and FLASH NEWS REEL. He always collaborates with me, anyway. a favorite theme with the historians of the West (German, French, Belgian writers) and one of growing importance, it may be established that the eastern part of the Great Plain of Hungary, in particular its downs, was covered with vast forests which have mostly disappeared. The name of the territory lying beyond them was not invented by the Hungarian king or the Hungarian Administration, it was fcorn on the lips of the people, as its colloquial form and use show. This proves that the Latin name Ultrasylvania was not translated into Hungarian, but that the chroniclers and Chancellery, whose documents, like the records of the period, were drafted in Latin, translated the name “Erdőelve” into that language, Latinized it, that is to say. (To Be Continued.) The snow-clad mountains are enveloped in deep silence. .One can hear only the secret whisperings of the old pine trees. They are telling each other tales about the good old days, about the past of Transylvania. A yellow light flickers among the huge trunks. It comes from a shepherd’s fire on a clearing. Around it about thirty men are sitting. They are mountain herdsmen, Székelys. An old man, who seems to be the patriarch of them all, is speaking. He utters his words gravely, stressing each syllable — for the tale he is telling is more than a thousand years old. Feeling the end of his life drawing near, he had the mountain-horn sounded to summon the herdsmen in order to give the precious heritage to his successors. The times are perilous and it is befitting to console his poor people with a beam of hope, with the tale of their ancestors. The old man’s monotonous voice continues the legend of the Székelys: “And that last battle decided the fate of the gigantic empire. Attila’s sons drove the Huns against each other. A terrible confusion followed. Of Prince Csaba’s army only five thousand remain, while ten thousand lie dead and dying on the battlefield. His heart grieves at the sight of his loss. But he remembers the miraculous remedy bequeathed to him by his father, with which “The Scourge of God” used to multiply his soldiers’ strength. Praying to the God of War, he applies the drug to the terrible wounds of the dead. Wonder of wonders! The pale bodies arise silently, mount, and stand in battle array! When the whole army has arisen, Csaba promises to lead them back to the land of their ancestors, as a reward for having been compelled to leave their death repose for their nation. “He accompanies írnák, his eldest brother, who leads the living Huns as far as the mountain frontiers of Transylvania, where he commands them to settle down with the words: “Till the fire becomes cold, till all the waters dry up, so long as spring follows winter, and God’s blessings come from above, settle down here, my good people.” And because the word “settle” in Hungarian is “székely”, the descendants of these people are called Székelys. “The resurrected warriors bid their dear ones farewell and gallop after Prince Csaba to return to the land whence came the Huns of Attila. “The ones left in Transylvania had a very hard lot. They lived among the s n o w-c a p p ed mountains. Many a time they thought of returning to Asia, but Prince Csaba’s command kept them back. They waited for him to come for them on his white steed, to be their beloved ruler. Not long after, the Hungarians came. The Székelys welcomed them, but did not forsake their place and did not forget their Hun origin and their oath. “Often were the Székelys in danger. But each time Prince Csaba appeared with his pale army, galloping thru the sky. Along the way among the stars, the hoofs of the horses threw out myriads of sparks. The enemy always fled, for no one dared to fight the army of ghosts. And they dashed back again into the star-lit sky, a shiny path of sparks marking their way. The peoples of the world call this way many names, but few know that it is “Csaba’s Way.” “This is the legend of the Székelys,” concludes the old man. “We decrease from day to day, but we still await our liberator on his white steed to set us free from our bondage.” He is silent. The eyes of the others are fixed upon the sky, upon the sparkling path of “Csaba’s Way.” Oh, when will you come on your white steed, Nicholas Horthy—Prince Csaba’s rightful successor? The Székely nation awaits its deliverance from you! —From High School News of the Csurgói Református Csokonai Vitéz Mihály Gimnázium. Kidneys Must Clean Out Acids Excess acids, poisons and wastes in your blood are removed chiefly by your kidneys. Getting up Nights, Burning Passages. Backache, Swollen Ankles, Nervousness. Rheumatic Pains, Dizziness, Circles Under Eyes, and feeling worn out, often are caused by non-organic and non-systemic Kidney and Bladder troubles. Usually in such cases, the very first dose of Cystex goes right to work helping the Kidneys flush out excess acids and wastes. And this cleansing, purifying Kidney action, in just a day or so, may easily make you feel younger, stronger and better than in years. A printed guarantee wrapped around each package of Cystex insures an immediate refund of the full cost unless you are completely satisfied. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose under this positive money back guarantee so get Cystex from your druggist today for only 35c. .... ................ a - • ■■■Mi CSABA’S RETURN — A HUN LEGEND — Bv Ladislaus Galgóczy
