Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1940-06-13 / 24. szám
> I ' y> 'Page 2 THE TRANSYLVANIA QUESTION IN PRESENT-DAY LITERATURE By Eugene Horvath (Conclusion) The same thing happened I in connection with the Cumanian districts in the hills and across the Alpine regions to which the Hungarians gave the name of “Havaselve” (Havasok, Alps), later known as the “Havasalföld.” This was translated into Latin as Transalpina and not vice versa. A classical proof of the truth of what we have said is the fact that he Rumanians who migrated to Transylvania called the Cumanian districts on the lower reaches of the Danube by the name of Transalpina and Erdély by the name of Transylvania, not Dacia. Despite their Latin origin, they have preserved no trace of Roman tradition, for they simply accepted the names used at the time of their migration by the inhabitants of those parts. Although to the immigrants from the south the Cumanian areas and Erdély were on their side of the Alps and the forests, they did not drop the common syllable in the Latin words Trans-silvania and Transalpina. In other words, they adapted their own rendering of the names to that in use in those regions. They even went further: not only did they accept the name “Erdély” without demur, but also many of the Rumanians who settled in Transylvania adopted the family name of i Ardelean, calling themselves “Erdélyians” and not Transylvanians, much less Da- i cians or Romans. This foreign, Hungariansounding name Ardelean is probably an obstacle in the way of Rumanianization. If so, this exceedingly common family will have to be changed, fór who will believe that fa ; milies of that name did not I acquire it through intercourse with the Hungarians, or through the influence of their proximity, but that they brought it from Persia? Viewed in this light it will be seen, on the one hand, that science is being enlisted in the service of politics, and on the other, that ancient traditions and the memory and evidence of centuries of evolution are to be set aside j to further political ends. This is shown, for example, by the circumstance that although, in his opinion the name “Erdély” is a foreign word of Hungarian origin, Lupas nevertheless attempts to prove the ancient Ru, manian character of that region, in other words, the opposite of what logically follows from the use of a name of Hungarian derivation. How, in that case, can he explain the circumstance that an autochthonous Rumanian population should have chosen a foreign name for their country, and that the number of Rumanians who adopted the family name of Ardelean is larger than that of the Hungarians who took the name of Erdélyi? That one German savant, according to Lupas, seeks the origin of the name Erdély in Sanskrit and another, to Seisanu, in Persian, merely shows that those German authors are totally ignorant of the history of the settlements in Transylvania and Hungary. We ourselves have not devoted much attention to the question; much less have we ever thought of bringing the results of our researches to the knowledge of foreign science. This is the plain reason why we meet with incomprehensible and farfetched theories about the simplest questions. For instance, instead of a Sanskrit- Persian theory or a Thracian-Pelasgic one, would it not be simpler and more credible to say that in the Middle Ages the Hungarian name for an “erdő” (forest) was “erdő,” that the “havasok” fAlps) were called “havasok,” “Erdély” was “Erdőelve” and the “Havasalföld” (Transalpine) was “Havaselve”? Lupas was right in discarding speculations and frankly telling the Rumanians of the “Regat” (Old Rumania) that the name Ardeal derives from the Hungarian word Erdély. It is evident that it is not his intention to deny the Hungarian origin of the word, but to eliminate it from the Rumanian language by substituting the more Latin name Transilvania. This, naturally, is a matter that does not concern us; it is something outside our sphere of interests, and at the most we might venture to point out that, since the name Ardeal was used by the Rumanians, not by the Hungarians, the substitution of another term will merely mean a centuries-old name chosen by the Rumanians themselves and not forced on them by the old Hungarian regime. Among the many facts and details of the Transylvanian problem and of Hun-Verhovayak Lapja gary’s relation with Rumania, the Rumanian Press has been devoting special attention to the question of King Matthias’ origin. For this year the Hungarian nation will celebrate the fivehundredth anniversary of her birth, and the Rumanians have seized the opportunity to assert that Matthias was of Rumanian extraction. Not being of the opinion that fruitless discussion or propaganda is likely to afford a solution or help to improve relations between the two countries, we shall not reply in the Press to the Rumanian denial of the Hungarian origin of that king. Hungarian historical research has not led to a definite opinion pro or contra, for it concedes the Balkan origin of the Hunyadis, but claims their descent from the Emperor Sigismund. who, as we know, was not a Hungarian. What Hungarian historians stress on the one hand is John Hunyadi’s childhood and the loving care with which the Emperor followed his career and supported him, and, on the other, the fact, which Rumanian historians forget, that John Hunyadi was never a son of the Greek Church, to which at that time every Rumanian without exception belonged. John Hunyadi was all his life a member of the Latin Church, from his first appearance in history to the day of his death, and besides this he, as well as his son Matthias, h< d so steadfastly to the policy pursued by Sigismund that till Matthias’ death there was no deviation from its course. And that course can not be said to have run parallel with the character and aspirations of the Rumanian Principalities on the Lower Danube. —Danubian Review---------:©:--------THEIR FUTURE When you look at the boys and girls in your own home, you wonder what they will be like as they grow older. One thing you can make sure—they can have an education which will help them to make their own way in the world and to have a better appreciation of life. Your life insurance can provide a fund, if needed, for the schooling of your children. Many a father has found happiness in the assurance that his children will be well equipped, well educated.—The Messenger.---------------O--------------Average residents of the United States consume about a ton of food a year apiece. June 13, 1940. My Travels Abroad with the Verhovay Our second day in Budapest was marked by a grand reception from the World Congress for Hungarians for the Verhovay group. We were formally welcomed to the offices of the Congress by Dr. Charles Nagy and Dr. Joseph Nagy. Michael J. Varga, our Supreme Treasurer, spoke in the name of the Association and thanked the Congress and its fine leaders for the generous assistance we were receiving from them. At these offices we were given clear traveling instructions and any information regarding all questions we had with reference to our stay in Hungary. We were asked to turn to the Congress in any difficulties we might have, as all our troubles would be taken care of by them. Many of us were greatly relieved to know this. News writers from all the leading Budapest papers were on hand, and interviewers were many too. Concluding our visit to the Congress, we returned to the Metropole for a hearty meal, for the afternoon was to be taken up with a visit to the Royal Wine Cellars of Hungary, at Budafok. Packing topcoats in mid July was no joke; we really needed them when we arrived at the Cellars. Our visit to the cellars was augmented by the able leadership of a guide who explained the various details of bottling, packing and shipping of wines, for outside consumption. To most of us it was a real treat to see such a huge cellar, dimly lighted and rather cold. Underground passages led us to huge barrels in which were stored the finest wines in the world. Master carvings were displayed on the outsides of the barrels. Clever and wise sayings, proverbs of old carved on the ends of the barrels were numerous, as were the coats of arms of some of the former owners. We were spellbound. Barrels of all sizes, small, large and immense. Here was a barrel the two sides of which were constructed of a solid piece of wood. It took two huge trees to form this barrel whose capacity is 535 hectoliters. Walking along, we came across another huge barrel which was ready for using, The barrel was lined with pure tile. For cleaning purposes a man could crawl into the opening of the barrel By Alexander J. Goydan and stand upright. Another barrel and we found wine that was 120 years old. Tokay wines of 50, 60 and 70 years are common. Wines are stored here for at least 3 years and are then sent cut to the market for sale to all parts of the world. The cellars are a series of huge underground tunnels 3V2 km. long, under the hills. A large staff of workmen are employed, all under the supervision of experienced and well trained connoisseurs of wines. Government supervision is in effect at all times. Another interesting feature was the inspection of the oldest wines. Kept under lock and key, these wines are stored and labeled. Each and every bottle is examined three times a year by experts who weed out the spoiled wines and take inventory of those left. We had seen the cellars and our next stop was the reception room. The upper floors of the building were built on the lines of a mansion with a spacious dining hall. Hardwood chairs and long tables covered one end of the room while close was one of the finest gypsy orchestras we ever heard. They welcomed us with a rousing “csárdás,” and it wasn’t long before we were dancing to our hearts’ content. We had, cur seats at the table, and as we listened to pleasing i “hallgató”-«, we sampled wines. Stewards were on hand pouring wines when they were desired- We sampled seven various kinds, the best wines they had, including Kecskeméti Rizling, Badacsonyi Kéknyelű, Furmint, Debrői Hárslevelű, Tokaji Édes Szamarodni, Tokaji, 4 Puttonos Aszú and Egri; Bikavér. We tasted every, one, knowing each one as we drank. Our guide and the keeper; of the wine cellar gave a brief history of all the types. We did not drink these wines fast, for we also had large plates of assorted cold cuts with hard rolls and kifli-s to satisfy our hunger. Amidst the strains of gypsy violins playing beautiful Hungarian music and bottles of wines which we purchased, we took our leave of Budafok ready to return at any time if given the opportunity. A pleasant afternoon and evening in which both the young and the old enjoyed themselves had passed Into another day.
