Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1940-01-25 / 4. szám
January 25, 1940, Verhovayak Lapja The text of a recent speech, on behalf of the Benjamin Franklin Bibliophile Society of Cleveland, given by Stephen Huziányi before the Christian Endeavor Society of the Hungarian Reformed and Evangelical Church, South Side, Chicago, as well as the Chicago Chapter of Chi Sigma Gamma is printed herein to acquaint our readers with one of several activities carried on by Hungarian communities in the United States, Selling icebergs to Esquimaus or sun-ray lamps to Ubangis is no more difficult, in the opinion of some cynics we know, than creating a demand for culture. In the following sales-talk, published verbatim, Mr. Huziányi demonstrates one method by which a product whose appeal is not yet widespread can be made attractive to Everyman. Mr. Huziányi was presented on the occasion of his speech by Rev. Stephen E. Balogh, minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church, and George Görömbey, a member of the Christian Endeavor Society. The good Reverend and George here are very kind. However, if I were my audience, I should take certain of their statements concerning Stephen Huziányi with reservations. You must have derived from the capable introductory remarks of Rev. Balogh and George some idea of the nature of the Franklin Society and its reason for existence. If you can bear it, I should like to drag in some detail. The Benjamin Franklin Bibliophile Society, Incorporated — (I’ll go into the Bibliophile part shortly) — The Benjamin Franklin Bibliophile Society, Incorporated, is an American venture, whose aim is to bring to the American consciousness hitherto little known world literary master works, with special emphasis upon proved classics of Central and Eastern Europe. This aim is not complicated, by the way, with moneymaking or the routine somewhat heavy-handed mechanics of the tired business-man. This society is organized purely on a non-profit basis. No one -is going to make a fortune from these books, myself emphatically included. I couldn’t keep myself in postage stamps from the proceeds of these sales. Then what sort of return, or pay for effort expended in distributing these books is there for me, and for the Franklin Society? Well... A very gratifying specie, or coin of the realm, such as of Heaven. You can. buy only so many things on this earth with ordinary money. But for a labor of love, such as the Franklin Society is embarked on, there is a payment in spiritual currency that can be traded in for unlimited bales of satisfaction. The coming into being of the Franklin Society is explained by that patent-medicine word Bibliophile. Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary defines the word Bibliophile as “One who loves books.” The society has therefore a special regard for books. Its purpose and intent are not to publish run-of-the-mill best sellers, monsters such as “Anthony Adverse” and “Gone with the Wind”. Rather the society wants to make available to the discriminating reading public a selection of literary and cultural material, such as will advance the understanding and appreciation by Americans, old and new, of the heritage to civilization afforded by Central Europe and points East — a heritage as substantial as any on this planet, yet not accorded the popular recognition that many blatantly inferior works of poetry and history produced farther to the West have received. As far back as the Civil War there appeared already scattered appreciations and evaluations of Hungarian masterpieces by American scholars, especially in our South, where university men, removed from the industrial distraction of the North, could look beyond the awful mass of French, English and German literature to the store of Central European treasure. We have, therefore, in the literary archives of many American institutions of learning, a comprehensive treatment of Hungary and things Hungarian. But few of us would know how to avail ourselves of this great material, and those of us who could, would need spend a lifetime in tracking it down. Thus, to meet the expanding intellectual curiosities and interests of Americans, the Franklin Society has been formed, the first fully organized effort at presenting the lesser known classics of Europe, along with scholarly interpretations, to the reader and seeker after lasting knowledge. This is a truly bibliophile effort, and the Society goes further to justify its name by the painstaking care devoted to format and design of the bound works, wherein special care is given to paper, type, design and arrangement, etc., so that the individual reader comes to get perfection in every item. Obviously, so that the enterprise should be assured of success at the outset, the Americans who sponsor the idea of publicizing Central and Eastern European classics and traditions have drawn on the resources of Hungarian literature, replete with ancient Magyar lore and epic. This is where I come in. Whenever and wherever Hungary and things Hungarian come into any prominence hereabouts, I endeavor to horn in on the excitement. Even when I make no effort to do so, inevitably by some inexplicable forces, I find myself involved. (Up to my neck.) For some years now I have taken part actively in movements, big and little, concerned with making known certain important truths about Hungary. The Franklin Society is just the latest vehicle for my expression. The Franklin Society’s purposes and ideals automatically enlist all my energies, insofar as they are concerned with Hungarian literature. No group has appeared of late that has to such a degree as the Franklin Society, augmented my efforts to provide for the youth of Hungarian origin a clearing house of information concerning themselves, their ancestry and incidentally, their future possibilities. (To Be Continued In Next Issue) “Lincoln’s Hungarian Heroes” Julian Kune of Chicago, who when the first volunteer company composed of Hungarians, Czechs and Germans was formed, took the letter of their leader, Géza Mihalotzy to Springfield, Illinois, to the Pres.-eleet. In his letter Mihalotzy asked permission to give his company the name of “Lincoln Riflemen”. The President-elect gladly agreed and immediately gave his permission in his own handwriting on the bottom of the letter from Mihalotzy. He succeeded in obtaining permission to organize the 24th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, with which his company of “Lincoln Riflemen” was emerged. Charles Zágonyi, Major of the Fremont-Bodyguard was a nationally known soldier. When in the first days of February 1862, he personally took an important letter from his general to President Lincoln in Washington. Charles Baróthy, the only living Hungarian Civil War veteran of Omaha, Neb. celebrated the 75th anniversary observance of the Battle of Gettysburg, held in Chicago the end of June 1938. He is now 93 years old and is the sen of one of the Kossuth emigrants. He was born in Nagyvárad, Hungary and came to America with his father as a child. They settled in Omaha, Neb. Charles Baróthy enlisted as a private at the age of 18 and remained a private for the duration of his services. He also fought against the Indians and so is one of the very few Hungarian “Indian fighters”, Alexander Asbóth was born on Dec. 18. 1811 at Keszthely county of Zala from a family of English descent, whose nobility with the surname, de Nemeskér, was granted in 1715. His grandfather was John Gottfried Asbóth, a Lutheran pastor in Sopron, and, his father was a professor at the Lyceunf of Kés mark and the director of the Crown estate in the county of Bács and was considered the country’s most famous agricultur al expert. One of his ancestors was the court chaplain of Prince Emery Thököly, the step-father of Prince Francis Rákóczi II. Alexander Asbóth graduated from the academy at Selmecbánya and became an engineer. He re ceived a government appointment and was sent first to Temesvár, then later to Bánság. At the out break of the war in 1848, he received a commission serving with the engineers, but he also took part in many battles, as the battle of Kápolna. Szenttamás and Nagy sarló. He followed Kossuth to Turkey, was imprisoned with him in Kutäieh, and when released, came with him to America and became a citizen. Becoming interested in various business enterprises, he remained until 1861, -when, the Civil War having begun, offered his services. In July was made Cliief-of-Staff to General Frémont; was appointed Brigadier General on Sept. 26th following, and commanded the 4th division in Frémont's western campaign. He was then transferred to the command of a division in Curtis’ Army and during the Arkansas campaign occupied Fayetteville and Bentonville. At the Battle of Pea Ridge Page 3 HOLDS WAR MEANS YEARS OF DEPRESSION ’’War means years of blackouts of prosperity,” Mr. William B. Warner, President of McCall Corporation, declared here recently. Urging that the American people establish sound thinking as “our own defensive Maginot Line or West Wall” against European ideologies, Mr. Warner said: “Our own emotions may betray us; we may be mesmerized by the purely defeatist claim that this nation has not the intelligence to plan its own course and that we inevitably must be drawn in. “And propaganda will have its impact, for a propaganda offensive is a major part of all modern combat plans. Propaganda knows no flag, and oceans are no barriers to it. We cannot avoid it, but we can and must identify and analyze it continuously. “Therefore, we Americans must continually re-examine our thinking. We must weigh the news, sort carefully the recommendations made to us, and then, between God and ourselves make up our- minds what is best for America. “A free-born people, we have no desire to become prey to Europe’s ideologies. We find their ideologies weak and meaningless, and quickly cast aside when the opportunity for power presents itself. “True, we cannot remain untouched by major events in the war; but we can establish our own defensive Maginot Line or West Wall of American thinking for America. “National security and national progress are and should be the major objectives of this thinking. We must not be blinded by the thoughts of a quick boom in business; by a temporary answer to depression. Rather, we must look ahead and see in what eventual ruination it will land us nationally.” lie was severely wounded and a3 signed to the district of West Florida with headquarters at Fort Pickens; was again badly wounded Sept. 27, 1864, in tha battle of Marianna, his left arm being fractured in two places and his left cheekbone broken. He was brevetted Major - General, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in Florida; resigned in August and in 1866 was sent as U. S. Minister to the Argentine Republic. He died in Buenos Aires January 21, 1868 from effects of the wounds rereived in battle. “MYSTRICKY.” SPEECH bv Mr, HUZIANYI:
