Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)

1940-01-25 / 4. szám

January 25, 1940. Page If Verhovayak Lapja The Tulips of Szohoszlo Tradition relates the fol­lowing story incident to the Turkish occupation several hundred years ago in Hun­gary: There was an unusually severe winter accompanied by the bleak blasts charac­teristic of this type of in­clement wintry weather. Empty barns and bare lard­ers were seen everywhere, for the harvest had been extremely meager. What little harvest here had been was confiscated either by the brutal Turks or the equally oppressive Austrian troops, one surely as bad as the other. The region of Hungary called the Hajdúság was ruled in those days by the mighty Padishah Hassan, Chief Protector of the invin­cible and stout town of Deb­recen. With good reason was he known as the most cruel, selfish and insatiable of the Turks, loathed by friend and foe alike. Hassan, too, reciprocated their hate, despising even Halil the Dervish, though that worthy individual had many a time saved his life, thereby frustating the ef­forts of many people and causing them great disap­pointment. Only Laila, his daughter, he did not hate, but worshipped her inanely and did everything in his power to please her. For her sake Hassan even risked the displeasure of the Sultan Osman himself, when he granted her requests not al­together pleasing to the Sultan. Laila was a beautiful girl of nineteen, who possessed among other accomplish­ments, a very gentle heart— a true comforter of all the poor and suffering alike. At night she would return to the victims of her father’s rapacity all that had been robbed from them. Had it not been for these humane actions, the entire Hajdúság might have starved long ago. Hassan the Wicked en­joyed the best of health, but Laila, his daughter, was suffering from some un­known disease. A painful tormenting trouble with stif­fened limbs, she found com­fort only when lying in a warm bed. The magnificent sum of money offered as an inducement and reward to anyone who might cure Laila was still unclaimed. Nobody had ever seen Laila out of bed. What a pity! for she was as lovely and shapely as even the gods tnight battle for. It happened on a winter day of the 1676th year of the hegira that Ali Rimaz, mes­senger of the Kadi of a neighboring town, brought a mysterious document in a big sealed scroll. It must have been very important, for the Padishah ordered his speediest carriage and hied his way to the Kadi. The Kadi was a lazy little man who neglected his duties. The time was nearing noon when the Padishah ar­rived, but the Kadi was still asleep. Luckily at least his servants had the victuals prepared. The Padishah pressed the Kadi for an immediate de­livery of his message. “Far away in a western country,” said the Kadi, “there lives a sage who can surely cure all manner of desease.” “If I can persuade him to come and if he can cure your daughter all I ask is her hand in marriage.” After deliberating the mat­ter, Hassan and the Kadi clinked glasses together and shook hands, Hassan say­ing, “It is granted if my daughter is cured.” Like all despots Hassan too, was surrounded by a multitude of hangers-on. To their heartless advice was due, the next morning, the ordering of every community of the Hajdúság to deliver in the name of the almighty and invincible Padishah Has­san, 300 cows with calves, 1000 pounds of butter, 500 head of several other live stock (poultry excepted), 800 measures of wheat and 5000 gold pieces to the town of Debrecen, failing which, the bells of the obdurate villages would be seized, all their available men con­­scribed, the most beautiful maidens chosen and sold and the whole councils, including the judges, the magistrates, the ushers and the notaries and clerks be­headed. Everybody was aware of Hassan’s cruelty and knew well that clemency was out of the question. All prayers, deputations and petitions would have been in vain. They could appeal to the Chief Pasha of Buda, but this would be a long journey and next to no hope. The judge of Szoboszló, Matthew Dorozsmay, was considered the wisest man of the whole countryside. He was fearless and bold. At his house the frightened councillors of all the threat­ened villages assembled, for in this case they could not even appeal for Laila’s help. But Matthew Dorozsmay’s wisdom was insufficient. Nothing short of a miracle could save them. Their des­pair grew deeper and deeper with, the passing of each day. Spies soon began to ap­pear and whole regiments of janissaries overran the villages. The time had elapsed. What to do? Hassan stamped and swore and sent his executioners. Thirty lovely maidens, fifty handsome youths and ten old Magyars with bent backs marched between the ranks of the soldiers, pre­pared to spill their blood under the stroke of the axe. A young man set out from Szoboszló for Debrecen. It was the son of the judge. He rode bare back and ar­rived at dawn. Arriving he was stopped at the gates. “I should like to have a word with the noble Pa­dishah!” “Thou? ... Art thou wear­ing perhaps the blessed cloak, or dost perchance bring a writing from Mehe­­med, the lord of all glory, or happenest thou to guard his grave? If not, then get out as quickly as thou canst, if thou cherishest thy life!” The youth was the son of the famous Szoboszló judge, Matthew Dorozsmay. Ere the guards had time to realize it. he opened a way with his fists, and was already inside the door of the Padishah’s house when they came to. Hassan rose in anger. The young man closed the door and took off his cap. He stood there quietly looking fearlessly straight into the Padishah’s eyes. “What seekest thou in my house, intruding dog of a Magyar?” “Your daughter,” answer­ed the youth calmly. “Thou, my daughter? .. .” “Yes, Laila, to whom I shall restore health.” “Tonight every house of thirty-three villages will be in mourning, for, since you have been lord here, we have grown poor and destitute, even one gold piece is too much for us.” Hassan still held his sword ready to strike. “Put away your sword. You see I have nothing with which to defend myself. Listen rather to what I have come to tell you. If you really care for your daughter then send around your serv­ants immediately and order your guards, your janizaries, your spies, your soldiers to release all the prisoners, for, failing this, though Mehemed himself protect you, and you pray to Allah and implore His help, your daughter will never recover. But if you will obey me, simple citizen of Szoboszló, we shall pray to our Holy Virgin, the Pat­roness of our country, and by her intercession your daughter will regain her health.” Hassan pondered awhile, then threw his sword on the couch. “Is she so terrible, your Holy Virgin?” “She is not terrible at all, only very powerful. She does not send us to ravage fo­reign countries, to subjugate their people. She does not give us arms for such an end. Our Blessed Virgin only protects us, our Christ only guards us against those who attack us amidst our peace­ful work, all on account of our faith and our love for our country! “But our Holy Virgin does also miracles, such miracles of which men of this earth never were capable. Our Lady can also reward. She rewards the righteous and heals the sick. But only our sick people, she will also cure your Laila if we pray fervently for her. Not the sage who is comnig only to get your gold, but our Sa­vior, who died for our sake, is going to cure her!” New hope began to dawn in Hassan’s heart. “Is that so? Could she recover? Could she really be cured, the only one for whom I truly care? If only I could believe thee, thou ... thou...... stalwart...” The youth took a little dotted kerchief from under his coat. “Look here, almighty Pa­dishah! Our Blessed Virgin opened in this bitter cold winter a fresh green lawn among the frozen fields of Szoboszló, that the flowers of our Hungarian faith, the tulips, might blossom there. I could not bring you gold. We have not even a single coin! I brought only three fresh red tulips gathered at dusk for your daughter, be­cause she has always been kind to us, and always re­turned our goods, which had been taken by your orders. Our maidens prayed in our churches for her recovery.” Three dewy flowers fell from his dotted kerchief on the couch. “God listened to the pray­er of our maidens and He sent these to Laila... and me, that I might take her where these tulips grow, that she should regain her health there. And because you ever and always doubt, I shall take an oath, here before you.” Putting his hand to his heart, he said: “I believe in one God; I believe in one fatherland; I believe in the resurrection of Hungary! Believing in my faith, I of­fer the most precious thing I possess, my life, if your daughter does not regain her health there where, amidst the snow fields, these tulips blossom, and if I do not bring her back cured.” The Padishah looked with astonishment at the flowers and the youth. Only for a second or two did he hesi­tate. then taking the flowers carefully in his hand, as if they were precious stones or the holy treasure of the greatest of moslems, he ran to his daughter’s room. Laila was delighted with the beautiful flowers. The guards loosened the fetters from the hand of Dorozsmay and from those of the other prisoners. Then they gave him safe conduct. Laila was given the treat­ments prescribed by young Dorozsmay. In due time her health was completely re­stored. Needless to say Hassan took upon himself a new aspect. No longer was he a beastly tyrant but a su­premely grateful and happy man—all reflected in his new kind actions toward his subjects. The youthful Dorozsmay was not left unrewarded. Today the town of Szo­boszló is a well known health resort, because tradition says the noble daughter of the tyrant Padishah Hassan was cured here of a terrible malady Abridged from the same article by Alexander Coloman Demeter.--------------O-------------­BRANCH 432. Crescent, Ohio PRE-LENTEN DANCE in CRESCENT VERHOVAY HOME, on Saturday, Ja­nuary 27, 1940. Music will be furnished by Leslie Heeo and his orchestra. Songs by a lady vocalist. Dancing from 7 P. M., till the wee hours of the morning. The affair is sponsored by Branches 432 and 288 of Crescent, Ohio. Martin Gersey, Secretary-Treasurer, Branch 432.--------------O-------------­The Supreme Court of the United States recently ruled that the sale of prize package candies at bur­lesque shows is illegal. * * * The most important in­dustry in San Antoniö, Tex., is the U. S. Army, which spends about 38 million dol­lars annually in the city. i

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