Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. január-június (24. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)

1941-02-13 / 7. szám

Page 3 February 13, 194\ My Travels Abroad with the Verhovay Branch 395 Leaving Debrecen on a special train for Budapest the afternoon of August 18, 1939, we saw many interest­ing sights. The waiting rooms and the walkways of the station were crowded with the anxious and eager­­students of the Debrecen Nyári Egyetem, who were on their way to enjoy a week of educational tours and sight-seeing trips in the Queen City of the Danube, Budapest. Arriving at the Budapest station, taxicabs were al­ready awaiting our arrival. The cabs are marked as to their destinations at the var­ious hotels and private homes where the students would stay during their visit in Budapest. A goodly num­ber of us were detailed to stay at the “Tanitók Háza” on Szent Király Utca. The rooms were large and spa­cious, and were in readiness on our arrival there. Szalay, Debreczeni and I could hardly wait until we disposed of our luggage and made way for a visit to our “home” in Budapest, the Metropole Hotel. We knew our old -friends, Andrew Fay-Fisher, Bert Kun and Michael Varga would be there if they were in Buda­pest. We hadn’t gone far when we were joined by our fellow American friends who were also at the University. There were at least 12 of us when we arrived at the Metropole to be joyfully welcomed by Fay-Fisher Andor, Bert Kun, Michael Varga and Dr. and Mrs. Kondor. Seats were hurried­ly arranged in the open air cafe and, amidst the drink­ing of wine, we talked over our achievements at the University, much to the satisfaction of our leaders. As at Debrecen, the Uni­versity was again our host. Street car passes for the en­tire week, at a nominal price, were furnished, in addition to a book of tickets for our daily meals. The “Erzsébet Kiosk,” an open air restau­rant, was the meeting and eating place for the two hundred university students who were with us when we toured the great city of Bu­dapest on the greatest holi­day week which is celebrated every year: St. Stephen’s Day — August 20, 1939 By Alexander J. Goydan McKeesport, Pennsylvania We could not rise early enough on the Sunday of August 20. 1939, as this was indeed a memorable occasion in our lives. The day about which we had heard our parents and grandparents talk frequently was at last a reality. For days preced­ing, trains, buses and all other modes of transporta­tion had been bringing peo­ple from the cities and vil­lages far and near to wit­ness this glorious spectacle of world renown. At five­­thirty in the morning the city was a beehive of activi­ty. Buses, street cars, taxi­cabs were everywhere tran­sporting people to the vicini­ty of the Royal Courtyards, where the huge procession would take place. A special box for the Americans was reserved at an ideal spot so that we could witness the proceedings. In spite of the milling throngs and thous­ands of people eager to catch a glimpse of the pro­cession, perfect order was kept by the white-helmeted gendarmes and the city police. The procession began with the national flag, military band and royal bodyguards in full regalia. The slow but uniform step of the army gave one the impression of Hungary’s preparedness. Re­ligious orders of priests and nuns accompanied the sacred right hand of St. Stephen, while the Regent of Hun­gary, Admiral Nicholas von Horthy, was in attendance with the me- of state and royal bodyguards. Included also were men and girls of the restored Upper Hungary, in colorful native dress of the “Felvidék.” Members of the pageant of the “Gyön­gyös Bokréta,” representing the dress and customs of the various sections of Hun­gary, also added to the splen­dor of the occasion. The cameras of ours were con­tinuously clicking. A worth­while shot here and an amusing sight there provid­ed us with an unforgettable remembrance of “István Ki­rály Nap” in Budapest. Promptly at 12 noon of August 20th, the thousands of spectators and members of the foreign delegations were gathered around the national flag, “Ország Zász­ló,” when the afternoon fes­tivities would take place. Solemn and heart rending speeches by the learned men and statesmen of Hungary were listened to with awe and inspiration, while the cries for revision from the thousands there gathered echoed throughout the vast square. The flag under which our leader, Bert Kun, and I and leaders of the various other groups spoke, hung suspended at half-mast as an indication that the flag would not fly top high until all the territorial claims of Hungary were satisfied. At twelve noon a group of run­ners from the city of Kassa arrived at the square, plac­ing a wreath of homage at the foot of the flag of their hearts. Arriving with them was a regiment of foot sol­diers, with their commander announcing to the throng and superior officers their greetings from the newly re­stored city of Kassa. The spectacle was colorful and exciting, one long to be re­membered. In the evening the day’s festivities were concluded with a splendid and huge display of fireworks from atop the St. Gellért Hill. The Buda side of the Danube was thronged with many thous­ands of interested people. The Danube River steamers “Zsófia” and “Erzsébet Ki­rálynő” were lighted from stem to stern, as was the famous Elizabeth Bridge, which is illuminated only on rare and special occasions. The fireworks display was a piece of art. The concluding display was a huge fiery out­line of Hungary in its pre­sent state, and which slowly burned into the future thousand year old outline, with the words “Nem, nem, soha!” Traffic and the moving of the people away from the shores of the Danube were not accomplished until hours later when the greatest holi­day of all Hungary was over.--------------O-------------­FIRST SOCIAL EVENING OF NEW YORK BRANCH 394 A REAL SUCCESS Verhovayalc Lapja On Wednesday evening, January 22d, Branch 394 hfeld its first social night of the season. As we had hoped, many of the younger members and their friends attended, in fact more than we expected, and, judging from the re­marks that were made, we know at our next Social Evening, which will be on Wednesday, February 12th, twice as many will be at the Verhovay Home. We are sending out notices to all to let them know about our next Social Night, but if we should happen to miss anyone, please accept our invitation here and now, to our evening of fun. However, if this article should appear too late for our February 12th affair, I want to let you know that we shall have another Social Night on the fourth Wednes­day of the month, that is, on the 26th. Now to write something about a few of the members who were down on January 22d: Johnny Vaught, you’ll have to play a better game of Ping-pong if you want to beat some of the experts at this game. I guess that is why you went over to the other table, but, judging from the expression on your face, I suppose you did not have any luck there either. Too bad we did not .have bowling, because there you could have shown everyone what you know about this sport. Tommy Vaught’s fa­vorite pastime is dancing the csárdás, and whenever he had no girl to dance with ... well, he just went right ahead and danced it alone. Joe Sharkozy, the next time you sit down to play games with the boys, please sit still and not jump out of your seat every two minutes, because this makes the other players nervous. But of course I realize that you were host and you wanted to make sure that everyone was having a good time (rest assured everyone did). Jim­my Emody, all I can say for you is that you’ve got just a little too much luck in your game... too bad that Katherine Sickenberber did­n’t have some of your luck. Johnny Majus, the next time you come in late to play and win six games in a row ... well, it’s just not be­ing done nowadays. If I forgot to mention any other “lights,” I am sorry. The next time I’ll try to mention more of you. Don’t forget February 12th and 26th. Fraternally, MR. X.--------•-----o--------------­BRANCH 395 NOTICE McKeesport, Pennsylvania All reguler meetings in 1941 of Branch 395 are held every second Tuesday of each month, at the First Hungarian Reformed Church, 8th and Strawberry Streets. Members are urged to at­tend faithfully these meet­ings. Fraternally, ALEXANDER J. GOYDAN Corresponding Secretary.--------------O-------------­More than 13,000 terrapin were raised by the United States Bureau of Fisheries in a North Carolina nursery this year and liberated in j coastal swamps and lagoons. What Have You Done for the Journal?

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