Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. január-június (24. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1941-04-10 / 15. szám
Page 4 April 10, 1941 HUNGARIAN PERSONAGES by Joseph Szentkirályi COUNT ISTVÁN SZÉCHENYI 1791—1860 Count István Széchenyi, often named the “Greatest Hungarian,” was the scion of one of Hungary’s most revei'ed noble families. Young Széchenyi inherited not only a sizable fortune but also noble traditions from his ancestors. His father, Count Ferenc Széchenyi, established the Hungarian National Museum. His mother’s brother, Count György Festetics, was the founder of the famous “Georgicon” at Keszthely. This “Georgicon” was the first higher agricultural school on the European continent and was established by the progressive Count in 1797. Széchenyi first lived the fashionable life of a young nobleman of his times. After having finished his formal education in the Szombat-, hely Academy, where he studied philosophy, law and languages, Széchenyi entered the army in 1809. For the following 5 years he fought in many a country but could not get higher than the captaincy in spite of his began. In 1825 at a political excellent record. For this disappointment Széchenyi found consolation in society life and extensive foreign travels, but nevertheless remained in active service until 1825. István Széchenyi in this period of his life was not any better or worse than other young man of his class. He had many and almost invariably unfortunate love affairs, but always took out time for study and selfimprovement, and was fairly familiar with the poetry: of German, French, English and Italian masters. He knew the classical writers and was widely read in modem history and politics. Jean Paul and Byron were Széchenyi’s favorite poets, and he held Rousseau and Voltaire in high esteem. But most of his practical knowledge came from first hand information and personal experience. His most valuable teacher was Life itself, which taught him many a lesson while he traveled abroad. Not counting the occasions on which Széchenyi went to foreign lands as a soldier, he made his first real visit to a foreign country in 1815, when he went to France and England. In England he studied the English language and constitution, horse breeding, and machine industry. In 1818 young Széchenyi traveled thru Italy to the Near East. Four years later he made another trip to England in the company of Miklós Wesselényi. In 1824— 25 he visited France and Italy. With this trip Széchenyi’s informal education came to an end and the productive period of his life PAST The Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association looks back upon more than a HALF OF A CENTURY of substantial well-rounded progress. “QUALITY, SER VICE AND SAFETY, FIRST” has characterized its growth PRESENT With over $25,000,000.00 of insurance in force. Verhovay is the largest legal reserve society of Hungarian origin since 1886. The society enjoys a high place among the finest quality societies of the nation. FUTURE With a splendid past, a strong present position, com plete life insurance service including sales plans, helpful home office cooperation, policies for all ages including children from birth and adults to age 60 the futifre for the society and the men who represent it is most promising. Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association 345 FOURTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH. PA. meeting he was the first to contribute toward the establishment of the Hungarian Scientific Academy. It was mainly due to his example that the money required for this lofty institution was at the founder’s disposal in the shortest time. Széchenyi was the first who held horse races in Hungary for the amusement of his fellow aristocrats. But Széchenyi had a more farsighted purpose than mere amusement in mind when he introduced horse racing in Hungary; he wanted to induce his kin to amuse themselves and to spend their money in their country instead of going for those pleasures to foreign lands. He did everything to make horse racing and horse breeding popular, wrote books and established the National Casino. The Academy, the horse races, the Casino and his many books and articles served but one purpose, the forming of public opinion and the furthering of the cause of national unity. Széchenyi wanted first an economically strong Hungary which later could achieve political independence from Austria. Széchenyi wanted slow evolution and could not accept the strong revolutionary ideas of his great opponent, Louis Kossuth. Both worked for the independence and happiness of their country, but the means were tragically different. The peak of Széchenyi’s activity was between 1830 and 1840. In 1830 he laid down the foundations of Hungarian steamship navigation. In 1832 he went to England to study bridge building, and after a long parliamentary fight, the work on a chain bridge on the Danube at Pest, now bearing his name, was begun in 1836. The bridge, designed and supervised by the brothers Thierney and Adam Clark two Englishmen, was completed in 1848. In 1838 the Pest Roller-Mill Company was founded, chiefly on his initiative. In 1833— 34 Széchenyi visited England once more, and after his return did not rest until the famous Vaskapu Pass was made navigable for steamships and a highway built through the pass. The mere list of Széchenyi’s books and newspaper articles would fill a page, therefore not more than the most important can be mentioned, which are The Credit, The World, the Stadium and The Nation of the East. But the peaceful voice of Széchenyi could not match the thundering of Kossuth’s revolutionary ideas. From 1847 Kosuth’s influence steadily grew, while Széchenyi’s slowly faded away and Verhovayak Lapja STAMP NOTES By William B. Yuhase I had a new wrinkle pulled on me today. A large Eastern Auction House mailed me a booklet describing a future pending sale. The booklet wound up by asking for $1.00 for a descriptive catalogue to be published and mailed to the would-be buyers. The Postmaster General revealed that the Philatelic Agency sales for the month of February, 1941, amounted to $91,086.09. We wonder now' much of this represented stamps put away in mint condition and how much w'as used and stowed in albums in like condition. More about the Vermont stamp: The design was taken from a copyrighted photograph of the State Capital building at Montpelier, taken by the late Clifton Adams, state photographer of the National Geographic Society. Alvin R. Meissner designed the stamp, Carl T. Arit engraved the vignette, and James T. Vail the frame and lettering. Plate numbers are 22,706, 22,707 and 22,708. The design was severely criticized by a certain Vermont congressman. The printing of bi-colored stamps is to be prohibited after July 1st, as these cost $1.19 a thousand to print as against 20 to 40 cent for single color printing of stamps. This is expected to save about $10,000 per annum. This probably means new $1.00, $2.00 and $5.00 stamps, new 6 cent air mails and new 16 cent air mail special delivery. Dig, fellow collectors, dig for more money to buy more new stamps. Sometime ago a Midwest so did the balance of his mind. The outbreak of the Hungarian war of liberty in 1848 was Széchenyi’s end, though physical death brought him peace only twelve years later, in 1860. Count István Széchenyi was undoubtedly the greatest Hungarian of his century, and unquestionably deserves a prominent place among the outstanding figures of human history. Széchenyi was not only a great Hungarian but also a great champion of thé advancement of learning, democracy and humanity. (Editor’s Note: We are happy lo announce that Mr. Szentkirályi has become a member of our nourishing organization. Since the branch Mr. Szentkirályi joined is our newest branch with still an insufficient membership, we can not name it till its success is assured, but shall when that time arrives.) firm was trying to market a perforating machine, apparently to perforate straight edge and imperforate stamps. Understand the-Post Office officials frowned upon the use of the machine. They thought its purposes were unsuited to the best interests of everyone concerned, and therefore should be barred from the mails. New Zealand modified the ban of stamp sendings somewhat. Members of the New Zealand Dealers Association are now permitted to send stamps, both used and un used, abroad. Payment must be received in currency of the country in which the stamps are sold. Each member had to give personal assurance that the strict terms of the agreement would be observed. Meanwhile, it continues impossible for collectors or non-member dealers to send stamps abroad. Even the above mentioned must obtain export licenses for each ship-, ment. A second Highway Post Office will go into service on May 3rd. The route will be from South Bend, Ind. via Lakeville, Plymouth, Peru, Kokomo and Noblesville to Indianapolis, a distance of about 160 miles. Collectors may send covers for the first Southward trip to the postmaster at South Bend, and the Northbound trip covers to the Indianapolis postmaster. Covers must be selfaddressed, full-stamped and sealed. They are to be enclosed in an envelope with a note requesting the postmaster to see that the cover rides the first haul. Covers may be also posted in person on the truck.--------:o:--------BRANCH 432 NOTICE Crescent, Ohio A dance sponsored by Branches 432 and 288 will be held on Easter Sunday, 4pril 13,1941, in the Crescent Verhovay Home, and the music will be played by John Bunchy and his orchestra, featuring Margaret Bunchy as the vocalist. Everyone is cordially invited to participate in this event. Fraternally, PAUL NAGY, President. MARTIN GERSEY Secretary-Treas.--------_-----o-------------“It is pathetically absurd to note the extremes that some people will go to in order to establish erroneous impressions about themselves.”
