Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. január-június (24. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1941-04-10 / 15. szám
April 10, 1941 Mv Travels Abroad «r with the Verhovay i By Alexander J. Goydan Verhovayak Lapja__________________________Ü Getting Pleasure from Something Practical GENOA The City of Genoa, one of Italy’s greatest seaports, offered us an opportunity to see some of the famous landmarks of an ancient country. Our ship had been out of the Port of Trieste for about four days when we arrived at Genoa. -Upon leaving the ship to do a bit of sight-seeing of our own, we were continually driven to visit cemeteries. I can truthfully say that 1 spent three hours in one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. You may say to yourself, “What is there to see in a cemetery, and what is there so beautiful about one?” I shall try to explain. Previous to sailing from Genoa, it was suggested that we go to the Cemetery of Staglieno. which in Italian is called Campo Santo, or Hallowed Field. Located in a small valley about two miles from the city, it presents a beautiful sight. This city of the dead, like a city of the living, is surrounded by towering mountains and is sheltered from northern storms. It is made up of two areas or sections, the first a rectangle surrounded by porticos connected by steps and galleries and built upon a terrace. In the center of its white galleries a circular temple stands patterned after the domed rotunda of the Pantheon. Within the immediate vicinity of the temple there are multitudes of simple graves, each marked with a slender cross beside which is a small vigil lamp. These snow-white crosses in uniform rows from a distance resemble a large garden of blooming flowers. In the center of this hollowed field is a large statue of the Faith, 30 feet high, by the renowned sculptor Sante Várni. This statue pictures the emblems of religion and faith in immortality. One hand clasps a bible and the other a huge crucifix, while the eyes of the figure look heavenly, perhaps as a symbol of an everlasting watch upon the thousands buried near it, and perhaps as a consolation to those that mourn their beloved dead Moving onward and on closer inspection, we found that the white walls and massive colonnades prove to be galleries of enormous length, bordered on either side by sculptured tombs and groups of statues which became more confused in their meanings as we went along. Walking through the galleries as if we were in a museum, we were astonished to see works of art that were full of originality, that cleverly displayed the characteristics of man in his moods of sorrow, deep thought, hope and of an afterlife which was hard to define. The sculptors, when depicting the mood, had a keen sense of portrayal which had a depth of understanding in the human elements of the living and the grief of the bereaved. The sculptor’s skill in portraying with life-size statues the theme of the dead amazed us for the originality in which it was presented. Here we saw the figure of a wife turning from the husband’s tomb and presenting him with a last farewell before covering his face; or the life-sized statue of a monk reading the funeral ritual prayers for the deceased. Moving onward we beheld a widow holding up the youngest child to the effigy of the father who has passed away, while the other child kneels >n prayer. Yonder we see the form of a woman sitting at the Coot of the huge doors of a sepulcher which the artist meant to represent eternal rest. The natural folds of the drapery and the wonderful molding of the body is admirably expressed. Another represents a soldier in the World War, who, fatally wounded by a bomb and about to fall, sees in his imagination his mother who in his last thought comforts and blesses him in her arms. Moving on we came upon a statue which was prepared by a simple peasant woman who while living saved enough through honorable means to have this monument erected to hex memory. Overlooking the hallowed field from within, we came across the figure of a girl already dead, coming back to earth to console her dying sister who, half sitting on her dying bed, reaches for the way to heaven. The realistic form of a husband leaning against the tomb of a beloved wife portrays a scene which would touch even the man with a heart of stone. The man dressed in simple, everyday clothes holds a hand to his head, partly covering his features, while in the concealment of his face he shows pitiful expression of his outward grief. Another shows the entire family of a father at his dying bed. The elder son is comforting his wife who is also dismayed at the dying of her father-in-law. Leaving the memorial hall, We see the monument of Guiseppe Mazzini, who achieved great fame in history because of his cause for freedom. Here in the Campo Santo is found the simple tomb, opposite which is the tomb of his mother. All around are monuments commemorating members of Garibaldi’s ‘Thousand who fought for liberty and who were in the field forwarding the ideals of Mazzini.’ The names of Kossuth, Cavour, Ledru Rollin and other patriots are linked with the cause of freedom the world over. This man was a leader and a patriot, and at the time of his death one hundred cities sent representatives to his funeral in Genoa. I could go on explaining for hours on hours, but words can not express the profound beauty and sincereness of thought. Here we found a cemetery which was so unlike any other we have seen that it seems it was more of a museum of the dead, which makes one think of death as a must, and which our modern world foolishly attempts not to recognize. (To Be Continued)--------------O-------------BRANCH 90 NOTICE . Allentown, Pennsylvania On Sunday, April 20, 1941, beginning at 7:00 p. m., in the Hungarian Hall, 520 Union Street, Branch 90 will hold a Chicken Supper. Music will be played by Joseph Salontai’s Orchestra. Admission will be 75c. By Margaret Vargo Brach 312 Idamay, West Virginia Originally, when the cartographers set xo work and made road maps, their aim was to make something which would be practical and helpful to tourists. And they succeeded, for there’s nothing which will be a greater aid when you take a trip than a map to show you where you are and which route you must take to reach your destination-. Aside from this primary purpose, though, of guiding us around the country, a map can afford us much pleasure, for is there anyone who hasn’t chuckled a few times at. least at the names of some towns? Some people have built up this interest motivated by maps into a hobby for themselves by collecting postmarks from as many of the towns, particularly from the odd-sounding ones, as possible. You, too, can start this amusing as well as interesting and instructive hobby. It’s not necessary to wait until friends mail us letters from their towns, but we can obtain a postmark from any post office in the United States simply by writing a letter to the postmaster of the particular town and enclosing a self-addressed postcard. Ask the postmaster to put his town’s postmark on the card, thank him, mail your letter, and then wait for a few days. Watch your collection grow! If you examine a United States map carefully, you’ll find many unusual names of towns from which you’ll want to get postmarks. You could start the collection by obtaining the “marks” from dog-named towns. There’s one named SPOT, in North Carolina; ROVER, in Arkansas. Other “dog” towns include: COLIE, Kentucky; SHEPHERD, Michigan; POINTER, Kentucky; CHESEPEAKE, Virginia; and DANE, Wisconsin. Some “animal” towns include: RED DRAGON, West Virginia; WOLFTOWN, Virginia; WHITE HORSE, California; and YELLOW JACKET, Colorado. You’d like postmarks from Tickets to the affair may be secured at the meetings or from the branch officers. Members and friends are cordially invited to attend this event. Fraternally, THE COMMITTEE. towns with very short names? O. K.! How would O. K., Kentucky; ED, Kentucky; or TI, Oklahoma suit you? Oh, you’ve just been reading “Rumplestiltskin,” and you would like some extraordinarily long names? Well, let’s see—Here are two which are so long they almost encircle the whole postmark: TOUGHKENAMON, Pennsylvania and WINNIPESAUKEE, New Hampshire. You’ve been looking at some brightly colored Easter eggs? Well, our country has some “color” towns—BLUE, Arizona; BLACK ROCK, Arkansas; GREEN, Kansas; ORANGE, California; REDFIELD, Iowa; and WHITE, Nebraska. I’ve been reading with interest the articles \ in the Journal about the South Land, the Northwest and Sunkist Southern California. If I may, I’d like to give my state, West Virginia, a boost, if perhaps in no other way than by telling you that our “State Beautiful” has quite a fine collection of interesting odd names for towns. If you care, you can add to your postmark collection from these towns. If you examine a West Virginia map and see the odd names of the towns, you might wonder: If—our state has a BIAS, and when there’s a WAR, how soon do they write the Peace PAX? If— our weather is varied, if it’s warm at HEATERS, and warmer still at BURNT HOUSE, and how severe the FROST is? Did the BERWING shake the BENTREE, laying the OAK FLAT? And if there’s enough AIR for a HURRICANE? If—JANE LEW, RACHEL, SOPHIA, CAROLINA and ADRIAN are sisters, and if SISTERSVILLE was named for them? If—the BAKER’S name is WALLACE and if the MAN with the BEARD is the SQUIRE? If— LENORE wears her RED JACKET which she herself made from the CALICO that’s sold by the BOLT? If—the JOKER clamped his PIPE STEM between his teeth while he talked with the CHAP over by the HORSEPEN? If—the OLD FIELDS are filled with CLAY or if you could find a DIAMOND when you PICKAWAY? If—the ECHO in the VALLEY can be heard on the CLIFF TOP? If—you could WIDEN the CALF PASTURE with the CLOVER LICK, which is by the RED HOUSE with the BIG CHIMNEY, and if the RANGER could REVEL there? There are many MOORE of these odd names, but in conclusion—In your leisure time, you are at your LIBERTY to read the CANTERBURY tales, collect some postmarks, or—(and this is with all joking aside)—you may become a tourist in the “Mountain State” where you are always WELCOME, and where all the people are very FRIENDLY.-------------O--------------SPECIAL NOTICE BRANCH 434, South Bend, Indiana Due to certain circumstances the meeting date of Branch 434 has been changed. Hereafter the monthly meeting shall be held on the SECOND Sunday of the month, at the Verhovay Hall, 1924 W. Indiana Avenue, beginning at 2:00 p. m. Dues are payable at all meetings. Fraternally, KATHIE JANKOVITS, Recorder. REMINDERS OF AN EASTER DAY Easter is a holiday, Of course we know. When Christ arose, From dead to go Way up in Heaven to sit by our King, Which is Great God Almighty. Please let us sing Just to our Father, So that He would know, We are thankful for our daily bread In case He doesn’t know. For what has happened to our Lord, For being true and kind Let’s try to be just part of Him, So that maybe we could climb, To be up there where angels sing. There’ll be no tears or fear or death. So try to keep our Easter Day, Without being coaxed not to forget. PATRICIA YOKAY Age 10 — Carolina, W. Va.
