Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. július-december (24. évfolyam, 27-52. szám)
1941-08-14 / 33. szám
August 14, 1941 Page 3 and bigger paper, without in any way detracting from its interest by making it stilted or academic. The rest is known by all of you. I have succeeded because of your practical loyalty. Much of this success can be attributed to the correspondence between the contributors and me. Among my correspondents has been Albert Steinmetz, my host in Los Angeles, who began his correspondence by requesting a stamp column (which we now have thanks to William B. Yuhase) for the Journal and who late last year became a regular contributor, adding to the interest and value of our paper by submitting in the first issue of every month his series “Sunkist Southern California.” and occasionally adding some stamp items. Again, parenthetically, we recall that several years back Albert Steinmetz was one of the key men in the organization of the Verhovay Short Wave Radio Club, which is now dormant due to another war-mad and war-torn world. After Albert Steinmetz became one of the regular contributors, we were fast friends, and soon I found myself being repeatly invited to be his guest in Los Angeles. Naturally, the standing invitation intrigued me. but on the grounds of prohibitive money requirements and too short a vacation period I hesitated to accept. However, being a wandering Magyar by nature, my resistance kept weakening and weakening with each invitation, and before I knew it I said “Yes, yes, yes!”, and two months in advance began making rail arrangements for the trip, to be the guest (or pest?) of the young Steinmetz family. Came July 3d! I studiously made all kinds of preparations to assure a harmonious journey and vacation, but as usual my schedule went awry, and had it not been for the splendid assistance of my Irish crony Francis Carroll, who neatly packed my suitcase, I should have had to make a very hurried exit to Pittsburgh in order not to miss the train. Francis, who had called to drive me into Pittsburgh (about 15 miles from McKeesport), urged me to hurry, and, after bidding farewell to my parents, we were heading for the Union Station in Pittsburgh. Incidentally, my mother was none to happy about the trip, for to her who had done very little traveling, California was somewhere in the nether world. Arriving in the big city, we called on Mr. Lorant Gyorffy, of the Home Office, to spend the short time with us before my leaving, but unfortunately Mr. Gyorffy was not in the hotel. Just a few minutes before 10:00 P. M. (Eastern Standard Time), the departure time, I vigorously shook the hand of Francis, bade him farewell, and boarded the Pennsylvania’s de luxe “Golden Triangle” (named in honor of Pittsburgh’s downtown because of its triangular shape and its golden bright lights at night). Scon I was on my way heading for Chicago, where my Verhovay brethren and friends would receive me and entertain me during the time between change of trains, and for this reason I took out a Pullman roomette on this train, because I wanted to be wide awake for the progiam they had in mind for me. I had to call the porter twice and “practiced” several times before I caught on to the operation of all the little gadgets of convenience found in the roomette, which is a private room for one person. The roomette can be air conditioned according to one’s whims, contains all kinds of handy receptacles, has both a zipper curtain and a door that can be closed and locked, etc. Oh yes, the ceiling light can be dimmed to a very dark bluish hue, a sort of “black-out” effect, which the porter humorously explained was for those who are “scary,” afraid of complete darkness and ghosts. So girls, don’t be afraid to take out a roomette the next time you travel any great distance. Being an old “gawker,” I tried to stay awake for some time, because I wanted to peer out of the window into the still of the night and not miss a thing, but old man sandman and the soft bed said “No!”, and I was soon fast asleep. In accordance with my request, the porter awoke me about an hour and a half before the arrival in Chicago, because, being almost as fussy as a member of the female species, I knew it would take me about that long to get ready for the arrival, and my reckoning was right. At 6:40 A. M. (Central Standard Time), July 4th, the Golden Triangle cautiously pulled into Chicago. I was excited and thrilled in vivid anticipation of what awaittd me, for I knew that some of my Verhovay brethren and friends would be awaiting me and would take me to the others. Sure enough, as I hurriedly squeezed through the crowds, there at a distance stood the tall, dignified figure of my dear friend Stephen Huzianyi, smiling broadly and signaling the handshake, and with him was George Pozsgay who, though then a stranger to me, had driven some 40 miles from Chicago Heights to offer me the convenience of his car. It was a great pleasure to see Stephen, and in a very short time I felt as if I had known George for years, so cordial and kind was he. We hastened to a restaurant and had breakfast, for in a little more than a stopover of eleven hours there was much to be done. Driving about the city for a while, we went to call for Margaret Marosvolgyi, friend of Stephen. It meant another introduction, but with her too I immediately acquired that feeling of a friendship of long standing. Margaret is of Hungarian birth, and a more Magyar girl I have never met. She is typically Hungarian—gay, bursting with energy and full of song. Then we went to the home of Frank Balogh, secretary of Branch 503, to which branch, by the way, most of my Chicago friends belong. But we were not on time and Mr. Balogh had left. While waiting for him, another Verhovay, Tony Kovács, came, and we talked a good bit before Mrs. Balogh was finally able to contact her Verhovay go-getter husband. When Mr. Balogh arrived he had a group of guests with him, and you may be sure we had a full house. Master Frank Balogh was there, too, and it was a pleasure to notice that he is following in his energetic father’s footsteps. But we could not stay long, for the feature of the program would be at one o’clock at the Csontos home, and it was already one. Well, at the Csontoses at last for that delicious spaghetti dinner which Ann Csontos had promised to make for me the next time I returned to the Windy City, and return I did! Ann, her sister Helen and lovable Mrs. Csontos hurriedly sat us down to the dinner table, for spaghetti must be eaten hot! We sat down to a real meal, including the younger sister and brother of Ann and Helen. I lack the words to describe how delicious Ann’s spaghetti was, but what more can I say than that none of us were able to eat more after the third helping. Finishing the delicious dinner (the trimmings were delicious, too), we played games in the basement of the Csontos home and later went to the natural park of Sears-Roebuck & Co., at which firm Helen Csontos holds a high position. Helen wanted to show us how progressive and cultural her company is. We took photographs and frolicked in the sun. Before everything was over we went to a Hawaiian type tavern. But the eleven hours and few minutes were soon over and it was time to catch the Union Pacific’s “City of Portland.” I said good-by to those who did not accompany me to the train, and away headed for the station went Ann Csontos, Margaret Marosvolgyi, Stephen Huzianyi, George Pozsgay and I. Soon I boarded the train, but there was yet a few minutes left. Those few minutes^ seemed like ages because, under the leadership of that wholesomely mischievous Marosvolgyi girl, the foursome was making me blush by putting on the crying act at my departure. At 6:15 P. M. (Central Standard Time) the “City of Portland” slowly pulled out of the station. As I waved to my dear friends and they to me, I could not help but swallow hard, for I was realizing in deep gratitude that true friendship is a godlike thing. (To Be Continued) Verhovayak Lapja_________________ Now In Our thYear A milestone at which we are grateful for the steadfast confidence and good will that mark day-by-day relations between members, field force and Home Office staff. * An anniversary in which we are striving to be worthy of continued leadership as one of America’s oldest and strongest fraternal insurance associations. VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION 345 Fourth Ave Pittsburgh, Pa. Cleveland District VERHOVAY DAY Sunday, August 17, 1941 will be Cleveland District Verhovay Day. It will be held at Puritas Springs Park on the West side of Cleveland. The park is located about two miles east of the Cleveland airport, on Puritas Avenue and Rocky River Drive. From the west, look for airport signs and then go about two miles east to the park. If you are not sure, go to the Verhovay Home, 8637 Buckeye Road, where easy directions will be given to you. The committee, under the direction of First Vice-President and Director Joseph Szalay, is working out plans for an elaborate program, which will include speeches, concerts, baseball games, both hard ball and soft ball, races for children and grownups, prizes, etc. Mr. Szalay and District Organizer Louis Vassy inform us that there will be approximately one hundred gate prizes, and the grand prize will be a new 1941 Ford de luxe automobile. Also to be given away will be an Apex washing machine and an Emerson radio. We are not sure but we heard that the new members of 1941 will play a noteworthy role in this elaborate celebration. Traditional Hungarian food and refreshments will be served, which alone should induce everyone to attend, for no kitchen surpasses the Hungarian kitchen. All these things are being effected by the hard work of the committee, and if everybody takes this event as seriously as Mr. Vassy, then there will be no doubt of a grand success, for Mr. Vassy has his whole heart and soul in this worthy venture. So let us all prove that we are good Verhovayans by supporting to our fullest and being instrumental in our best possible manner in putting forward a great day, the Cleveland District Verhovay Day. Let us do this for the sake of our organization, that it may be recognized throughout the length and breadth of these great United States as the greatest and most flourishing organ of Hungarian culture and fraternalism. We can do this if we all cooperate. May God have mercy on us if we misuse our trust! Fraternally, JOSEPH J. HORVATH, Assistant Publicity Director for Cleveland District Verhovay Day. T
