Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja, 1917 (18. évfolyam, 14-52. szám)
1917-06-30 / 26. szám
26. szám Junius 30. AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA ****************************************************************************************** * | | Hungary: “The Realm of the Crown of St. Stephen.” § * $ ****************************************************************************************** Where Literature and Art Thrives. A country that furnished the legends for the latter part of the Niebelungen-Lied deserves to be thoroughly studied from many points of view and especially relative to its art. The rained castles around Balaton inspired the verses of the great Hungarian poets Csoko- nay and Kisfaludy, while the finest of Hungrian lyrics, forest, and in the nearer distance vine-olad mountains, those of the poet-soldier Petőfi sprang from the pastoral scenes of the Lowlands. Next to Petőin, who fought for the independence of his country during the Revolution of 1848, are Jókai, creator of narrative prose in prolific measure, and Arany, the great epicist. In literary production of high order, Hungary doffs its cap to no nation. But what about music? The mere mention of this subject opens up vast vistas, A position in the musical world such as that now occupied by Russia, has long been that of Hungary. A difficulty arises through one’s inability to determine just what is “Hongroise” and what shall be attributed to the Tziganes, that nomad race which centuries ago found asylum on Hungarian estates nd has never become more than partly civilized- However, without coming to a decision it can be truthfully ventured that nowhere outside of Hungary is there so great versatility in music and such fertile imagination. The names of Hungarian composers and virtuosi are legion, and at the head of the list stands Franz Liszt. The “Rakoczy March” embodies the spirit of the nation, and creates a frenzy and furore whenever its notes are sounded. Munkacy gives the keynote to Hungarian painting. In architecture, the Hungarians have assimilated the great forms and have added thereto distinctive Hungarian motives. They love color and do not hesitate at the bizarre. Before even a cursory glimpse can be taken of the country at large and its people it must be borne in mind, that Hungary is a composite nation, and locality makes many changes in costumes, and customs, and the mode of living is not the same in all places. We could hardly expect anything in common between the peasants arond Fiume on the Adriatic which came under Venetian influence, and the peasants of Transylvania which saw the rise and fall of the Saxon influence. Then there are the Szekelys and Wallacks with practically nothing in common. Two features are characteristic, high boots for men and women and a multitude of petticoats for women. Then they all delight in color and embroidery. Ornaments of great cost are part of the costume of Hungarian magnates and often represent a small fortune. And when it comes to scenery, Hungry has many kinds and some are of the rarest in charm and beauty. What matters it whether we consider the scenic aspect starting from Pozsony (Pressburg) and visit the great lake of Balaton, or visit the seacoast with its high hills, or go through the interminable grea plains which constitute the Alflöd region devoted almost exclusively to the raising of grains and breeding of cattle. The lower Danube, that below Budapest, as far as Servia has little interest, but through the mountains the river scenery is matchless. A comparison with the Rhine always turns in favor of the Danube- And where can more beautiful lakes be found than those that mirror the snowpeaks of the High Tatra mountains ? But after all, already said, and this must be the conclusion, even, it is premture and abrupt, the great attraction in Hungary is not the scenery, — and that is beyond one-s descriptive powers, — But the people. Let us not think of the Magyar as a sort wild, undisciplined, illiterate person, because that is not true; — he is educated, given to hospitality, devoed to music and noble of character.. Upon acquaintance he wins our admiration and approbation. PICTURESQUE HUNGARY For the benefit of our American friends, who are interested in the Hungarian Work, as carried on by the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church and of the Reformed Church in the United States, it affords us great pleasure to publish the above splendid article, written by Prof....................... It is unboubtedly one of the best descriptions of existing conditions of Hungary. It is sympathetic and interesting from beginning to end. Hungarians in America feel greatly indebted to Prof.............................. for this unprejudiced and fine article written about the Land of the Magyars. The article was originally published in the Reformed Church Messenger. Lapunk olvasóinak eredeti angolban és magyar kivonatos fordításban bemutatjuk azt a rokonszenves leírást és czikket Magyar-országrol, mely nemrégiben jelent meg a nagy elterjedtségnek örvendő Reformed Church Messenger nevű ref. egyházi lap hasábjain Prof ...................... tollából. Mutassák meg ezt a czikket lapunk olvasói az angolul értő ismerőseiknek, hogy azok is olvashassák édes magyar Hazánkról ezt a szép leirást. #*************************************************************************************.x.*4- * * I A természet istenitéséről. * * * * T * * ****************************************************************************************** Isten és a világmindenség nem egy, mert a világmindenség nem örök. Ha Isten és a világegyetem egy volna, akkor a világegyetemnek örötkőlfogvavalónak kellene lennie, ezzel az isteni tulajdonnal kellene birnia ezzel pedig nem bir, mert a világ kezdettel bírt. A tudomány olyan időről beszél, mikor a föld, a nap, hold és csillagok nem voltak igy külön tagolva, mint most vannak, nem voltak naprendszerekké alakúlva, hanem bizonyos ködnemü anyagban, folyadékban, vagy gázban együtt voltak. Nagyon régen volt ez, de igy volt. Mi a természetben örök? A kősziklák nem, sem a föld, sem a nap, sem a csillagok- A világon semmi nincs, ami örök volna. De talán maga az anyag, melyből ezek az égi testek, a mindenség alkottattak, örök? Mondják tudósok, hogy az anyag számtalan változáson mehet át, de ma-
