Budapest, 1945. (1. évfolyam)

3. szám - VIGH JÓZSEF „A nagy tábor” (Könyvismertetés)

masses. The capital's population was not at all statisfied neither with the one nor with the other just as now they always complain about the trams. They impatiently clamoured a modern kind of publici transport. The tube now seriously dealt with — let us hope — will finally settle the centuries-old problem for the entire statisfaction of Pest citizens. Gvula Antalffy LISPE'S PART IN BUDAPEST'S GAS-PROVISION In connection with oil-sources in Lispe, a considerable quantity of natural gas breaks up through the wells. The quantity of this became known only after the war was finished. While, during the years of war, the upbreaking gases were forced back into the oil-wells in order to keep the field under a constant pressure, now, owing to destructions caused in the compressors, there is no means to follow the above practice. Thus, the greater part of the gases breaking up is being lost into the air. On the Lispe oil-fields about 700.000 cubic meter of natural gas is wasted every day. The composition of this gas is unknown but its most important element is certainly metan. This quantity means approachingly thrice the maximal consumption of Budapest, including household and lighting. It was obvious that we must get hold of this superficial and wasted gas and, within the limits of our present possibilities, we should transport it to Budapest. József Kővágó A PEST PAINTER IN THE PARIS «COMMUNE« In the Paris »Commune« in 1871 two Hungarians played remarkable part. Leó Franki, a goldsmith's assistant of Óbuda, was Minister of Public Works in the Commune, while Leó Győrök, professional marine officer and art-painter, was commander of the Montmartre as artilleryofficer during the Paris siege. The article deals with the latter's romantic life. Gy. Szentiványi HUNDRED YEARS OLD »VILLAGE NOTARY« J. Eötvös's »Village Notary« is one of the most outstanding works of hungarian novel-literature of the past century. Just a hundred years ago it was first published, in 1845, in the decade when our history's magnificent event, the 1848 revolution was ripening in the leaders of the hungarian people. The author of the »Village Notary« was not a revolutionist. He belived that exhibiting social corruption and the situation of the oppressed classes, also, by propagating truth, politics can be led to the way of reforms. Tn his work in two volumes he unveiled the abuses in county life, the domineerings of deputy sheriffs and lord lieutenants whishing thus to serve the good interests of peasantry. The novel's effect was tremendous. Public opinion saturated with the wish for progression, simply devoured the book. This unparallelled effect was due not only to the honest service of truth but to Eötvös, the author's excellent qualities too. He is one of the greatest figures of hungarian history of literature. His remarkable abilities are also proved by the success his works brought to him from abroad. Amongst other of his works, the »Village Notary« has been published in english. german. talian. roumanian etc. Gábor Tolnai FESTIVAL OF THE COUNCIL OF PUBLIC WORKS The motion dealing with setting up the now 75 years old Council of Public Works and which is the basis of the Article X 1870, was following a London pattern, that of the Metropolitan Board of Works. In the House of Commons Pál Térey introduced it and he also communicated that the City of Pest thankfully approved it. Daniel Irányi, in the name of the opposition, spoke against it. He cited the instance of Paris, where the town-hall gave the directing of public work out of his hands like city-development and improvement, thus depriving themselves of their own municipal rights. The planned Council of Public Work is nothing else than the governments interference, nay, the controling of certain city-rights. Ferenc Deák declared that: »This motion is not restriction of municipal rights but that, following this motion, the government shares the right of inspecting with the city, the latter having practised it so far alone. Therefore this is not restriction but extension of municipal rights.« The Article X 1870 was sanctioned and the new institution was formed. They did not elect president, this office being reservedfor the prime minister of the time being. At the first meeting — held on the 23th

June, 1870 — presided L. Tisza, at the second — on the 2nd

July, 1870 — the Prime Minister Count Gy. Andrássy. The direction was in his hands but the actual management belonged to the Vice-President, L. Tisza. The technical department was led by F. Reitter. He kept his position for four years and when he died, in December, 1874, the Council's journal remembered him as follows : »As in his life he was the most authentic, the most active champion of the capital's flourish ment, now, after his death, his memory will live for ever in the great ideas and works that his genius radiated and which—by his iron will power, industry and inexhaustible endurance — he helped to realize.« The festival of 75 years old Council of Public Works can not pass away without recalling F. Reitter's memory for the successors. BUDAPEST REVUE HISTORIQUE ET SOCIALE ILLUSTRÉE PUBLIÉE PAR LA VILLE DE BUDAPEST LA CHRONIQUE ILLUSTRÉE DE BUDE L'un des monuments les plus précieux de l'art hogrois du XIVе siecle, la Chronique Illustrée de Bude est en rapport étroit avec la floraison des arts sous la dynastie des Anjou. C'était un cadeau de fian<jailles fait aux environs de 1370, ä Toccasion du mariage projeté entre Catherine, fille de notre Louis le Grand et Louis de Valois. fils de Charles V, roi de France. La Chronique connut des destinées variées et romanesques. Elle passa de la cour de Bude ä la bibliotbeque du dauphin de France, puis de lä. de nouveau en cadeau de noces, chez le prince serbe Brankovich. II est probable qu'an milieu du XVе siecle eile devient de nouveau propriété hongroise, puis ä la chute de Bude, propriété turque pour quelque temps, comme les notes inscrites dans l'oeuvre en témoignent. Au début du XVIIе siecle, eile figure déja parmi les trésors de la bibliotbeque impériale de Vienne, enfin, grace ä l'accord de Venise, eile revient en 1933 ä Budapest ou eile a survécu heureusement aux avatars du siege. L'auteur de la Chronique — un chanoine de Bude peut-etre — raconte, selon le but qu'il se propose, l'histoire chevaleresque du passé hongrois. II fait revivre avec une force dramatique les luttes de Saint-Etienne puis les discordes apres la mort du saint roi. II peint avec une reelle maitrise la cour chevaleresque des Árpád, puis l'histoire des Anjou jusqu' au roi Louis le Grand. Son héros préféré reste cependant Saint Ladisias, le roi-chevalier. cet idéal des chevaliers hongrois du moyen äge. Le peintre des miniatures de la Chronique — probablement Nicolas Meggyesi, l'un des peintres attitrés de Louis le Grand — illustre d'une maniere. congéniale les événements de la Chronique. Son style montre qu'il doit beaucoup aux ateliers des miniaturistes italiens, tout comme il connait excellemment la vie honsrroise de son époque. II représente fidelement les costumes hongrois et étrangers de son temps, et meme quelques scenes légendaires ignorées par l'auteur de la Chronique. Dezső Dercsényi LES TRÉSORS VOLÉS DE L'EGLISE DE NOTRE DAME L'áge d'or de la ville de Budapest a été le moyen age tardif. C'est sous le r^gne de la maison d'Anjou qu'elle commence ä se distinguer parmi les autres villes bongroises. A l'épocrue du roi Sigismond, eile est la ville de résidence du Saint Empire allemand, elle gagne en signification non seulement nationale, mais européenne et devient le centre spirituel, commercial, politique et artistique de l'Europe Centrale. Elle gardera cette belle position jusqu' au XVIе siecle. C'est la conquéte turque qui détruit sa splendeur et ses monuments. Pour apprécier ä sa valeur l'importance historique d'une ville, l'historien d'art moderne dóit résoudre bien des problemes de méthode fondés sur les chartes anciennes, Ies descriptions et l'analvse de meme que la comparaison des monuments disperses on entierement détruits. C'est dans le domaine de l'orfévrerie cpie la táche est la nlus difficile, puisque les monuments de Bude appartenant ä cet art ont été détruits ou disperses. Nous connaissons seulement deux calices qui, par une voie romanesque, sönt revenue á leur endroit d'orisnne, ä savoir dans le trésor de la premifere église de Bude, celle consacrée ä Notre Dame. Ces oeuvres d'art n'ont pas sur vécn au dernier errand cataclvsme historique, c'est ä dire au si£ge de Bude. Les troupes allemandes qui »défendaient« la ville avaient dépouillé cette église et fait disparaítre ainsi les demiers restes du grand trésor de Bude. Leur destin est svmbolique: ils ont été détruits par les 140