Fraternity-Testvériség, 1958 (36. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1958-08-01 / 8. szám
12 FRATERNITY OUR PEOPLE Hopeful in trouble, valiant through strife, United we stand in home and church life; Nature has made us happy and gay — Gay as the music the cziganys all play. Aiming to high things, forward we stride, Rich in tradition and native pride. Idealistic, we strive toward the best, Awakened to duty, we labor with zest; Never forgetting, preserving with care, Sweet Magyar heritage forever and e’er. BETTY MARTIN KUBIK TAMAS SZABÓ: BOY ON THE ROOFTOP (Boston: Atlantic-Little, Brown — $3.75) This is a fast-reading, exciting story of the personal experiences of a young school boy, who at the age of 15 finds himself taking on a man’s responsibilities during the Hungarian revolution of October, 1956. It seems almost from one moment to the next that Tamas Szabó learns to use a gun, is made leader of a group of schoolmates, about 30 in all, and is ordered to take possesion of the telephone exchange, then to mount guard over various sectors of the city, only to find himself and his young friends in the midst of horror, fighting and bloodshed. At one time, when the shooting is at its worst, young Tamas takes protection under the body of his dead friend. He is not alone in bravery and fervent desire to free his country from the Communists, but tells of the unity and “perfect understanding” that exists among the Freedom Fighters with one goal in mind — freedom for Hungary. After a false promise of peace and surrendering their arms, the young men and women are hurtled together in a “cattle car” to await deportation to Russia and more possibly, death. Some of the young students manage to escape and young Tamas with three of his buddies finally make the Austrian border, and then the realization dawns on Tamas that he is terribly alone, probably never to see his beloved family again, never to attend his school or see his schoolmates. As young Tamas and his buddies raise their hands in farewell to their country they clasp each other’s hands to swear a solemn oath: “We promise that whatever happens we will never forget our country and in the free world we will fight for liberty with all our strength. Whatever fate has in store for us, we will remain Hungarian, and as soon as it is possible to take up the struggle again within our country, we shall return.” The easy-reading translation is by David Hughes. A. O. K.
