Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)

1947 / Verhovay Journal

1

RAGE 8

Verhovay Journal

FEBRUARY 26, 1947

Tl*e Truth About Hungarians In Slovakia

(Continued from page 7.)

1. You must know that that particular piece of land where the Czechs are evicting the Hungarians by force was an integral part of Hungary for over 1,000 years.

2. You must know that during these past 1,000 years the Hungarians never once atempted to expel either the Slovaks or other nationals. The Hungarians never confiscated the properties of any of their minorities. Whereas if Hungary would Jj^ve done exactly that what - the Czechs are doing now — the entire pre-Trianon (1019) Hungary would be a 100 percent Hungarian land.

3. You most know that the Slovaks and other nationals kept their own language in Hungary during these 1,000 years. They maintained their national traditions, papers, schools, literature. If it would have not been so — how could they have stayed Slovaks up until this very day?

4. You must know that this same “democratic” Slovakia Mr. McGaffin white-washes so tenderly was the first to betray it’s beloved mother-land (Czechoslovakia). She was the First to offer her allegiance to Hitler and asked him to accept Slovakia as the “protectorate” of Nazi Germany.

5. You must know that in that part of dismembered Hungary yvhieh was given to Czechoslovakia there are about 500,000 Hungarians, but in the entire Hungary there are hardly 50.000 Slovaks. How can anyone talk about ^'exchange” of nationals? How can anyone place 10 Hungarians in the home of 1 exchanged Slovak?

G. You must know that according to the cruel orders of Prague any Hungarian desiring to stay in Czechoslovakia has to declare himself Czech and take the oath of allegiance. Is this the ideal democracy of which the Mr. Mc- Gaffins are writing about when they speak of Czechoslovakia the land so dear to us, Americans?

7. You must know that this käme Czechoslovkia, the cradle of which was rocked in America and whose existence was always so close to our hearts, in Paris, during’ the recent months of agonizing “peace” conference in every controversial (Russian-Americart) question voted Against the U. S. and For Russia. Those of us who read their recent official publications are ashamed to have such friends who consistently condemn and ridicule our U. S. for the benefit of their new love: — Russia.

8. You must know, Mr. Editor, all about those unspeakable crudities and tragedies of the half-amillions beaten, jailed and persecuted Hungarians whom the Czech Government subjugated to it’s bestial treatments, because they desire to have a “Pure-Slav” State . . . What would the Czechs say if here in the U. S. the American Government would confiscate their properties, their civil liberties and kick them over the Atlantic back to Czechoslovakia.

9. You must know that there is a more peaceful, humane and Christian spirited solution to this problem of minorities, i.e., those parts which are thickly settled by the Hungarians should be given back to Hungary, where they belong by the law of History, God and Nature.

CHILDREN’S PAGE

The Three Archangels

— Hungarian Folkstale —

Of course, you remember the story of how Adam and Eve lived happily in the garden of Eden until one day Eve, tempted by the serpent, broke the commandment of the Lord God and ate from the fruit of the forbidden tree- inducing even Adam } to share in her crime. Well, the Lord certainly was disappointed and very angry at Adam and Eve, so much so that he decided that they must leave the garden of Eden. Right away he, called Archangel Gabriel and told him to go down to the garden of Eden and evict its unworthy occupants.

As Adam saw Archangel Gabriel approach from afar, he was terribly afraid. He called Eve I and tremblingly told her: “Our ; happy days are over. Look, Archangel Gabriel is coming with a j fiery stick in his hand. God had j sent him to chase us out of the garden of Eden.”

But Eve had a lot of spunk and she said: “Don’t you worry, Adam, “he is the Hungarian archangel, I know how to fix him!” With that she disappeared in the kitchen. While Adam watched the steady approach of the Archangel, he heard furious clattering of pots and pans from the kitchen, but he couldn’t imagine what Eve was up to.

He rather dreaded to meet the Archangel alone and so he was really relieved when Eve appeared at his side the moment Gabriel opened the gate. And then Adam’s eyes popped, for Eve certainly was. dressed up beautifully and she had such a warm, friendly smile for Gabriel that the poor Archangel couldn’t even find the words for the stern message with which he had been entrusted. And before he even could open his mouth. Eve spoke and her voice sounded like tiny silver bells:

“Welcome, Gabriel” — she said — “it certainly is nice of you to visit us. But you must be tired, come and sit down in the shade and eat a bite before we start talking.”

While she spoke, they arrived at the shady spot she indicated and there another surprise awaited Adam. For in no time at all she had set the table and prepared a wonderful six-course dinner and by the time Gabiiéi took his seat, she already had filled his plate. Well, they ate and ate and Eve talked a great deal about nothing and Gabriel just couldn’t help himself admiring and complimenting her upon her excellent housekeeping. Swiftly

Of Bombs and Schools..

10. Finally, you must know, Mr. Editor, that the historical truth, the American dignity and the interest of your own good paper would demand that Mr. McGaffin and the similarly uninformed or misinformed reporters should be called back from those places where they do not belong You must have other objectives and well prepared reporters who are able to give a true account, of themselves.

Sincerely yours,

(Rev.) Stephen E. Balogh Chaplain (Maj.) Res.

the afternoon passed and suddenly Gabriel realized that it was too late anyhow to arrange for Adam’s and Eve’s eviction, and so he thanked them warmly for their hospitality and returned to heaven where he said to the Lord:

“Please, send someone else to chase them out of the garden of Eden. They are such nice, friendly people, I just don’t have the heart to tell’em that they’ll have to get out.”

And so, on the next morning the Lord sent, Florian, the Rumanian archangel to the garden of Eden. Adam, however, was not afraid of him because he approached them very humbly, took off his hat and told them with a great many apologies that they’ll have to get out of the garden. Adam, as men are when they face a weaker opponent, assumed his most dignified manner and said: “It that so? Do you have a written eviction notice?”

Well, Florian didn’t and seeing that he didn’t hav^ a leg to stand on, retired in a hurry.

The Lord seeing’ that both Gabriel and Florian had failed, said: “I see, I have to send the German archangel!” He called Archangel Michael who parted immediately with a snapping salute and, in no time at all, arrived at the garden of Eden.

Seeing that this time it was the German Archangle, Adam again lost his courage and let Eve handle him. And it can’t be denied, she did a wonderful job. She was more beautiful, more charming than ever, and she laughed and sang, she admired and fed Michael while Adam never ceased filling his glass, and so they ate and drank, laughed and sang and had a wonderful time.

However, after the German Archangle ate all their food and drank all their wine and there was not even a tiny crumb left on the table, he got up and his face got real red and angry as he yelled at them:

“And now you two — get out!”

Of course, Adam and Eve couldn’t understand what got into thencharming guest and they begged him to forget about the eviction, but to no avail, for now he thundered at them:

“Get out — right now!”

Now Eve got good and mad by this time and she said:

“What’s the big idea? First you come like a tired tourist and accept our invitation, sit at our table, eat our food and drink our wine and then, when you are through, you chase us out in the wilderness. Why, tell me just one reason why we have to get out?”

And Michael, the German Archangle, looked at her with the arrogance of his race and barked:

“You must!”

And ever since, “Must” is the biggest boss in everybody’s life ...

There are moments in every boy’s (and maybe girl’s) life when he wishes a fire, a tornado or an explosion would destroy his school. Well, the school-children’s dream came true in Budapest and perhaps you will be amazed to read that they were not happy about it. When they first entered their schools after the siege was over, their eyes were filled with tears. They didn’t love school any more than you or I, but when they came face to face with the terrible destruction wrought by the ' war, they couldn’t help crying, for they realized that that wasn’t what they really had wished for. The roofs were gone, the windows were broken, the benches and books were burned. There was no light, no heat and the cold wind flew through the doorless and windowless doors and the children, clothed in rags, barefooted and hungry, shivered and cried while the shivering and crying schoolteachers tried to teach them reading' without books, writing without pencils and paper, and geography without maps. Then the clouds broke and through the holes in the ceilings the water poured into the rooms drenching the children. Many of them became ill and many of the ill may never recover.

Yet the others went back. And one day the Americans came and brought them milk, cocoa and chocolate for the first time since Hungary became a battlefield. Many of the children- had never even seen sugar and the teachers had to explain to them what chocolate was. And as the days passed, one could see more and more children in nice warm suits and lovely dresses. With gleaming eyes they explained to their friends that their parents received packages from relatives in America . . . some even got packages from unknown people .. .

Things began to look a bit better after that for many of the children, though not for all . . . But still, the schools were ruined and neither the city nor the state had money to have the necessary repairs made . . . Soon however’, the people of Budapest saw some strange things happen .* . . Instead of sitting in the cold rooms, the children and their teachers were out on the streets. But not to play, oh no They gathered bricks from the streets, and boards and usable pieces of wood and the bigger boys turned bricklayers, filling in the gaps under the guidance of their teachers . . . Oilpaper covered the gaping window's and makeshift doors replaced the burned ones.

Still, they had nothing to work with . . . And then another thing happened. For two days the whole city seemed to be full of children . . . Little 3—4 year old boys and girls and highschool kids w'alked on the streets with cardboard boxes in their frostbitten hands . . . They made a mammoth collection for w'indows and pencils, paper and books . . . The bigger boys and girls went to the stores with their paintings and drawings and there they were sold and all the money was taken to the collection centers.

The people were poor. They still are. But then nobody had

the last change out of his pockets and dropped it into the collection boxes of the little ones. These children were not begging for candy or the movies . . . they wanted to help rebuilding their bombed out schools and get hooks and pencils and paper to work with . . ,

The result was a miracle. Out of the terrible poverty of the people sufficient money was gathered to supply all the schools with the most necessary equipment. And now you can see the children proudly going to school. They love their schools because they helped rebuild them . . . They love their books for they had worked for them ... They are proud to go to school, because it is the school of their own making . . .

And now', Verhovay girls and boys, take another look at your chool . . . take another look at your books and notebooks and all the other things that are put into your hands freely . . . Don’t the children of Budapest teach us to look at everything we have with a renewed sense of gratitude and appreciation ? Or do we, too, have to lose all that is precious to us in order to be able to appreciate it?

Gold Ring Contest Corrections

Errors appearing in the lists of the Gold and Silver Ring Winners of the last contest, published in the January 20th issue of the Journal, are correcled in the following:

1. ) Mrs. Elizabeth Arch, contestant of Branch 525, Los Angeles, Calif., listed as winner of a silver ring and credited with $5,000.- insurance .written for 5 new members, is credited as corrected with the securing of 6 new members and $6,000,- insurance and awarded the GOLD RING.

2. ) The name and record of

Frank Molnár, manager of Branch 13, Trenton. N. J„ was unintentionally omitted from the official listing. Correcting this error we are pleased to announce that Manager Frank Molnár, having written $5,500,- insurance, has been awarded the SILVER RING. \

3. ) Juvenile Manager Stephen Székely of Branch 37, Chicago,

111., credited with $4,500.-, was listed among the Silver Ring winners. Upon proper proof that two additional new' members had been se ured by this contestant to another Branch, he is credited with $6,000,- and is, therefore, to receive the GOLD RING award.

Including the above, 101 contestants are to receive the Gold Ring and 64 the Silver Ring award. — Apologizing for the unintentional errors, we extend our congratulations to the successful contestants named in this announcement.

One of the singulur points about the Good Samaritan is that he doesn’t seem to have given the man who fell among I money. Yet no one could resist thieves any good advice. these children. Everyone digged

When we can’t make light of our troubles, we can keep them dark.

The tree overthrown by the storm has more branches than roots.

Love is like war: you begin when you like and leave off when you can.