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

1947 / Verhovay Journal

VOL. XXX.

MAY 28. 1947

51

NO. 10

Hungary’s First Lady In Pittsburgh

Mme. Tildy’s Visit In Verhovay’s Home Town A Triumph For Hungarian Nation.

Address At Relief-Banquet A Revelation Of Hungary’s Progress Toward Democratic Future

‘ Heroine of War Will Visit City” — announced the Pittsburgh Press, featuring her picture, two days before the arrival of Mme. Zoltán Tildy, wife of the President of Hungary. Describing the busy program set for her stay in Pittsburgh the report gave the following resumé of her lifehistory: '

“Mme. Tildy, the daughter of a school teacher, met Zoltán Tildy in college. He was studying to be a Protestant minister, and she was preparing to become a teacher.

After they were married, Mme. Tildy taught and kept house. In the early ’30s her husband helped to found the sniall landholders party, the only democratic opposition. When the Nazis invaded Hungary, he was sentenced to death in absentia.

Although one of her sons wap tortured by the Gestapo, Mme. Tildy retained her freedom, in hopes that she would lead the Nazis to her husband's hiding place.

But she used her liberty to act as chief liaison between the various underground organizations of her country.

After the Germans were driven from Hungary, a free election brought her husbands party into powder and he became prime minister. Later, the Rev. Tildy was elected president.”

Similar announcements appeared in the other Pittsburgh papers as well as in the press of the nearby communities.

Mme. Tildy arrived on Monday at the County Airport and was greated by the Supreme Officers of the Verhova y, officers and members of the various chapters of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., and several delegations from the surrounding communities, of which possibly the largest was the one from McKeesport, Pa. — Escorted by the police and a long cavalcade of automobiles, Hungary’s First Lady was taken to Hotel Schhenley, where Mrs. Robert D. Campbell, President of the YWCA called for her at 5:30 P.M. Mme. Tildy made her first public appearance at the Central YWCA Building where she attended the Banquet of the “Round The World Reconstruction Campaign” and addressed a great assembly of Pittsburgh’s leading ladies. Next

morning she received the press and from then on she was featured in every newspaper of the metropolitan area.

“Hungary’s First Lady Visiting Here’’, ‘ Hungary’s First Lady

Speaks At Luncheon”, “Hungary’s First Lady To Be Guest At Pitt”, “Hungary’s First Lady

Tells of Love For US and ■How- Grateful We are’ ’’ and “First

Lady of Hungary Visiting Here”

Mme. Tildy ön The Stage Of Pittsburgh’s Hungarian Home

A Hungarian village scene served as an appropriate background for Mme. Tildy’s appearance on the stage of Pittsburgh’s Hungarian Home on Tuesday, May 13th. At the moment this picture was taken, she was listening to Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz thanking her in behalf of the deeply moved audience for her stirring message. Supreme President John Bencze is seen to the left while Dr. Victor Chornoky, member of the Hungarian Parliament, editor, son-in-law of Hungary’s First Lady, and Mr. Ignác Lengyel, chairman of Chapter 2 of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., and President of the United Magyar Civic Assocation of Western Pennsylvania appear on the right. The photo was taken and developed by Dr. Adolph Biel, official photographer of the Verhovay Journal. In addition to Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz the group on the stage included Atty. Gay- Ban jacsky-Banes, President of Chapter 117 of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., Mr. Stephen Borsody and Dr. Endre Sik. Counsels of the Hungarian Legation, Washington, D. C., and District Manager Louis Cincel.

were some of the headlines indicating the importance attributed to her presence.

Her statements, made in Hungarian and translated by Dr. Ivan Nagy, secretary' of the Hungarian Legation, Washington,

D. C., were well received and given wide publicity. Thus, through her presence, the attention of the American public was focused upon the Hungarian people whose attitude, as described by Mme. Tildy with convincing sincerity, won the wholehearted admiration of the community.

Of Hungary and U. S.

Things are looking upward for war-ravaged Hungary.’ •— stated the Post Gazette — ‘Mme. Zoltán Tildy, wife of the president of the Hungarian Republic, a soft-voiced, pleasant looking woman, didn’t say it exactly' that way, but that was clearly what she meant.

“Nowhere in the wrecked

countries of the world has rebuilding taken the stride it has in Hungary” — said she — “the people work with great enthusiasm.”

Rachel Kirk of the Pittsburgh

Press quoted her as saying: “Most visitors believe that Hungary, of all European nations, is rebuilding best and in nearly all aspects of our rebuilding it was this country which gave us

the first boost. There are so

many, many reasons why we are grateful to America.”

“The gracious former school teacher — continued Miss Kirk — has a motto of action for these troubled times: ‘Don’t talk about bad things — work and act’.”

The Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph quoted Mme. Tildy as follows: “I love to be in America because I am finding something that is not present at home — trust and good will. But soon again we will have those things at home.”

Welcomed By Mayor.

Accompanied by her son-in-law, Dr. Victor Chornoky, member of the Hungarian Parliament, editor, Dr. Ivan Nagy, secretary of the Legation, Dr. Endre Sik and Stephen Bor'sody, Counsel of the Legation, the Supreme Officers of the Verhovay F. I. Association, officers of chapters 2 and 117 of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., and others, Mme. Tildy visited the City-County Building where she was welcomed to the City by the Hon. Mayor David L. Lawrence.

Luncheon ot the Twentieth Century Club.

Following the reception at the City Hall, the guests left to attend a luncheon given at the Twentieth Century Club in honor of Hungary’s First Lady, by Mrs. Ruth Crawford Mitchell, Miss Mabel Gillespie and Miss Eleanor I Kelly. Presidents of Pittsburgh’s 1 women’s organizations and women prominent in professional life attended.

Addressng the distinguished assembly, Mme. Tildy said:

“Our men are essentially what women want them to be, even though they may not be conscious of the fact. Now, after the major tragedy of the second world war, it is up to the women of every nation (o leave no doubt in the masculine mind that what we want is a permanent peace. Mothers of all nations, demanding a safe world for their children through mutual suffering, can best overcome the national and international prejudices which have been barriers to understanding between nations.

“Approached from the humanitarian angle, a strong offensive against the structures that launch a war, can prove to be the best defense in the establishment of peace.”

“Political efforts having twice ’failed, we must include a new factor in our struggle for peace — large scale cooperation of women throughout the world. Women are a tremendous force and we can succeed if we earnestly work together toward accomplishment.”

‘Mme. Tildy expressed her appreciation for American interest and ajd to Hungary since the close of the war and also lauded I the efforts of the allied leaders I trying to write peace treaties for I the betterment df nations in or- 1 der to avoid a third world conflict.’ (Pittsburgh Press.)

Presents Gobelin To I University of Pittsburgh.

A reception at the Cathedral of Learning followed, where Mme. Tildy was welcomed by the Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Samuel Gomory, chief medical adviser of the Verhovay, chairman of the Hungarian Room Committee of the Cathedral spoke in Hungarian.

As a token of Hungary’s appreciation, Mme. Tildy presented to the University of Pittsburgh a centuries old Hungarian Gobelin tapestry which was brougb to the United States for the New York World Fair. Miss Kirk of the Pittsburgh Press commented: “It, was caught here during the war and ‘interned’ on Staten Island. Over the week-end, the State and Treasury Departments sent special messengers to New York to get the centuries old work out of official hock and it was flown here last night.”

The precious tapestry will be displayed in the Hungarian Room of the Cathedral of Learning. A trip through the magnificent Cathedral and the Nationalities’ rooms followed the presentation.

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