THE MAGYAR PATRIOT

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 78

THE MAGYAR PATRIOT

AS THE INNER CIRCLE SEES HIM.

Magyar residents of New York resent the notion that gipsy music, queer drinks, and queerer food are Hungary's sole contributions to American civilisation. Those who have this notion of the Magyars rarely come in contact with them, for the true Magyar is not to be seen at his best in the show places of th« Far East side, and has no mind to make fun for idle sightseers.

It is in quiet little resorts, intensely national in character, in unpretentious local clubs, and at home that the social life of the Magyar goes on. He brings with him from Hungary to America something that the Customs inspectors never detect in Ms baggage — the racial pride for which the race is famous in Europe. It is partly this that enables the Magyars, who are rather less than nine out of 19 millions in their native land, to rule the country.

In New York, however, the Magyar relaxes a little his racial exclusiveness. Perhaps he warms least toward the German, as the representative of the most powerful race in Austria, but he accepts in good faith any decent immigrant from Hungary who loves the Fatherland and would see it great and free. Patriotism is the Magyar passion. Other nations in exile are enthusiastic for the fatherland when national anniversaries come round, but the Magyar's patriotic passion ~burns undiminished all the time. The stranger who penetrates the Magyar resorts, although far from welcome if he comes as mere sightseer, finds himself instantly a persona, grata if he shows evidence of a sincere interest in the fortunes of Hungary. A single question on the politics of the country will bring forth a torrent of explanation. Men will sit over coffee and cheese until long after business 1 should have claimed them, to make plain the tangled political conditions of Hungary. The Magyars can never forget that it was in difficulties growing out of our interest in their struggle of 1848-49 that Daniel Webster, as -Secretary of State, made to the representative of Austria the spread-eagle declaration that the dominions of the House of Hapsburg were a mere patch on the map compared with our vast area. So the Magyars are good American citizens in spite of their affection for the fatherland.

Every man of them knows by heart the story of the enthusiastic reception accorded to Kossiith more than a half-cen-tury ago by this country, and especially by this city. Portraits of Kossuth and Deak adorn the walls of the resorts, and are pointed out -with, pride to the visiting American.

Among his own, the Magyar is expansive and unsuspiciously friendly. Even at the cheap eating places the well-to-do share tables with their poorer compatriots, and it is interesting to note how many heads among the men have the fine modelling seen in the portraits of the great Hungarian patriots. To see a ragged or conspicuously illdressed man in the characteristic Magyar resorts is unusual ; but many of the guests are men to whom a 30 or 40 cent meal is the ordinary limit of luxury. Perhaps a third of the company will be prosperouslooking business or professional men. All who have been in the country for any considerable time speak English pretty well, and some come to America with a fair knowledge of the language ; in fact the Magyar tongue, which the race has tried so hard to impose upon all residents of Hungary, is spoken so little, save by those with whom it is the native speech, that the Magyars are almost forced to be linguists. The cheapness of American wines has made the Magyar of moderate means neglect the imported wines of Hungary. On national holidays, however, he is likely to indulge at dinner in one of the oddlynamed wines of his own people. Then it is that the flame of patriotism shoots high.

The appearance of a gipsy band of three or four pieces on such a night is the signal for applause, and the clinking of glasses and the patriotic airs of the band stir the crowd to wild enthusiasm.

"Ah." sighed a Magyar the other day in explaining the popularity of the gipsy music, "it is only the music of the gipsy that always touches the heart."

And so it happens that the gipsj;, too often despised at home in Hungary, has a special hold upon the affections of the expatriated Magyar. When the music sounds, amid the smoke of many cigars and the fumes of highly chiccoried coffee, he forgets all social distinctions, and sees his compatriots, rich or poor, only as a band of brothers.