SAMUEL IS NOT WANTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 8

SAMUEL IS NOT WANTED

Because He Is A Jew Denied The Right To Live Tragedy In Hungary His name is Samuel. You might suppose from his name that he is a Jew. Though that would not necessarily follow. I am Reuben, but not a Jew. And I have a cousin Levi, who is not a Jew, either. But my friend Samuel is.

He is a journalist; that is how I happen to know him. He has a doctor’s degree, three children, an enterprising wife, and many friends, I know of no one who is not fond of him. writes R. H. Markham from Budapest in the “Christian Science Monitor.”

Besides being a Jew. Dr Samuel Sandor is also a Hungarian. At least he thinks he is—or rather he thought he was. Hungarian is his mother tongue. Budapest is his home town. His family has been living there for more than one hundred years. My folks are old timers in Smith County, Kansas, but they did not settle there as long ago as that.

My friend Samuel is as much Hungarian as most other people here are. Hungary resembles the United States in that all the inhabitants are immigrants; there is no original stock The Hungarians wandered in here 1000 years ago and even when they came they were composed of two distinct groups. Certainly not many presentday Hungarians descended from that first horde or Magyar horsemen. Since then have come Slavs of several kinds, Germans, gipsies, Rumanians, Turks, and Italians, not to mention whole waves of Tartars. Bulgarians. Jazyges, Petchenegs. and Cumans. Many of these non-Magyar elements have settled within the last 200 years. They have become assimilated and together they make up the Hungarian people. Perhaps the tone is given by the Magyars, but each group has added its contribution. They have all helped make Hungary. Among the people settling here were Jews, and Samuel’s family was among them. When they came, a century ago, there were only 100 000 Jews in the whole country. Within thirty years that number had trebled, and now it is more than 500.000. My friend Samuel is somewhat different from many of his fellows. Perhaps 200.000 are in his category. The rest tend to live in a world apart. Some wear special clothes, reminiscent of Babylonians, Assyrians, or ancient Judeans. Not a few have long black beards and curls hanging down in front of their cars. Seme insist on a special diet prepared in a strictly prescribed way and live somewhat separate from the rest of the people, in quarters that are none too clean. A great many are occupied with buying and selling things and are not always honest in their dealings. Most of them are poor, but many manage to save a little money which they often lend at exorbitant interest. They look strange, live by themselves, worship according to mysterious rites, and are often hard in their dealings, so the other Hungarians have formed a special opinion of “the Jew." But this class or group or ghetto is not closed. Jews constantly move out of it, remove their beards, clip their curls, lay off their Oriental robes, settle in quarters with Christian people, and live exactly like them. My friend Samuel is one of these. His grandfather founded a book stationery store, which developed into a great concern. His father, after finishing at the university, took over the establishment, and installed a printing plant. He drew a group of idealistic young Hungarian writers about him and published their works for them. Few people in the whole land have done more to aid and promote Hungarian literature than he.

His son Samuel finished at the University and became a journalist, an able and influential editor. His wife, because of her energies, inclinations, and talents, opened a school of applied art. which has made some of the most beautiful ornaments in a city famous for its taste.

These people are among the very best of what one may call useful citizens. They are honest, paying all their bills and taxes. Their relations to one another are exemplary in a society not noted for its loyalty. Their love and care for their children is an inspiration. I like to go to their home, to see their ardor and faith, their devotion to good things, their great generosity and friendliness.

They have no hates, do no mean or shabby things, never work against you behind your back and are not proud or pretentious. And their love for Hungary is beyond all measure. This is their fatherland. They helped built it. Their family is a vital part of it. They have done more for it than 95 per cent of the other Hungarian families. Samuel lost a brother in the World War, on the front line. Hungary is Samuel’s place in the world. The only place where he "belongs.” His devotion is as unselfish and unreserved as that of any patriot in the land. But now Samuel is kicked out. Kicked out into nowhere. He is spurned, thrust away, crushed. An anti-Jew law was passed and he has been thrown into outer darkness. He is excluded from the Press Chamber, so cannot be a journalist. To be an editor and form public opinion is utterly taboo. His wife can no longer run a school. Every way to make a living is closed and locked. Furiously do the papers in Hungary denounce him. Orators rage at him in public meetings. He is held up as a monster, crook, scoundrel. Other children are taught to shun his children. All seems lost. No fatherland, no livelihood, no elemental security for three little children, no hope.

There is not even a wilderness for him, like Hagar, to wander into. And some Christians here are shouting for a still more cruel anti-Jewish law!