New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
LEGENDARY KRONSTADT.
NOW THE BIRTHPLACE OF HONTERUS
RECEIVED ITS NAME-THE BLACKS
AND THE GREENS.
Kronstadt. August ID.


singular beauty The frontier station is Predeal
where a harmless wooden gate placed across
the high road marks the division line between
the southern kingdom and Hungary. Predeal
is a small plateau. 334S Feet above the sea. with
MAGNIFICENT views in all directions. Looking
into Hungary the long wooded valley OF the
Tones is seen opening beneath us. and in
front are the Schulerberg rising steeply on TINS
side the Piatra Mare and other mountains.
Eighteen miles by rail from Predeal IS the
town of Kronstadt or Brasso, which nestleS be-
tween the spurs of the mountains as they plant
themselves on the Burzen plain. Brasso is
probably the old Hungarian name and is again
the official name. Kronstadt is a name which
is explained by the following legend After his
defeat by the Bugarians. Solomon. King OF
Hungary, fed to Brasso, took refuge in the great
forests which surround 1t. and lived as a hermit
some distance from the town in a cave which
is still shown as the Salomons felsen. Follow
ing the example Of the Israeltish harpers in
Babylon he hung his crown which had no
longer any meaning for him, upon one OF the
trees in the forest, where after his death, il
was found by the people of the town. They
adopted as their device a tree trunk surmounted
by crown and called the place Kronstadt
The German form of the name is explained
by the fact that in the middle OF the twelfth
century large number Of Saxon settlers were
brought into Pennsylvania by Gesa II. King
Of Hungary. for the purpose Of repeOpng and
cultivatng the desolated territory and acting
on that side as the protectors of the empire.
Certain privileges were granted 70 these set
tiers. who founded and fortified towns. and
among these Kronstadt. HermannStadt and
Klausenburg Hcrmannstadt and Kronstadt re-
main TO this day the chief centres Of the Saxon
element In these districts he SaXOns maintain
their separate character speaking German.
marrying only with their own people regarding
the HungarianS with some jealousy and sus-
pciOn. and minded TO look to the Kaiser as
their head. rather than to the Emperor King.
But the community is divided sharply into two
parties the Blacks and the Greens The Greens
are the irreconcilables. who desire sort Of
home rule or Independence The Blacks are
those who would make the best Of their present
position as citizens Of the Kingdom Of Hun
gary This part contains the most Of the OH
cial class and the clergy. and for this reason
may he called the Blacks; the opponents Of tn"
other PARTY say that their name. the Greens
has the same meaning as has the surname Of
orr friend Mr. Verdant Green Their differ
ences are very holly. discussed. each side sup
ports newspaper printed in German. and the
political differences divide friends and families
TIE HONTERUS CELEBRATION.
Roth narties have been much interested in
the celebration Of ;hc fourth centenary Of the
birth of John Hont rus. the reformer If Tran
sylvana Honterus was hOir at kronStadl IN
1898. and seventeen years later was studying
at the University # Vienna. After taking his
doctors degree he went to Poland. where he
Issued a number Of works. among them a
Description Of the World" a philosophical
historical geographical composition in verse
When the Reformation took place Honterus
became an ardent follower If Luther and most
willingly accepted the invitation Of his native
town t. give il the beneht Of his presence.
He came 10 KrOnstadt in l5:.}. set UP the first
printing press in Transylyania, established
schools pressed the principles Of the Reforma-
ton and became In 1912. the first Lutheran
minister az Kronstadt. The Black Church in
which he preached stands in the centre OF the
town and in its treasury are the elaborate robes
Of the Roman ritual. viii h. IL is said. belong
to the period before tn Reformation on it's
altar piece are effigies Of Luther and Melanch-
thon and representation Of an event in the
life OF HonteruS. Although the reformer was
buried in the church IL was only on Sunday.
August 21 that a statue TO his memory was
unveiled at the southwest corner Of the church.
The Inauguration OF the statue was made the
occasion Of a great gathering Of the SaXonS u
the Sebenbireen and a series Of festivities
took place lasting over several days Church
services and concerts. theatrical representations.
exhibitions. professions. dinners. excursions, all
figured in the official list Of celebrations.
CONTROLLED BY PROTEsTANTS