New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
SHAUFD BY HUNGARY.


How the nations do change, to be sure! Time
was when the United States practically patron
ized Hungary That was in KOssuths day ana
after Americans sympathized with the Mag
vars in their struggle for independence, and
looked upon the TTansleithian kingdom as
something like q ledgling which it would be
kind to take under the sheltering wing of our
eagle 1t was regarded as far on lana, nall
immersed in Asatic barbarism-an inaccurate
estimate, of course but one that widely pre-
vailed and that was approved by many sup
posed authorities. a generation or even less
ago few would have named Hungary one of
the most advanced and enlightened Of lands. or
its capital as Of all cities in the world one of
the most perfectly equipped with the beauties
of art and with the devices Of civilized tnven-
ton Yet to-day such a view Of Hungary and OF
Budapest is not exaggerated. but is simple truth.
America is shamed by Hungary. Or at least
which is very much the same thing-the Amer
lean metropolis is surpassed by the Hungarian
capital We have more than once hitherto re-
marked upon Budapest's superiority TO New
York in various particulars. The former. for
example had electric street railroads. with
derground conduits, in perfect operation years
before New-Yorl ventured upon the temerarious
experiment of introducing them. We must now
contrast Budapest's underground railroad with
ours, to the disadvantage of the latter, at least
IN some OBVIOUS respects For proof OF lllS see
the account of the Hungarian subway published
in The Trfbune's Illustrated Supplement to-day.
True, the subway IN Budapest is not as extern
sive as that in New-York. But mere bigness is
not necessarily superiority. Budapest was far
ahead of New-York in point Of time. having its
road in operation before ours was begun. Far
ahead too, is 1t in point Of taste and beauty.
Our Illustration shows the attractive design OF
one of the entrance structures Of the Budapest
road and it is calculated to make every New
Yorker of taste hang his head when he con-
trasts it with the repusive looking sheds which
disfgure streets at the subway open
ings. Perhaps most striking of all, however, is
the contrast below stairs; for in the Hungarian
subway there are none of the hideous signs and
posters that make ours nightmare and q cham
Der of horrors in one. That is not because no
Magyar was enterprising enough to seek such
advertising privilege, for the railroad corpora
ton did seek it. But the application was met
with unhesitating and unanimous refusal.
In that, we say. Budapest shames New York
The reproach is deepened when we observe the
attitude OF those who should be men of light and
leading upon this subject We are told that the
head Of the subway corporation not only de-
manded the right TO make the stations hideous
with the signs which now cover their walls. but
even suggested that the stations ought to be de-
signed and constructed with a view to that end
instead or DelnS artistically decorated. they
should, he thought, be left plain and unattrac-
tive, that there would be nothing TO inter
fere with the crude screaming of the advertise
ments OF whiskey, corsets and corn cures To
crown all, or rather to get below all else the
intimation was put forward that the people OF
New-York would prefer these commercial aboln-
nations TO works Of art! Such an imputation
upon NEWCOMERS is unwarranted and often
sive. The popular standard of taste here is
considerably above the admiration of crimson
announcements of aperient waters and ochred
puffs Of patent breakfast foods. The people of
this city would appreciate tastefnI structures
and decorations along the subway just az well
as do the people Of Hungary. The responsibility
Of our degradation lies not upon the people, but
UPON those who as We have ssid. shouId ha men