Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-03
WOMEN OF HUNGARY
CALL THEM MOST
BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD.

| influence of Magyar daughters III
Public Affairs-Does Not Neg
lect Housewifery.
! From the Pilgrim.
| 1t was Carter H. Harrison, ST., former
mayor of Chicago and widely experienced
man, who in his book "A Race with the
Sum- made the remark that the handsom-
est women he had met during his trip
around the world were those of Hungary.
Almost all other travellers in the land or
| the Magyars have concurred in this view
| There is no question as to their personal
| charms, but it were really sad II beauty
| were the only fine quality that may be
attributed to the impulsive. warm-blooded
daughters of Arpad and Almos Like the
| famous wines of their native soil. they are
at once sweet and fiery-tempered, soft vet
| strong of character. A history of more
! than a thousand years in Europe has de-
| veloped hundreds of incidents which go 10
prove this assertion. and such names as
Elizabeth Hunyadi. Iona Zrinyt and many
others of equal fame. are engraved on the
| tablets of national glory.
recent occurrence at an entertainment
given by the Countess Battyani proves the
| interest and ardor displayed by Hungarian
|
! country.
During the serious controversy between
| the statesmen of Austria on the one side
| and those of Hungary on the other rela-
tive to matters which threatened entire
| disruption of the dual monarchy, one OF
the ladies present, in her patriotic zeal.
| took a valuable diamond necklace from her
| throat and offered it a gift toward
national fund The example was imme-
| diately followed by the other guests, and
| almost in less time than it takes to tell IL
d table was heaped with jewels of immense
| value.
The entertainment of the Countess Bat
| tyani was an affair at which the ladies ap-
peared in the ancient costumes OF the Hun
garian nobility, belonging to the great
| magnate families of Hungary, who par
ticipated in the notable affair.
While not taking direct part in politics
and keeping aloof from suffrage move
| ments. the women of the aristocracy exer-
| else immense influence on the affairs
| of state through the interest they take in
everything pertaining to the welfare of
| the country, and the prestige of their So
| cial position. The day for women's clubs
| for political organization has hardly
dawned in Hungary, and, with rare ex-
| ceptions. most women's societies have
either philanthropic. social. musical or
| literary purpose. Music and histriOnc art
especially appeal to the Hungarian woman
| and were 1t not for the fact that the lin
itatiOnS of language prevent universal rec
osnition such names as Blaha and score
of others would be known far outside the
borders of their own country. AS 1t is,
Etelka Gerster has carried the fame of the
Hungarian prima donna to all corners Of
the world.
Purity of the Race.
| The Magyar woman has preserved the
| purity of her race comparatively intact in
| spite of the conglomeraton of other ma
| tionalties which inhabit the kingdom. This
| is especially the case with the middle class
l nd tha Ia
shows today the same Interesting type that
! Hungarian women possessed in the time
| of the Pannonian conquest; middle-sized.
| voluptuous figures, dark. lustrous eyes;
soft black hair: fine teeth and remarkably
small hands and feet The latter charac-
! teristic may be notably observed in the
| southern part of the country, the so-called
| ''Alfold' between the Danube and Tisza.
| Although she has kept the heritance of
| her ancestress from the time when the lat
| ter accompanied the men on their war
| like excursions. and is cOmbative and a
| good hater, she is infinitely better lover.
| Inclined to Irritation in the halcyon days
| of her unmarried youth, she becomes new
| ertheless. true wife and good mother.
| Among the lower classes must be added to
these qualities those of Obedient spouse
| and equal sharer in the work of earning
the daily bread .
| Neither do the graces of intellect and
! culture. prominent characteristics of the
higher and middle classes, prevent the
| women of these divisions of society from
| being excellent housewives, and In the
| business classes. like the French women
| OF the same order, they often not only take
| but fill the places of the men.
| The Magyar woman Is not deeply relg-
| ious. She goes to church on Sunday morn
| ing and in the evening she attends the
| theater or dance. To the latter she often
| goes straight from church, after vespers,
| and in most villages there is a dancing
| place provided in the immediate vicinity
| of the sacred edifice.
h.,a han Oh tn,
! herited many little superstitions which
| sometimes influence her affairs of love and
| daily life. Among the peasantry, espe-
! clally, these superstitions are innumerable.
/ For example, the first spring rain will
! bring out all the young girls into the open
/ air for the purpose Of catching the drops
on their faces and thus obtaining beauty
| and charm of feature. The love of a man
can be gained by philters. which are, how
| ever not always concocted of harmless in
gradients. Altogether, the gypsy palm
| reader and village sorceress are important
| figures in the life of the peaSantry, and the
| first is not unwelcome even in the best
| houses when women are by themselves
| The fOndness of Hungarian women for
| amusement is inordinate, and in no coun-
| try in the world can as many women be
! seen in public places as In the land of St
Stephen. This fact is at once obvious to
| the visiting stranger, especially In Buda-
) pest, the gay capital of the country, where
women fill the numerous cafes, restau-
rants. confectionery shops, concert halls
| and theaters.
| The woman of the better classes Is en-
| dowed with excellent taste, and dresses ex-
| qusitely, If her financial circumstances al
| low her to do so. In this respect she ranks,
with her sister of Vienna, next to the Pa
risian and American woman. without. how
| ever possessing the economizing ability OF
| the first. 1t is regretable to state that the
| picturesque national costumes once COM
| monty en- vogue among peasants, bour-
| geOisie and aristocracy can at present be
| seen only on extraordinary occasions
| among the two latter classes, having given
way to the inroads Of modern fashion.
She Likes Dancing.
| AS a dancer the Hungarian woman is d.
| vine, and her stamina Is truly wonderful
night of almost uninterrupted Csardas
dances Is no special exertion for her at all
and whatsoever has seen a Hungarian
| Csardas danced in its native home knows
what this means. In the Csardas she shows
all her graces. There she tells her story