Evening star., 1920-02-01

EVERAL months ago every news
paper had a column on its front
IA page devoted to Bella Kun. He
was featured daily-his activities.
his words, his ambitions. He sprang
from nowhere and sunk into oblivion
after his resignation. Now he is coming
| into the public eye again as the time
draws near for his trial.
Nobody seems to know much about
| him prior to his disastrous regime as
premier, communist dictator or soviet
| leader. or whatever his official title was
| in Hungary. Few people even know
! how to pronounce his name. 1 knew
Bella Kun many years ago. In view of
!! the general ignorance regarding him, l
| feel that must be the living American
| authority on the subject. But you will
| understand when you have read this
article why 1 wish to remain anony-
nous.
Not Meant as Defense.
This is not a defense for Bella in any
Of the alleged atrocities he is supposed
to have perpetrated. for l know no more
Of his recent activities than ! have READ
in the papers. This is merely a narra-
tive of two weeks on an ocean voyage
seven years ago-and a glimpse into the
heart of Bella Kun as he was a twenty
one.
We sailed from Fiume the early part
Of September If we had guessed what
an important part this polyglot little
seaport was to play in the after-war.
we would have studied it much more
closely. But not being able to foresee
the historical interest it was TO have,
and realizing only that it was sordid
congested. hilly little place. We avoided
it as much as possible, staying at beau
tiful AbbaZia, across the water, until 1t
was time to start.
Every ship embarking from Fiume,
with its large number of Hungarian
emigrants, is required to carry Hun
garian doctor and Hungarian officer.
And the Hungarian officer on our boat
was the man marked for fame-or IN
famy-Bela. Kun.
He was a dynamic personality-all
of his five feet eight or thereabouts
radiating energy and perfect muscu-
lar harmony in development. Rather
stocky in build, he was round OF race,
and when he smiled he beamed. Every
time he passed US he would salute.
bending his whole body, and his face
would flood with sunshine. For he fell
in love-aud the girl was in our party.
He was eating dinner when he saw
her for the first time. She was just a
quiet, commonplace American girl,
not differing in any essential from the
other girls on board. But so strange
are the ways of the god Love that no
sooner did she enter the room than
Bella dropped his knife and fork and
lost his appetite. for reasons totally
unconnected with the motion of the
ship, as one might cynically infer
from the symptoms.
Numerous Courtesies Extended.
He Immediately offered every kind
of assistance to our party, and would
go out of his way to pass our steamer
chairs. always cheerful. with some
amusing little story to tell en- route.
He was exceedingly clever and spoke
seven languages f1uently. We all liked
him immensely. When We went ashore
at Naples to do some shopping. We
found him waiting at the gangplank
for our return, so that he might assist
US with our packages. Then the voy-
age began in real earnest.
Whenever it was possible Bella came
and sat with US. I can see him now
his round. rosy face crinkled into that
everlasting smile, teaching the girl
how to pronounce his name.
"Bela-Bayla-"
.Bayla," she repeated.
'Kun-Kuehhn."
"Kuehhn."
He was delighted when she learned /:
he was delighted with everything. Up
to then he had not even cared to know
any American girls. His idea Of them
was quaint, and probably founded on
the fact that he had seen only a few
tourists-young schoolgirls. with mis-
placed enthusiasm. For he said, in
his whimsical way:
You are not a proper Jankee girl;
you do not jump up and down and
clap your hands all the time"
The girl assured him that there
were many well behaved Jankee girls;
that she was in no way unusual.
Incidents Which Revealed Traits.
Just few incidents occurred which
revealed various traits in Bela's char
acter. In the first place. he always
took himself seriously. He was as
earnest as he was cheerful-two of
his greatest characteristics. One
afternoon in an officers room a man
on the ship attempted to tease him
about the girl.
What's this I hear?' he asked. jo-
viaIly, in the tone used on such oc-
casions.
what do you mean- countered
Il hear you like a little girl on this
ship"
Bella drew himself UP to his full
height-which was impressive in all
but inches: slightly pale, but tremen-
dously in earnest, he answered.:
Il 90 not ike ner-l lO1e ner.
If any Of the men wanted to laugh.
none did so, under the spell of his
glittering eye.
Bella was absolutely fearless. reck-
less, in the face of mems opinion and
Of anything that could do him physi-
cal harm. AS we were nearing AL
meria, a little Spanish port not far
from Gibraltar. one Of the men no.
ticed a rope hanging from the ship,
ending about ten feet above the ocean.
I'D like to see some one Shinny
down that" he said. laughingly.
Bella looked at it appraisingly.
That wouldn't be hard"
Huh? Well l dare you to-"
Sneered the man.
"Yo,,