Bust of Lajos Kossuth

The patriotic public of the town of Dobsina r. t. followed with keen attention from the beginning the great national movement, which had the beautiful and patriotic goal of perpetuating the name and memory of Lajos Kossuth in the form of statues in Hungarian towns and villages. Especially in the first years of this century, Hungarian society became a real competition and the towns and wealthier villages erected and unveiled the Kossuth statues one after another. Naturally, the enthusiastic and patriotic public of the town of Dobsina could not remain out of this movement and their desire to have a statue of Kossuth adorn one of the most suitable squares of the small town was always expressed more strongly. Thus, in the autumn of 1906, the town authorities, as the most competent social factor, joined hands with the leadership of the churches, the two Casinos, and the teaching staff of the state civil schools, and started the work of construction. The statue committee was formed under the chairmanship of Hanvay J. Ede, the civil school director, and called on the city's willing public to donate, because the common wish was that the statue would be created not by the town itself, but by the willingness of the population to sacrifice. It is true that the statue might have been smaller in size, but the opinion was that its moral value would be greater this way. Following the call, the cheerful donation began and soon achieved such a result that the sculpture committee invited our sculptor Ede Horvay to create the statue, who, yielding to the call, created the smaller bust in the spring of 1907. The committee set the unveiling for June 16, 1907, along with the following invitation: ; ; INVITATION. ; The public of the town of Dobsina r. t. has erected a statue in memory of Lajos Kossuth, the recipient is respectfully invited to the ceremonial unveiling to be held on June 16, 1907 at 9:30 a.m. ; In Dobsina, May 27, 1907 ; The sculpture committee. ; ; Order: ; 1. Gathering at 9 a.m. in the halls of the Casino Association and from there at 9 1/4 p.m. march to the statue. ; 2. Anthem. Sung by the Dobsina occasional choir, ; 3. The celebration will be opened by: Viktor Poputh. ; 4. A celebratory speech will be given by: József Jakab. ; 5. The statue will be accepted on behalf of the city's public by: Dr. Sándor Csermák, mayor. ; 6. Victory song. Sung by the chorister of the Ózd factory workers' reading association. ; 7. Festive ode. Written and recited by: László Szombathy. ; 8. Spring has passed... Sung by the Dobsina occasional choir. ; 9. Wreath-laying of the statue. ; 10. Rákóczi march. The choristers of the Ózd factory workers' reading association sing, accompanied by the association's orchestra. ; ; The big day, the statue unveiling ceremony, was preceded by feverish preparations. The joy and enthusiasm expressed by the population is indescribable. Everyone's desire and aspiration was for that day to be memorable in the life of the city for all time. The enthusiasm reached its peak especially when we heard that Ferenc Kossuth and Tivadar Kossuth would appear in person at the ceremony, accompanied by a large number of representatives of political and public life. The statue committee was constantly at work for days and did everything to ensure that the ceremony would be worthy of the unparalleled enthusiasm of the city's population, but also worthy of the tradition, of which it had always been a loyal follower. Finally, the big day arrived. The entire city was dressed in flags and flowers. The houses were decorated with flags, flowers, green branches, and carpets, as if to express that everyone had a great holiday on this day. Even nature celebrated with us: not a single cloud was visible in the blue sky, everything was embraced and kissed by the spring sunshine. The city was already on its feet in the early morning hours, dressed in festive clothes, with festive feelings and moods, people walked the squares and streets, waiting for the train and the arrival of the guests. It must have been around nine o'clock when cheers from the station signaled the arrival of the guests. A few minutes later, the long line of carriages turned onto the main street, then stopped in front of the town hall, where a short brunch awaited the passengers and the illustrious guests. The chorale and orchestra of the Ózd factory workers also arrived to brighten up the celebration and delight the celebrants with their art. The Zrínyi rescue team in uniform conquered the population of Dobsina with their mere appearance, and with their artistic performance they left an unforgettable memory behind them and took home the grateful respect of the city. ; The unveiling ceremony began at the exact time indicated by the invitation and its course took place according to the indicated order. After the ceremonial speech, Ferenc Kossuth addressed a few words to the gathered people and thanked the enthusiastic audience of the city for their Hungarianness, their pure, holy patriotism. After the ceremony, Ferenc Kossuth, his brother and his entourage, set out for the Dobsina ice cave and several of the city's residents joined the procession. After visiting the cave, there was also a luncheon. Those who stayed inside gathered in the large hall of the city restaurant for a midday meal. The Ózd choir was also with us and we enjoyed their beautiful songs until the afternoon train left. Naturally, there was no shortage of toasts either there or here. At 8 o'clock in the evening there was a dance party in the large hall of the town restaurant, which only ended at breakfast. The statue, by the decision of the committee, was placed next to the end of the Kossuth promenade facing the town hall, in the most beautiful and suitable area. Our distinguished guests took their seats in the tent erected near the statue during the unveiling, while the audience watched the ceremony from the tribune erected next to the town hall. ; ; Here is a brief history and description of the erection and unveiling of the Kossuth statue in Dobsina. This celebration was memorable, if only because it was the only Kossuth statue in the country, at the unveiling of which both of Lajos Kossuth's sons were present. Even from these simple lines, the pure, holy patriotism of the "Buléner" people, partly foreign in language but similar in feeling to the Kuruc Hungarians, shines forth, exalts. When now, from the Kiskunság region, permeated and imbued with the spirit of Petőfi, from the homeland of the proud, defiant, strong-willed Hungarians, I return to where I myself lived for two decades, it seems to me as if the concept of patriotism, the worship of freedom, had frozen into a purer, holier, more selfless feeling there. This is proclaimed, this is also confirmed by the day when, in the miraculous heating of souls, everyone testified to their ardent Hungarianness, their love for their homeland and their loyalty to traditions. Even through the forgetful fog of years and decades, I can clearly see the group of people marching to the statue, when on the occasion of a celebration, the souls of the people of Dobsina melted there, embracing each other in the worship of the Hungarian homeland, next to the sigh-like flight of the name of our father Kossuth. ; Today the square is desolate, unmarked, where for more than a decade the beaten path of pilgrims from all dwellings led. On a horrible morning, animal savagery completed its "triumphant" work, destroying the altar of mercy. I myself saw the little statue lying there for days in the bed of the Dobs stream, I saw the wild laughter of the "victors" accompanying the tears pouring from their eyes. ; But there was a veil over the picture! The incomparable, cruel game of Fate is only paused, but it is not finished: Petőfi, the lute player of Hungarian freedom, wrote the story of the "Fallen Statue", which was returned from its bed of decay to its former place. I believe, I know that that statue will one day — and perhaps not for long — be surrounded by the halo of our rising sun on free Hungarian soil. We are preparing for the unveiling of the new statue, but we will be there! ; ; János Horvay's work was toppled by the invading Czechs on the night of June 13, 1919. After a long struggle, it was erected in Rudabánya in 1972. ; We can read about his adventurous story as follows: "In the past system, the two "brotherly" socialist mining towns were in close contact. On the occasion of Miners' Day, the Rudabánya delegation received a warm welcome in Dobsina in 1972. After the banquet, on the bank of the stream, the Hungarian delegation leader, who was relieving himself, noticed an object sticking out of the ground. When they dug it up, it turned out to be the Kossuth statue that had been knocked down by the Czechs and buried by the local Hungarians for half a century. They immediately put it in the trunk of a car and brought it across the border at night. In November 1972, the statue was already standing in front of the Rudabánya museum as a "gift from the mining town of Dobsina."