Page:Heinrich Karl Schmitt - The Hungarian Revolution - tr. Matthew Phipps Shiel (1918).djvu/29

 Hungary had a King's Palace erected and embellished with fairy splendour—without a king. He was for ever in Vienna. When he came, it was the King's flag that was hoisted, the hated colours under whose sovereignty in 1848 the most atrocious tyranny was inaugurated over Hungary. What a sensation of happiness and liberation it was for every Hungarian to see the national flag

Certainly, crazy relations. But even because they were so crazy had a sane Revolution to bring reason to bear upon them.

In the afternoon 1 learned the authentic story of the "conquest" of the Municipal Gendarmerie.

The police-constable Környey and the detective Kormos went some time after midnight to the Gendarmerie. Kormos hastened into the house- exchange, and forbade the telephone-girls, appealing to their love of country, to make any telephonic connection whatever. And while the heads of the police were thus suddenly cut off from any possibility of communication among themselves or with the outer world, Környey called upon the Captain-of-gendarmerie von Sàndov to take the side of the National Council, and to hold his subordinates at the disposal of the National Council.

The Captain delayed, protestedand meantime all the officers present, with all functionaries and employés, adhered to the National Council, precisely to serve against which it was that they were being kept doing over-time. Some hours later the new régime wars a fait accompli, a new captain was appointed, and Kormos, the detective, is now Chief of Detectives, Környey has been highly, advanced, and the others who in that interval fervently espoused the cause of the National Council with great danger to themselves are in the leading positions.

Even the police were ripe for a new and humane régime, and only thus was it made possible for two persons to master the whole body.

In the afternoon hours even greater masses thronged the streets, numberless workers took holiday, speeches were made, and an agitation reigned which threatened to lead to no good