Page:Heinrich Karl Schmitt - The Hungarian Revolution - tr. Matthew Phipps Shiel (1918).djvu/49

 difficulties had been made by any Party—difficulties whose consequences no one could have foreseen, because not only must they have brought with them the paralysis of the Administration, but the splitting of the energies of the labouring masses.

That the Revolution should throw up some very curious people is almost a matter of course. Some sudden idea, indeed, is enough in such times to "make" a man. Beside phenomena of importance rose others of small account, arose and at once began to go under.

I have never forgotten one incident in the War Ministry.

With all the arts of persuasion a singular individual insinuated himself again and again into the waiting-room of the Secretary of State, in which the most various sorts of people, of quite unceremonious dress and bearing, insisted on an audience. This little man who had quick-twinkling eyes, made superhuman efforts to push himself forward. Finally, he had to be listened to, and as every man in such a radical state of things may properly bring forward his capabilities and ideas, the little man plunged at once into speaking of the concrete. With a theatrical pose he struck his breast:

"I am prepared to restore order and tranquility at once in the whole country, aye, and maintain them. As a condition, I must ask for a hundred automobiles."

I asked him the modest question"

"Have you, then, purchasers for such a considerable park of motors?" to which he proudly replied: "I am no motor agent. I only want to get the motors in order to travel about the whole country, and restore order by timely interference at dangerous spots. Far from me is love of pelf. My country is in need: I stand by her!"

The irrationality of his ideas could not be made clear to him. But he did not get the motors, and I am of opinion that, in spite of his denial, the man had purchasers ready for all the hundred motors.

For the rest, he took himself off very ungraciously and ill-governed, saying repeatedly