LETTERS FROM A REVOLUTIONARY: THE IMAGE OF MEXICO AND THE
UNITED STATES IN KÁROLY LÁSZLÓ’S TRAVELOGUES
“I am one of these travelers, already an American citizen
but will never be a bad Hungarian patriot”
Balázs Venkovits
University of Debrecen, Hungary
Introduction
In order to get an overall and satisfactory understanding of the relationship between
Hungary and the countries of North America we need to consider not only historical, political
or economic relations but also the process of how various cultural texts shape the image of
everyday people about a particular region. Hungarian emigrants leaving the mother country
after losing the War of Independence in 1849 played an important role in influencing the
image of both the country they had left behind and that of their newly chosen homes. Their
writings offer a valuable source for the examination of the era, the political decisions and the
lives and thoughts of emigrants. At the same time, they provide an introduction to a new
culture and a different way of life. Several Hungarian emigrants kept diaries or sent letters
back to the mother country from foreign lands. Most of these included political, cultural,
ethnographic descriptions, drawings, comparisons between the mother country and the new
home, statistics and in many cases the interpretations of various contemporary issues and
events. These texts shaped the image of the country they were written about and certainly
influenced the ideas and attitudes of Hungarian people about a particular area. This is also
true in connection with the travelogues written by Hungarian émigrés about the United States
and Mexico in the 19th century.
These travelogues offer several possibilities for research that have not been exploited
in full so far. These texts may be studied as other types of literary narratives or as historical
writings. It may be researched whether a text is independent, trustable or authentic (Burke 519). We may discuss if the writings really describe the “new” country or are used only to
project the immigrants’ former views and ideas into the local situation. Description of social
class, the role of women, eating habits and other issues still need to be studied in more detail,
including the basis for their evaluation from the part of the writer. Researchers should also
start dealing with the non-written aspects of travelogues: drawings, sketches and photographs
accompanying the writings. A Hungarian emigrant’s, Károly László’s writings offer a perfect
resource to examine these issues and more, including life in Mexico and the United States and
an interesting relationship between the two.
Károly László: His Life and Writings
Károly László (1815-1894) was an engineer by profession who became an artillery
captain (second lieutenant according to some sources) during the Hungarian War of
Independence. “The country needed soldiers more than engineers”  as a journalist in
Vasárnapi Újság (Sunday Journal) claimed (VU 2 (1868))  and László recognized this need.
After the final defeat of the Hungarian army he had to flee the country and escaped to Turkey
with several other soldiers like József Bem. During Turkish exile he became a close friend
and secretary of Lajos Kossuth. They boarded the Mississippi together on April 12 1851 and
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arrived in New York in November later that year. Laszlo followed Kossuth everywhere
during his famous tour in the United States trying to win the support of American leaders to
revive the revolution. After unsuccessful attempts to gain support, Kossuth left the country in
1852. László stayed in the United States, started to work in New York as an engineer and
became an American citizen in 1853. Later he was assigned a job in Mexico as a landsurveyor. In cooperation with another immigrant Bódog Nemegyei he started a mahogany and
brazil (dye wood) business there. He married a creole woman (Silcz Jozefin) in 1867 and later
returned and settled in Hungary. This is where he died in 1894 (Szinnyei). A writer in
Vasárnapi Újság, introducing Károly László’s life and achievements in 1868, claimed that
“there may be a time in the future – and I believe there will be - when the history of that age
will gain lot of knowledge from him.” This is certainly true as his diary and letters contain
information that can not be obtained otherwise (see for example certain details of theTurkish
exile.)
He kept a diary of his own between 1848 and 1870. His entries make up about 1200
pages of different sizes. The descriptions offer truly valuable sources for understanding the
last months of the Revolution, Turkish exile, his stay in the United States and Mexico,
providing important data about everyday life in those countries, their traditions, ethnography,
folklore and other issues. Hungarian people of the age could also benefit from his writings
and understand more about these far away countries mainly through his letters sent to
Hungarian newspapers, mainly to Vasárnapi Újság ten years after he left the mother country.
Vasárnapi Újság was one of the most prominent papers of the era. It was among the
first, representative, high quality popular-science, encyclopedic papers of Hungary and had
been one of the major papers for several decades. It included articles from all arts and
sciences with numerous illustrations of a high standard. The editors put emphasis on the
importance of travelogues and other related writings as well (Szabolcsi 443-452). Laszlo sent
his letters to the newspaper between 1858-62, in 1866 and in 1868 (see Appendix). He wrote
letters from New York, the Niagara Falls and from various places in Mexico. As his letters
were published in VU - that had the largest number of readers of the period - his writings
reached people of different social backgrounds and we may claim that many Hungarian
people got their first impressions about Mexico and some aspects of life in the United States
from László’s letters.
“There is no gain without loss” (VU, 1 (1859)) claimed László in his first letter
referring to the need to leave the mother country after the revolution. The positive side of
emigration – according to him – was the fact that several Hungarians spread around the world
studying languages, gaining experience and through this, helping their mother country as well.
“I am one of these travellers, already an American citizen but will never be a bad Hungarian
patriot”- said László. His aim was to help Hungary and its citizens by sending information
and sharing the knowledge he had gained over the ocean. “If others do not know us – at least
let us know about the others.” (VU, 1 (1859)) He planned to write about various aspects of
life and claimed he would not write about politics. He sent descriptive reports from Mexico,
the United States and Canada adding his own ideas and judgments to the issues mentioned.
When referring to the United States he claimed that Hungarians had already known a lot about
the country, therefore he concentrated on writing about aspects of US life that had not been
detailed before (issues including corruption, natural sites, insurance, etc.) While writing about
Mexico he provided information that was mostly unknown for Hungarians of the time and he
also made his opinion about America, progress and the future of civilization clear, using ideas
of race, gender and transculturation. As we will see the descriptions of the United States and
Mexico are often connected and the special relationship between the two regions is
highlighted at several points.
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1. Picture of Károly László (VU 2 (1868))
Mexico: Ethnography, Civilization and Transculturation
László sent his Mexican letters from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec where the mainland
is the narrowest between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. This feature made the
area important from an American point of view as well as the Northern neighbor was planning
to build a road and later a railway through the region in order to shorten traveling time
between the two oceans and to carry the mail from the Eastern part of the United States to
California.i The region is described topographically and geographically, detailing the natural
and social features of the area. Gradually, through these descriptions, as well as through the
ethnographic division introduced by László later, his negative opinion of contemporary
Mexican civilization comes to the foreground. The ruins of an ancient civilization prove –
according to the Hungarian – that “centuries before there has been a more heroic, manly,
clever and diligent people living in the region as opposed to the today’s degenerate and lazy
mob.” (VU, 1(1859))
In his first letter László divided the population of the region to the following groups:
European, Creole, Mestizo, Mulatto, Zambo, Black and Indian (VU, 1(1859)). He described
the various ethnic groups in a very judgmental and harsh way. His depictions are influenced
by ideas of race when he talks about civilized and uncivilized “races” (VU 25 (1859)) and
gender when he details the feminine nature of Mexican society and the feminine behavior of
the Natives. He describes the few Europeans of the region as providing that little civilization
that can be found there. He has a very strong opinion about the Creole population
(descendants of the Spanish) and basically states that such a group “should be deleted from
the surface of the Earth.” They are described as high-flown (because of their “heritage”,
rejecting everyday jobs, etc.) and in many cases immoral (for example because of the secret
marriages between siblings.) The Creole population is described as being too feminine and the
whole country of Mexico is depicted as an (over)feminine society, a country that has never
reached manhood.
László introduced Hungarians to the other layers of society in Mexico with an even
stronger criticism. The Mestizo (people of mixed Creole and Indian ancestry) were in a kind
of middle position in society, partly because of their Creole heritage and whiter skin. The
other groups were described in an entirely negative way. The Zambo (Indian and black) “are
not intelligent, nor diligent, nor do they lead a ‘sober life.’” Indians made up the largest group
within the population as descendants of ancient tribes who went through lots of changes but
kept the “signs of their race.” They had the most detailed description in László’s letters
focusing on their appearance, eating habits, the position of women, etc. They were described
more like savages without clothes and living happily in poverty with a simple lifestyle like
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that of “wild Indians”. László had a very low opinion about this section of the population. As
he wrote: “to distract my attention from political events in Europe I write about the foolish,
sluggish Indians.” (VU, 22 (1859)) He talked about different groups and nations, detailing the
differences in appearance and customs but the author also stated: “what is common in all
cases is that they are all lazy, sluggish, ignorant, lack good manners and are superstitious.”
(VU, 22 (1859)) However, László emphasized that their “unintelligent” behavior was not due
to their nature but to the fact that they were scarcely educated. It is interesting to compare his
references of Mexican Indians with that of the Natives in the United States. The latter were
introduced more like noble savages who are clever and brave with references to their unique
myths and stories that were more or less familiar for the Hungarian readers as well. At the
same time, Mexican Indians were shown as being lazier and more coward than Americans
(VU 25 (1859)).
In the case of travelogues it is important to examine the basis on which the writer
makes his/her assumptions and creates judgments, as well as the standards that s/he uses in
evaluating a culture and its people. László compares the lifestyle and values of Mexicans to
the “standards” accepted in the United States and Europe. In deciding what is proper and what
is not he does not take the local needs and circumstances into consideration but measures
progress and civilization based on the American and European perspective that defines what
is the masculine (that is good and worthy) and civilized way of life including the polite way of
dressing, eating and celebrating. Everything that deviates from these standards is introduced
as an evidence to the uncivilized and lazy existence of Mexicans. Comparisons are made to
Hungary and the United States, the latter one being the major symbol of development and the
state that both Mexico and Hungary should reach.
László calls the attention of the reader to certain similarities between Mexico and his
native country. Extreme poverty and extreme wealth meets very often in Mexico, just like in
the Hungary of the time. The signs of class distinction are apparent in both countries
including the differences in clothing that mark both origin and class, unlike in the United
States: “In North America [that is in the United States] people dress similarly; the clothes do
not differentiate between nor do they create social classes, while in the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec, just like in Hungary people of different status and class dress differently.” (VU
9 (1859)) The same distinction is presented in the case of buildings, furniture and the number
of rooms a family has. In this respect the American “model” is introduced as the pattern to be
followed. In these writings and comparisons Hungary occupies a certain middle position
between the United States and Mexico as “a Hungarian barn is a palace compared to their [i.e.
Mexicans] homes” (VU, 9 (1859)), still it is far from the accepted standards of the United
States.
In the case of the depiction of women and their supposed social role and position
László uses the European standards again. Several details are mentioned including the
appearance of first, middle and lower class women (VU 39 (1859), their drinking and smoking
habits and other issues connected to their position within the family and society. While the
culture and social structure is described as feminine, the women are very often referred to as
being too masculine (VU 29 (1859): they are less bashful than men, many of them also drink
and smoke more. The nice women – according to László – are those who are whiter and in
many respects similar to Hungarians.
In terms of cultural change, a significant phenomenon is visible in László’s writings
when he refers to the results of the Spanish conquest. Fernando Ortiz, the Cuban
anthropologist created the term of transculturation to talk about the process of cultural change
where the conquered people choose certain aspects of the dominant culture and create a
special version of it, incorporating these elements into their own way of life. This means that
their original culture loses some of its uniqueness but it does not adopt entirely the new
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concepts of the conquerors. In the description of the everyday life of Mexican people László
mentioned several aspects that may be recognized as elements of transculturation. This is
present in his descriptions of the language used by the natives, the mixture of Spanish and
Indian languages, as well as in their celebrations and religious holidays where the celebration
of the Catholic and ancient gods intermingle (VU 2 (1861)). At the same time, the
disappearance of certain older cultural elements is also apparent. László claimed that ancient
rituals are disappearing and that in many cases the celebrations were not of “Indian type at
all.” (VU 3 (1861)).
2. László’s drawing accompanying his letter in August 1868. “Are today’s Indians really the
descendants of these great people?”
The image of Mexico for a 19th century Hungarian reader could be that of a beautiful
country and an extremely backward and uncivilized population mainly when compared to the
descriptions and image of the Northern neighbor. “The country does not go forward, nor
backward and it will never have a better future if it is not awakened by the blood of a more
lively nation. […] What a pity that this Canaan is owned by these lazy, degenerate people
who do not deserve living.” (VU 4 (1862)) So who is this more lively nation that can help
Mexico? Who is the man that can save the feminine society?
The United States: The “Man” who Brings Civilization
Mexico’s Northern neighbor is described in an entirely different fashion both in
László’s Mexican letters as well as in his writings sent from New York. The image of the
United States as a nation bringing civilization into the Mexican region is present from the first
letters on. As opposed to the lazy Mexicans, Americans are introduced as rich, diligent people
(see their “magically” growing cities) with a good taste. Americans are seen as the
representatives of real progress. Road and railway building was considered to be a major
symbol of civilization and the United States bringing these to Mexico was seen as an obvious
sign of development. This contrast in the state of the two countries appeared in several letters.
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First, the Mexican conditions were introduced with no real roads at all, and then the US plans
to build a road and a railway through the Isthmus were detailed. László claimed that with the
help of American settlers beautiful towns would be built in Mexico as well and on the rivers
there would be steamships with Californian gold instead of sleeping crocodiles. The railway
would bring lot of Americans and English into the region as a result of which the Natives
could be educated and civilized. “The wild country of our time will become the home of
civilization and abundance.” (VU, 5 (1859)) László made his opinion about the American
presence obvious. He did not only consider US help necessary but also predicted that Mexico
would be joined to the United States in the future “which is the desire of the majority in the
United States, in fact a plan that can hardly be concealed.” (VU 25(1859))
Károly László wrote about the United States with the knowledge that many people had
already read a lot about the country (unlike about Tehuantepec) mainly from earlier
descriptions of travelers and other Hungarians who have returned to the mother country. The
American letters include translations of US magazine articles, interesting news and details of
everyday life. He tried to concentrate on issues that have not been known for a usual
Hungarian. Alongside the positive features of the United States detailed above the criticism of
the country also appears in his letters. Although he did not want to write about politics he
expressed his opinion about slavery, the question of intervention in Mexico as well as the
work and problems of the Congress.
In 1855 as a result of the popularity of Vasárnapi Újság, Politikai Újdonságok
(Political News) was published as a supplement to the paper (Szabolcsi 450). This is where
László’s letter about the United States Congress was published (8 (1860)). László wanted to
write about recent and interesting issues and sent information about the work and recent
debates in the Congress. He introduced the parties and their platforms but did not provide an
entirely positive image of the political system. He discussed the corruption of officials, how
they got money and the misuse of their power. He wrote about the methods used before
elections to undermine the power of the other party and details the legal and illegal incomes
of representatives. As an example he mentioned that under every Congress about two or three
million dollars are taken from the pockets of Uncle Sam through printing and publications for
example by printing the same documents twice. As a comment on the attitude of politicians
László simply stated: “today for you, tomorrow for me.”
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3. A Map Drawn by László – He visited the Niagara Falls to prove that it still existed contrary to some
rumors in Europe. (VU 13.42 (1866))
Conclusion
Of course Hungarian people could read about life in the United States and to some
degree about Mexico before Laszlo’s writings as well, but as we have seen he provided
information and details that were new and interesting for many people. He provided valuable
information about Mexico for Hungarian readers. His letters introduced Hungarians of the
time to life in a country they had little knowledge of except for “seeing it as an Eldorado full
of gold and happiness” (VU 1 (1859)). Mexico and Central America had not been unknown
areas for Hungarian people as for example Pál Rosti had published a travel book with his
photographs, or János Xantus had written about his hunting stories in Mexico before. But it
were Laszlo’s writings that reached a wider range of people, with different backgrounds and
interests. At the same time, he provided detailed, to a certain degree scientific and
professional descriptions of culture and life that had not been available before. It is also
certain that these writings shaped the image of these regions in Hungary mainly due to the
popularity of the newspaper and the enjoyable style of László..
It is also apparent in these writings that Mexico is rarely presented on its own right, it
is evaluated mostly in comparison with the United States or more developed countries of
Europe. The priorities in terms of judging civilization in the 19th century are clear in László’s
texts. Editors of the VU were happy to publish the letters of László, who - according to the
editor “was one of those resourceful Hungarians who had been able to become successful
based on his talents and diligence under entirely different circumstances for the benefit of
himself and that of the mother country” (1 (1859)). Károly László’s letters are important
resources for the study of travel literature, as well as for the understanding of the intellectual
and cultural milieu of the 19th century.
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Bibliography
Bogati, Peter. A Mahagoni Ember. [The Mahogany Man] Budapest: Móra Ferenc
Könyvkiadó, 1986.
Burke, Peter. “Útmutatás az utazástörténet számára.” [Directions of the History of Travel]
Korall 7.26 (2006).
László, Károly. Katonai Eletembol. Naplo, 1848. szept. 25-e és 1851. szept. 10-e között. [My
Life as a Soldier. Diary between Sept. 25 1848 and Sept. 10 1851] Budapest :
Terebess Kiadó, 2001.
Nagy, Miklos Mihály. “Világlátó Magyar Katonák.” [Hungarian Soldiers around the World]
Magyar
Szemle
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13.3.
(2004).
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2008.
http://www.magyarszemle.hu/szamok/2004/3/vilaglato_magyar
Ortiz, Fernando. “Cuban Counterpoint: Tobacco and Sugar.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008.
Encyclopædia
Britannica
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June
2008
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/848843/Cuban-Counterpoint-Tobaccoand-Sugar
Szabolcsi, Miklós, ed. A Magyar Sajtó Története. [History of the Hungarian Press] Budapest:
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Electronic Document. 15. June 2008.http://mek.oszk.hu/03600/03630/html/
APPENDIX
1. Károly László’s letters sent to Vasárnapi Újság:
I. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec - 1 (1859)
II. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Continued) - 5 (1859)
III. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Continued) - 9 (1859)
IV. Minatitlan, Mexico - 22 (1859)
V. Chinameca, Mexico - 25 (1859)
VI. Traveling in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec - 29 (1859), 30 (1859)
VII. Traveling in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Continued)- 34 (1859), 35 (1859)
VIII. New York - 39 (1859)
IX. New York - 5 (1860)
X. On the United States Congress, published in Politikai Újdonságok – 8 (1860)
XI. On the State of Black Slaves - 9 (1860)
XII. Minatitlan, Mexico 33 (1860)
XIII. Vera Cruz, Mexico - 39 (1860), 40 (1860)
XIV. Minatitlan, Mexico - 2 (1861), 3 (1861), 4 (1861)
XV . Minatitlan, Mexico – 19 (1861), 20 (1861), 21 (1861)
XVI. Folk Customs in Mexico 4 (1862)
XVII. Trip to Niagara Falls - 41 (1866), 42 (1866), 43 (1866)
XVIII. Palenque Ruins in Mexico - 32 (1868), 33 (1868), 34 (1868)
i
It has also been considered as a possible route for the interoceanic canal, however, the Panama route is narrower
that made it more favorable.
8