It may be time to de-tangle a few myths, or legends, or assumptions – which is mostly what you do, when neck-deep in genealogical research. It’s possible we all assumed all our Hungarian ancestors wanted to go to America. Most Americans assume this is true for everyone on earth.
Perhaps it’s not.
When I marvel at how Jeno (later to become Eugene) was the only one who ventured outside his native city of Budapest, and admire how he forged a new path, I am forgetting another legend which I recall from stories told by my parents.
Jeno was the youngest of seven. He developed a fondness that turned into a weakness for gambling. The family had some middle class money and were not struggling, since his dad Leopold was a stockbroker, trader and banker, throughout his career.
Rumour further suggested that Jeno as a young adult was likeable and sweet, and also slightly lazy, living at his parents’ home, not particularly working at a career or even employment, enjoying himself, developing his lifelong enthusiasm for gambling, and allegedly also for partying in various senses of that word.
Legend suggests that his parents thought he might do better if they shoved him off to New York, where he’d have to grow up and work.
They helped with money to set up the bar business, some of which he gambled away. So, I do not know if parental support immediately continued or not, but I think it was phased out, once and for all.
So, whenever I assume that he was a big brave hero who strode into the great unknown, maybe I need to remind myself that it’s possible they lovingly but firmly booted him out.
These are all rumours, by the way.
Research continues.
0 comments
No comments yet