A Magical Fountain on the Főtér

“The Magical Fountain for Children” Album was first begun in 2008 and later in 2012, additional images were added to my collection here. My purpose was to catch the children of Szombathely totally immersed in the activity of the water jets shooting upward in an unpredictable manner which always seems to change in its sequences of activity.

To capture the children, as they themselves were indeed captured by the fountains activity, I sat some distance away on a bench under a tree that provided shade on those hot afternoons in late August. Their names and ages are unknown, but the innocence of their faces and the hypnotic nature of their attention to the water shooting about, re-confirms my faith in all of humanity and at some later date, these children will return again then as adults, and bring their children to this same fountain with fond memories.

Towering above the city are the two majestic bell towers of the great cathedral. Heavily damaged in 1945, they now stand again as two great sentinels in the sky at 62.5 meters or 205 ft. Overlooking the cathedral square just below, it's a short one minute walk to the Main Square or Főtér. Upon entering the great Plaza, in prominent view, a Great Magical Fountain appears.

A fully active fountain in the late afternoon. It was indeed rare not to see children about, as this is the "Main Attraction" on a warm and sunny day. Note the two sculptures and the one at the right on the tall column that is looking directly at the building that is featured in another album on this site known, in the late 30's and early 40's, as the Hangya Co-Op Building. In my last visit to Szombathely, I was also invited to view the Főtér from the vantage point of an upper floor apartment and photograph the Főtér from the perspective high above. See the “Postcard Album” on this website.

At the fountain’s rim caught by camera late in the afternoon with only one visitor. The dancing waters have several versions of intensity and display. Always moving and splashing, the fountain becomes a magical moment for the children of the city and to all of the visitors who come to the Szombathely Főtér.

Going further into the cup using the blue straw that she has been holding, our subject now digs deeper into her treat, while the dancing waters take a "lowly" second position in her immediate interest. Someone once said: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

This beautiful young lady with dark eyes and reddish hair in the late afternoon sun of September 2012, now savoring her a “sweetie” while watching the "Dancing Waters" of the fountain before her. Her thoughts I think are surely divided between the delicious nature of her treat and the movement of the magical waters just before her.

The Magical Moment continues on for all who are young of heart.

Still savoring her sweetie in a cup, she is unaware of a new arrival just a short distance away who is also in awe of the dancing waters. See the next image.

A blond and blue-eyed tot claps his hands in approval of the activity going on with the waters dancing at the fountain. How pleased could one be at the spectacular show now taking place before him?

At even an early age, this young man is totally struck by the activity going on before him. He points with his finger and is held in a totally engrossed state at the magnetic dancing spectaculars of the water’s movement.

Grandma gathers her beloved Grandson up into her arms, while he is still transfixed on the magical waters dancing behind them.

Can there be anything more moving than in the expression of her Love, than that of the love of this grandmother for her first-born grandson? Her smile of great affection explodes upon us, with all sincerity, and her love for him now radiates outward from her face into our hearts and minds instantly, so we too are drawn into sharing this private moment with them. "Thank you Grandma" for this wonderful moment.

A young man so deep in reflection at this moment, is lost even to his dad next to him. So serious is his nature that I am sure he will someday travel off to a university to train and become a Doctor, or perhaps deciding to be become a Researcher in a field of science. And, then just maybe, he might receive a "Calling" and enter a seminary to become a fine Priest.

Two young men together but perhaps not knowing each other. The chap at the right is very dramatic in his pose, while to the left, just a great guy with his walking stick, to hang out with. My best prediction for the chap in the green shirt, is that he is bound for the theater and a life of acting in great roles from Shakespeare on stages all around the world, while the young man with the walking stick, will need a little more time.

A young lady plying her great sense of balance although not on a tight wire hundreds of feet in the air over a waterfall like Niagara Falls at the boarder with Canada.

A young man being held by his father is fully engaged on the jets of water shooting skyward in front of him. I am sure that this young lad will return time and time again to visit these Magical Waters on the Fotér.

The face of our Shakespearean actor from (page #14), between the shooting streams of water. I am sure that the water is well filtered and maintained and often replenished for the enjoyment of all who visit. Let us hear a loud "shout out" for the city crews in Szombathely.

"Look Ma." I can touch the water jets and still keep my ice cream cone (now half gone), from falling into the water. Quite an impressive accomplishment "young lady.”

Often great actresses, fashion designers and models visit the "Dancing Waters" when their schedules allow. I am sure that this young lady has come today to visit at these waters, from Paris,or perhaps London, or even New York, and next year you will be able to buy the same outfit in a local designer shop in Szombathely.

This gorgeous young lady with blond hair and eagle eyes, is framed by the water jets shooting upward and its frozen droplets are like diamonds seem to be suspended in the air above the fountain’s basin.

In my reviewing the images of these children, I was reminded of my early Sunday School years (cir. 1945 - Chicago). We often sang a hymn in Sunday School Class and the words and melody have been burned into my memory for a lifetime, but it is not often sung now. These beautiful images of the Szombathely children brought back again to me this beautiful hymn from that early impressionable period of my life.

"I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true,who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew. And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green: they were all of them saints of God

and I mean, God helping me to be one too."

"They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and this love made them strong; and they followed the right, for Jesus' sake, the whole of their good lives long. And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast; and there's not any reason - no not the least, why I shouldn't be one too."

"They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds and thousands still, the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus' will. You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops or at tea, for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too."

The music: "Grand Isle" by John Henry Hopkins, 1861. The words: "I sing a Song of the Saints of God" by Lesbia Scott, 1898.Published in 1929. A version of this hymn can be found on YouTube

You'd scarce expect one of my age. To speak in public on the stage; And if I chance to fall below Demosthenes or Cicero, Don't view me with a critic's eye, But pass my imperfections by. Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow. (a.)

David Everett (1770-1813) (a.) This Line attributed to Lewis Duncombe.

The fountain, sculptures and dancing waters were completed just a few years ago. Designed as a refreshing spot on the Főtér for senior citizens who could sit on benches, watching the fountain while under the shade trees on long hot summer days. Well, this original purpose for “Seniors” lasted about one hour and thirty minutes on the first day of operation and the news by then had traveled to every youngster in the City of Szombathely.

Within moments, one became two, which then became three, and the Seniors soon realized that this was a long lost secret and the original purpose for this fountain was now lost forever to the children.

By the end of the first day, the children had staked out a claim to this new edition to the Főtér and from that very time this has become "Kids Territory". The benches under the trees are still reserved for us older folks, but the fountain has been surrendered to the kids forever.

Security at the fountain is maintained by police with red hoodies on motor bikes, so you do not want to break the law or get out-of-hand. You may receive a ticket or just a warning from him and be banned from sitting on the benches under the trees, or reaching out and touch the shooting water.

I think that this young man is the City Engineer who is in charge of the fountain. He seems to be very intent on studying the fountain’s activity. He knows without any plans or schematics, the precise timing of the dancing waters and is studying the movement of the waters for unusual activity.

Thanks Mom, for the refreshment. It's been a real hot day around the Dancing Waters, but I think that everything is working correctly and the water jets are right on cue.

Talk not of wasted affection! affection never was wasted;If it enrich not the heart of another,its waters, returning back to their springs, like the rain,shall fill them full of refreshment:That which the fountain sends forth returns again to the fountain.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)"Evangeline" (1847)

The Evolution of Fathers:...Fathers who teach their sons, who some day will become Fathers who will teach their sons,who will then become Fathers again until the end of time.

“Truth is the nursing mother of genius. No man can be absolutely true to himself, eschewing cant, compromise, servile imitation, and complaisance, without becoming original for there is in every creature a fountain of life which, if not choked back by stones and other dead rubbish, will create a fresh atmosphere, and bring to life fresh beauty.”Margaret Fuller (Ossoli) (1810-1850)In the New York Tribune (1846)"