Lest We Forget - Stories To Remember - #3 Rosika, The Rose

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Harold's Old Time Radio – "Lest We Forget - Stories To Remember - #3 Rosika, The Rose" (May 23, 2026)

Overview

This episode of "Harold’s Old Time Radio" features the radio drama "Rosika, The Rose," part of the "Stories to Remember" series. The story, originally published in The Atlantic Monthly and adapted for radio, explores the tensions and transformations of immigrant life in early-20th-century America, focusing on themes of love, tradition, and the meaning of freedom across generations. Set within a Hungarian-American family, it examines the challenges of cultural assimilation versus the preservation of heritage, all told through the lens of a daughter, Rosika, navigating her family’s expectations and her own heart.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Family Tradition vs. American Freedom

• Arranged Marriages and Parental Authority:
  Papa Szabo insists his daughters should marry "the best good Hungarian farmers," refusing potential suitors who aren’t Hungarian (01:10–02:55).
• Rosika’s Desires:
  Rosika feels confused by America’s talk of freedom and questions her lack of choice in love:

  “But here in America, I am very mixed up. They talk about freedom. Is not freedom also for the young? Did you not, before the war, come here also for freedom?” (02:39, Rosika)

2. The Meeting with Icarus Xenophon

• Cross-Cultural Romance:
  Rosika meets Icarus Xenophon, a Greek confectioner, outside her business college. Their playful, tentative, and honest interaction sparks an immediate connection despite the cultural boundaries:

  “I do not see anyone like you. Like the flowers of summer.” (03:48, Icarus)
  “It was my wish to go to the academy to learn to be a lady. But my mother said – of what use as a lady? My mother wished me to go to the factory and learn to make suspenders. But my father was afraid I would fall in love with an American suspenders man.” (04:28, Rosika)

3. Sisters’ Secrets and the Complexity of Love

• Sibling Rivalries and Secret Loves:
  Rosika discovers her younger sister Piroshka’s secret romance with Pietro, an Italian tailor. Their banter highlights generational change and the desire for personal choice:

  “You think I will be an old maid like you?” (06:59, Piroshka)

• Rosika’s Own Secret Meetings:
  Rosika advances her relationship with Icarus, culminating in a clandestine marriage plan to avoid immediate family opposition (07:18–09:06).

4. The Crisis: Confrontation and Cultural Clashes

• Family and Community Shock:
  Rumors of Rosika’s romance reach Mama Szabo, prompting outrage and confusion—particularly as assumptions are challenged about Icarus’ marital status (09:47–12:14).

  • Comic misunderstanding regarding ethnic differences and language barriers, especially the mix-up between "vermin" and “wamp”:

    "You, Mr. Xenophon, you are a wump. A male wamp. I can see in your eye." (11:01, Mama Szabo)

• Confrontation at the confectionery:
  Chaotic, humorous scene with family, a policeman, and Icarus, who stands up for the universality of love and goodness:

  “All right, then, it's not the matter. Greek or Hungarian, I am bad. Ask Rosa.” (12:40, Icarus)
  “How do you like if a Greek says Hungarian, you are not good enough for me?” (12:50, Icarus)
  “That’s what I say in this country. Is everybody good enough for everybody? The Greek is the same. You tell me the Greek is not good enough, then somebody else can say to you, you're not good enough.” (12:56, Icarus)

5. Resolution: Acceptance and New Beginnings

• A Voice of Reason:
  The Irish policeman reflects on the folly of ethnic prejudice, urging the family to see past origins:

  “It looks to me like you can't live with each other that way in this country or anyplace else. Your daughter's got a husband. And even if your name's Whatsit and his or Xenophon, well, it looks like the husband and the wife satisfied, don't it, Mama?” (13:07, Policeman)

• Family Reconciliation:
  Mama is moved to accept her daughter’s marriage, sharing a heartfelt, tearful moment:

  “Well, where is he? I can't see with water in the eyes.” (13:37, Mama Szabo)

• Hint at More Change:
  The episode closes with the implication that further generational transformation is inevitable, as Piroshka’s Italian beau Pietro is spotted at church (14:33).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rosika’s Declaration of Confusion and Longing for Freedom:

  “But here in America, I am very mixed up. They talk about freedom. Is not freedom also for the young?” — Rosika Szabo (02:39)

• Comic Exchange over Cultural Traditions:

  “Hungarian girls do not fall in love until after the wedding.” — Mama Szabo (02:08)

• The Wisdom of the Policeman:

  “I know how it makes me sore when somebody looks down his nose at the Irish. And then sometimes I forget and turn around and I do the same thing to somebody else.” (13:07)

• Climax: Mama’s Tears and Acceptance:

  “Well, where is he? I can't see with water in the eyes.” — Mama Szabo (13:37)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:10–02:55 — Family's expectations & Rosika's struggle for choice
• 03:34–05:47 — First meeting between Rosika and Icarus Xenophon
• 06:04–07:12 — Rosika and Piroshka’s heart-to-heart about secret loves
• 07:18–09:06 — Rosika and Icarus’s mutual confession and secret marriage plan
• 09:47–12:14 — Family crisis and confrontation at the confectionery shop
• 12:33–13:37 — Icarus’ speech, policeman’s mediation, and family resolution
• 14:33–End — Epilogue and hints of further generational change

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Storytelling Style & Tone

• The episode blends sincere emotional tension with warm, gentle humor, capturing the charm and wit of old-time radio drama.
• Voices reflect a rich blend of ethnic accents and linguistic quirks, reinforcing the authenticity of immigrant life and generational misunderstandings.
• The narrative never feels heavy-handed, resolving deep themes of identity and belonging with a light, universal touch.

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Conclusion

"Lest We Forget: Rosika the Rose" is a heartwarming, occasionally comic exploration of the immigrant American experience, echoing timeless conflicts between tradition and personal happiness. Through its vivid portrayal of family life, love, and multicultural challenges, it reminds listeners of America's promise of equal opportunity for all, regardless of origin.

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Transcript

[Liberty Mutual Agent]

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[Liberty Mutual Customer]

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[Liberty Mutual Agent]

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[Liberty Mutual Customer]

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[Liberty Mutual Agent]

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[Liberty Mutual Customer]

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[Narrator]

Stories to remember. Stories of people. Stories of human dignity and decency, told by some of America's outstanding storytellers. We present Vera's arena in a story to remember. Rosica the Rose by Claudia Cranston.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

First, there was Tony Olivario, who came to Stefan Szabo to ask for his daughter Rosica in marriage. Tony worked in a garage in town and spoke pretty good American. And Stefan Szabo said to him, the next one who wanted to marry Rosika was George Nicolette. He drove out to the Szabo farm at the edge of town one day, and Stephan Szabo said for him?

[Mr. Xenophon]

No.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Papa Szabo must be looking for real Americans for his daughters. Everybody wants an American. So when George Temple, who works at the grocery, asked to marry Rosica, Papa Szabo said no. Well, But Rozika was 19 already. She still had to speak English carefully, so as not to make mistakes. But she was becoming more and more of an American every day.

[Rosika Szabo]

I do not see, Papa, why you do not ask me about it.

[Papa Szabo]

Ask you? Are you a Hungarian daughter, are you not?

[Rosika Szabo]

Yes, Papa. But what if I'm in love with one of them?

[Mama Szabo]

Hungarian girls do not fall in love until after the wedding.

[Rosika Szabo]

Rosa.

[Mama Szabo]

When your father want to marry me, he does not ask me.

[Papa Szabo]

Although, of course, I could see in your eyes, Margaret.

[Mama Szabo]

That is another thing, Rosa. Do you love one of them?

[Rosika Szabo]

No, but I.

[Papa Szabo]

There is no but here, Rosa. My daughters, they marry the best good Hungarian farmers.

[Rosika Szabo]

I am a little tired of waiting, Papa.

[Mama Szabo]

What do you want? Any man for a husband? An Italian?

[Rosika Szabo]

French?

[Mama Szabo]

A Greek?

[Narrator]

No.

[Rosika Szabo]

But here in America, I am very mixed up. They talk about freedom. Is not freedom also for the young? Did you not, before the war come here also for freedom?

[Papa Szabo]

Freedom is freedom, Rosa. But Hungarian marries Hungarian.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

And when Papa Szabo spoke, that was the law. But it seems there's another law, a human one. And that made the trouble. One morning, Rosa walked out of the front gate and down the road toward the business college in town. Piroshka, who was 17 and also beautiful, had already gone to the button factory. And Lenka, who was already very pretty at 15, had gone to school. So Rosika was alone when she came to the business school, in front of which she saw a bright delivery wagon. And on it, in big letters, Icarus Xenophon Confectioner. And down from the small truck hopped a bronze stranger with dark and shining eyes.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Pardon me. I see you are going to the business college.

[Rosika Szabo]

The business college is just. I'm just beginning the business college.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Why does it shake so your voice? I do not will to harm you.

[Rosika Szabo]

I do not see anyone like you before.

[Icarus Xenophon]

I do not see anyone like you. Like the flowers of summer.

[Rosika Szabo]

Please, I must go to the school.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Wait. When does it finish you this school?

[Rosika Szabo]

Six months. I will wait here for six months.

[Icarus Xenophon]

No, but I've come today to the business college to recommend to me a stenographer for my business. It grows too much for me to write the letters.

[Rosika Szabo]

They grab stenographers from the sidewalk of the business college. So quick like this you?

[Icarus Xenophon]

Yes.

[Rosika Szabo]

In April I will be a stenographer.

[Icarus Xenophon]

I think the letters do not grow too much for me until April. You wish for a long time to be a stenographer?

[Rosika Szabo]

It was my wish to go to the academy to learn to be a lady. But my mother said. Of what use as a lady? My mother wished me to go to the factory and learn to make suspenders. But my father was afraid I would fall in love with an American suspenders man.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Do you fall in love Easy.

[Rosika Szabo]

I have never had a chance.

[Icarus Xenophon]

I'm glad. Do you have to go to the business college hall? Six months. In three months, two. You will be the best stenographer.

[Rosika Szabo]

I do not think in two months.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Now come to work for me now.

[Rosika Szabo]

I did not go to college yet.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Or you can finish learning on the typewriter in my sorry shop.

[Rosika Szabo]

Thank you. But please let go my hand.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Well, I found it in mine.

[Piroshka]

Who.

[Rosika Szabo]

Who are you?

[Icarus Xenophon]

See, on the delivery wagon is my name Ikarazenophon.

[Rosika Szabo]

I see, but I mean, what kind of a name?

[Icarus Xenophon]

I'm Greek.

[Rosika Szabo]

Greek?

[Icarus Xenophon]

What does it matter? What are you?

[Rosika Szabo]

I Hungarian.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Oh, I remember. From Europe. But no, I do not care.

[Rosika Szabo]

You do not care? I.

[Icarus Xenophon]

But wait. I came to this school for a stenographer. I Ikara Xenophon. And here I met you. What is your name?

[Rosika Szabo]

My name?

[Icarus Xenophon]

Tell me.

[Rosika Szabo]

My name is Rosika Zabo.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

During the week that followed, the name of Icarus Xenophon seemed To be mixed in with her stenographic lessons. Then one evening, Rosika caught up with her sister Piroshka. On the way home, there was a thick New England fog, and Rozyka didn't see Piroshka until she was close.

[Rosika Szabo]

Was that a locket you had in your hand, Piroshka?

[Piroshka]

Locket? What locket?

[Rosika Szabo]

The one you put away so quickly inside your sweater, on that red ribbon.

[Piroshka]

It is just a ribbon. And there is no locket.

[Rosika Szabo]

Let me see it.

[Piroshka]

Rosa, let go. Don't. Don't open it.

[Rosika Szabo]

Oh, this is the face of a prince.

[Piroshka]

Do you think so?

[Rosika Szabo]

Are you in love with him? Peroshka? What is his name?

[Piroshka]

Kouvades. Is his name Kouvades? He says it is Latin. It is his duke. It means. Where are you going? I will not tell you his real name yet.

[Rosika Szabo]

And if you marry him, your name will be Piroshka. Where are you going?

[Piroshka]

Oh, no.

[Rosika Szabo]

Will you marry him? Did he ask Papa yet?

[Piroshka]

No, he did not ask. And he will not.

[Rosika Szabo]

He will not. Piroshka. What is his name?

[Piroshka]

His first name is Pietro. He is a tailor in town.

[Rosika Szabo]

Piroshka In Italian.

[Piroshka]

So what? What is wrong? He is handsome and I love him. You think I will be an old maid like you?

[Rosika Szabo]

Pirozhk.

[Piroshka]

I will not listen to you or anybody walk home alone in the fog. You will remain an old maid nor die.

[Rosika Szabo]

But you cannot marry somebody who is not Icarus. Ikaros.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Rosika, I cannot wait. I came to the school, but I was too late, so I followed.

[Rosika Szabo]

Let me go. My sister's ahead. There she will see.

[Icarus Xenophon]

She's gone in the fog. Rosika, my love. I wandered in the mist too long without you. I cannot wait.

[Rosika Szabo]

I must go home. Let me go.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Rosika, my rose. Do you not love me as I love you?

[Rosika Szabo]

I, Icarus.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Shall I go? Shall I leave you?

[Rosika Szabo]

No, no.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Then do you love me too?

[Rosika Szabo]

Is love like this? Are people like this when they love?

[Icarus Xenophon]

Always like this? Everybody the same.

[Rosika Szabo]

Mama, Papa, I've got a stenographer's job already by a shop at 223 Elm

[Papa Szabo]

street and you're only a week at the business college.

[Rosika Szabo]

Yes, Papa. A shopkeeper who needs someone to write his letters. And the same time to learn to be a stenographer on this typewriter.

[Mama Szabo]

A stenographer? Of what are you?

[Rosika Szabo]

A confectionery shop, Mama.

[Piroshka]

Does it sell ice cream?

[Rosika Szabo]

Yes, Lenke. But you will please not to come around and ask for any.

[Piroshka]

Oh, will I please not Mama, if

[Rosika Szabo]

Lenka will hang around the confectionery shop and ask for ice cream, I will no longer be employed by Mr. Xenophon.

[Papa Szabo]

Xenophon? Xenophon. Is that a Turko name?

[Rosika Szabo]

A Turco name, Papa. Of course it is not a Turko name. It is Greek.

[Piroshka]

Greek? Greek, eh? Oh, Rosika.

[Rosika Szabo]

Never mind, Piroshka. I only work for him.

[Papa Szabo]

He is married. He has a wife? Rosika?

[Rosika Szabo]

Yes, yes, Papa. And very beautiful.

[Papa Szabo]

Well then, all right, it is safe to work for him.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

So a crisis passed. But with every day at the confectionary, another one approached. Until one morning.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Rosica, my rose, I love you. I cannot live without you. Marry me today and never leave me

[Rosika Szabo]

if you are loving me so much, Ikaros. Yes, but if we go to the church, my parents will know all at once.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Let us go then, to the justice of the Peace. And then you can tell them slowly. Then it will be too late for them to say no.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

So a wedding ring joined the diamond ring on a ribbon around Rosa's neck. But as for telling her parents slowly, she hadn't counted on 15 year old Lenka.

[Piroshka]

Mama. Mama. Mama.

[Mama Szabo]

Lenka. Lenka. Daughter, do not shout so.

[Piroshka]

But Mama, when I found out about Rosika.

[Mama Szabo]

Found out? What did you find out?

[Piroshka]

She kisses the Greek in the soda shop.

[Mama Szabo]

What?

[Rosika Szabo]

What?

[Mama Szabo]

Are you crazy?

[Piroshka]

No, Mama.

[Mama Szabo]

Lenkazabo. I thought. Didn't I tell you? I told you to stay away from there.

[Piroshka]

I did, Mama.

[Mama Szabo]

The people saw.

[Piroshka]

They told me. Oh, Mama. What will the beautiful Mrs. Xenophon do?

[Mama Szabo]

What will she do? What will I? Mr. Policeman, you wait here outside.

[Piroshka]

Let me go in with you, Mama.

[Mama Szabo]

No, Piroshka. First I find out if this is the truth.

[Policeman]

Your mother's got the right idea, Miss. I wouldn't want to be wrong about this myself. But of course, if your sister looks at all like you and your mother. You just leave that banana man to me. Fooling around with you or Rosa like that when he's married. Although this is the first that I knew he had a wife.

[Mama Szabo]

He's got. You wait here.

[Mr. Xenophon]

Yes, madam.

[Piroshka]

You.

[Mama Szabo]

I have come to tell the beautiful Mrs. Xenophon what you are.

[Mr. Xenophon]

Who, me? She make our lunch in the back. What? What am I?

[Mama Szabo]

You are not true to the beautiful wife.

[Mr. Xenophon]

Ay. Who tells you this? To my beautiful wife. I'm through forever.

[Mama Szabo]

Take gossamenver. No, I talk English. You, Mr. Xenophon, you are a wump. A male wamp. I can see in your eye.

[Mr. Xenophon]

You cannot see a wamp. In my eye. I'm a confectioner.

[Mama Szabo]

A womp, a wamp. Not true. To the beautiful Mrs. Xenophon.

[Mr. Xenophon]

Mama, your mom. Rosika, my rose.

[Icarus Xenophon]

Come here.

[Mama Szabo]

Tell her, Rosika, your rose. Vermin.

[Piroshka]

Wormin.

[Mama Szabo]

I say you are vermin.

[Rosika Szabo]

She means ikaroska. When she gets excited, the V and the W gets twisted.

[Mr. Xenophon]

I am not vermin with v either. With w. Policeman.

[Mama Szabo]

Piroshka.

[Rosika Szabo]

Mama. Policeman? What for?

[Mama Szabo]

Here he is, Mr. Policeman.

[Rosika Szabo]

Pinch him.

[Mr. Xenophon]

Pinch me?

[Piroshka]

Oh, Soruzika, you kiss with the Greek. Oh, you shut your mouth, Piroshka. You don't know what you love.

[Policeman]

Quiet now. Will you all be quiet so I can figure out what's going on?

[Rosika Szabo]

You be quiet so I tell what's going on.

[Piroshka]

Look.

[Rosika Szabo]

Look, Piroshka. Look, Mama.

[Piroshka]

Redding ring.

[Policeman]

Say, is there a mix up here? Are you the beautiful Mrs. Xenophon they were telling about?

[Rosika Szabo]

I myself.

[Mr. Xenophon]

Sure. What do you think, Rosika?

[Rosika Szabo]

Mama, don't cry.

[Piroshka]

She is married. Honestly.

[Rosika Szabo]

Look here. The papers. I am married in English to a Greek.

[Mama Szabo]

Rosica. To a Greek?

[Mr. Xenophon]

What is this? Look. Look at me, Mama.

[Rosika Szabo]

Look. Ikaro says look.

[Mama Szabo]

All right.

[Mr. Xenophon]

Look what way me here. Why do you say Greek like poison? What is Greek? Not a man. What do you want for a husband?

[Mama Szabo]

Hungarian.

[Mr. Xenophon]

You want a man who is honest, nice, kind, good to the wife. Every Hungarian is so, no. All right, then, it's not the matter. Greek or Hungarian, I am bad. Ask Rosa.

[Rosika Szabo]

He is good, Mama. My husband.

[Mr. Xenophon]

All right. How do you like if a Greek says hungarian, you are not good enough for me.

[Mama Szabo]

Hungarian is good enough for everybody.

[Mr. Xenophon]

All right. That's what I say in this country. Is everybody good enough for everybody? The Greek is the same. You tell me the Greek is not good enough, Then somebody else can say to you, you're not good enough.

[Policeman]

Ma', am, it's none of my business now, but if you want my two cents for it. I know how it makes me sore when somebody looks down his nose at the Irish. And then sometimes I forget and turn around and I do the same thing to somebody else. Now, it looks to me like you can't live with each other that way in this country or anyplace else. Your daughter's got a husband. And even if your name's Whatsit and his or Xenophon, well, it looks like the husband and the wife satisfied, don't it, Mama?

[Rosika Szabo]

Kiss your new son.

[Mama Szabo]

Well, where is he? I can't see with water in the eyes.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Of course, Mama had a little trouble with Papa. But there were his wife and two daughters against him, and his wife surprised him so much he hardly knew what to say. And after all, Rosika was married already. But one thing Mama and Papa did want, And they got their way at church next Sunday afternoon. And though Papa and Mama didn't know it, a certain Pietro Quo Vadis was there too, looking hopefully at their second daughter, Viroshka.

[Narrator]

Stories to Remember is a Lest We Forget presentation of the Institute for Democratic Education. It is offered as a reminder of America's promise of equal opportunity for all, regardless of color, creed, or national origin. Vera Zarina was starred in today's story Rosika the Rose by Claudia Cranston, published in the Atlantic Monthly. David Ross was the narrator. The story was adapted for radio by Jack Vancover, Directed by Earl McGill, and produced by Harold Franklin. Listen in again next week at this same time for another story to remember.

[Liberty Mutual Agent]

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[Liberty Mutual Customer]

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[Liberty Mutual Agent]

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[Liberty Mutual Agent]

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[Liberty Mutual Customer]

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[Piroshka]

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