"The Smile Inspectors"

CHAPTER IX
_{Small Double}

In 1957, a Hungarian newspaper published a satirical article about a "new national policy" that required all citizens to be happier by law. The story claimed that anyone caught frowning would be fined or sent for "happiness training." The article stated that the government had hired “smile inspectors” to ensure compliance.
The piece, a mockery of overbearing policies, was taken seriously by some readers, leading to confusion and laughter. The censors missed the satire, and the story became a hit. It remains one of Hungary’s most memorable examples of using humor to criticize authoritarianism under the Soviet regime.

Before that, in the early 20th century Budapest journalism was buzzing, mirroring its cosmopolitan spirit. Coffeehouses were the city’s unofficial newsrooms, where writers, editors, and readers mingled over newspapers like *Pesti Hírlap* or *Budapesti Napló*. Literary magazines such as *Nyugat* (The West) revolutionized Hungarian culture, publishing works from luminaries like Endre Ady and Mihály Babits. These publications reflected the city’s intellectual vibrancy, serving as a forum for debates on politics, art, and philosophy.

After World War I, Hungary’s territorial losses and political upheaval transformed its press. A sense of loss dominated the pages of newspapers, but they remained essential for shaping public opinion.

During the soviet era, Budapest’s press operated under the watchful eye of the socialist regime. However, underground *samizdat* publications flourished, offering uncensored political commentary and a taste of rebellion. And of course subtle mockery also became one of the tools to express people's discontent.

After the fall of socialism, the media landscape exploded with diversity. Budapest regained its reputation as a press capital, blending highbrow journals, tabloid scandals, and a nostalgia for its golden age of journalism, proving that the pen remained mightier than the sword. Now it's not that obviuos anymore...

+ Bath
+ Toiletries
+ Cosmetic mirror
+ Tea station
+ Drinking water
+ Dresser
+ Clothes hanger
+ Dining table
+ Working table
+ Coffee table
+ Antique furniture
+ Armchair
+ View

+ Space
+ Wi-Fi
+ Double bed 160*200
+ AC
+ Blackout curtains
+ LCD TV
+ Hairdryer
+ Minibar
+ Safebox
+ Electronic lock
+ Slippers
+ Bathrobes
+ Shower