Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-03
rnE nATn or nLoop.

From proof sheetsof "The History of
Hungary" in De Puy's Kossuth and his
Generals, now in press, the Buffalo Com
extracts most thrilling tale of
romantic history,
About the year 1910, Elizabeth Batho-
ri, sister to the king of Poland, and wife
OF rich man, is an actor in the most sin.
gular and horrible tragedy mentioned in
history. She occupied the castle of Csel-
ia, in Pennsylvania, Like most other la
dies Of that period, she was surrounded
by troop of young girls, generally the
daughters of poor but noble parents VINO
lived in honorable servitude, in return for
which. their education was cared for, and
their dowry secured. Elizabeth was of
severe and cruel disposition, and her
hand maidens led no joyous life. Slight
faults are said to have been punished by
most merciless fortunes.
One day, as the lady of Csjeta was adj
mlring at a mirror, those echapms which
that faithful mirror told her Eere fast wa
ming, she gave way to that uilgovernable
temper, excited, perhaps, blythe mirrors
unwelcome hint, and struck her unoffen-
ding maid with such force as to draw
blood. AS she washed from her hands
the stain, she fancied the part which the
blood had touched grew whittier, softer,
and, as it were, younger. Imbued with
the credulity of the age, she believed she
had discovered what so many philosophers
had wasted years in seeking for. She
supposed that in virgins blood she had
found the clair vitp, the fountain of new
er-failing youth and beauty. Remorse-
less by nature, and now urged on by ire
prcssible vanity, the thought no sooner
flashed across her brain, than her resolu-
ton was taken the life of her luckless
hand maid was not to be compared with
the precious boon her death promised to
secure. Elizabeth, however, was wary as
we'll as cruel,
At the foot ofthe rock on which Csjeta
stood, was a small cottage, inhabited by
two old women, and between the cellar OF
this cottage, and the castle, was subter-
ranean passage, known to one or two per-
sous, and never used but in times of dan
ger. With the aid of these old croncs
and her steward, Elizabeth led the poor
girl through the secret passage to the
cottage, and after numbering her, bathed
in her blood. Not satisfied with the first
, essay, at different intervals, by the aid OF
these accomplices and the secret passage,
no less than three hundred maidens were
sacrificed on the alter of vanity and su,
perstition.
Several years had been occupied in this
merciess slaughter, and no suspicion OF
the truth pervaded the country at the
disappearance of SO many persons. Al
last Elizabeth led into play against her,
two passions even stronger than vanity
and cunning. Love and revenge became
interested in the discovery Of the mystic.
ry. Among the victims Of Csieta was a
beautiful virgin, who was beloved by,
and betrothed to, young man of the
neighborhood. In despair at tho loss of
his mistress, he followed her traces with
such perseverance, that, in spite of the
hitherto successful caution of the murder
css, he penetrated the bloody secrets of
the castle, and burning for revenge, flew
to Presburg, boldly accused Elizabeth
Bathori of Murder, before the Palatine, in
open court, and demanded judgement
against her. So grave charge brought
against a person ofhigh rank, demanded
the most serious attention, and the Pala-
tine undertook to investigate the affair in
person. Proceeding Immediately to Csie-
ia, before the murderess or her accompli-
ces had any idea of tho accusation, he
discovered the still warm body of young
girl, whom they had been destroying as
the Palatine approached, and had not
time to dispose of before he apprchended
them. The rank of Elizabeth mitigatcd
her punishment to Imprisonment for life,
but her assistants were burned at the
stake.
Legal documents still exist to attest
the truth of this apparently improbable
circumstance. Pagct, distinguished
English traveller, who visited Csjeta about
twenty years ago, says -" With this
tale fresh in our minds, we assembled the
long hill, gained the castle, and wandered
over its deserted ruins. The shades of
evening were just spreading over the val
ley, the bare, grey walls stood up against
the red sky, the solemn stiffness of even
ing reigned over the scene, and as two ra-
vens, which had made their nests on the
castles highest towers came towards it,
winging their heavy flight and wheeling
once round, each cawing hoarse well
come to the other, alighted on their favo-
rite turrct, could have fancied them the
spirits of the two crones condemned to
haunt the scene of their former crimes,
while their Internal mistress was cursed
by some more wretched doom.
STRENGTH OF THE WILL.
1t has been the belief Of a 1arra clasa