Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-05-06

~ VI hungary III DO T w hOoo1An ~
his Generals" now in the Press, the
Buffalo Commercial extracts a most
thrilling taIe Of romantic history:
"About the year l71O, Elizabeth ba,
thori, sister to the king of Poland, and
wife of a rich and powerful Hungarian
magnate, was the principal actor in the
most singular and horrible tragedy men,
toned in history. She occupied the
castle of CseTa, Transylvania. Like
most other ladies Of that period, she was
surrounded by troop of young girls,
generallYrhe daughters of poor but noble
parents, who lived in honorable servi-
tude; in return for which, their educa-
ton was cared for, and their dowry Sc
cured. Elizabeth was Of a severe and
cruel disposition, and her hand-maidens
had no joyous life. Slight faults are
said 10 have been punished by most mer-
ciless tortures.
One day, as the lady of Csejta was
admiring at the mirror those charms
which that faithful monitor told her were
fast waning, she gave way to her ungov-
ernable temper. excited. perhaps, by the
mirrors nnwelcomed hint. and struck
her uDofending maid with such force in
the face 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 cre-
dulity 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 elirir rita, the fountain of
never failing youth and beauty.
Remorseless by nature, and low
urged on by irresistible vanity, the
thought no sooner flashed across her
brain than her reso ution was taken; the
life of her luckless handmade was not TO
be compared with the precious boon her
death promised to secure. Elizabeth,
however, was wary as well as cruel
At the foot Of the rock on which Csejta
stood, was a small cottage, inhabited by
two old women; and between the cellar
Of this cottage and the castle, was sub
terranean passage, known only TO one
or two persons, and never used but in
time of danger. With the aid OF these
old c.ones and her steward. Elizabeth
led the poor girl through the secret pas
sage to the cottage, and after murder
ing her, bathed in her blood. Not sat-
isfied with the first essay, at different
intervals, by the aid of these accompli-
ces, and the secret passage, no less than
three hundred maidens were sacrificed
on the altar of vanity and superstition.
Several years had been occupied
in this pityIess slaughter, and no
suspicion Of the truth was excited,
though the greatest amazement per-
vaded the country at the disappear
ance ol so many persons. AT last,
however, Elizabeth called into play
against her two passions even
stronger than vanity and cunning.
Love and revenge became interested
in the discovery OF the mystery.
Among the victims of Csejta was
beautiful virgin, who was beloved
by, and betrothed 10 a young man in
the neighborhood. In despair at the
loss Of his mistress, he followed her
traces with such perseverance, that
in spite Of the hitherto successful
caution Of the murderess, he penetra-
ted the bloody secrets OF the castle,
and burning fo- revenge, flew TO
Presburgh, boldly accused Elizabeth
Bathori OF murder, before the PaIa-
tine, in open court, and demanded
judgment against her. So grave an
accusation, brought against a person
of such high rank, demanded the
most serious attention, and the Pala
tine undertook to investigate the
affair in person. Proceeding imme-
diately 10 Csejta, before the murder.
ess or her acconplices had any idea
of the accusation, he discovered the
still warm body Of a young girl,
whom they had been destroying as
the Palatine approached, and had not
time TO dispose of before he appre.
hended them. The rank OF Elizabeth
mitigated her punishment to impris-
onment for life, but her assistants
were burned at the stake.
Legal documents still exist TO attest
the truth Of this apparently improba-
bic circumstance. Paget, a disiin-
guished English traveller, who visited
Csej:a about twenty years ago, says:
"With this tale fresh in our minds
we ascend the long hill. gained The
castle, and wander over its deserted
ruins. The shades of evening were
just spreading over the valley, the
bare, gray walls stood up against the
red sky, the solemn stiffness Of even
ing reigned over the scene, and as
two ravens, which had made their
nests on the castles highest towers,
came towards it, winging their heavy
flight, and wheeling once round each
cawing a hoarse welcome to the
other, alighted on their favorits tur-
ret, could have fancied them the
spirits Of the two crones, while their
Internal mistress was cursed by some
more wretched DOOM"
II is etatad ., 49, .e