Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-12
The Rnfh OF blood.

from the proof sheets o" ne History
Of Hungary in De Puy's Kossu,h and his
Generals" now in the press, the Buffalo
Commercial extracts most thrilling tale
of romantic history:
About the year 1910. Elizabeth Ba,hori,
sister to the king Of Poland, and wife ola
rich and powerful Hungarian mngna,e.
was the principal actor in the most singu-
lar and horrible tragedy mentioned in his.
tory. She.occupied the castle of Cseita.
in Pennsylvania. Like most other ladies
Of that p,,eiod, she was surrounded by a
troop of young girls generally the daugh-
,ers poor but noble parents. who lived
in honorable scrvitude; in return for which,
their education was cared for, and their
dowry secured. Elizabeth was ola Sc
we're and cruel disposition, and her hand
maidens led no joyous life. Slight faults
are said to have been punished by most
mercilcss tortures.
One day, as the lady of Cscjta was ad-
miring at a mirror those charms which
that faithful monitor told her were fast
waning, she gave way to her ungoverna-
temper excited. perhaps, by the mirrors
unwelcome hint, and struck her unoiend-
ing maid with such force in the face as TO
draw. blood. As she washed from her
hands the stain, she fanccd the part which
the blood had touched grew winter, softer,
and as 1t were younger. lmbued with
the credulity ofthe age. she believed that
she had discovered what so many philos-
ophers had wasted years in seeking for =
She supposed that in a virgins blood she
had found the eliner ritr, the fountain Of
never failing youth and beauty. Re
morseless by nature, and now urged on
by irrepressible vanity. the thought no
sooner flashed across her brain than her
resolution was taken; the life of her luck
less handmaiden 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 ofthe rock
on which Csejta stood, was small cot.
tage and the castle was a subterranear
passage. known only to one or two per
sousand never used but in times of danger
With the sid of these old croncs and hel
steward. Elizabeth led the poor CIR
through-the secret passage to the cottage
and after numbering her, baihcd in hcl
blood Not satisfied with the first essay
at different intervals by the aid of thes.
accomplices, and the secret passage. ne
less than three hundred maidens were sac
rliced on the altar Of vanity and supersti
ton.
Several years had been occupied in thi,
pittiless slaughter, and no suspicion of the
truth was excited, though the greatest a.
mazement pcrvaded the country at the dis
appearance of so many persons. At last
however, Elizabeth called into play agains
her two passions even stronger than vanity
and cunning. Love and revenge became
interested in the discovery Of the mystery
Among the victims Of Cseta was beaul
ful virgin, who was beloved by and be-
trothed to young man Of the ncighbor
hood. In despair at the loss of his mis-.
trcss, he followed her traces with such per.
severance. that in spite ofthe hitherto sue
cessfn! caution Of the murdercss. he pene
trated the bloody secrects of the castle
and burning for revenge, few 10 Pres
burg boldly accused Elizabeth Ba,hori OF
murder, before the Palatine, in open court
and demanded Judgment against her. Sc
grave an accusation. brought against a
person Of such high rank, demanded the
most serious attention, and the Palatine
undertook to investigate the affair in per
son. Proceeding Immediately to Csclta
before the murderess or her accomplicei
had any idea of the accusation, he discov
cred the still warm body ofa young girl
whom they had been destroying as tb,
Paarine approached, and had not tim,
TO dispose Of before he apprehcndcd them
The rank Of Elizabeth mitigated her pun
ishment to imprisonment for life, but he
assistants were burned at the stake
Legal documents still exist to attest tn,
truth Of this apparently improbable circum
stance. Paget a distinguished Englisl
traveller, who visited Csejta about twent,
years ago, says: with this tale fresh il
our minds, we ascended the long hill. gain
ed the castle, and wandered over its dcser
ted ruins. The shades of evening were
just spreading over the valley, the bare
gray wall stood up against the red sky
the solemn stiffness Of evening rcignct
over the scene, and as two ravens, whcl
had made their nests on the castles high
est towers, came towards it, winging ihcii
heavy fight. and wheeling once round
each cawing a hoarse welcome to the 9th
er, alightcd on their favorite turret, could
have fancicd them the spirits of the two
prOues while their Internal mistress was
cursed by some more wretched DOOM"
The Turn Of Life.