Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-02-18
NilSCE i l. A N Y.
THE BATH OF BLOOD.

From the proof sheets of "The History
Hungary in De Puy's Kossuth and his Cen
erals now in the Press, the Buffalo Com
mercial extracts a most thrilling tale Of
romantic history:
"About the year 1910, Elizabeth Batho-
ri, sister to the king of Poland, and wife of
rich and powerful Hungarian magnate,
was the principal actor in the most singu-
lar and horrible tragedy mentioned in his
tory. She occupied the castle of Csejta,
Transyivania. Like most other ladies of
that period, she was surrounded by troop
OF young gi,ls, generally the daughters Of
poor but noble parents, who lived in honor
able Seryitude; In return for which, their
education was cared for, and their dowry
secured. Elizabeth was ofa severe and cru
el disposition, and her hand-maidens had
no joyous life. Slight faults are said to
have been punished by most merciless tor
tues,
One day, as the lady of Csejta was ad-
miring at the Tirror those charms which
that faithful monitor told her were fast wa
nlng, she gaya way to her ungovernable
temper, excited, perhaps, BY the mirrors
unwelcomed hint, and struck her unohend-
ing maid with such force in the face as 10
draw blood. As she washed from her hands
The stain, she faucied the part which the
blood had touched grew whiter, softer, and
as it were, younger. lmbued, 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
ciirir rEG, the fountain of never failing
youth & beauty. Remorseless by nature,
and now urged on by irrepressible vanity,
| the thought no sooner flashed across her
brain than her resolution was taken; the
lie of her luckless handmaid 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 small
cottage, inhabited by two old women and
between the cellar of this cottage and the
castle was subterranean passage, known
only to one or two persons, and never used
but in times Of danger. With the aid of
these old crones 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 accompices. and the secret passage,
no less than three hundred maidens were
sacrificed on the altar Of vanity and super
stition.
Several years had been occupied in this
Pitiless slaughter, and no suspicion of the
auth was excited, though the greatest a
mazement pervaded the country at the dis
appearance of 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 beauti-
full virgin, who was beloved by, and betrotE-
cd to a young man in the neighoorhood. In
despair at the loss of his mistress, he follow
ed her traces with such perseverance, that
in spite Of the hitherto successful caution Of
the murderess, he penetrated the bloody
secrets OF the castle, and burning for re-
venge, few to Presburgh, boldly accused
Elizabeth Bathori of murder, before the
Palatine in open court, and demanded iudg-
ment against her. So grave an accusation,
brought against person Of such high rank,
| demanded the most serious attention, and
the Palatine undertook to investigate the af-
fair in person. Proceeding Immediately to
Csejta, before the murdereSs or her accom-
plces had any idea of the 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 aPprehended thcm.-
The rank of Elizabeth mitigated her pun
ishment to imprisonment for life, but her
assistants were burned at the stake.
Legal documents still exist to attest the
truth Of this apparently improbable clrcum-
stance. Paget, distinguished English
traveller, who visited Csejta about twenty
years ago, says: "Wi,h this tale fresh in
our minds, we ascend the long hill, gained
the castle, and wandered over its deserted
runs. The shades of evening were Just
spreading over the valley, the bare, gray
walls stood up against the red sky, the SOL
emn stiffness of evening reigned over the
scene, and as two ravens, which had made
their nests on the castles highest towers,
came towards lt,winging their heavy flight,
and wheeling once round, each cawng
hoarse welcome to the other, alighted on
their fayorite turrent, | could have fancied
them the spirits Of the two crones, while
their internal mistress was cursed BY some
more wretched DOOM"
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