The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-05-09
The Bath Of Blood .

Hungarian msgnste, was the prin
cipal actor 10 the most singular and
horrible tragedy mentioned in bisto
ry. She occupied the castle Of
Csejta, in Transylvanis. Like most
other ladies Of that period. she was
surrounded by a troop Of young girls.
the daughters Of poor but noble pa
rents who live in honorable servi-
tnde; in return for which their edu
cation was cared Tor and their dow
cry secured. Elizsbeth was OF a
severe and cruel disposition, asd
her baud-maids led no Joyous life. -
Slight ianlts are said to have been
punished by most merciless tortures.
One day as the lady Of Csejta WIS
admiring at the mirror those charms
which that faithful monitor told her
were fact waning, she gave way to
her nngovernsble temper, excited
perhaps by her mirrors unwelcome
hint, and struck her unoffending
maid with such force in the face as
to draw blood. AZ she washed
from her hands the stain, she fancied
the part which the hlood touched
grew whittier, softer, and as it we're
younger. Imbued with the cr0duli.
ty Of the age, che believed che had
discovered what go many philoso.
pliers had wasted years in seeking
for. She supposed thatin a virgins
blood she had found the eligir vitg,
the fountain Of never failing youth
and beauty. Remorseless by ma
ture, and now urged on by irrepr, SO.
ible vanity the thought no sooner
flashed across her brain than her
resolution WAS taken; the life Of her
luckless hand-msiden was not to be
compared with the precious boon
her death promised to secure. Elz
abeth, however, was wary as we'll
as cruel. At the foot Of rock on
which Csejta stood, was a small cot.
tsge, inhabited by two old women,
and between the cellar of this cottage
and the castle was a subterranea an
passage known only to one or two
persons, and never used but in case
OF danger. With the aid OF these
old crones and her steward, Eliza.
beth led the poor girl through the
secret passage to the cottage, and
after numbering her, bsthed in her
blood. Not satisfied with the first
accomplices and the secret passage,
no less than three hundred inaidens
were sacrificed on the altar Of van ty
and superstition.
Several years had been unoccupi,
ed in this pitiless slaughter, and no
suspicion OF the truth was excited,
though the greatest amsZement per
vaded the country at the disappear
arce Of go many persons. At las,
however, Elizabeth called into play
against her two passions even strong
er than vanity and cunning-love
and revenge became interested ir
the discovery Of the mystery
Among the victims of Csejts was q
young girl, beautiful virgin, who
was beloved by and betrothed to 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 penetrated the bloody y
secrets OF the castle, and burning ior
revenge, flew to Preasbnrgh, boldly
accused Elizabeth Bathiro Of mur
der, before the Palatine in oper
court, and demanded judgmen,
against her. So grave an accusa
tion brought against a person o
such high rank, demanded the mos
serious attention, and the Pslstint
undertook to investigate the affair
in person. Proceeding immediate
ly to Cs, jts, before the murderes:
or her accomplices had any idea o
the accusation, he discovered the
warm body Of young girl whom
they had been destroying as tn,
Pslatine approached, and had no
time to dispose OF it before he ap
pretended them. The rank OF Eliz
abeth mitigsted her punishment to
imprisonment for life, but her a.
sistants were burned at the stake.
Legal documents still existed t.
attest the truth Of this circum.
stance. Paget, q distinguished trav
eller who visited Cscjts about TWEEN
ty years ago, says: "With this ta!t
fresh in our minds, wo asconded 9
long hill, gained the caste. and wan
dered over its deserted ruins. The
shades OF evening were just spread
ing over the valley; the bare, gray
walls stood up against the red sky
the solemn stiffness Of the evening
reigned over the scene; and as two
ravens which had made their nes
on the castles highest tower, came
toward il, winging their heavy flight
and wheeling once around, eact
cawing a hoarse welcome to thu
other, lighted on their favorite tur
ret, could have fancied them the
spirits OF the two old crones con
dcmned to haunt the scene CT theil
former crimes, while their inferna al
mistress was cursed by some more
Wretched doom"