Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-12
A Modern Count.

The Washington correspondent of one
of the English magazines gives the fol-
lowing incident as having occurred a
couple of years since in that "city of
magnificent distances" We do not re-
collect of seeing it elsewhere, and must
confess that it is related with circum-
stantiality that entities it to:credence:
About two years ago a young man
arrived here who called himself Count
Won Schwcinitz- Krain, and asserted that
lie was an adjutant Of Archduke Maxi-
milan. lie had from this prince letter
of recommendation to the Austrian envoy
Herr uulsemann, aud another from a
General B., in which the latter requested
the envoy to advance the young gentle~
man, two thousand dollars on his account,
but not to give him more than FIVE huns
dredper month.
had heard good deal of this count,
who put up ut a German hotel here, and
went at n tremendous pace. He did
nothing but ride, and drive, and drink
champagne from morning to night. The
count was everywhere received with the
greatest civility, and, in return he invi~
ted the ambassadors and other persons of
distinction to dinner. Most of those in-
vitcd accepted, among them being the
celebrated German, Carl Schurz, who
had recently returned from Spain, and
who proposed the health of their mob lie
host in the most glowing terms. Some
lady diplomatists were insanely in love
with the count, and the chief remark 1
heard for while was, "DO you know
Count SchweinitzI" s
S.l, I taA
on the sofa young man who-not to put
too fine point on it-appeared to me very
peculiar. Schurz seemed greatly sarprIs-
cd that did not know the gentleman, and
introduced him to mo rs the much talked
about Count SchweinitZ. There could not
be any mistake, for the count had been in
IrOduced everywhere by the Austrian Gu
voy; still the count, by his dress, demeanOr,
behavior, and language, produced upon me
the Impression that he could not belong tO
the higher Viennese society. He chatter
ed an ininity OF uonseseuse, aud l could
not comprehend how Schurz could listen
to il SO seriously. The count seemed in.
sliuCtiveiy to feel that he had produced nc
favorable impression on me. He displayed
some embarrassment, aud in future kept
out OF my way.
HulsemaDn, the late Austrian envoy, is q
man of caution. He did not omit to inquire
of Count Rschberg in Vienna all about
this Count SchweinilE and General B., or
whose letter he bad already advanced two
thousand dollars, while the Count owed as
much more in the city. Count Rechberg's
answer arrived. Hulsemanu's face grew
yard long, for there was no General B
in exiStence-lhe Army List might have
told the envoy this fact-Archduke Maxi
milan had never had au adjutant of tina
name, and the sole bearer OF it was an en-
sign, who had been imprisoned severa
years for swindling, and on being released
emigrated to America.
Hulsemann wiped the dank perspiratior
from his brow, and ran without his hat t.
his friend aud adviser, the Prussian envoy
Baron Gerolt. While the two gentlemen
were discussing the affair u footmar
brought in a card bearing the name OIL
"Oount Schweiuitz," and the count fol
lowed 80 rapidly that the Austrian TalIey.
rand hardly had time to escape to an ad :
joining room. The little Prussian envoy
drew himself up mnjesticaly, gave an i'm
perlou5 wave of his hand, aud said "Leave
Count Schweinilz- Kraiu 7" "Leave nv
hoase." The count evHporated, borrowed
on some pretext his landlords gold watch
and chaiu, and disappeared from Washing.
ton. When the Mortified host broke omen
his portmauteAu be found in it touching
letter from the sWiudler's aged mother,
aud the deIlnqueu;'s portrait in prison
dress. People felt so ashamed that they
allowed the count to slip away. Where
he is now employing his talents Heaven
alone knows but since then cou1ts have
fallen 10 heavy discount,