The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-09-17
About Kossuth.

A correspondent Of the Wilmington
Ervy Evening states that sister of Louis
Kossuth, Nine. Ruttkay, is now living
in New Jersey, having just returned from
a visit to Europe, and goes on to say |:
Mime. Ruttkap informs your cores
pendent that'her brother and his two sons
are very indignant at the stories that
have been circulated about the patriots
poverty. She says that he owns and lives
in a beautiful villa near Turin, and that
both of his sons hold lucrative and hon
orable positions. Kossuth, who is in his
seventy-third year, may be said to be en-
joying a green and beautiful old age.
His income is sufficient for all his wants,
and he devotes his whole time to scientific
pursuits. Any day he may be seen wan
dering through the mountain roads of the
vicinity, knocking off bits of rock with
a little hammer that he always carries
with him. Geology and natural science
are his fayorite studies, and he has a
valuable collection ofplants and minerals.
He also amuses himself with telescope
and spectroscope, and is generally well
and happy. He takes no active part in
politics, although he never loses his in
terest in the welfare ofhis country. His
friends in Hungary elect him every year
to the Diet, but he never appears there,
for, other reasons aside, he would not be
in accord with the present party in
power. The death of his wife, about
seven years ago, was severe blow to
Kossuth. Nine. Ruttkay informs us that
her brother has large collection OF
manuscripts on hand which is to be pub
lished by his sons after his death-that
he is still writing, and is an eloquent as
ever. The story of his poverty, which
was pure fabrication, first appeared in
Frankfort, KY, paper. His sons at
first supposed that the paper was pub
lished at Frankfort-on-the-M Main, and
wrote several letters to that place. They
finally discovered their mistake, and sent
a positive denial of the story to the Ken
lucky editor who was guilty of its pub
licatiOn. Kossuth laughingly says that
his American friends are not very con-
siderate if they believe the story of his
poverty, for they are continually writ
ing to him for his autograph, the postage
on which would bankrupt him if he was
such very poor man. After Kossuth
had gone to England in 1852, his mother,
Nine. Kossuth, continued to reside at
Pesth with her daughters. Reduced to
the utmost necessity, they were obliged
to keep clearinghouse in town, by
which they earned a scanty Livelihood.
The little they could spare they bestowed
upon the sick and wounded Honoeds, the
remains of the Hungarian army, who
had been left to starve, These acts OF
kindness excited the suspicious of the
Austrians, and at that very time at which
Kossuth was embarking for America his
two sisters, Nine. Ruttkay and Nine
Meszlenyi, were suddenly thrown into
prison. Nine. Ruttkay was widow, the
mother of five young children, and Nine
Meszlenyi of two. After an imprison.
ment of two months at Vienna and when
no proofs could be found against them
they were released under sentence OF
perpetual Punishment from Hungary
Provided with passports, they with their
mother went under the surveillance OF
an Austrian officer to Belgium, where
they spent nearly year in Brussels, sup
porting themselves by embroidery and
selling lace. Liberal sums were presented
to Kossuth while in America for their as
sistance and before his return to Europe
his elder sister, Nine. Meszlenyi (since
died), and her husband and children
crossed the Atlantic. The mother died
at Brussels. Subsequently the remain
ing daughters, Mines. Ruttkay and Tsul.
afsky (since died), came to America"