Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-31

Working ia u bibeflRn Mlne?-His
Early Life, Interesting CaresFaud
Extraordinary Disappearance.
New York World
The World recently published a
report from Vienna that it was cur
rently reported that Count An
drassy had learned that the famous
Hungarian poet, Alexander Petoefi,
was still alive, working in a Sibe-
rian mine. Few of this generation
are familiar with the remarkable
career of this man, who, disappear
ing when not twenty-six years of
age, had distinguished himself in
nearly all the branches Of poetry,
and was an acknowledged master
at an age when Goethe had just
tasted the cup of fame, when Hugo
scarcely knew what a literary name
was, and when Byron was first as
sailed by the reviewers.
Yet Petoef, unlike the three
great poets named, had to make his
way from the very lowest walks of
life. Born as the son of a czarda-
keeper ian inn on the Hungarian
plains) on January /, 1898, at
Felegyhaza, Hungary he had very
few, chances of receiving a good
education, and those he had were
thrown away by him on account of
his waywardness. When twelve
years old be ran away from school,
and fell in with company of itin-
Grant actors, who used him as an
errand boy, treated him miserably,
and gave him no opportunity for
improvement At last his father
found a clew to his whereabouts,
and took him away, trying another
school; but after a short time he
deserted again, enlisting as a SOL
dier, to be sent to Croatia. The
hardships Of camp life soon told
on his slender constitution; he fell
sick and a good.natured military
surgeon effected his release. Again
his father sent him to school, but
he ran away, and once more cast
his lot with troupe of actors,
though entirely unfit for the stage,
never rising above the place of a
supenumerary.
In Presburg he was dismissed by
the director Of the company, and
to keep himself from starving he
tried to earn a scanty livelihood by
copying and composing speeches
for members of the diet, Here he
made the acquaintance of the
young poet Lissnyai, who recon-
mended him to different editors
and through the aid of this unself-
ish friend his first poem appeared
in a literary paper of the Hunga-
rian capital, and the editor invited
him to send more contributions.
The poet Immediately went to
Pesth. Having no means, he made
the tedious voyage on foot, and ar.
rived ragged and hungry in the gay
old city Of the Magyars. He sought
an interview with the then famous
poet and statesman Voeroesmarty,
This gentleman received the beg
carly and dissipated-lQoking youth
very coolly, but after having looked
over a few Of his poems he said
You are the only true poet Hun
gary ever had, myself included
you must be provided fon" This
meeting was the turning point in
Petoef's life. The club "Nemezeti
Koeg" voted him purse to have
his poems printed; aiiteFary week
ly gave him a position as assistant
editor, and poem after poem ap-
peared in qaiok succession, carry.
ing his name rapidly through the
country. The poet awoke one
morning and found himself the
most famous and popular man oI
the whole nation. he was lionized
he was overwhelmed with honors
and emolument, and where ht
showed himself was heartily cheered
by the enthusiastic masses. Wher
in Debreczin once, at his entrance
in the theater, the whole audience
arose and under the deafeninl
cries of "Elijon Petoefil" remained
standing until he had taken hi
eoot This uoe tho eaoe theafe