Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-18
LOVE AND EsTRANGEMENT.
The Curious Romance Of an Hungarian
Refugee.
Davennort Ion nomoernt. !

Davenport qowu Democrat
There arrived from the east yester-
day morning a mother aud son who
have been long absent from Dayen
port, living in foreign lands, but whose
return calls up memories Of times
pastor people who were once we'll
known in Davenport, and whose his
tories have received enhanced interest
for this community since their de-
parture.
Many of our readers will recollect
Joseph Majtheyni, who had farm on
Duck creek, and was well known in
Davenport number of years
since. He was one of the Hungarian
refugees of Louis Kossuths time,
having done something in connection
with his friend Kossuth in the rebel
lion OF 1913, when an effort was made
to free Hungary from Austrian do
minion- something that forfeited lib.
erty, and life, too, perhaps Mr.
Majtheyni escaped, leaving his wife, a
Countess in high life, and son and
two daughters behind. Having writ
ten his wife that he was going to
America, she took her son Theodore,
then small boy, and hastened to the
city of Belgium, where he was hiding.
There she told him if he was going to.
America he must take the boy along,
too, as he would be too much trouble
to her. He went to Iowa, and first
settled on some wild land in Decatur
county, where he struggled to earn
scanty living, having been all his life
unused to manual labor. He some
times asked his wife to send him
means, and to come herself; both of
which she promised to do, but never
did.
After some years of single life, he
took a wife in Iowa, and lived on a
farm on Duck Creek, near Davenport,
as we have said. Time passed. the
boy, Theodore, became one of the we'll
known young men of Davenport-was
very prominent fireman, and
then a freight conductor, and when
the war broke went into the Union
army, and was in the body guard of
General Fremont in his military ex-
ploits in Missouri. More time passed,
and changes took place in Austria and
Hungary, the old quarrel was settled,
] and Majtheyni was reelected to his
old pOsition-that of director or man
ager OF estates to the Crown. After
some hesitation he thought to return.
| But there was his wife, the Countess,
in Hungary, and his other, and more
esteemed one, with him. 10 go there
and live with the Countess, he was dis.
inclined; to abandon his Ameri-
can wife he would not SO began ne
gotiations which ended in an agree
ment with the countess not to disturb
her in the possession Of, their property,
and she not to disturb him with any
bigamy suits if be should return. SO
it was agreed, and he returned to his
| old position. Negotiations were then
made for bringing over the American
wife and daughter. 1t was agreed to
by the interested families all around,
and his wife and child went 10 their
Hungarian home, where they were
warmly greeted by the fond husband.
1t is said there was some feeling at
first, but the old gentleman was as
true, as steel-they who essayed to
> slight his second wife were promptly
reminded Of the danger of such pro-
ceeding, and there it ended Both
wives are now dead. The daughter OF
the second grew to womanhoOd, a
beautiful and talented young lady, now
happily married. Mr.. NJ lives now
with his third wife, the union being
| blessed with two children.
As to the Captain. When his father
returned to his former Office, he left
Captain Theodore in the States, pre-
ierring that he should live there and
grow up with the country" But the
Captain was not Of the same mind
He married young woman in Daven
port, Miss Hart. who was a dining
room servant IN the Scott House,
where the Captain boarded, and per-
son OF good traits Of character. He
failed to obtain his fathers consent to
return, and then went without it,
taking his wife and little son. Arriv-
ing, the father would do the best he
could. The Captain had good re-
cord In the United States army, and
the father was a man of much in
Auence. So it happened the Cap
tain obtained-what is very unusual,
indeed, for one without home record
the position of major in the Austrian
army. Elated beyond measure at his
good fortune, and little too much
given TO stylish extravaganza, he easily
squanderod his ample salary and much
borrowed money besides. His debts
becoming a crying outrage, he was dis
missed from the service. Then he
went into forbidden paths, sought to
win fortune at the tigers mouth, wan
deEed of to the gambling tables of
! MONACO, and has been lost Sight Of for
several years. Despqiring of her hus-
band, the wife took her son aud re-
turned to America. And she it was