Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-02-13
The Bogus Hungarian Commissioner at
the Centennial Exposition.

Somoskeoy, the renowned Hungarian
swindler whose extraordinary career in
America has recently been interfered
with in a manner which will seclude
him from society for some years to
come, must be man gifted with sin
gular pluck and self possession if hal
the stories of his exploits be founded on
fact. According to our Magyar con-
temporary, Pesti HirlGp, the Philadel-
phia Exhibition was the scene. .nf gsara
4 rev minutes before the time ap-
pointed. for the opening ceremony,
Somoskeoy, arrayed in Hungarian ma
tional costume and wearing the star of an
Austrian order on his left breast, drove
up to the Palace of Industry in a splendid
equipage. Passing, with a dignified
mien through the lines of attendants,
he entered the reception hall, where the
Exhibition Commissioners, headed by
their Chairman, were drawn up to re-
ceive illustrious personages invited
to take part in the festive celebrations
of the day. He then advanced toward
the Chairman and accosted him with
the words: Sir, am Count Veyczey,
the Royal Hungarian Commissioner
The Chairman bowed and held out his
hand in welcome, but cast a perplexed
glance toward the real representative
of Hungary, who had already arrived
and was standing hard by. The latter
stepped forward, and, speaking in the
Magyar idiom, observed: Z" beg your
pardon, but am the Hungarian Com
missioner" Somoskeov stared at him
contemptuously and replied in En-
frliSb. 80 Witbio tbraa dauo ro,, will ro
ceive your recall. Meanwhile, be good
enough to remember where you are
and speak Englishr' just at that mo-
ment the President of the Republic en-
tered the building, and his arrival di-
verted the attention of the puzzled
Commissioners from the rival repre-
sentives of Magyarland.
With unheard of audacity Somoskeoy
kept his place in the group of dignita-
ries gathered round the Commission;
and as soon as the President had been
duly greeted the opening ceremony
commenced with the delivery of several
long speeches. Finding the official or
atery somewhat tiresome, Somoskeoy
soon slipped out of the circle and con-
trived to make his way to the grand en-
trance, at which the Foreign Secretary
was stationed to receive certain ex-
pected guests of imperial and royal
rank. To this portal the Empress of
Brazil presently drove up, whereupon
Somoskeoy pushing aside the Secretary
of State, gracefully assisted her Impe-
rial Majesty to alight from her carriage,
and offering her his arm with a pro-
found obeisance, led her into the build.
ing. 1t is positively asserted in the ac-
count of this amazing adventure pub
lished by the Pesti HirLap, that the
American officials, not wishing to run
the risk Of alarming the Empress, and
desiring to avoid public scandal upon
so important an occasion, forbore from
all Interference with this prince of inn
posters, and that he acted as her Ma
iesty's cicerone during her whole stay
in the Exhibition Palace, which lasted
for several hours. Upon the imbroglio
being subsequently explained to the
Empress, she is reported to have said
that, Judging by the manners and
conversation of the person who had ac-
companied her through the Exhibition,
she had imagined him to be some Eu-
ropean parsonage of exalted rank 1t
would appear, indeed, from evidence
given by foreign diplomatists and Amer
lean statesmen at his late trial that So
moskeoy, as far as his outward bearing
and demeanor are concerned, is re.
fined and polished gentleman.-LOrs-
don Telegraph.