Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-02-06
The Prince of ImpostOrs.


The London Telegraph says: Somos-
keoy, the renowned Hungarian swim
dler 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 singu-
lar pluck and self-possession If half the
stories of his exploits be founded on fact.
According to our Magyar contemporary,
Pesti Hirlap, the Philadelphia exhibition
was the scene of more than one bold
mystifcation on his part. A few min
utes before the time appointed for the
opening ceremony, Somoskeoy, arrayed
in Hungarian national 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 dignified mien through
the line of attendants, he entered the re.
ception, hall, where the exhibition com
missioners, headed by their chairman
were drawn up to receive the illustriouS
personages invited to take part in the
festive celebrations of the day. He then
advanced toward the chairman, and ac-
costed him with the words: "Sir, am
Count Veycrey, the royal Hungarian
commissioner" The chairman bowed
and held out his hand in welcome, but
cast 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
Il beg your pardon, but l am the
Hungarian commissioner" Somoskeoy
stared at him contemptuously, and re-
piled in English: ''Within three days
you will receive your recall. Mean
while, be good enough to remember
where you are, and speak English!
Just at that moment the President Oi
the republic entered the building, and
his arrival diverted the attention of the
puzzled commissioners from rival repre-
sentatives of Madyar-land.
With unheard-of, audaclty. Somos'
keoy kept his place in the group OF dig
nitaries gathered round the commission
and, as soon as the President had beer
duly greeted, the opening ceremony
commenced with the delivery of several
long speeches. Finding the official ora
tory somewhat tiresome, SomoskeoJ
soon slipped out of the circle, and con
trived to make his way to the CRANE
entrance, at which the foreign secretary
was stationed, to receive certain ex
pected guests of imperial and royal rank
To this portal the Empress OF Brazi
presently drove up; whereupon Somos
keoy, pushing aside the secretary o
state. gracefully assisted her imperia
majesty to alight from her carriage, ant
offering her his arm with profount
obeisance, led her into the building. l
is positively asserted in the account o
this amazing adventure, published il
the Pesti Htrlap, that the American
officers, not wishing to run the risk Q
alarming the empress, and desirous t.
avoid public scandal upon so importan
an occasion, torbore from all lnterfer
ence with this prince of impostors, ant
that he acted as her majesty's ciceron
during her whole stay in the Exhibition
frpalce, which lasted for several hours
Upon the imbroglio being subsequent,
explained to the empress, she is re
reported to have said that Judging b.
the manners and conversation OF TIL
person who had accompanied he
through the exhibition, she had i'm
agined him to be some European per
sonage of exalted rank" 1t would ap
pear, indeed, from evidence given b.
foreign diplomatists and American
statesmen at his late trial, that Somos
keoy, as far as his outward bearing ant
demeanor are concerned. is q refinet
and polished gentleman.