Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-23


Buda-Pesth, in Hungary, stands out as
1ha one POSSESSING the most remarkable
history both for romance. pathos ana
prominence for strange commingiing
of talents. and | hope all women WA
be rs interested in the recital OF heF
story as was when she told it to me-
and rs | observed in VISIT madc hel
in 1878 at her house IN Pesth.
TO begm. must simply state that 1t
smacks more OF romance than OF real
jty. and it is but the romance OF reah-
tv: and all the romance OF 1t grew out
OF The political troubles in hungary
when K9ssuth was banishcd and came
TO this country. Al that time the pres
emf Baroness was only u young girl OF
16 and Janus Won Xantlus was hardly
20 and vet they loved each other well.
She was OF a family that iook part with
the conuuering country. and the young
Baron had already allied himself 10
the patriots who fought with them.
and when Kossuth was banishcd, he
was also arrested, and was offered his
freedom and his bride if he would turn
traitor to his principles. The young
couple were left alone for snort time,
in the hope that the love they bore for
each other would cause him 10 recedc,
and, rs he was OF very influential
family OF Hungarans, 1t was decided
that he should; but the TWO lovers em-
ployed their time in nerying each other
Tor sacrifice and 10 mingling their
tears and vows of constancy till death;
and then when the parents found that
all was in vain, they gayeu up angrlly.
and he was eXled with Kossuth and
came 10 this country. No letter could
pass between the young lovers, and The
daughter was hidden TO forget him,
ana every effort was made to induce
her to marry, bur no threats nor entreat-
les prevailed; she persisted firmly in
her refusal TO listen TO anyone, and, to
pass the lonesome years. she began to
write and 10 paint, as well rs to devote
much of her time to the study Of nat
ural history.
In the meantime young janus Won
X minus had succeeded here in making
friends and name, and, as he had be-
come an American citizen, he obtained
the appointment OF U8ited States Con-
sui iu Mexico. lie wrote several books,
nearly all OF scientific turn, relating
to natural history as found in Amerca
and the tropics. and devoted, in short,
all his spare time I'M research and in
gathering specimens. While IN Mexi-
co and Central America he obtained. |
think, 800 different varieties OF hum
ming birds. His books were published
in Austria in an assumed name, and
finally he was engaged by the very
country which had eXjed him TO make
an important scientific voyage with
seyera ether very prominent men.
All these years his faithful young
fiancc waited upon word directly
from him, though her woman's instinct
told her that those books which caused
so much admiration were written by
him, and she read between the lines
that they were at least pursuing the
same train Of thought and study.
Sometimes he heard from friends Of
her, but never from her. and yet each
iclJ sure OF the others faith.
Think OF the yeacning aud heartache
that was their portion all these years,
with no communication but what could
be sent through their books aud which
all the world could read. AT last her
parents died and at about the same
Time, through the influence of friends,
Won Xauthus was at liberty to return
to mis- country. He had written four
teen books and collected enough Of all
Kinds of curioSities 10 form the nucleus
OF large museum, which he did on his
return TO Pesth, and which is a mag
niNrcut triumph tor him as well as
honor TO the city. The help and intel
hgonce OF his wife was absolutely in
disp.usible In the arrangement of his
museum, which is placed by the Gov
eminent under the iile-dircctorship Of
Won N1utus i'm recognition of his SER
vices.
But in all these years that had pass
ed both had grown from youth to
middle are, and they both wear crowns
of gray hair now. and both think sadly
of the lost years OF their youth, vet
their AGE has brought them in rare
fruitior, honors and fame, and now
such q deep, full happiness that is al
most pain. never saw that noble
couple together that the tears did not
start into my eyes and my heart ache
to think of all the years that fate sep
arated them, and vet / was ready TO
sing q rwin OF thaukiulness that they
were at last united and that both had
been so faithful.
Thcir home is in Pesth, near the mu-
scum and the Academy of Arts and
Science, of which both are members
and he "a Director, and it is filled to re-
pletion with everything beautiful, char
acterstic OF curious that YOU can imag-
inc; and when this gray-haired couple
stand side by side, he tall and broad
shouldercd and strong, with into.li-
@encc and strength flashing from his
black eyes, aod che in her tall, wiliowy,
womauiy grace and beauty of face and
soul, there are none 10 compare with
them O'iror .H1rpcr, j95 dc Aeto York
World.