New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
TOPICS IN VIENNA
BREAKING UP A FAvORITE OFFICERS
nJyERSION-AN UNRULY COUNTESS.

in command OF UIle CITY anu hOmo uSWlo', Pio-
hibiting officers in uniform from promenading
up and down the Rngstrasse, except when ON
duty In order to realize what this means it is
necessary to explain that the Ringstrasse is IKE
the Fifth-ave of New-York, the Champs Elysee.
or rather the Boulevard des Italens, of Paris ana
the Pail Mall and the Ladies' Mile Of London
Regularly every afternoon, between the houi'
Of and 5, the whole of Vienna society can oe
seen suntering up and down the Rmgsorasse'
chatting, laughing and stopping here ana tnero
70 talk with friends and TO exchange uhe eoSeip
of the day As civilian clothes are noO per"i''eu
III be worn by officers except on rare speciai
occasions the number of handsome uhiorms Was
very great and lent much brilliancy to the scene.
Indeed. there was not court peau'y' a cluonian
or an officer who would have consloereu Ihc
dav complete without the stroll on the fslhg'
Tnfort,na,elv. however the asSemblage was not
a,togsrher confined 10 the Deau-monde Ahe
,dies If tfe demi-monde" speedily realized
the advantages to be obtained by an afternoon
a1pearance on the fashionable promenade, since at
no other place or time in the day could the Sons
Of Mars. and the ieunesse doree" be met in such
large numbers. Accordingly, all focked down on
the Ring every afternoon, and by their gorgeous
display of raiment added still further color and
Heterogeneous to the gay and merry crowd. To
beautiful and spacious thoroughfare-one of the
finest in Europe-became almost i'm passable during
the afternoon, and at length attracted the atten-
ton of the Emperor, who since the tragcal death
of his only son and the sad affection of his
beautiful cOnsort has become exceedingly strict
both toward himself and those about him, and
likewise exceedingly bigoted and even morose.
lie never laughs or even smiles, and apparently
does not like TO see other people do AT any
rate, it is known that he attributes the painful
circumstances which attended Crown Prince Ru-
doph's death to the easy and thoughtless gayety
and the lack of moral stamina which constitute
both the charm and defect of Austrian character.
His Majesty, therefore, came TO the conclusion
that since the advent Of the " dcmi-monde' the
Ring Parade" as it is called, had become some
thing like public scandal, and that means must
be adopted TO put stop TO it, Accordingly, he
gave the instructions, which were issued in the
form of a general order on Saturday last, being
convinced that the disappearance OF the military
uniforms from the scene would deprive it of all
further attraction. 1t is needless to state that
the order has given widespread offence TO all
classes of the population, most of all, of course,
TO the officers whose sentiments of discipline and
loyalty are put to a severe test thereby.
An event which has given rise to an almost
equal amount of discussion here is the refusal
of Count Francis Esterhazy to accept the challenge
to fight duel with Count Victor Orsitz de
Sclavetich. Both noblemen are members of the
Table of Magnates, as the Hungarian House of
Lords is called, and the cause of the challenge
is a vote of censure which was passed short
time ago by quorum Of thirty of the NlagnateS
on the conduct of Count Orsitz, in bringing
founded accusations against the Ban, or Viceroy,
of Croatia. Count Orsitz, who is fery-tempered
man of about fifty years, has announced his IN,
tention of demanding satisfaction from each one
Of the thirty Magnatcs who had dared to criticise
his behav toward the Ban He began last week
by sending his seconds to Count Franz Esterhazy
a handsome and stately looking grand seigneur
of some sixty-fve years, whose flashing coalblack
eyes present striking contrast to his snow
white beard and hair Count Esterhazy CURLY
declined the challenge, stating that the vote of
censure passed by the Table of Magnates consti-
tuted an official and privileged act, which did
not require to be accounted for outside the walls
of the Assembly chamber While there are many
who question the course OF Count Esterhazy in
declining the challenge, there is nobody who
ventures to express any doubts as TO his courage.
For he is on official record having fought no
less than seventy dues during the last forty years
in six of which encounters he shot his adversary
probably considers that he may be allowed to rest
on his laures 1t remains TO he seen whether
Count Orsltz will carry out his intention of send
ing challenges to Count Esterhazys nine and
twenty fellow agnates
One of the most notable of the latter is General
Count Ladislas Way Won Vaya, Chamberlain of
the Emperor and nobeman of ancient lineage
and vast landed POSSESSIONS whose name has within
the last two years come somewhat frequently
before the public in connection with the eccen-
tricities of his daughter. The latter who is a
girl Of about twenty seven years, has recently
been placed under curatel,7 that is TO say she
has been deprived of the right of contracting any
legal debts or obligations, and her fortune has
teen placed in the hands of trustees. Her history
is strange one. 1t appears that during the first
eight years of Count Ways marriage children
were born TO him. fact which almost drove him
TO desperation when he remembered that in de-
fault of issue his immense estates would pass TO
the Crown and his name become extinct. In the
ninth year, however, it seemed as if his own
prayers and those of the Countess were about TO
be granted, and when at length the Countess gave
birth TO a child he had so thoroughly accustomed
himself TO look for a boy that no one at the time
ventured to undeceive him and to tell him that
the infant girl The priest who baptized
the child was won over to the or less pardon
able deceit practsed on the Count by his wife and
her attendants, and, although the name given by
the sponsors that of Sander a bows name.
the name entered on the parish register was that
OF Sarolta, or Charlotte. Dressed and educated
like boy, the little Countess bore the name Of
Sander till her eleventh year, and was believed
by all but the mother, the priest
and few confidential servants 10
belong TO the male sex She was tauobt
to shoot and fish, and from the age of six rode
astrde Of her pony, dressed in hussar uniform.
IKE little ,Centaur.
Just about the time when the Count was be-
dnning TO consider the advsability of sending his
aaughter-or as he thought his son-to the mobiles
academy at Pesth, his wife gave birth to a second
ehllq, which this time WAS q real boy. The