New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
A THURMAN TO TURN MONK.
NICHOLAS ESTFRHAZY'S LIFE OF LUXURY
Vienna, November %.

which have led Count Nlcholas i>S'''""NH W "'
nounco his determination Of withdrawing not only
from the turf but also from the world For years
he has been celebrated as the foremost sportsman
in ru.one His fame as a Master OF tie Hounds en-
tends throughout the Old World. his racing stable
is uur,valed both in its extent and IL The quality
OF the stock. his patronage OF dramatic and PIE
,ori,l AFT has been magqlliccn'-te betrayed the
entire expenses of the education Of ten pupils each
Gear AZ the Vienna Conservatoire OF Music-and
his hospitatins al Vienna and particularly at the
Castle Of Tots have always been of the most reshi
character He has always been the lie ana spirit
of the gayest and iairih-loyir? society oil inc UNI
verse namely. that of Austria. ana IL seems ii'-
possible 10 nnsgpe Vienna without Inn lc' uh-
less the newspaper reports coroboiatcd py piNa"
letters are at fault Count Mkt" is about To ais
appear from view behind the walls of a monastery
Nv "reminiscences Of the Count will always he
associated with memories of my visits to his
Aladdiu-likc Chateau rather Palac" oil IotE
which is without exception the handsomest private
residence in Hungary. MirrOred in lovely lake
surrounded by ccntury-old trees. Tots may be Dc
scribed as a poem IN granite and marble wherein
everything speaks Of bcund.cSs wealth ana rA-
ouisitc taste The long line Of majestic terraces.
the limpd sheet Of water, the thckets OF blossom
inc shrubs. and fcahery palms which adorn the
lawns during the sUullf', t'u WV -l0""N''
garden and eonservatorlcs which during the cold
season remind one Of the Valley OF Cashmere al
contribute to create a picture of absolute ana
,oo. ,..outv Inside the "Schloss1 old
tapestries of enormous value ard wonderful Fast
crn draperies mutfic every sound The principal
salons and drawing rooms pannclcd with Louis
XIV satin and brocadcs, and are filled with price
less art treasures Of every kind. There are l'o
guest rooms in tie Chateau. At the further ehd
of the garden are the stables which are the lif'st
and most superbly fitted up of any that nave
ever seen. In the distance can catch glimpse
OF the great stud farm, of the training hcli, anu
of the race course for the Counts racing stock
During the hunting season the great event OF
the day at Tots used always TO be the departure
for the chase The smallest details were settled
beforehand, and everybody received previous To
starting q memorandum specifying the position
and mode of conveyance destined for linn or Tor
her as the case might he. At about 10 o'clock
the carriages driven by stalwart coachmen IN Hun
garian attire and saddle horses would Ike brought
round and the start would be effected with great
rapidity. The party woulc he followed By
couple Of breaks containing servants. by a ear,
containing n large tent, and by huge fourgon,
which was nothing less than a complete kitchen on
wheels. manned by two cooks in orthodox whit"
aprons and caps Shortly after noon a hot lunch
con would he served, either in the tent above men
TONED or in some shady grove or IN some oh
castle, with the same perfection and state rs IL
il was taking place In the great dinng-room OF
the castle. These shooting parties were attended
by ladies we'll men, and ON such occasions We
were wont 70 adopt a costume consisting OF "A
short killed skirt Of dark green gray cloth.
doul le-brcast.d jacket of the same material with
green facings and horn buttons. darkerecn
Tyrolese hat adorned with the beard Of Il chanoiso,
strong doublesocd boots and high CATERS fastened
with tiny gold silver clasps. About o'clock
we used 10 return TO the castle in time for after
noon tea which served under the palm trees
in the winter garden II Is difficult 70 imagine
more picturesque coup docll than that presented
by this beautiful bucn-rctiro, with its wealth OF
tropical plants and Its of fragrant blossoms
which filed every nook and corner. Dropping
from the glass dome above were wonderful orchids
in carved hanging baskets, beds Of Ncapolitan aud
Russian violets surrounded the marble basin of
fountain where quaint-loold1g Japanese and
Egvptian Lotus spread upon the surface OF the
water the cup-lke challicc OF their fantastic buds.
The tea served in Russian fashion. was spread ont
on low tables ped with cloth OF gold Of the sin
tcenth century, the cups and sauccrs were Of old
Dresden, while the huge Niello silver urns and
ponderous salvers were of quaint Russian workman
ship. At we dincd, and after coffee had been
served We generally adjourned to the private
theatre in one Of the rooms Of the Chateau. This
theatre il an exquisite piece of rocco work where
$50 people sit IT softly upholstered
arm-chairs. Its construction had cost the Count
a sum Of 10 less than 100000. On some nights
this stage woulI be occupied by dramatic or OPP
cratic tloupcs brought for the purpose by special
train from Vienna, whilst on other occasions
H., ,.la...f
performed by amateur actors and actresses. Among
the best known Of the latter whom il has been nv
good fortune TO see the stage at Totis were
Princess Pauline Metternich. her daughter. the
late Princess Ilscane, and Countess Won Ihun
The Count is passonately fond Of muse, and
numbered the Able List among his most valued
friends. lie himself PLAYS the either wonderfully
well, and possesses a very fine barytonc voice.
which will no doubt stand him in good stead if
he enters the Church. No melody is however so
dear 10 him - the cnthralling music which the
Izigans draw from their yiolins and cymbals and
which can alone be heard in its perfection on the
great Hungarian Iusza 1t is music that stirs
the listener TO the utmost limits OF cnthisi ASH and
IT'S exquisite strains seem to penetrate the very
marrow of ones bones. Indeed every nerve Of
the listener ,inslcs and used almost 10 coas. 10
breathe for fear Of losing one note Of their ideal
i''D "'ci' W. S't nh1"f the trees AFTER dinner
listening to a band Of these artists of nature who
without knowing Il note Of music play merely by
ear and by tradition. The scene was n somewhat
weird one; the Zingaris standing IN front OF a
great clump Of dark trees were illumncd only by
the rays of the They looked in their orlm-
son costumes like personagcs from mother world
and there was certainly nothing in the Passionate
sounds emitted by their instruments TO bring one
down 10 earth again. When at last the ceased
playing with long waing sigh from neir yio-
Inns, the Counts guests, composed Jlase and
cynical men Of the world and OF spoDcd beauties
of the Austrian Court, slowcrcd down upon the
musicians not only all the money that they hal
about them but their Watches chains studs, rings
the women tearing the jewels from their fin crs and
the flowers from, their bosoms IN fiuo fhcm al th,