The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-07-22
HAel STIR
BATHED IN VIRGINS BLOOD.
London Evening NeMs.

London Evening News.
About the year 1910 Elizabeth
Bathori, sister to the King OF Poland,
and wife Of a rich and powerful Hun
garian magnate, vas the principal
actor in the most singular and horri-
bic tragedy mentioned in history. She
occupied the castle of Csejta, in Tran
~sylvania.
Like most other ladies of that Pc
Rod, she was surrounded by a troop Of
young girls, generally the daughters
OF poor but noble parents, who lived
IN honorable s%ervitude, in return for
which their education was cared for
and aud their dowry secured.
Elizabeth was of a severe and cruel
disposition. and her handmaidens had
no joyous life. Slight faults are said
to have been punished 10y most merci-
less torturcs.
One day, as the lady Of Csejta was
admiring at the mirror those charms
which that faithful monitor told her
were fast waning, she gave way to her
ungoyernable temper, excited perhaps
by the mirrors unwelconle hint. ana
struck her unofrending maid with such
force in the face as to draw blood.
AS she washed from her hands the
stain she fdncied the part which the
blood had touched grew whittier, softer
and, as 1t were, younger. Imbued with
the credullty Of the age, she believed
she had discovered what 50 many phi
0sophers had wasted years in seeking
for. She supposed that in virgins
blood she had found the elixir vitae.
the fountain of never-failing youth
and beauty.
Remorscfess by nature, and nov
urged on by i%rrepressible vanity, the
thought no sooner flashed across her
brain than her resolution was taken:
the life of her luckless handmaiden
was not to be compared to the precious
boon of her death promised to secure.
Elizabeth, however, was wary as well
rs cruel.
At the foot Of the rock on which
Cscjta stood was a small cottage, in
llabited by two old women, and be-
tween the cellar Of this cottage and
the castle vas Il subterranean passage,
known only to one or two persons, aud
meyer used but in times Of danger.
With the aid of these old croncs and
her steward, Elizabeth led the poor
girl through the secret passage to the
cottage, and, after numbering her,
bathed in her blood.
Not satisfied with the first essay, at
different intervals, by the aid Of these
accomplices and the secret passage,
no less than 300 maidcns were sacri-
feed on the altar of vanity and super
stition.
Several years had been occupied in
this pitilcss slaughter, and no Suspi
cion Of the truth was excited, though
the greatest Amusement pervaded the
country at the disappearance Of so
many persons.
At last, however, Elizabeth called
into play against her two passions
even stronger than vanity and cum
ming. Love aud revenge became in
terested in the discovery Of the mys-
terry. Among the mystery Of Csejta
was a beautiful virgin, who was loved
by and Eetrotlled to a young mar in
the ncighb0rhOOd.
In despair at the loss of bis mistress
lie followed the traces with such per.
severance that, in spite Of the hitherto
successful caution Of the murderess,
he penetrated the bloody secrets of
the castle, and, burning for revenge,
flew to Presburg, boldly accused Eliz-
abcth BathOri Of murder before the
palatine in open court and demanded
jugoment against her. So grave an
an accusation brought against a per-
son OF such high rink demanded the
most serious attention, and the pala-
tine undertook to investigate the af-
fair in person. Proceeding immedi-
afely to Csejta, before the murderess
or her accomplices had any idea Of the
accusation, he discovered the still
warm body Of a young girl, whom
they had been destroying as the pala-
tine approached and had not time to
dispose of before he appreheDded
chem. The rank Of Elizabeth miti-
gated her punishment toimprisoment
for life, but her assistants were burned
at the stake.
Legal documents still exist to attest
the truth Of this circumstance.
DON'TS FOR DINNER-GIVERS.