New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-05
A WEALTHY PEASANT.
arrested as a Tagabond on His I'M
menSe Estates.

Johann Bagi, the peasant millionaire of Hun
gary. dropped the old patriarchal custom Of
presiding at table around which the and
women and boys of his great farm sat. ranged ac-
cordng TO the rank held by each: The overseers
nearest the youngest members Of the masters own
family, the head servants. male and female. next,
opposite to another. Then came the keepers Of
the nen the fodder the granaries. followed by the
chief coachman and the rest-pIoughmen horsemen
cattle keepers, cheese and butter women mixers,
men-of-all-work ana maids and boys.
Though Johann Bagi and his family and visitors
ate off silver heavy as that used in the Hofburg
he a coat indoors, nor outside weather
permitting Once. in the good old absolutstic days.
he found some three hours from home tramp
Ing his fields. when gendarme rode Up and asked
for his passport.
Need none as am my own ground
Where do you live?'
IF you ride sharply you may reach the house in
two hours and half
And you sist that this is your property
YES. all Sznd is mine. far as your eyes
travel"
Of o0"-Te the gendarme thought Johann an i'm
posi- -''d conducted him to the town lookup. He
was bar IN a dirty cell and Immediately asked for
buchel or water TO clean up While thus engaged
the governor OF the province came TO inspect the
Jail and discovered the man. with whom only re-
Gently he had dined at the Emperor's table.
Soon after the revolution had abolished feudal
landlordism in Hungary Johann's former master.
Count George Karoyi. got into trouble, and the
family sent for Vienna lawyer of high repute to
straghten matters.
Il came to if I could be of some service
TO the highborn gentleman" said Johann. intro
ducing himself to the administrator.
My good man." replied the lawyer, regarding
the millionaire peasants unpretentious dress, no
use troubling thee. We want d capitalist with
about 10000 forms cash"
Sorry" said Bagi, that did not know the ex-
act figure. brought what had In the local bank
10000 forins-but the rest be had from Buda-
pest in about three days. VIII that do your
honor?"
About a year ago Johann renewed his acquaint-
ance with Emperor Francis Joseph. his King In
the audience chamber hung large oil painting rep
resenting the monarch man of thirty. Point
6 ing to 1t: Francis Joseph said: Il am not so good
Psfa@ replied i the peasant peasant You majestys
lace be blowed; when ones stomach is all right
On previous occasion Francis Joseph walked up
to the old farmer and asked How do you do, my
Thanks, your majesty. I can't complain the
need; but since your majesty was pleased to bur-
den us with taxes twice as high as they ought be,
e1OSgh for their wants %e' 10 10 nave scarcely
a new provincial Governor invited Johann with
the rest OF the prominent men to the Inauguration
dinner The millionaire peasant arrived a little
blue dolman with big silver buttons;
Il couldn't let you pass, said the doorkeeper,
dress are admitted"
fashionable tailor and had himself rugged up in a
sitting down to dinner. When the soup had been
served Bagi rose took the tails of his coat in hand
and placed them in the bouilion.
There he said, eat As understand, the
coat was invited to dinner, not the man"
Ard despite the Governors and his friends pro-
tests, the swallowtafl had the first bite OF
every one of the fourteen courses that followed
AT one time BaRt went to Vienna as a govern
ment commissioner to thank the Emperor for
some act of grace. The party was entertained ut
the Hotel Sacher. the Waldorf-Astora OF tile ca -
ital Being the Oldest and richest man. he received
chlef place at table, and created some mild aston
snlnen{ wh6i at the outset of the meal, he pushed
away the elaborate silver, pulled jackknfe from
his bootleg. and used IT vigorously and exclusively
except when he saw Mt TO employ his fingers i'm
vented long before forks and spoons" In the
evening, there was a gala performance at the
imperial opera house. and Johann was persuaded
with difficulty to don dress suit He retained
the swallowtan for half hour or a little longer
then pulled II or. saying he had desire TO ex-
.. Qshers and eourtiers came in droves to plead
''the propreties." N
Nonsense" quoth Bagi even In my shirt
sleeves ! am more dressed than the ladies' very
rev OF whom daresay, have shirt on
He heard the rest of the opera in the yestibuIe
slttlng IN an armchair. with his sleeves rolled un