The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-12-05
AN HEIRESS
FOR A COUNT
Gladys Vanderbilt Pledged 10
Count SzGChsnyiS Of Hungary
---$12,OOO,OOO Title
Special to Daily Panhandle.

ular with the social leaders Of Hun.
gary whom she met last summer
and that her wedding has aroused
general interest in that country, is
the statement Of relatives of the
count who are here for the wedding.
They allege that the marriage is the
result OF love match, but this Is
denied by private reports received
from Budapest correspondents, who
declare that Count Szeschenyi's fam
lily Is in an impoverished condition
and that an alliance with a woman
of wealth was necessary for the
count. In arranging a marriage Of
convenience, the Hungarian newspa-
pers state, Count Szechenyi is but
following the presidents established
by his ancestors, the family having
become as famous for its financially
fortunate marriages as for its anti
guilty and its caste.
Since 1897 the Szechenyis have
been titled aristocrats in Hungary.
Hardly a line of the nobility in the
realm antedates them or has won
more favors from the throne. The
ancestors of the present head of the
house were nearly all dignitaries,
statesmen, renowned soldiers or dip
lomats, and the count himself is a.
members of the Hungarian house of
lords.
Yet, despite Is prominence, the
family has attained so little wealth
that the Hungarian papers admit
that such an alliance ais that with
the Vanderbilt family had become
imperatyely necessary. This is in
despite Of the fact that Count
Szechenyi has perhaps aided in the
circulation of the report, in the
American newspapers, that his faml-
ly was immensely wealthy and that
he himself had property valued at
$5,OOO,OO0.
For half a century, according to
Hungarian newspapers the Szechen-
vi lords have been notable for their
discretion in matrimonial affairs.
Some married wealth and a few gain
Cd higher positions through their
matrimonial alliances. At the pres
ent time three others are about to
become fortunate brides or bride
grooms.
The count$ cousin, the Princess
is engaged to Prince Lud- |
wig Windischgratz, OF the royal fam
lily. Another cousin, julius, will soon
wed Baroness HaastechIen, one of the
greatest eligibes in Austria, and It
Is reported that another member of
the family is to enter the court of
Germany through marriage.
When the engagement was an
nounced the Budapest newspapers ex-
pressed great surprise that the count
should have gone to America for a
bride, but this IS now explained by
he fact that the family is in dire
iced OF the money that Miss Wander
)ilt will bring. The Hungarian fam
ly has heretofore scorned plutocratic
wealth and deemed money worthless
o secure and maintain a position in
oclety. or late, however, a change
las come over the spirit of its
lreams.
While the radical wing Of the Blu
lapest press openly sneers at the
as financial necessity for {
'zechenyi, the conservative journals ,
.ravely explain that Miss Wander {
'ilts father was most respectable |
ROGER, whose family has moved in 9
he most exclusive American social
ircles, so that the stepdown is not c
o great as at first surmised. $
The social power of the Szechenyis t
4 Hungary is so extraordinary and I
IS ramifications so great that it is :
enerally believed that the American 1
ride will be honorably received,
ven though her ancestors were en-
aged in trade"
1t is known that Miss Vanderbilt Il
as not the prime mover in the Sc v
'ction Of the count as her husband &
nd that but for her mother her I
anne would never. have been Hun 4
lrian. 81
The engagement was Of some time n
anding before the other members s.
the Vanderbilt family heard an
king of it. Then, It is said, they
Gladys that she had prom
ed her father before he died that g
lie would never marry anyone but cl
American. She did not need the
for it was pretty definitely n