The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-10
The Episode of the
Tyrolean Castle


distinctly taken with them. besides,
when a big purchase like this is on the
stocks. a poor DsSgar of q secretary
has always a chance of eXerting his in
fuence and earning for himself some
modest commission. SchlOss PIanta
was the most striking externally, I
should say with its Rhine-like towers,
and it's great, gnarled ivy-stems,
that looked as if they antedated the
house of Hapsburg: but Lebenstein was
said TO be better preserved within, and
more fitted in every way for modern
occupation. Its staircase has been Pho
tographed by 1900 amateurs
We got tickets to view. The invalu
able Cesarine procured them for us.
Armed with these. we drove off one
fine afternoon, meaning to go TO Planta
by Cesarine's recommendation. Half
way there, however, we changed our
minds, as it was such lovely day, and
went on up the long, slow hill to Le-
bernstein. ] must say the drive through
the grounds was simply charming. The
castle stands perched (say rather
poised, like st. Michael the archangel
I'm Italian pictures) on a solitary stack
or crag of rock, looking down on every
side upon its own rich vineyards.
Chestnuts line the glens; the valley of
the Etsch spreads below like a picture.
estate, by the way; they produce
delicious red wine, which is exported
10 Bordeaux, and there bottled and sold
as a vintage claret under the name of
Chateau Monnivet Charles reVeled in
the idea OF growing his own wines.
Here we could sit" he cried to Anne
liza, lin the most literal sense under
our own vine and fig tree. Delicious
retirement. For my part, I'm sick and
Of hr1b huh Of n
street"
We knocked at the doOr-for there
was really no bell, but a ponderous,
old-fashiOned, wrought iron knocker.
SO deliciously medieval! The late Graf
Won Lebenstein had recently died, we
knew. and his son, the present count,
a young man of means, having inner
tied from his mothers family a still
more ancient and splendid sch!oss in
the Salzburg district desired to sell
this outlying estate in order to afford
himself a yacht. after the manner that
is, now becoming fashionable with the
noblemen and gentlemen in Germany
and Austria.
The door was opened for US by q
high, well-bOrn mental, attired in a
very ancient and honorable livery.
Nice antique hall; suits of ancestral
armor, trophies of Tyrolese hunters,
very thing to take Amelias aristocratic
and romantic fancy. The whole to be
sold exactly as IL stood: ancestors to
be included at a valuation.
We went through the reception
rooms They were lofty, charming
and with glorious views, all the more
glorious for being framed by those
graceful ROmanesque windows, with
their slender pillars and Quaint, round
topped arches. Sir Charles had made
his mind I'D. 81 must and VIII have
it," he cried. This is the place for
me. Seldom, Pah, Seldom is a modern
abomination!"
Could we see the high. wel-born
count? The liveried servant (some-
what haughtily) would inquire Cf his
serenity. Sir Charles sent up his card,
and also Lady Vandrifts. These for
eigneTs know title spells money in Eng
land.
He was right in his sur-nise Two
minutes later the count entered with
our cards in his hands. A cookbook
ing young man, with the characteristic
TyTolese long black mustache, dressed
in a gentlemanly variant on the cos
tune Of the country. His air was a
iagers, the usual blackcocks plume
stuck jauntily in the side OF the con-
zeal hat (Which he held in his hand,
after the universal Austrian fashion)
He waved us to seats. We sat down.
He spoke to us in French, his English,
he remarked. with a pleasing smile.
>being negligible quantity. We might
speak it, he went on; he could Under
stand pretty well; but ne preferred 10
answer. If We would allow him, in
French or German.
French Charles replied, and the
negotiations continued thenceforth in
that language. 1t is the only one, say
English and his ancestral Dutch, with
which my brother-in-law possesses
even a nOdding acquaintance.
We praised the beautiful scene The
counts face lighted up with patriotic
pride. Yes; it was beautiful, his own
green Tyrol. He was proud of it, and
attached to it. But he could endure to
sell this place, the home of his fathers,
for he had a finer one in the Sitzkarn-
mergut, and a pied-a-terre near Inns
bruck- For Tyrol lacked Just one Joy
the sea He was a passionate yachts
man. For that he had resolved TO sell
this estate; after all, three country
houses, a ship and a mansion IN Wen
ma, are more than one man can COM
fcrtably inhabit
Exactly" Charles answered. If !
can come TO terms with you about this
charming estate I shall sell my own
castle in the Scotch highlands" And L.
tried TO look like a proud Scotch chief
who harangues his clansmen-
Then they got TO business The count
was a delightful man to 90 business
with. His manners were perfect
While we were talking to him surly
person, a steward or bailiff, or some
thing Of the sort, came into The room
Unexpectedly and addressed lin il
German, which none Of US understand
We were impressed by the singular
urbanity and henignity of the noble
mans demeanOr toward this sullen de
pendent He evidently explained tn tn,
fellow what sort of people we We're
and demonstrated with him in Ter,
gentle way for interruDting rs Til,
steward understood, and ceary repet
ted his insolent air; COR after a Few
sciences he went out, and as lie did s,
he bowed and made protestatiOns a
polite regard in his own language. TIT
count turned To us and smiled "Ou
people," he said, are like your owl
Scctch peasants kind hearted, pic
turesque. free. musical. poetic. bu
wanting, alas. in polish to strangers.
He was certainly an exception, if h,
described them Alright: for ne made VI
feel at home from the moment w,
entered.
He named his price in frank terms
His lawyers at Meran held the nee dfu
documents, and would arrange the ne