The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-10-31

have borne the title of count for more
than 800 years. Among the most cele-
brated of them was Count Nicholas
Szechenyi companion in arms of the
famous Hungarian general, Zrinyi,
who in the sixteenth century stood
like a battlement between the en-
croachments of the Turks on the
south and east and the kingdoms of
western Europe.
Few episodes of medieval history
are more romantic than the story of
Zrinyi's defense of Sziget, a fortress
on the Danube, withstanding for a
month, and with $500 men, the on
saughts sof the Sultan Solyman and
1000 Turks. Zrinyi's fate has been
made the theme of one Of Theodore
Koerner's most famous tragedies.
Another of the Szechenyis, holding
the rank of archbishop, was the me-
diator in bringing about the peace be-
tween Emperor Ferdinand and Roko-
cry, by which the latter was recog-
nized as legitimate prince Of Transyl-
vania.
| Like their ancestors the wealth of
| the family lies in the ownership of
land. The young counts father owned
| thousands of acres divided into scores
of farms and forest preserves. AS
did their forefathers, the Szechenyis
drew from these domains tribute of
wheat, Turkish pepper tobacco, hemp
and grapes, and next to France, Hun
| gary Is the greatest wine-producipg
country in the world According to
Hungarian standards the Szechenyis
are very rich and powerful.
During the period of Kossuth the
young counts great-uncle played a
conspicuous part. High above all the
other members of the family, famous
in his country as statesmen and public
benefactor, rises this conspicuous fig
ure of Count Istvan (Stephen) SEE
chenyi. Indeed, his people fondly call
him the Greatest Hungarian"
The suspension bridge between Pest
and Buda, the removal of obstancles
to navigation at the Iron Gate, the
regulation of the River Thesis and the
introduction of steamboats, on the
Danube were due to his exertions.
Count Laszio is not the first of his
family to visit America. His kinsman
Count Bella Szechenyi, well known IL
his own country as traveller and ex
plorer, visited the United States Al
years ago.
When Miss Vanderbilt goes as {
bride to Austro-Hungary she may wei
believe herself in that Ruritania whicl
Anthony Hope has made the scene O
so many adventures. Her new do
mains, now broken by the Carpathial
mountains and the Alps, now reaching
out toward the rivers in great grail
fields or vineyards, will be a land o
quaint customs, of traditional romano
and of old world aristocracy in pres
ent-day surroundings. The grea
houses OF Vienna and the imperia
court will be open to her, and Vienn
is one Ct the gayest of European citiel
Budapest will offer her a social pres
tige little less alluring.
: The reason for this is that the fan
lily of Count Szechenyi is represente
In nearly every branch OF the officii
life. The counts father, the lat
Count Emerich Szechenyi. was col
fidential councillor to the Austrian en-
peror, Franz Joseph, and afterwar
I, Ambassador of Austro-Hungary
: Berlin, and wore the Order of tn
t Golden Fleece. His mother was III
5 Countess Alexandra Sztaray -Szirina
G OF ancient Hungarian lineage.
The Count Laszlo is 28 years oil
having been born on Feb. 1S, 1879. II
is the youngest of four brothers. I'll
l. eldest, Count Dionys. man of Al, WI
$ is minister plenipotentiary and cou
Il cilor OF the Austrian embassy at Pari
s His wife was Countess Maria de Car
}. man ct Chimay. The other brother
J. Peter, man Of 81, and Stephen, wi
i Is "a, are unmarried. All OF the brot
n ers are reserve lleutenants In the III
d perial huzzars as well as chamberlain