The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-10-24

The men OF the Szecheuyi family
have borne the title Of count for more
than 300 years Among the most cele-
brated of them was Count Nicholas
Szechenyl. 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 thar the story OF
Z~rlnyi's defense Of Sziget a fortress
on the Danube. withstanding for a
month. and with $500 men. the on
slaughts OF the sultan solyman and
g. 1000 Turks. Zrinyi's fate has been
made the theme Of one OF Theodore
K~oerner's most famous tragedies.
Another Of the SEechenyis. holding
the rank Of archbishop. was the me.
diator in bringing about the peace be-
tween Emperor Ferdinand and Roko-
czy. by which the latter was recOg.
nized as legitimate prince OF Transyl-
yania.
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 foreiathers. the -Szechenyis
drew from these domains tribute Of
wheat. Turkish pepper. tobacco, hemp
and grapes. and next TO France. Hun
gary Is the greatest wineproducing
country In the world. According q
hungarian standards the s%zechenyis
are very rich and powerful.
During the period Of Kossuth the
young counts ~greatuncle played a
conspicuous part. High above an the
other members of she family. famous
10 his country as statesmen and public
boncgactor. rises this conspicuous fig
ure OF Count lstv0n t~Stephenl Szo
chenyL Indeed. his people fondiy call
him the Greatest Hungarian
The suspension bridge between Pest
and Buda. the removal OF ~obstaucles
Go navigation at the Iron Gate. the
regulation OF the River Theisg and the
introduction of steamboats, on the
Danube were due to his e%1ertl0ns
Count Lasgio IS not the first ot his
family Co visit America his kiusman.
Count Bella s1cchonyi. well known ia
bis own country as a traveller and eN,
rlorer, visited the Uaited States 90
years aeo.
when Miss Vanderbilt goes as q
bride to Austro-Huursry she may we'll
believe herself Ia that R~uritania which
Anthony Hope has made the scene 20
SO many adventures Her new do.
mains now broken by The C~arpathian
mountains and the Alps. now reaching
Out toward the rivers On great grain
fields or vineyards, viii be a land a
quaint customs OF traditional romance
aud ol old world -aristocracy IN pres.
ent-day SURROUNDINGS The great
houses OF Vienna and the imperial
court viii be open Co her. and Vienna
is one of the gayest % European cities,
Budapest will oGer her a social pres
tigC little less alluring.
The reason for this is that the am.
ily OF Count SEeChenyi Is represented
On nearly every branch OF the 0fntlal
hfe, The counts father. the late
{ Count Emerich Szcchenyi. was con.
hdential councillor % the Austrian em
peror Franz Joseph. and a~ftcrwarl
Ambassador Of Austro Hungary al
. Berlin. and wore the Order OF the
{ Golden Fieeco. ais mother was the
s Countess Alexandra SEtaay-Saldnay
e of ancient Hungarian lineage
The Count Lasglo is eS years GA
. having been born on Feb as. 1879 Hs
g Is the youngest of four brothers The
oldest. Count niouys, a man ~ a. whs
5 is minister plenipOtentiary and coun
cilor of the Austrian embassy at Parts
5 Ris wife was Countess Maria de Cara
man a. Chimay The other ~brothers
Peter a man OF 81, and stephen WI,
Is lA are unmarried AN ol the broth
b ora are rtacrye ~ieutcuants lp the In
q porisl huErars 10 wen as chamberlain
az The court