Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-05-14
HOMAGE TO A BRIDE.
Gypsies Greet Countess Gladys
SzeChenyi Like a Queen.
STREETS FLOWER STREWN.

In Hungary-Crowds Cheer Bridal
FeudaI Estate.
A company of peasant outriders garb.
ed in the Hungarian national costume
galloped before and behind her car.
riage as the Countess Gladys SZechenyi
arrived in state at her castle in Ger.
mezoe the other day, the end of her
long journey to her Hungarian home.
Gypsy bands and dancers lined the
highway; the village children spread
flowers beneath her horses feet and
cried. Hail, our countess!'' as she pass
ed by; the dowager countess kissed heI
and turned over the keys of the estate
TO her as she entered. And int her
honor for the first time in its history
an American flag waved over the an
cient chateau all day.
A queen could have been attended tc
her palace with but little more pomp
and display than that lavished upon
the former Miss Vanderbilt of New
York by Count LasZlo on the journey
to the home over which she is to pre-
side as his wife.
Two hundred dollars in tips to the
servants Of the Budapest hotel We're
given by Szechenyi as he emerged with
the countess and began the ride to
Oermezoe in a private car bedecked
with flowers, says a special cable dis
patch from Oermezoe, Hungary, to the
New York American. Crowds gathered
ut every way station to greet the new
countess in spite of a heavy rain. Al
each stop Countess Gladys walked out
upon the rear vestibule and cried
THANK you.' in Hungarian.
As the count and countess left the
train Mt Oermezoe the dowager Count.
ess Irene came forward from the sta
tion platform. caught her son in heI
arms and kissed him again and again.
In her joy at greeting Count Laszlo
his mother evidently forgot the formal
tiles for moment, because she did not
release him from her embrace until
he drew the American countess for.
ward and gave her into the dowager's
arms. But the belated welcome lost
nothing in enthusiasm. Il am over.
joyed to find you in such a state OF
happiness" said the Countess Irene
warmly. 81 hope nothing will ever
mar your happiness or my sons
throughout your lives'
THANK you," responded Countess
Gladys. 81 am sure that nothing ever
will"
After the station master, the mayor
and the village parson had rendered
their congratulations and been thanked
the party entered a four seated car
riage and started on the six mile drive
to Oermezoe castle, the century old
home of the Szechenyis. The dowager
countess and Count Stephen, Laszlos
brother, had covered the floor of the
carriage with a deep carpet of Hun.
garian flowers. The four horses, ca
parisoned with barbarlc splendor, also
caracoled beneath a load Of floral bloom
and tinkling silver bells.
AS the procession started for the
castle fifty mounted riders suddenly
appeared at a gallop, blew a fanfare
of trumpets, unfurled flags at the
pommels of their saddles and sur
rounded the carriage, galloping for
ward with it imposingly, behind
ahead and abreast.
A mile from the village the caval-
cade pulled up in n wooded road glen.
while gypsy maidens, Enthusiastically
garbed, ran out and sang wild songs
and danced at the side of the carriage
a bit farther on the serenade was by
company of savage looking Tyro-
leans, and as the party finally dashed
into view of the castle fifty village
girls emerged from the surrounding
woods and threw flowers into the
roadway for the countess carriage to
pass over.
The carriage stopped, and the Count
ess Gladys, arising, gave the girls
thanks in their own language
At the state entrance to the castle
the carriage halted, and Count Laszlo.
leaping out. ran to the open doorway,
where he stood with open arms await
ing formally the entrance of the count
ess into her new home. AS she ap-
preached him, leaning upon the arm
of the dowager, he embraced her and
said the formal words of welcome.
The servants, drawn up in line upon
the broad lawn outside, bent their
knees at this time honored ceremony. |
and as it ended the administrator of
the estate came forward and began a
long speech in the native tongue The |
new countess stood at her husbands |
side until the long winded welcome |
was finished, then gave two crowns
to each of the children who had come
TO sing and passed on into the castle
When the next function of the KEYS |
had been performed. Countess Gladys |
was taken to her boudoir. where
four prettily furnished rooms had been
prepared for her exclusive use. More
over, the baths. formerly of most prim-
ltive nature, had been modernized, an.
cient ceilings had been trussed up. and
the structure throughout had been rem
ovated.
Gladys was frankly pleased. "You
have done all this for me-" she said rs
she embraced the dowager again. ~
cannot thank you enough You have
made my homecoming very joyful.
And l thank you, too. for the flag of
my former country that you have put
above the castle today 1t is tribute
l shall not forget"
The flag had heen nresantad IN tba |