New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-14
q Very Persistent Family.

Count STEPHEN Tisza. President Of the
Hungarian Chamber of Deputies. who has
bv sheer persistency succeeded in forcing
through Parliament the defence bill sub
mitted by the government. comes from a
family that for hundreds Of years has been
renowned for its obstinacy and resolution.
The obstruction Of the noisy Opposition
led by Count Albert AppOnyi, who behaved
so disgracefuly that he had to be elected
from the chamber by the police. while one
of his adherents actually fred three shots
from his revolver at the president failed
20 move man of the latter's tenacity and
determination.
OF this Characteristic trait Of the Tisza
family l can give the following illustra-
ton in connection with a lawsuit of
Jarndyce type which lasted for over
hundred years. During the Turkish in
vasion in the early part Of the sixteenth
century the enemy seized the Tisza es-
tates, but when the Moslems were driven
out Of the country the lands, instead of
being restored to the original owners were
coolly appropriated by one Of the victorious
generals. the royal Duke Of Modena The
Tisza OF the day, Ladslays by name,
sought redress in the courts. and obtained
q judgment in his favor. 1t was carried
from one court to another on appeal until
after having obtained at least two dozen
decisions. each in favor Of the Tiszas, the
grandsons Of old Ladislavs finally brought
the matter before the so-caled Royal
Curia. which in those days constituted the
supreme tribunal OF the kingdom, and with
out whose sanction the DEGREES Of the lowe.
courts could not be executed.
AS the lands had now passed from the
hands Of the Duke Of Modena into those
Of the imperial house of Hapsburg. the
judges were naturally disinclined to take
any steps in the matter. Nothing
daunted, the Tiszas took it in turns to sit
day after day from morning 10 night at
the entrance OF the judgment hall Of the
Curia, never permitting one Of its judges
10 either enter or leave the place without
apostrophiZing him with the exclamation:
will you kindly take our case into con-
Sheraton
This ended by becoming such a perfect
nightmare TO the judges that in a couple
OF years they appealed I'm despair to En-
press Maria Theresa, threatening to resign
In body unless they were freed from this
species OF persecution. The Empress, see
ing that the TisZas had right on their side,
and that public sentiment i'm Hungary was
all I'm their favor, regarding the conflsca-
ton Of their estates by the Duke OF Modena
as a typical piece Of tyranny and spolla-
lion. opened up negotiations with the fam
is, and i'm consideration Of their withdraw
ing their plea and their claim, as far as
the courts were concerned, conferred upon
them number of Crown lands, c0mpris-
ing the villages of Geszi and Of Mezo-
Geyan. as well as immense tracts Of pusia.
as the huge prairies of Hungary are called.
These lands remain I'm the possession Of
the Tiszas 10 this day, the chief of the
family being Count Stephen. the Premier
and, like his father, "A member OF the Re
formed Church. lie is. however, much
more conventional in every way than his
father. ror old Koloman Tisza, hook
nosed. spcctacled with STOPPING shoulders
unkempt beard and long gray hair, trailing
over the collar of terribly threadbare
coat was a most odd-looking man. lie USED
10 wear the shabbiest Of hats, and indeed
presented such an appearance that when
Prime Minister OF Hungary he was nick
named al the Court Of Vienna as ''Shobert,
that being the patronymic Of the most ia
nous bandit and brigand chief In Magyar
history.
Yet he was a wonderfully honest old fell
low. and II was because OF MS Periec'y un
bleinished integrity and absolute uDseii'e"
ness that he possessed so much lNiue"ee
over his countrymen. lie cettsiiiS HeF.
Ola anything TO purposely ingratiate hii'seii
with them. For he was man ol lev
words. disdainful OF little couriesies' an
a not seem to care whom ne onen'eu ~