The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-02


dent OF tho imperial Reichstag. and
chief lieutenant and associate of the
great Prince Metternich, Chancellor of
the empire. 8
Queen Victoria complied during her
course OF her lengthy reign OF moro
than three-score years, a wonderful
book OF autographs. in which all tho
eminent men and women whom she had
met from the time of her succession
to the throne until her last illnoss,
were invited to write their names To-
wards the end Of her life so many who
! figured therein had passed away that
She was wont to describe it as her
cemetery.
1t Is the most wonderful book of the
Kind that l have ever had the oppor-
/ tunity of examining. and among tho
notable signatures that I can recall
therein, was that of Leo Kill, who
had written mis- name as Archbishop
Joachim Pccci. long before he became
even cardinal. and while still Nuncio
at Brussels. on the occasion of din
ing one evening at Buckingham Palace
with the Queen and the prince consort
during visit to London. Every
! signer was asked to also tnscribe
therein rhe date of his birth. There
was only one name amongst all that
| galaxy of celebrities which did not
! carry with 1t that information,
namely, that OF that wonderful
liungarian-Jewish Orientalist, who
died the other day as professor of
Oriental languages at the University
OF Budapest under the name OF Armin
Nambery. lie candidly informed
Queen Victoria. when asked to sign
her book. that he was wholly ignorant
! OF his age, and had no means of de-
termining within several years the
date of his birth. though I see that
| his obituaries describe him as eighty
| one.
! Vamberys name was Bamberger,
| or rather. I should say, that was the
name of his father. village cobbler
In Hungary, and he was in turn errand
| boy to dressmaker. shoe black and
boots in an inn. and peddler, man
| aging by means of occupation of this
! kind. and Of extraordinary prlvations,
! TO make his wa through the public
school OF St George near Pressburg.
and afterwards through the academy.
| or his life ut Constantinople, as tutor
and secretary in the families OF vari-
Gus Turkish dignitaries. Of his Won
! dcrful travels through the most fanatic
| regions of Central Asia. in the guise
| Of n dervish. every reader of his books
! is aware.
| But what is not known Is the ex-
| traordinary influence which Vambery
was able for a number OF years to
| exercise upon tho foreign policy OF
/ Englo nd. in fostering her Russophobia.
Indeed, IT was with view OF counter
acting this influence that the cele-
brated Mime. Gle Novikoff was sent to
| London to win sympathy for Russia,
| and to establish the same hold on Glad
stone that Vambery had managed to
secure on Lord Beaconsfield. Queen
| Victoria was Immensely Interested in
! him. and King Edward found so much
| pleasure In his company that he was
wont to have him stay at Sandring-
ham. and. after his succession to the
| throne. at Windsor Castle. bestowing
| upon him the commandership of his
| Victorian Order.
Queen Mary also developed a great
liking for him, and showered upon
him so many kindnesses that he was
led to make a graceful return. in the
form OF very interesting and laura
tory history OF her fathers maternal
ancestors. the Hungarian Counts OF
| Rhcdey. At her instance. and Mt her
expense. no afterwards repaired their
tombs in the churchyard at the little
| Transylvaniar village OF Scent
| GyorGy. and set up monuments over
| those graves that were not thus
adorned; n tablet In the cha0cel OF
! the church bearing an inscription to
| the effect that this pious work OF
| restoration" had been done by Queen
/ Mary Of Great Britain and Ireland.
Empress OF India. through the instru-
mentality OF Professor Arminius YAM
| berry"
! Copyright. 1919. by the Brentwood
Company