Evening star., 1938-07-06
Count Ssechenyi, Postwar
Hungarian ENJOY Here, Dies

Of the death last night in . Budapest
sanatorium Of the colorful Count Laszlo
Szechenyi, 6o-year-old member Of q
noted Old World family, who served
Hungary Is minister here in the
troubled days Of postwar readjuSt-
ment.
The count died Of . neart attack
after q long illness which followed his
retirement from the diplomatic service
in 1885. At his bedside, according to
the Associated Press. was his Ameri-
can-born wife, the former Gladys
Vanderbilt. daughter Of the late Mr..
and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, whom
he married at brilliant ceremony in
New York City in 1908. i.
Mrs. Eugene B. Roberts, q daughter
Of Count and Countess szechenyl, who
resides here at 4341 Forest lane NV,
left for Budapest more than q month
ago, when her fathers condition be-
came worse. There are four other
daughters. one Of whom, Alice, married
Count Bella Hadik of Budapest here
in 1891.
Chmaxed Secret Romance.
The marriage Of the count and
Gladys Vanderbilt, popularity known
then as the richest girl in the world"
was the climax Of q secret romance.
The wedding was an event of world
interest, for the count, q dashing
figure, was possible future occupant
~ thu Auskriov, throyo 11od,. ,,oi
inherited $l5,000,000 from her father.
She was a much-sought-after beauty,
who had been reported engaged to
several other young men.
The wedding, which took place at
the Fifth avenue home of the Wander
bilts, was one Of New York's most
notable nuptial events. The Count and
his bride spent their honeymoon in
the rambling, venerable castle of the
Count at Oermezoe. Hungary, after q
lavish reception in Budapest. Two
years later the couple moved to Gladys
Castle, picturesque estate in the Car
pathian MountainA named for the
bride.
In 1918, Count and Countess See
chenyi moved to London, where a year
later they found themselves in. the
midst Of developing World War.
Seized Properties Returned.
The Countess plunged into war
relief work, turning her numerous
chateaus into hospitals. During the
World War, she spent much of her
time in Switzerland, aiding in Red
Cross activities. During this period,
the alien property custodian seized all
of the Szechenyi holdings in the
United States, to an aggregate value of
So, 100000 but these were returned
after the war.
To Count Szechenyi was intrusted
the difficult task of restoring friendly
relations between the United States
and Hungary after the World War He
came to Washington In 1922 as Hun
garian Minister, and proceeded to turn
the Legation at 1929 Massachusetts,
avenue NV. into scene of almost
continuous hospitality and entertain.
ment. The gay receptions aided greatly
In breaking down wartime prejudices
and in bringing about more cordial re-
lations between this and the Counts
governments.
At these social gatherings, the count
always was a striking figure. in his
resplendent black Magyar dress uni
form with cape-like sleeves, black
boots, aigretted cap and black patch
over one eye. He had lost the eye
as the result of an automobile acci-
dent.
Horse Show Enthusiasts.
The Szechenyis were frequent visit
ors to local horse shows and often
participated in some of the events,
with their daughters. Cornelia, Alice,
Gladys, Sylvia and Nandine.
The count was transferred to Lon
don as Hungarian minister there in
1888, but retired two years later. His
third daughter. Gladys, was married
in London in 1885 to Viscount Maid
stone, son Of the Earl and Countess
Of Winchelsea ad Nottingham.
On the counts retirement from his
Washington post. Georgetown Col
lege. in 1888. established a four year
scholarship for a student to be desig-
mated by the count
The count was the son of Count
Emerich S1echenyi, who was Austro-
Hungarian ambassador at Berlin for
many years and close friend of Bis
marck. He was great-great nephew
OF Count Istvan Szechenyi, known as
the greatest of the Magyars," be-
cause OF his interest in the arts and
literature. his part in the opening of
transportation on the Danube from
Budapest to the Black Sea and his
extensive shipbuilding activities.