Reared as a Boy.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3443, 24 February 1890, Page 3

Reared as a Boy.

Count Ladislfts Yny von Vaya is a! Chamberlain of the Emperor and a nobleman of ancient lineage and vast 1 ,nded possessions, whoso name Ins within tlio lust two years conio somewhat frequently lufore tho public in connection will) tho eccentricities of Tho latter, who is a " undor curatel," that is to say, alio has been deprived of the right of contracting any legal debts or obligationsf aud her fortune has been placed in tho hands of tnwlces. Her lußtorv, as told by a "V' correspondent of the Now York ■rline, is a strange one. It appeafoliat during the first eight years of Count Vuy's marriage no children were bom to him, a fact which almost drove him to desperation, whon he remembered tlmt in default of issue his immense estates vauld pass to tho crown and his become extinct, In tho ninth year, how ever, it seemed as if his own prayers and those of tho countess were about to bo granted, and when at length the Countess gavo birth to a child he had so thoroughly accustomed himself to look for a hoy that no one at that timo ventured to undeceive him, and tell him that tho infant wis a girl. Tho priest who baptised the child was won over to the more or less pardonable deceit practiced on the (Jktot by his wife and her attends, and, although the name given by tho sponsors was that of Sandor, a hoy's nauid, tiro natur entered on the parish register was that of Sarolta, or Sharlotte. Dressed and educated like a little boy, the little Countess bore tho namo ol Batidor till her llili year, and w»s believed by all but the mother, the priest, and a confidential servant to belong to tbe male box. She was taught to shoot and fish, and from the age of six rode astrido of her pony dressed in a hussar uniform like a little Centaur, Just about tho time when the Count was beginning to consider the advisability of sending his daughter—fens bo thought, his son—to the BRes' academy at Pesth, his wifegave birth to a second child; which this time was a real boy. The necessity of keeping up the fraud with regard to the sex of Sandor—or Sarolta—had now disappeared, and steps were taken to make everybody acquainted with the true facts ot the casii|jl is not stated what stops wore taken to undeceive the Count himself, but as he still lives happily with his charming aud popular wife it may safely bo taken for granted that she did not experience much difficulty in obtaining his forgiveness. The only person who seriously objected to the altered condition of things was the young Countess herself, who bad become too much accustomed to regard herself as a boy, and was so strongly addicted to ail boyish sporfs aud games, that she should not reconcile herself to the role of # young lady. And instead of this feeling passing away as she grew older, it became stronger every year. She implored her father, of course without success, to permit her to enlist as a man in the Honved Hussar Begiment, of which ho was 'ho Colonel-in-Chief, or to allow her to visit tho university as a male student. AsWn, however, as she had reached of twenty-one and had befrom tho imniediatewntrol of her parents, sho took the between her teeth, metaphorically speaking, and, arrayed in men's clothes, entered upon a career of wild oxtravaganco and dissipation, Everywhere she gave her name of Count Sandor do Yay and evon fought a couplo of duels with men who had insulted her by casting her sex into her teeth, A number of article signod "Sandor Yay," appeared in ono of the leading Pesth newspapers, mostly on sporting matters, on which sbeis an authority, and for the purpose of keeping up the

illusion of hor manhood she even

went far as to spend an amount of money on one of the most charming divas of the Hungarian stage, purchasing a house for her and horses and carriages,

besides loading her with jewels. Her latest eccentricity consists in having eloped and having gone through a marriage ceremouy wilh tlio daughter of an army contractor of Laybach, in Aiustria proper, for the solo object of obtjj |ing the young girl'slarge dowry, for Bandor or Satolta has keen in great staits for money since she was placedunder curatel," and thereby djftfyved of the use of her fortune. It is reported that, exasperated beyond all measure by his daughter's mad freaks, the old count is about to take steps for having her placed under restraint in a lunatic asylum,