The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-03 00:00:00

The SILVER WEDDING of the EMPEROR

of AUSTRIA.

The Correspondent of The Times (writing on the 27th),
gives the following interesting description of the festivities
held n Vienna on the occasion of the Silver Wedding of the
-
Emperor and Empress of Austria :

Long will this day be 13membered by Vienna. The
actual festive procession formed but a small part of
to-day's great ovation. The whole of Vienna, it may
be said, paraded before its Emperor and Empress.
Since the financial and economic disaster of 1873,
when Vienna, and in large measure the whole Empire
with it, seemed to lose confidence in itself, not quite
six years have passed away, and yet to-day the city has
displayed itself gayer, wealthier, fuller of life and
strength than ever. It has thus rapidly developed
new life by throwing off what was trumpery and
unreal in that so-called golden age before 1873.
The-poivezful civic element for which Vienna has
so long been famous all over. Germany, and which it
him preserved in spite of the legal abdication of guilds
'and.neeporations, has regained its legitimate position.
In its Ring, Vienna has scope for shows and pageants
such as perhaps, not even Paris can boast. It has the
advantage of the broken lines of the old Paris
boulevards combined with imposing breadth of the
new ones. The Ring, exceeding two Englisho.milee
in length, is divided into five sections, each of them of
as wide a sweep as the eye can well take in. As the
sections follow the outline of the inner town, they are
of unequal length, as also of unequal breadth,
varying from 60 to 80 yards, flanked on both sides
by two or three rows of trees. The dwelling.
houses, besides, do not form a uniform row, but are
interrupted by gardens, squares and large public,
buildings. The Town Park, the Floral Hall, the
Imperial Gardens, the Volksgarten, and the gardens
in front of the new Town-hall and the Votive Church
succeed one another at intervals. The Schwarzenberg-
square and the open places before the Opera-house, the
Bm-gthor, and the Schottenthor form agreeable expan-
sions, while the public buildings and private palaces
add to the variety and enhance the splendour of the
walk. Fancy, then, this broad way, more than two
miles in length, lined to right and left by the popula-
tion of the town, partly seated in some 120 decorated
stands, partly standing ten or more deep, wherever an
interval between the stands or the space left in front
of them admitted. Fancy, in the background, the
gaily-decorated houses, with their windows and
balconies animated by the fullest assemblage of
bright, good-humoured faces. Let the genial
spring sunshine radiate over the whole scene, and
you will have a faint idea of the spectacle presented.
It was well that many of the stands had been moved
back from the places originally fixed, thus leaving gaps
for the eager citizens to fill up, and thereby giving to
the whole fete a more popular and national character,
while at the same time the occupants of the stands
lost nothing by it. The desire of the people to have a
good view and the fear of the proprietors to have
empty stands led to a compromise as to the prices,
and there was scarcely one place left vacant. The
sprinkling of strangers disappeared in the mass, which
belonged to the small bourgeoisie of Vienna. Of
course there was not one among who was not
personally interested in the pageantry, every one
associating himself with one or the other of the pass-
ing guilds, and everyone having some relation or friend
in the cortege. Those who were too poor to pay for
seats were at least neatly dressed and well behaved,
moving about with good humour even where they had
little chance of seeing over the row of heads in front of
them. This mass of the small civic element it was
which was so striking and gave the display its dis-
tinguishing feature. You saw hardly any trace of the
back slums or of the roughs. The arrangements for
keeping order were nearly perfect, police and soldiers
being both engaged in that task, which seemed a com-
paratively light one. Many of the crowd had taken
their places as early as dawn, and kept order in their
own interest, respecting each other's rights. Only at
the transverse passages leading towards the populous
suburbs the throng from behind became at times too
much for the police and soldiers; nor did it always
mend matters when, instead of more police, Hussars
were summoned to make room by wheeling about with
their horses.

The cortege was to form at 7 a.m. in the Prater, and
to start at 9 a.m., it being calculated that the head of
the procession would reach the Babenberg Strasse,
close to the Imperial tent, about 11. a.m. The time
was kept almost to the minute. Shortly before the
hour struck appeared the cortege, headed by the herald
and the twelve trumpeters in the colours of the town,
red and white. This was the signal for their Majesties
to come. The Imperial tents of dark crimson cloth,
resting on columns, stood just before the Burgthor.
Their Majesties, therefore, had only to drive over the
Burgplatz in front of the Imperial residence. Right
and left of the Imperial tent, in the form of a semi-
circle, extended four pavilions, connected by an arcade
on columns, while opposite rose an amphitheatre
of seats, surmounted by obelisks and colamns, for
the accommodation of the guests of the town. The
proceedings opened with an address by the Bur-
gomaster, asking the permission of their Majesties for
the passage of the civic procession. The Vienna male
choir then sang a cantata composed for the occasion,
recerding how Austria did homage to her Emperor,
who had spread over her light and freedom, and
Vienna, which he had transformed, expressed its
loyalty. The signal was then given, and the cortege
began to pars, taking two hours in passing. Tne por-
tion in costume, with its 28 carriages and 1,500 attend-
ants, though no doubt the most brilliant, was but a
small part of the procession. The University, the
Polytechnic, and the Agriculture School alone had as
many representatives on the scene. These, headed by
the seniors of the different sections, in their full Bur-
schen dress and hearing their flags displayed, opened
the procession. Next came an array of "turners," or
members of the gymnastic associations, in their gray
drill dress, marching as well as the hest of your Volun-
teers. Not only the different associations of Vienna,
but likewise thor.o of the neighbouring towns had sent
their representatives, or seemed rather to have come in
full numbers, being a couple of thousand strong. After
these appeared that dear civic institution of German
towns, the Rifle Associations. In spite of its position
as the capital of a great Empire, this old civic institu-
tion flourishes here as probably in few places, having
about ten years ago received a fresh impulse from the
great meeting of all the German associations. It must
be flourishing Indeed, to judge by those hundreds of
riflemen in their half military costume and feathered
hat. They might have spared themselves the expense
of the costume of their markers and others, who, in
gay-colotired tights and vests, with pointed white felt
hats, loeked sompwhat out of keeping with the rest,
execitciinv rfiemgic me hilarity
of
i
than admiration. But not
th
Vienna alone passed ; every
province almost of
.Austria had sent its representa-
riflemen
rive riflemen, their aggregate number exceeding
1,000. Next filed.past the deputations of the various
industrial associations, over seventy in number, one
for every guild. Then followed the representatives of
the fire brigades of Lower Austria, to whose numbers
168 towns, boroughs, and villages contributed, making
up a total of thousands. The veteran local associati.ins
formed of men who, having served their time in the
army, have returned to their peaceful avocations, closed
up the rear. The word " veteran " must not mislead one
into the idea of something like Chelsea pensioners. They
are almost without exception strong middle-aged men,
who, in their blue military tuniF.s and wideawakes
set off by a feather, looked as if they could render
very good /service. These associations are spread all
over Austria, extending ipto some towns of Hungary
and Creatia, so that quite a small brigade of teem
closed the procession. What with all these above
enumerated, added to those in costume, and including
the Alpine sportsmen of Upper Austria, Styria, and
Carinthia, I am certainly under the mark in estima-
ting the number of people forming the cortege, which
took two hours to pass, at 10,000.

-- -
As for the procession in costume' it may be rather
bold, almost rash, to criticize the 16± century, as it
were, in the broad daylight, amid the citizens of a large
town dressed in the comfortable but anything but
picturesque dress of modern times. The costume pro-
cession bad, however, been designed by a true artist
and carried out under his eye so perfectly that you
quite forgot all the surroundings which clashed with
it, your eye being riveted on the show as if it passed
before you on the stage. So intense, indeed, was the
interest in the really magnificent display that not for
one momight did the incongruity strike the delighted
spectator or move him to a smile of ridicule, and
when in the last group of artists Herr MAlcart him-
self was recognized in his black and gold dress, on
his milk-white steed he received quite an ovation all
along the line. If you had inspected minutely one by
one all those costumes, you would not have found a
flaw or any inaccuracy. First was exhibited a repre-
sentation of the chase by the aristocracy, who ran-
sacked their own collections and those of their friends
to collect the best arms and accoutrements for the pus.
pose, the books and pictures of the period in question in
the library suggesting the costumes. A pack of hounds,
many of the old breed, was there to match the rest. It
was all real, though antiquated, down to the spears,
matchlocks, and falcons, as were all the other
groups, no tawdry ornament being admitted. The
diamonds of the fair lady sitting on the mining
car near the Old Man of the Mountain' and
the jewelry of the ladies on the goldsmiths car,
were as real as the silk and velvet worn by the traves-
tied burghers of Vienna. Of course, fancy had her
play, too, in the affair, as could not otherwise be
where much had to be emblematic, and where the
railway companies had their car as well as the two
great steam navigation companies. That where pos-
sible reality bad its rights; the smiths hammered, the
printing-press behind Gutenberg Was worked, the
weaver wove, the joiner planed, &c.
The horses which drew the cars, not less than those
mounted, were quite a sight in themselves, making a
show it would not be easy to excel. All this was duly
appreciated, and cheers greeted all the more successful
groups. The show amazed tha hundreds of Styrians,
Upper Austrians, and Carianthana whom the owners
of the great Alpine shootings had brought with the
game-carts tenanted by the real Alpine sennerins and
the heaps of game—bears, wild boars, chamois, wolves,
foxes, blackcock, white hares, and a large collection of
dogs and hounds.

Not the least interesting sight was the crowd break-
ing up after the show had passed, and tending shin
the direction of the Imperial tent. In all that crowd
was no trace of ill-behaviour, petulence, or rudeness.
The whole affair was altogether a great slices& The
few moments' rain which fell just after the show proper
had passed the Imperial tent could not mar the gene
ral pleasure, and the Emperor has reason to be well
satisfied with his people of Vienna.

The Vienna Correspondent of the Daily Chronicle
also gives a graphic description of the Silver Weddtug
Procession, from which we make the following
extracts :

Just as the finger of time pointed to nine, the signal gun
was tired that told us the procession had started. The
troops began to dress, the crowds pressed forward and
arranged themselves in seri led masses, the occupants of the
tribunes sighted their opera glasses, and toe Imperial tent
displayed tendencies of putting itself in orner to receive the
Emperor and Empress. In a few moments, a distant
cheer is heard, which gradually grows stronger and
seems nearer, and then the strains of military music
strike on the ear. The Austrian Kaiser and his
Empress approach. All eyes are turned towards
the Bourg Palace. A cheer is sent up, which is re-
echoed by the tribunes and crowds as far as the Schotten-
ring. To the Imperial pavilion first, and from thence to the
Imperial tent, their Idafesties are conducted to their places,

i':'...':,.4',1,•;,*!....-.,,1..:.".:',.;4;-#.:ii.-,.-:-:::‘,•:,.•,:,41.t i;
~.,i,:74.,.;,_:?,,ii„,...',,,,Tt::',•4.',4:.',':..,,,.:'.t..:. i;Fy,oi
::,..'-','-;,,z.,:,iL......-.'•;,k.:•_'',:.,--,,,:,°,,t`,.,i''i,';'.,!'.,-t;.!,
'..',...i,:•?::.,..,::.7:;...:..,:..;r-;,:.,.,,,:•:':::--•:i-,,,..7-.

accompanied by the Crown Prince and the various Arch
dukes and Archduchesses. Amongst those present in the
Imperial tent, I noticed Count Schorivaloff, Count Ifovikoil,
Russian Ambassador, Aieko Pacha, M. Teisserenc de Eon,
French Ambassador, M.Delaplahse, Secretary to the American
Legation, and many members of the Cori% Diplomatic of
Vienna. There is a perfect sea of lorgnettes and eyes turned
on the Emperor and Empress, which is, however, soon
directed in other directions. It is now well-nigh eleven. The
cortege is approaching. Mounted eciaireure prance down
the ring, whilst aides des-camp dart to-and-fro as though
Important orders had been entrusted to them. The National
Anthem is struck up by the Franz-Josef Regimental Band,
which is stationed in close proximity to the Imperial tent,
and as the first few bars steal upon our ears, a sight breaks in
upon our eyes that carries us back to the gilded past, the
days of pageantry and chivalry. Three heralds, mounted on
magnificent white chargers, slowly approach. Each horse's
bridle is held by a page, who leads his charge with a silken
string. The herald on the right of the procession repre-
sents Austria, the centre Vienna, and the left Bavaria.

The Austrian herald is clad in yellow and black, the
Viennese in white and red, and the Bavarian in blue and
white. Eicts bears a breast-plate allegorical of the escutcheon
of the country of his origin. The pages are costumed in
colours similar to the heralds, and wear the ribbons to
correspond. A banner-bearer follows each herald, and the
triple colours are again repeated. Each banner-bearer is
escorted by five knights, who respectively wear the
distinctive colours of their leaders. Behind these, in
extended line, come twelve trumpeters, with silver
trumpets, whose steeds, like those of the heralds, banner.
bearers, and knights, are white, and led by pages correspond-
ing to the rank of the horsemen. A fanfare is sounded, and
the mission of the cortege is explained to the Emperor and
Empress by the Burgermeister and Councillors of Vienna,
who have been awaiting the avant-garde. Whilst the homage
of Vienna is being offered to their Majesties, I have time to
limb out the gorgeous costumes of toe trumpeters. Their
doublets are black and yellow, their tunics are red, slashed
and fringed with gold, and their silken hose is white striped
in blue. Their horses are magnificently caparisoned, and
the dresses of the pages are exact counterparts of the riders.
The Emperor has accepted the homage of his capital, and the
procession moves on, amidst the clanging of church-bells,
the thunders of artillery, the rattle of mu.ketry, the strains
of music, and the cheers of the people. First in order in the
procession come the students in the University, headed by
two trumpeters in sixteenth century costume. Science and
art follow with their votaries. The group of artiats was
headed by Hans Mackin, the designer of the Procession. He
was loudly cheered by all; and, in passing the Imperial tent,
the Emperor and Empress bestowed upon him a most graceful
recognition. The Athletic -Colon ,(the Turnverein) comes
next, and presents a goodly array. The trades committees,
or deputations from these, are next in order, and include
every trade and craft and profession (a barber is politely
termed a professor here) contained in the industry or toil
of Vienna. There were barbers, brewers, and bookbinders;
carvers, carpenters, and cork-cutlers; carriage builders,
cooks, coopers, and commissionaires; gunsmiths silver-
smiths, goldsmiths, and tinsmiths; whitesmiths and black-
smiths; the hatters, gliders, and watchmakers. The multi-
plicity of trades and professions was boundless, and a band
of musicians followed, giving an artistic touch to the civic
group. Three heralds, clad in the costume of the sixteenth
century, their tabards brilliant, headed the next section.
These were followed by fifteen citizens of the city, clothed
re.pectively in Austrian, Bavarian, and Viennese colours,
and mounted on most gorgeously caparisoned chargers.
Each citizen bore a banneret, on which was inscribed the
name of some Imperial town.

The first allegorical group was next in order, and repre-
sented the Chase. Some forty huntsmen, clad as ancient
nobles, rode in front, followed by large retinues. risere
were stag, deer, wild-boar, and chamois huntsmen, each
dressed in the garb suited to the particular form of chase.
Then came a splendid banner of St. Hubert, crowded araund
by picturesquely-clad huntsmen, with packs of hounds at
their heels. The bloodhounds yelled fearfully, whilst the
setters and pointers and other csnine species howled
hideously. Then came mounted squires and landed gentry,
with their falconers, bearing attached to their wrists living
falcons. The triumphal hunting-car followed, tilled with
every conceivable animal of the chase. A hage bear seemed
ill at ease amidst a pack of chamois, star, wild boars, and
other gibier kind. A military band was nextin order, and
added to the realities of the chase by playing the most lively
and characteristic hunting selections.

Horticulture came next. A massive arbour is drawn along
by four magnificent bay horses. The arbour is made up of
creeping plants and wreathing flowers, in front of this
arbour sits the goddess Flora, represented by a particularly
handsome girl, at whose feet were crouched tour equally
pretty girls, who appeared to have an inexhaustible store of
flowers of the most choice kinds at their command to scatter
amongst the applauding sightseers. This is followed by
quite a crowd of women carrying gardening implements of
every possible kind, but all of ancient pattern. The costumes
are rich, but harmonious in colons, and their bronzed faces
seem to imply that either nature or art must have been
factors in their existence.

Great Bacchus, god of wine, came next. Casks, cases, and
bottles of wine are piled up en a tremendous car, with the
god himself seated aloft crowned with the vine-leaves, and
holding in his hand a huge goblet of sparkling nectar.
Vine-leaves and clusters of grapes adorn the car, which is
followed by vintners of all ages and of both sexes. The
lively strains of a military band cheer the lookers-on in
return for their admiration.

The El Dorado Mountain, next in order, is mounted on 4
triumphal car, drawn by six splendid horses. Plastic figures
take the place of mortals in this allegory. Three giant
forms are picking away at the mountain, out of the cleft of
which springs the Queen of Diamonds, on whose brow is a
crown of diamonds, and whose right hand grasps a sceptre
enriched with gems and brilliants. Under a canopy by her
side sit two figures—male and female—clad in rich brocade
of gold and silver' and besprinkled with precious stones,
whilst at their feet genii lie resplendent in gorgeous costumes
of sparkling gems. Hundreds of miners follow this car,
bearing on their shoulders the implements of their craft.
The band of the Mollinary Regiment accompanies this
section.
The Jolly Millers follow. Their triumphal car is drawn by
six milk white horses. The car is laden with sacks of flour
and meal, and on the top are seated the btucom-looking
wives of the millers and the bakers, whose floury and
whitened forms follow the car behind. Sheaves of wheat,
barley, and corn, and bandies of maize form their burdens
Another band of music, and then comes a colossal wedding-
cake in the shape of a pyramid. The ladies aver this to be
charming, and assert it to be it chef d'oeuvre of the confec-
tionery art.
The Butchers are next in order, and sport a car drawn by
six horses, adorned with wreaths of plants and flowers. Two
butcher-boys lead the horses, and right jovial merry butcher-
boys they look.
A. trade peculiar to Vienna comes next. The Sausage.
makers are represented by a car-borne buffet designed on a
most elaborate scale, and displaying every one of the
thousand and one species of sausages for which the Austrian
capital is noted. What this part of the world would do
without sausage I am at a loss to imagine. The crowds
cheered the buffet with a vigour that bespoke its honesty.
The buret car was crowded with hams and the olla podrida
which g 0 to make up the savoury food.
The Weinstube figured next in order. A hundred wine-
shop labourers dragged along a 100-hectolitre cask, which
was adorned With gorse, vine-leaves, and flowers. This was
followed by all the well-known restaurateurs of the city,
together with waiters and waitresses. The salutations ex-
changed between those in this group and the sightseers were
quite amusing. The processioniats were in the quaint
costume of the sixteenth century. .

Between this group and the allegorical representation of
Commerce there are some twenty industries represented.
Some are mounted and some are on foot, but all are cos-
tumed in a most effective manner. Four bands of music
accompany the trades. The car of Commerce is a gigantic
one. The fore part of it represents the head of a panther,
surmounted by a huze globe, on which stands a colossal
figure of &ternary. Anchors, cables, and other marine para-
phernalia are piled up, and on the summit two young girls
figure as Sale and Exchange. Navigation comes next, and is
represented by a splendid galley, the Bucentaur, built
after the model of the Doge of Venice's galley of that
name and fame. At the bow stands a bearded Neptune.
Railways are next represented. Eight black horses draw the
chariot of the god of fire, who celebrates his nuptials with a
water-nymph. Three figures stand in front and herald in
Fame, whilst supporting on their outstretched arms a winged
wheel. In the centre sits the fire-god on his throne, corn.
posed of two raven-wings. In his arms he embraces the
nymph. By their side two coal furnaces blaze, and around
sit six maidens, costumed to represent the six provinces of
the Empire A hundred engineers follow on foot, and these
In turn are followed by every branch of industry connected
with railways. Each branch has its triumphal car, and each
group has attached to it a military band.
• - -

Literature is represented by a car drawn by six horses.
The or is shaped so as to resemble a hand-press. In front
three female allegorically-draped figures stand, bearingburn-
ing torches. The press is surrounded by the different
characters who make up the " Wedding Chronicle," copies
of which are being constantly struck off and distributed
amongst the people by newAboys and vendors. There were
several ether allegorical groups worthy of note, but time
will not permit a description of them. I must not omit the
last group, which was exclusively composed of Austrian and
Hungarian nobles, who formed a group representative of the
modern chase. In this, Tyrol wins represented by Count
Othemo Licknowsky ; Styria by Count Von Meran ; and
Corinthia by Prince Rosenberg. A number of c,irs were
laden with stags, deer, bears, wolves, lynxes, chamois, and
other animals of the chase. Every hunter carried game
over his shoulder, and was surrounded by a pack of dogs.
Each noble had a retinue of at least twenty huntsmen.
Deputations followed next from every part of the Empire,
and the rear was brought up by a choir composed of the
different Choral Unions of Lower Austria, who as-
sembled in front of the imperial tent and sang the
National Anthem. It was half-past one as the bells of the
Cathedral rang out the wedding peals, as a signal that
the Silver Wedding Procession had passed the Imperial
tent. Towards the close of this magnificent pro-
cession a golden shower of rain, fell for a second or two,
but was immediately succeeded by a glorious rainbow,
which formed a spectacle as unique and as artistic as eye
could dwell upon. As the Burgomeister was about to leave,
the Emperor sent for him and congratulated him on the
magnificence of the demonstration. He begged the Burgo-
meister to thank Vienna.

The procession broke up at the Augarten at half-past two.
Everything went off splendidly—not an accident. This
evening the rain has returned. Vienna is jubilant, and
Hans Mackart is the hero of the hour.

On the occasion of the celebration, the gpneror
proclaimed an amnesty and pardoned 377 prisoners,
:those offences were committed through indiscretion or
poverty. He also wave to ten universities donations
amounting to 300,1100 florins, the interest of which will
provide 40 purees of 300 florins each for students and
20 free places in schools for officers' daughters. The
Imperial couple have jointly given 10,000 florins to the
poor of Vienna. The event was celebrated in most
provincial towns in Austria and Hungary, and it is
noteworthy that Serajeve, in Bosnia, was illuminated.

• An autograph letter of the Emperor Francis Joseph
has been published, in which his Majesty says that
the Empress and himself have been deeply moved by
the spontaneous evidences of sincere love which have
met them on all sides, from people of all ranks and
stations. The Emperor adds that this grateful re-
membrance will ever dwell in his heart, and in his own
name and that of the Empress he tenders to all his
warmest thanks.

place at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and
within an hour the sad news was flashed to Madrid.
The populace at Seville have, by their conduct,
evinced the warmest sympathy with the bereaved
mourners. Crowds had assembled around the palace,
within which they knew the Princess was dying; but
they had only assembled for the purpose of manifest-
ing their participation in the sorrow which the event
has everywhere created.
The various journals express the most profound
sorrow at the untimely death of the Princess, who,
like the late Queen, was most genial and amiable;
and, notwithstanding the volatile character of the
light-hearted Spaniard, all classes seem greatly
touched by the untoward bereavements which the
young King and his family have unfortunately suffered
during the iast year.