The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-26
MaximiIian's BOok-The Late Empe'
ror's Literary "Remafns."

The first volume Of these interesting
Remains" which, it is said, are being
prepared for the press at the express de-
sire of the Emperor Of Austria, have now
been published. They contain descrlp-
ton. in the form of diary, Of the travels OF
the then young Archduke-he was eIgh-
teen wears old when he made his first jour-
ney-in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece,
and Algiers, between the years 1851 and
1853. The book is full of the fresh enthu-
siasm with which a young writer Of re-
fined tastes expresses his feelings on first
seeing the finest productions of ancient
and modern art, and contains many pas
sages strongly suggestive of that romantic
and chivalrous character which afterwards
led its unfortunate author to his ruin. In
! regard to manly sports he says:
like games in which the original nature
of man is shown in its full truth better
than the cnervating and indecent amuse-
ments of our luxurious modern society.
Here it is bulls that perish; there the spirit
and soul disappear in feeble sentimental
frirolity. / love the old times. l do
not deny it. Not the times when
men lived in cloud of hair powder, amid
wild flowers and maudlin idyls, but those
when the feeling Of chivalry was devel-
oped in tournaments; when brave women
did not pretend to faint and ask for scent,
bottle on seeing q drop of blood when
men hunted the wild boar and the bear in
the free forest-not, as now, behind bar
ricade. That strong age brought forth
strong children. What has remained to
us from the manly sports Of our fathers?
1t is not hunting, for what we call hunting
is to send q fatal ball from safe distance
at a tanned bear. There remains only war,
which philanthropists, Notwithstanding
their thirty years efforts, have not
vet succeeded in abolishing, and two
other sports, which are still retained
by two peoples who have not yet sunk into
effeminacy. The first is fox-hunting in
England, in which men expose themselves
to risks that are worthy of them, and
shrink from no obstacle in their efforts to
reach the goal and though people say it
is unnecessary to endanger ones life for
so insignificant an object, I believe that
those who shrink from unnecessary dan
ger will not find courage where it is indis-
pensable. The other sport to which al
lude is the Spanish bull-fght, which is
true national game of the olden time. 1t
is true that it excites the savage passions
which are innate in man, but it also ex-
cites the desire to use their strength and
he who takes an enthusiastic interest in
such scenes will not want inclination for
other things, and will at least not perish in
apathy. There is still steadfast and proud
chivalry in the Spanish character, and,
Notwithstanding the sport which has de-
m hnn
Spaniards are pious and charitable.
Here is another very characteristic pas
sage The author describes an incident
which occurred during storm at night
on the voyage from Naples to Leghorn:
Scarcely had I fallen asleep, when the
sudden falling Of my bookcase, with all
that it contained, awoke me. The noise
was extraordinary all was dark. | felt
my way across the barricade Of books, and
assembled to the quarterback. | must here
plead guilty to little weakness. | had
hidden in my cabin one of the storm birds
which had been caught the day before yes
terday, intending, in my mania for animals,
to keep it and take care Of it. When
heard the storm, however, and wave after
wave rushed over the ship, the superstition
about the storm bird came to my mlnd,
and thought that if the bird remained on
board we should all perish. 1t seemed to
me as if the animal was the soul of some
drowned sailor, 80 I fetched it from my
cabin, covered it with my pocket handker-
chief, and took it on board, where set It
ut liberty.
We will close this brief notice with one
more extract, which strikingly illustrates
IL
ment of the unfortunate Prince. He de-
scribes his feelings on completing the as
sent of Vesuvius
was on the edge Of the crater, and felt
as if were lost. 1t seemed to me that
was no longer on the earth, but stood or
the frontier wall of another region.
felt alone in all this horror Of nature, In
this silent chaos. A mysterious shuddel
came over me if my friends had not beer
present a namcless fear would have driver
me from the spot.
Even less terrible scene fills the visitor
with secret terror when he is alone. The
rush of waterfall from rock to rock ther
induces belief that the stream is draw.
ing him towards it, and if the thunder
roars in the sky and the water RACES and
the lightning draws a net Of fame around
him, how his heart beats; how he looks
round wildly, as each thunderbolt and
lightnipg-fash were meant for him How
powerful, then, must the sight of Vesuvius
impress him, where only a thin crust
separates him from the hot lava-a crust
which may crack at any moment. But
when several men come together, each
feels no longer solitary in presence Of
| Nature. and hurries thoughtlessly aWay