Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-01
NO. 1856.
The Royal Stables OF the Emperor OF
Austria.

Having procured tickets of admission
we proceeded this morning to the ROYAL
stables, and were astounded at the dimen-
sions. l stated in q former letter that these
buildings covered ground about four times
as large as Franklin Square. We found
upon entering them that eight times the
space of Franklin Square would be nearer
the correct figure. The number Of blood
ed horses in the stalls is 400. and they are
all, with a few exceptions, English horses.
Here were the Emperor's riding and hunt
ing horses, the Empress ponies, the Prince
lmperial's riding and carriage horses and
ponies; white horses TO the number of
over 100 for the royal carriages on state
occasions; over 100 brown and sorrel
horses for light carriages. about fifty coal
black horses to be used for funerals and
when the royal family is in mourning, and
about twenty mules, including several pet
mules belonging to the Queen. The num-
Der of royal coachmen is seventy, postil-
ions forty, and 200 grooms for the horses,
with about fifty stable boys and laborers
The Emperor and Empress are both pas
sionately fond Of horses, and can talk
horse" with the best jockeys in the land.
1t is evident that they do not intend this to
be regarded as a ''one-horsc" country
There is hospital for horses, with pro-
lessor and students, and q large horse
| apothecary shop among the buildings.
| We were next taken into the carriage
lott, and here were 200 carriages. About
one-third of which were immense and
ponderous vehicles covered all over with
gilt, some of them especially for grand
state occasions, and others for daily use,
all as bright and beautiful as if just from
the factory. There was also the grand
gilt chariot built for Maria Theresa, the
panels of which were painted by Reuben.
Then there were the gilded sleighs, and
, the smaller chariot of the sainted Maria
with dozen little pony phaetons used in
their day by the Emperor and the Empress
and host OF other great folks when they
were little boys and girls. There were
also in this loft the mourning carriage in
which the Emperor and Empress rode on
that occasion. In another building we
were shown an immense array of gilded
harness, hundreds of sets, all ready for
use, with the suit of livery to be worn by
the coachmen and Positions with each set
of harness. Then there were vast num-
Der of sets ofharness for funeral and mourn
ing occasions. light harness, saddles, ETC.,
innumerable The saddle used by Maxi
milan in Mexico was also shown us, with
other matters pertaining to the horse too
numerous to mention.
We also visited, in large building, the
royal riding school for use in winter, where
the boys and girls of royal blood are taught
to ride on horseback 1t is an immense
hall, , 10 feet long by l20 in width, with II
canopy box for the Emperor and Empress
to sit and witness the performance. 1t
has a carefully prepared turf floor. and
the walls and ceilings are elegantly orna-
mented. This being only for winter use,
furnaces are placed under the floor. with
ilues for heating it. The whole establish
ment is almost as elegant as the palace,
and everything clean and in fine order
The horses are all kept in broad stalls,
with cushioned sides to them, swinging
from a bar. The main building is about
as long rs from North street TO Eutaw,
and there arc half dozen immense build
ings in the rear. Carriages with the roy
al coachmen and positions can be seen
flying about the city at all hours, and the
Emperor and Empress and the father
of the Emperor appear almost ev-
cry day either on the streets or at the Pra-
ter.-From Tienna letter Of c. G. Fulton,
Editor of Baltimore american.