Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-26

The twenty-flfth anniversary Of the &C.
ccxsson az Francis Joseph os Hapsbarg 70
the crown OF the Aastrc- Hungarian mon
srcAr was celebrated almost everywhere
In the vsss territories On the Danube, the
MolAAn and the Thesis, amid acclama-
tons whose enthusiast. strangely con-
trnssed with the unfeienca execration with
which the Young Emperor in fS4s was
universally greeted. The fact Is, Francis
Joseph, although By no means brilliant
man, has succeeded in gaining the good
viii OF his people through the hard.work-
ING perseverance and stubborn energy
with which he devoted himself for so
saany years To the arduous task Of solving
the ao-called Austrian problem, perhaps
the lroffies; of those with which Euro
pcan statesmen have nowadays TO deal.
His whole life, since that eventful
December day in Is4s when he was so
unexpectedly proclaimed Emperor OF
Austria, has been one of unremitting toll,
and Of labors OF whose nature only those
can form an adequate idea who have had
an insight into the everyday life Of this
sovereign.
He rises invariably At six o'clock, and
reads the newspapers while slipping mis-
morning coffee. Then he takes walk of
half an hour through the park at Schon-
brunn or Laxenburg, listening all the
time 10 the synopsis of the letters just
received which his faithful companion
and private secretary, Count Drummer
gives 10 him. They next return To the
Emperor's private cabinet, and the secre.
tary takes notes Of the Emperor's decision
concerning the petitions and other appli-
cations sent to him. These decisions are
given In the seven different languages
which Francis Joseph speaks fuenty,
according to the tongue in which the APP
plications are written. Frequently 200
papers are thus attended TO before nine
O'Clock. Then the Ministers make their
appearance with their reports. They
remain with His Majesty until eleven.
When they are gone the Emperor
eats frugal lunch, few boiled eggs,
and bread and butter, takes small glass
of imperial tokay, and hurries into the
reception-hall. There he takes bis stand
beside a writingdesk, the doors are
thrown open, and all who want TO see him
are admitted In rapid succession. These
audiences have a decidedly patriarchal
aspect, and the utmost care is taken not
10 slight any Of those who wish 10 speak
10 the Emperor on account OF their pow
erty or humble station In life.
The Emperor himself frequently looks
into the antc.room, and when he sees some
old persons there he motions TO them TO
step up TO him, and asks the younger APP
plicants TO wait even though they belong
TO the highest circles of society.
At one o'clock Francis Joseph leaves
the audience-hall, and hastens to the
apartments Of the Empress, where he sees
his children. He takes especial delight
in examining his son, the Crown Prince
Rudolph, about his lessons, and then
takes the lad out with him on ride.
Generally they witness the parades OF
some of the regiments OF the garrison OF
Vienna, but never stay very long, for 1t il
a well. known fact that neither the En-
peror nor his son Is lover of military
pageants; and the Emperor shirks the
task Of reviewing his troops whenever he
can.
AT two he is back in his cabinet, and
the next hotfr is devoted to the reception
OF foreign ambassadors, or other imp0r
tant personsges AT three O'Clock cup
Of strong. black coffee and few cakes
are rapidly consumed by the Emperor,
who then listens TO the report which his
secretary gives rim concerning The events
of the day, the sittings of the Reichsrath,
etc. This generally takes him until five
O'Clock, when he goes 10 his dinner. For
the pleasures of the table Francis Joseph
cares no more than Victor Emmanuel or
William l. His favoritc dish is roast
chicken, and he eats IL with equal relish
and dispatch, moistening ii with few
draughts Of tokay. The whole meal does
not last more than twenty minutes, except
on gala occasions, when he remains about
one hour al the table.
He next hastens back TO his cabinet,
and those who could watch him there
would undoubtedly be greatly interested.
There Is telegraph instrument in the
and the Emperor, who is re.
markabiy good operator, having learned
this as his trade, listens with close atten.
ton TO the clicking of the wires, and
sends every now and then a telegram
himself, this being his favorite mode of
with his personal friends
and iayorites.
AT eight he accompanies the Empress
10 the opera or the Schauspielhaus, but
rarely remains more than half an hour.
AT ten he is invariably back in his cabi-
net, and devotes an hour or two to read
ing the new publications, with which one
OF his tables is covered.
Frequently important news arrives at
an advanced hour Of the night. The
Emperor always receives his advisers,
even though he be very tired. He rarely
goes To bed until long after midnight, and
generally sleeps only little over four
hours.
Such is the almost invariable routine of
the every day life of the present head of
the House OF Hapsburg. II Is evidently
d hard strain upon the health of the
Emperor, which Is by no means good,
and his face bears a curious expression of
WEAKNESS, and his eyes begin TO look dim.
his habits are 80 temperate,
correct and regular that he can laugh at
his physicians, whb are often telling him
that he is slowly killing himself.
His only recreation Is the chase.
Misunderstanding In the Tyrolese Alps
is mis- fayorite pastime, and he looks for
ward with the innocent Joy Of boy to o
weeks rambling among the glaciers, with
bis short rife on his back, In which
he INDUCES every other month. He
Is remarkably fine marksman, and he
never returns without having brought
down seyeral representatives of this fleet