The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-01-16
IMPERIAL ISCHL.
The Residence Of the Emperor Of Austria
-Splendid Furniture and Ad0rnments
Popularity Of the Sovereign.

The Residence Of the Emperor Of Austria
-splendid Furniture and Ad0rnments
Popularity Of the Sovereign.
From the Loodon World
You happen to have friend among the
personal attendants of the Kaiser, who
shows you the royal apartments. Those
of the Emperor are simple enough. Two
large plain rooms, covered with Indian
mating and simply furnished in dark,
sober-like walnut. By his bedside stands,
before prie-dieu, silver crucifx with
ivory Christus, the gift of his father. the
late Archduke Franz Karl. on his first
communion, as the inscription at its base
tells you, and which always accompanies
him on his travels. On his writing table
are lying some coarse Virginia cigars-for
he is an inveterate smoker-and on shelf
above is well-worn military cap, and a
few books in several languages. Among
them you remark two or three in English,
for his majesty is an accomplished lin
guist. A long corridor divides these
rooms from the apartment of the empress,
still. In spite of her rising family of grand
children, celebrated beauty. Here is
imperial splendor enough. Ante cham
bers filed with choice exotics, Louise
Quatroze furniture in white and gold.
rooms in rose and blue and pale green
silk, Aubusson carpets, gilded mirrors,
curious cabinets, and, what most attracts
your notice, very fine collection ofwater-
color drawings Of Tyrolese scenery In
one Of the ante-rooms is living. on a deer
skin mat, full-blooded English mastiff, a
great favorite with her majesty. and her
companion in all her journeys. He is sup
posed no. to be proficient in German, at
least the empress may often be heard talk
ing to him in English Of the purest accent.
This royal and imperial hound has spe-
cial attendant devoted to his service, a
gayly-dressed Moor, sent as present to
the empress by the viceroy Of Egypt after
his last visit to Vienna. As you leave the
villa you notice large swing, with which
the royal children amuse themselves, and
grazing In a paddock are some half-dozen
Hungarian mares, who furnish the knmiss
for the empress delicate chest.
| The fash of chasseur's white plume
comes in sight, and moment after their
maiesties drive past you on their way
home in a low, open carriage, drawn by
pair of grays. A tall, spare man, o!
soldierly bearing, in the light blue uni
form of an Austrian General, who does
not look much over 40, though he is nearly
50, with sandy hair cropped close to the
head and turning an iron-gray, regulation
military whiskers and mustache, small.
restless eyes, and the blunt features and
heavy lips which distinguish the Hapsburg
family. This is the man whom thirty
years ago bloody revolution called to
the throne of Austria. His uncle, the late
Emperor Ferdinand, forced to abdicate,
named his nephew, then youth of but
eighteen. his successor. That he has so
long held in check the clashlng elements
and bitter jealousies of the half dozen ma
tlonalities which compose his dominions
says much for the patience, tact and
logged spirit of hard work which have
carried him through difficulties and dan
gers where man Of more brilliant ability
and impulsive character would have
failed. He is master of six European
languages. and wins the hearts of his sub
jects by addressing deputations from
Hungary and Bohemia, from Austrian,
7 Poland and Croatia, each in their mother
tongue. In spite of his almost proverbiaI
misfortune in war, he is personally very
! popular all over the empire, and no one
who witnessed the enthusiastic welcome
he received as he drove through the brill.
! iantly illumined streets of Vienna on the
twenty-fifth anniversary Of his acces! ior
could doubt rs to the place he holds III
the hearts of his people.
: At Ischl the emperor rises with the sun
and after cup a KiYel. starts off in al
old undress uniform jacket and foragin.
cap, with thick stick for a companion
on solitary hours ramble in the woods
} Towards the imperial courier arrive
from Vienna, and some time is spent II
} attending to dispatches and papers o.
state; for Francis Joseph holds the string,
of two or three portfolios in his hands. ant
is anything rather than a crowned puppet
Then, if the weather be fine. he breakfast.
with the empress and children in a pretty
garden pavilion, which commands mag
: nifcent views over the valleys of The
IschaI and the Traun. At4he dimes. gen
orally en- fdmilie. ProsaIc and matter o
fact as the emperor looks, there is toucl
of romance about his marriage. The En-
press Elizabeth is his cousin. Her eldes
sister, now Princess of Thurn-Taxis, wa.
destined for the imperial throne. But the
young monarch, on going to visit his in
tended bride, was so struck with the
charms of her younger sister that, after 6
ball at the seltioss of her father. Duk,
Max, he presented the simple young Ba
variaH princess, then a mere girl of six
teen. with boquet, telling her that she
was henceforth Empress of Austria ant
Queen Of Bohemia and Hungary.
Chamoise-hunting and Devastating ar
the chief out-dor amusement OF th'
Court at Ischl. The heaters start long be
fore dawn. and the game is driven past
i the Emperor and his party. stationed a
given spots in the woods. The Courtiers
courtier-like always yield His Majesty tn,
pms and leave him the first shot. which
may perhaps have something TO do witt
the numerous trophies Of the chase which
adorn the Kaiser villa. With a goot
glass the channels can often BE- seen clamb
ering high up on the rocky patches among
the pine-covered mountains round Ischl
But solitary hunting expedition. with m
( companion but his favorite jaeger rife IL
hand. deep into the wooden mountains
! and solitary valleys which stretch rount
the imperial domain in every direction i
more 10 the Emperor's taste. Dressed IL
the rough custom OF the Tyrol. they vii
: often make excursions two or three DAYS
, duration. staying the night at some dis
, tant chalet. where the only fare, but tn
, game they bring with them. is goat chee-
, and milk. with black looking bread. tn
! rank of their guest being sometimes quit
; unknown to the peasants who give HIN
shelter
Aast Asarky's Aale Ride.
H. -