Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-01-03

TEE CHARMING EVERY DAY LIFE OF THE EMPER-
OR AND EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA
From the ST. Paul Pioneer Press

TIE CHARMING EVERY DAY LIFE OF THE EMPER-
OR AND EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA.
From the ST. Paul Pioneer Press.
Deep in he beautiful valleys OF the Salz-
kammerGut at the spot.where the wild noun
tain streams of the Traun and the Ischl
unite, embosomed in woods of fragrant pine
upon which look down from afar the snew-
clad peaks of the Bavarian Alps is the sum-
l. . retreat of the most hard working and
conscientious. and yet, perhaps, the most
unfortunate OF Ec-nuean crowned heads
Driving up broad gravel rVad, oOrdered
on both sides by closely shaven sward dot
ted with clumps Of majestic evergreeus eX-
tending on youI rgIt 20 a lofty pIneciad hill
with winding paths and rustic summer
houses, know as the bgIssrberg, you ap-
proach the house, plain mansion of white
stone, looking cool and refreshing in the SUM-
light with its bright green Jalousies and its
framework Of pine wooded hills. In front is
q wide parterre, ablaze with beds of hot
house flowers in all colors of the rainbow.
Flankiug the vestbule are two grand hunt
ing subjects in bronze, the size OF life, pur-
chased by the Empress at ihe Vienna Erposi-
ton.
You enter the spacious hall. and are told
that the splendid antlered heads, each with
little ivory tablet bearing date, which limo
hall and 5. ircass from floor to root, and all
trophies Of the Emperors proves in the
chase. A capital shot and passionate
sportsman, this ii his only relaxation from
the cares of State. You happen TO have
friend among his personal attendants. Their
Majesties are driving out. and you are per-
mitted TO see their apartments. Those of
the Emperor are simple enough-two large,
plain rooms, covered with India mating, and
simply furnished in dark. sober looking wal
nut. BY his bedside stands before priedieu,
a silver crucihx, with ivory Christus, the
gift Of his father, the late Archduks Franz
Carl, on his first communication, as the in
scription at its base tells you, and which al
ways accompanies him on his travels. On
his writing table are lying some coarse Vir-
ginia cigars he is an inveterate smoker
and on a shelf above are a well worn mill
tary cap and few books in several Ian
guages.
A long corridor divides these rooms from
the apartments OF the Empress, still, in spite
OF her rising family OF grandchildren, a cele-
brAted beauty. Here Is imperial splendor
enough. Ante-chsmbers filled with choice
sxotics. Louis Quatorze furniture in white
and gold, rooms IN rose and blue and pale
green silk. Aubusson carpets, guided mir
rors, curious cabinets, and, what most at
tracts your notice, tine collection of water |
color drawings OF Tyrolese scenery. Iu one |
OF the ante-rooms Is lying, on a deerskin |
mat, big full blooded English mastiff-a |
great lavorite with her Majesty, and her com |
panlon on all her journeYings. This impe- |
rial dog has d special attendant devoted to |
his seryice-a eayly dressed Moor. sent as a |
present to the Emperor by the Niceroy OF |
Egypt after his last visit to Vienna. As you |
step out OF the villa. you notice large swing |
with which the royal children amuse them |
selves and grazing in the paddock are half
dozen hungarian mares.
lhe Hash Ot chasseurs white plume |
comes ID sight and their Majes.ies drive past |
you or their way home in low open car
riage, drawn by span of grays 4 tall |
spare man of soldierly bearing, in the light |
uniiorn- Of an Austrian General. who does
not look m1o42 over forty. though b. rs near
Ell nifty, with SANDY hair, cropped close to the
head, and turning an iron gray regulation
military wllsEer= sod mustatue. small, rest
ess gray ewes. and I no blunt features and
lesvy lips thai distinguish the Hapsburg
amily TINS is the man whom, thirty years
.er bloody revolution called to the throne
Of Austria He is master OF half doxen
European languages, and wins the hearts of
his subjects by addressing depUtations from
Hungary and Bohemia, from Austrian Poland
and Croatia, each in their mother tongue
In spite of his almost proverbial misfortune
in war, he is personally very popular ali over
the empire.
At Ischl the Emperor rises with the sun,
and after cup OF coffee and kipfel starts
of in an old undress uniform Jacket and for
aging cap. with thick stick for compan-
ion, on a solitary hours ramble in the woods
Toward the imperial courier arrives from
Vienna, and some time is spent in attending
to dispatches and papers of State-for Fran
els Joseph holds the strings of two or three
portfolios in his hands and is not a crowned
puppit. Then, if the weather Is fine, he
breakfasts with the Empress and his child
rem in pretty garden pavilion. At 4 he
dimes, generally en- famille.
Prosaic and matter of fact as the Emperor
looks there is a touch of romance about his
The Empress Elizabeth is his
cousin. Her elder sister, now the Princess
Thurn-Taxis, was destined for the imperial
throne. But the young monarch, on going
TO Munich to visit his intended, was SO
struck with the charms Of her younger sister
that after ball at the Schloss of her father,
Duke Max, lie presented to the young Bava-
rian Princess, then girl of sixteen, a bou-
luet, telling her that she was thenceforth
Empress Of Austria and Queen of Hungary
and Bohemia.