Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-22
The Emperor Francis Joseph.

one day. a few weeks ago, the CAV
and brilliant city Of Vienna Was alive
with merry sounds and picturesque
sights. The houses were bravely dec
Grated with iags aud festoons, the
streets sWarmed wIth mulntudes IN
holiday attire. professions OF quaint
costumes passed through the thorough
fares; aud imposing ceremonies took
place in the ancient churches Of the
Austrian capital.
The occasion Of all this display and
festivity vas the silver Wedding OF the
Emperor Francis Joseph, who married
the beautiful Princess Elizabeth of
Bavaria Just a quarter Of a century ago.
Nothing could have more strikingly
shown the love and respect in which
the Ausirians hold their sovereigns
than the heartiness with which they
entered into this celebration, and the
roar of plaudIts which resounded
through the old city when the Emperor
and Empress appeared in the midst OF
their subjects.
Since the time when, being shy lad
of eighteen. Francis Joseph succeeded
to the Austrian crown, in place of his
uncle Ferdinand, who had ablicated,
the career both of himself and of his
mixed and uneasy empire has been
checkered one. Ruling over State
in which there are six or seven different
races, varying in habits, and jealous
of each other; and being forced, during
many of the earlier years Of his reign,
with the growing might of Prussia.
/ hoc 1nnpn HI coli
so we'll that he has retained from be-
ginning to end, the high opinion of
the world, and the affection of his own
subjects.
There is no European ruler more
wise, more upright, more pure in life
and morals, or more faithful to the
great duties which rest upon him, than
the Austrian Emperor.
When he came to the throne, it was
as despot, armed with absolute power.
In the course of years, however, and by
reason of military misfortunes, he has
found himself compelled to give up
despotic authority, and to accept the
position of a constitutional monarch,
governed by the will of the people.
He has been too wise to resist this great
change, and has frankly and 10y
ally welcomed it. No man is less a
tyrant by nature than Francis Joseph.
Like Victor Emanuel. of Italy, too, he
has known how to choose able and
patriotic counsellors-men who would
be faithful. not only to him, but to his
subjects. In Won Beust and Andressy,
he found statesmen able and ready to
organize the Austrian Empire on the
I L
Francis Joseph, though forty-nine
years of age, does not look more than
thirty-fve. A life of activity, temper
ance, and moderation, has well pre-
served him. He is tall and rather
slight, with light hair closely cropped
on his head, heavy bushy side whiskers
and sweeping mustache of tawny hue,
large pleasant, genial gray eyes, and a
round, healthy, fresh colored face. His
bearing is quiet, digni6ed and princely
he is modest man, not fond OF dis.
play, but welded to the serene delights
of family and domestic life.
In character, the Emperor, in a
period where many sovereigns are
stained with vices and weaknesses, is
quite above reproach. No scandals
about him ever find their way to the
public ear. He is chivalrous and de-
voted husband, tender and watchful
father.
There is not, probably, harder
worker in his dominions. He rises at
five in the morning, and devotes the
earlier part of the day to the affairs
of his realm. These he never neg
lects.
The Austrian Emperor is an enthusi-
astic student, and probably has more
culture than any living sovereign. He
is master Of the Greek, Latin,
French, Spanish and English Ian
guages, as we'll as all the tongues
spoken by his subjects, and is, more
over, good musician and skillful
, draughtsman. His favorite pastime is
that Of hunting. He follows the hounds
on hunt as ardently as did Victor
Emanuel himself; and is noted for the
hardy courage with which he pursues
dangerous game through the difficult
defiles of the Tyrol.
In these qualities we may find the
reasons why Francis Joseph is so much
loved and honored by his people; even
by the Hungarians, who, not long af-
ter he came to the throne, rose in re-
volt against him and tried to shake of
his authority. Now he has no more
loyal or more devoted subjects than the
countrymen of Kossuth. Youths Com
panion.