The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-29

The Twelve Old Men and Women whose Feet
are Washed by the Emperor and Empress.
Fi'JHl M Ratfon Tri4trrili-

vienna, April 5.--Ihrough the kindness Of
sui Weaver. 1 obtained a ticket to witness this
ceremony performed i'll the Ceremonial Saal
S"hWelnerE II every year on tine ,.ay pricing
Good Friday. WE'VE OF tho o.dcs, nen aud
good characters and usually belonging "a III.
Gers families, are selected to have tn"ir let
W va by ,he EmEersr AMI Emp, ai ,.,f
II. 10. One Of the Old ladies bad reached tho
aga OF % years. The doors Were opened al
side 81 t n. "! Ce TeIh s III Was ab
on each table were twelve plates: each rlate
contained roll and napkin; AZ ti~ ~ide d
each plate a beer mug: in front Of each g,e a
small bouquet and over the remainder Of the
table We're scattered rose leaves
entered the saai- with the minis.sr Il tsr ere,
barops. and priests, Sun later cane the I'D
were supported by two friends TO thc.r places
by the tables the old ladies' taking their riares
a. the s6e a. the ieis side Of 'hs sa9 ias
wore black dresses a plain white muslin e5!lai
falling nearly 70 the waist in front. white cars
q sailor hat. placed far enough back 10 snow
the cap border. The Old men wore XIX Sii,s
ssss o,aes stoGs c and h2G g viz
ladies'. After the old people Were ScItr! u; h.
tables their friends came forward and .osGned
removal by the court ladies and dukes ihei
friends again taking their places hehI4i lhein
daEss and Gn so wa'.S the Who h@ w.r.
the ceremony. appeared amid tn" genera, uP,,
rising OF the people. The Emperor ,oos ne
tho Empress at the head Of h. Old ladies' able;
four courses Of food were brough' ana raeehh
e ee1rs tsess OLD reoPe iegr ps ,Ssh
by chamberlaiIs on wooden trays. served on
common yellow plates The Emperor '. .5. 'hj
men the Empress dill Id tn, Rss same for tho I'D Ia
dies. Then tweniy.lour soldier, who wrrd
stationed twelve behind each taee' r ahdi
trays. came forward at a signal from III" nm;
lister of ceremonies and carried the un''H'hei
food away. The four courses Tste -y' ",
very clever in ali his moiemeut+ pass : n, he
food as though he had always served. lac
ladies" After the food. dishes and tate;;
oyer the laps OF the men, another oy,r u aiS
OF the women. which reached 10 the y r.; f.tn
the shoes and stockings wer" renlov'I ny ,uni
Empress proceeded 10 wash the feet, va ~ va
aa,ceompanied by responses from r. IVA ,,g;
carried pitchers OF water. Tho fmler.r a hi
Empress with white napkins wasn.i we ~ 5,
a ns sm 10 % water ss"4 on H. se
was ~ dry and iufy al the end a' VIE" wv
washing began. ,,-,... Tar.
ing trays containing small tag@ at silver IN en-.
tered the saal,' and the Emi"Tot nhl u
prose hung around "a d rc"N onI, ~ t"' ',9-i
OF silver Quickly tho Emperor, EnlpT, - ~ ~
noble people left. Tie III peoV!" roma, met Y.
have their stocking, ard shoes rep,aG r IN
court ladies' nut the garments On NtrS Hlr',,
Tor mo I'D lad bat the old sehi'r'Hcn W.T."
Oh ;ed to wait ,ns time n re tr,S core a s"G *,
Snth -. % H. fe 'fr..l = were allowed - come
forward n an fersee ,teir stockings and Shoe;
The Old IA 'plo are Drought from and CARED
Ia their 4 mes. and al the food aud dishes,
ilnItit.. g. IN ,Ac Emperor's carriage. m
tolI that this Is considered one OF the gref,e'i
honurs thar these people can have h'-trrNgi
up1n them in their declining years; lte.
feet are washed AMI secured with sand t2!oIe
they come" Even then the humiliation VIZ
II reyeren,e was displayed by any on, 9nlesi
il was the Emperor, and even he sniei n ="
relieved and hurried away VI. ~ /"