The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-09


protection upon him and his people. On
all other occasions the Emperor Is dressed
In military uniform, but on this holy day
he wears only the clothes OF CIVILIAN,
with no mark or sign 10 show that he Is OIL
the Lords aaointcd any more than Is the
humblcst peasant present. The sermon u
not long one, but there IL enough fire
and birthstone about IL 10 make II interest
ing; the singing by the choir il quite salts
factory, and the organ, very good one, II
well PLAYED upon. There IL no collection
taken up, az We do theses things In Ameri-
! ca. but two very pretty little girls stand
on either side Of the door to accept the
offerings OF the congregation as they pass
out
The old woman who keeps the church
clean has been these thirty-odd years n SER
want at the Villa Solitude. She Is more
than seventy years old, and she Is strict
Roman Catholic; but during the Empe-
ror's stay at Gastein she worships under
the same roof with that aged sovereign.
Every year when the Emperor calls for the
last time at the Villa Solitude, Mary Is
called in and he gives her $50, an enor-
nous sum Tor such simple dependent up
| y0nder in the mountains Of Austria.
The Emperor always invites few gen.
tlcmen-never any lady, unless she be oil
| royal birth-to dine with him at his hotel
while in Gastein. But before leaving the
place he always gives one big dinner, TO
which ladies as well rs gentlemen are In
vited, out at Buckstein. village not far
distant from Gastein, where there Is nice
| restaurant in large and well-kept garden.
| Here the dinner is served in large room
on the second floor. The Emperor offers
his arms, one to ihe Countess Lehndoril,
the other 10 the Countess MeraI, whom he
hands in to dinner, while the other ladies
are escorted by the officers and young
gentlemen present. After the Emperor
| is seated all take their places mt the
table according TO their own plea
| sure. During dinner the conversation Is
unrestraIned, the monarch doing Tue
donors in a most charming and agreeable
manner. addressing himself to old and
young alike, and readily answering all re-
marks which they may address to him.
| The coffee is served on little tables In The
garden. The Emperor does not smoke
much himself. but he likes to see others
enjoy il, and rs soon as the coffee makes It's
appearance he Informs the gentlemen that
they are at liberty to light their cigars.
| There is a battle-ground near By, and the
Emperor generally makes up game, III
yiting some Of the younger ladies presenl
to be Of his party. Some OF these dear crea'
lures know no more about Skittle than they
do about baseball, and their awkward
WAYS and movements give rise To many
Jokes, in which his imperial Majesty hearth
lv Joins. The picnic breaks up about u
o'clock in the evening. The Emperor re-
serves 10 himself the privilege OF assisting
all the ladies into their carriages, and as he
does so be has kind and often witty
word for every one of them. No one Is
permitted TO leave until the Emperor Is
seated in his own carriage. Then he drives
past the whole line, saluting the whole
party, and followed by all the others, re-
turns to Gastein. Arrived at his hotel he
salutes again, the ladies wave their hand
kerchiefs and throw him kisses with their
| finper-tips, the gentlemen lift their hats,
| the peasants shout Hooray," and the
party disperse.
Before leaving Gastein his Majesty gives
| handsome presents, not only to the ladies
and gentlemen who have taken part in the
| private theatricalS. but to all others who
have helped to entertain him. As it is not
easy to obtain such souvenirs ut Gastein,
the Emperor always brings a lot Of lockets,
bracelets. crosses, and scarf-pins with him
from Berlin. and as he invariably sends
along with the present note in his own
handwriting, the gifts are most highly
valued. When well out OF town the En-
peror stops at the roadside to have chat
with very old man, who has been selling
| stones and mountain crystals there Tor
many years. He inquiries as to the old
mans health. about his success in business,
and never leaves without purchasing few
specimens OF stones and minerals, which
| he carries with him to Potsdam. where
they are placed in the shell hall OF the pal
ace OF the Crown Prince and Princess.