New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-12
THE BEAUTIFUL EMPRESS.
THE SOCIAL AND FAMILY LIFE OF ELIZA
BETH OF AUSTRO-HUNGARY.

lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE rRIBIsEi
VIENNA. March "a
When thirty vears AGO the Emperors bride, not
quito eighteen years old and perhaps the mos,
beautiful woman certainly the most beautilui
prlncess-of her time, came to Vienna, she met
with cold reception 1t had been an unwrit,en
law in the house of Hapsburg that the monarch
bride should be the daughter Of q reigning house.
and the ladies especially did not think that peau'
youth and aniabillty made up for what they con-
sidered deficiency in birth. The change n'"
her warm home atmosphere, from the prigh' Inv
and loving intercourse with genial paren''
and largo family of brothers and sis'erS' "
Court where cold smiles fniled to enllven inc uo"u
march of observation-disclosures etiquetUe, mus.
have been dreary indeed. And how the brlgh'
Young Impress revolted against the rules OF 'n"V
appallipg etiauotte! How she shocked the Iau'o'
in waiting the mistress OF the wardrobe. anu All
the rest! she went far as TO refuse putting Oh
new pair of boots every day, and made ma,'oio
worse by exclaiming: "Do you think came n0,.
on purpose to widen 800 pairs Of boots for you all
every yearW -.
In Vienna the Emperor's mother, the Arch-
duchess sophie. reIgned supreme and her strong
will and hand were felt in all things, political ana
social. 1t was expected that the young wife would
disputo her mother-in-law's supremacy, but II was
very soon understood that her ambition did not
tend that way: she did not care for power, despsed
intrigue Of every kind, and did not even ask 10 DC
initiated into the mysteries OF an ever-VaryihB
no,,cv. Tho first years Of her marriage were
devoted TO her children and the loss Of her hrst-
horn. Sophie. was bitter disappointment to inc
vouno mother The Emperors conflicts with
Hungary gradually began to interest her. ana she
used her influence over him in favor OF the nun
parians whose past history was sympathetic WIN
her somewhat romantic turn of mind The love Oh
romance also made her look kindly upon the NOR
Ganatic marriage OF her brother whose Only
dauqbter. tho Countess Wallerscc. lived with her
from her childhood to her marriage with Count
Larisch. While yet a young woman she applied
herself 20 the study OF the Hungarian language ana
mastered it's difficulties IN stort time. Hungarian
history and literature absorbed her interests and
men of rcnown in letters appointed TO read to
her and converse with her In the newly acquired
idlom. One of these. journalist, IL very fond oil
repeating instances OF the young Empresss sweet
ness and righteousness which were sometimes
TRYING to one who was unaccustomei TO the laws OF
Court etiquette. One day, az ho was reading the
Hungarian version of Mtons poetry to her she
suddenly stopped him and looking HIM full in the
face with an inquIring glance OF her beautiful
bright eyes, asked: Tell me. what do you think
of purgatoryi Is It place at all likely to existI
THIS poser was too much for the Hungarian man OF
letters: he hesitatod before giving answer. and
the Empress interpreted his hesitation correctly
and added; "Yon see. my husband believes in 1t.
but would rather not"
Then came the year 1860. K0nigsgrdtz had
decided matters in favor of Hungary. which was
satisfied on all points and return sworc the oath of
allegiance TO Francis Joseph, who with the Empress
was crowned amid all the pomp OF former centuries
Mt budapest The Hungarians no sooner had a
King aud Queen of their own than their old
chivary awokc, aud tbcy did all in their power to
honor them and make them feel at home in their
country Count julius AndrassY. who IN 1913 had
been hanged in eiiigy, was The first TO devote him
self to the service of the Queen, and with other
noblcmen planned the revival of an ancient custom
in Hungary according 10 which the monarch aud
his spouse to receive a valuable present,
called a coronation gift The Emperor and Queen
Erzs6b6th az ths IIungarlans love to call her.
rraciously accepted the castle and grounds of
G5doll6 and the Empress especially has become
attached TO her new property that she spends by
far the greater part of the year on it. IL IA situated
in tho famous RakOsch- field, and from its windows
commands an extensive view over the great Hun
parian plain which is not the desert which the
word Puszta generally conveys TO the pnblic mind.
Int a most fertile csln.ry with undulating corn
fields heavily laden fruit trees. rich vineyards,
excellent pasture land and extensive forests. The
broad expanse of land over which the Empress
rides 10 her hearts content is perhaps one of the
reasons why she loves GOd0llo But In the days OF
melancholy longing she is seated in tho window
recess of her drawing-room and while her ewes
Glide over the Unreasonable distance. her slender
6ngcrs touch the chords of her either and the
of her home stoal solely TO her ar. Her constant
companion IS the Archduchess Valerie, who was
educated by a Hungarian bishop and has all her
mothers prediction for the land OF her birth. and
which she knows much better than any part Of
Austria. She made her Hungarian dancing master
teach her the national dance, the czardds, as n
birthday surprise to the Empress. and Is SAID 10
execute il with rare grace and vlg0r 10 the merry
tones of the gDsy baud at GOdoll0.
The old castle did not always harbor such peace
full guests as are Queen Erzsebeth and her daughter
Valerie. Its owes its e1is tence to an adyenturer
who I'm Maria Ihcresa's time rose from "A beggar-
student TO powerful statesman, prince ana
millionaire The wooden bowl Is still preserved at
G6dollo with which young irassalkowich went
from house 90 house be Rging his dinner. lie seems
to have been clever at begging, for there was not
n boon in the Empresss giving which had not filled
his bowl before he reached maturity. He bnilt
(i0d6ll0, and the Empress gave him large
property, part of which had been coniiscated from
different mobiles aud converts IN the neigherhood.
When the Prince had a grand house warming, one
of his guests monk wrote some prophetic words
on the wall, TO the effect that the property stolen
from so many masters won III after only three
generations DclOnp 20 ~ many inhs ,cTo dgdiN no
prophetic words, which by Prince Grassakowichs
order were cut into tho stone, came true. The
two succeeding princes managed TO squander all
that their sre had accumulated, and the heirs of
the third and last GraSsalkowIch ssld G0doli0 TO
Baron Sna. from whom Laugrand-Dumonceau
bought il, TO soil It again VITA profit OF two
mil on forms TO tho nObcmen OF Hungary.
All the world well knows how fond the Empress
is of riding and what favortes her horses with
her. The stables aud Kennels of Godol0 arc very
fine and are copied from English models and
supcrintended by English grOOms and keepers
The Empress Is an early riser and often visits her
stables before dawn II was only after the
Emperor had demonstrated most seriously that she
gave up riding before light the dark winter
mornings. Continual exercise and robust health
have not prevented some Of tho evils OF too much