Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-21
THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA.
One OF the Oldest Reigning Sovereigns-
How He Won His Throue-Hi. Jubjpea

ThE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA.
One OF the Oldest Reigning Soverei9ns+
now He Won His Throne-His Jubilee,
London Correspondence of the New York Sun.
| Europe has witnessed In quick succession the
eeieoration OF so many Jubilees-Queen victona's
the Pope's the Emperor william's-that she turns
out careless glance at the festivities announced
In vienna 70 celebrate the fortieth anniversary OF
the reign OF Francis Joseph, emperor OF Austria.
Contrasted with the rapid changes in neighbor1ng
countries, the length OF his reign is almost as
| miraculous as the long vested sovereignty OF the
queen OF England. Born In August 1890 Francis
Joseph has seen ten different governments In
France alone. Louis Philippe, the republic OF
Lamartine and Ledru- Rollin, the sway OF Cavaig-
nae, the presidency OF Louis Napoleon, the empire,
| the republic OF the national defense the presi-
| dency OF Theirs, Mcmahon, Grevy and Carnot
have passed before him; lie has seen The rise and
fall OF five constitutions all assumed TO be eternal
out with the exception OF his difficulties with Hun
gary, the emperor has had no cause TO dread revo-
4 buttons IN his own land.
| THE PREDECESSOR OF FRANCIS JOSEPH
| Ferdinand, surnamed the De5onnafre assembled
the throne In 1885; from debility or laziness he
/ had yielded the reins OF government entirely to
the Prince de Metternich, and II his reign was one
OF prosperity II was due less 70 his paternal rule
\ time, when she was gradually recovering from the
convulsons OF the earlier part OF the century and
Il "A
| impetus was everywhere given 10 arts sciences
and literature, and the era OF railways success
fully inaugurated. But in 1s47 the mental infe.
| riority and weakness or Ferdinand had increased
| 10 such an extent that the ACCESSIBILITY or an
early abdication was mooted in his family and
by his councillors. The startling events OF 4S ac-
| CELEBRATED the event He had no children, and the
immediate successor should have been his brother:
but the Archduke Francis Charles was equally
Ieeole.of purpose, and moreover avowedly under
the influence OF mis- wife, the energetic and ambi-
tious sophia OF Bavaria that he was set aside, and
the choice OF the state fell upon his eldest son,
FRANZ JOSEPH A BOY OF EIGHTEEN.
Rarely had so high a fortune fallen on one more
| worthy. Tall, slender, handsome, the boy had
grown up under the vigilant eye OF his grand
father. the father-in-law OF Napoleon l. He had
received an education TO which his gifted nature
FULLY responded. Endowed with a prodigious
memory and quick perception, he had mastered
not only the classical and modern tongues, but
nearly all the dialects OF his polygot faiherland
He had studied Roman, CIVIL and canon law,
chemistry and mechanics, while officers OF high
rank hat taught him tactics, strategy, and the
arr OF making plans He had a natural taste for
| drawing, and some OF his sketches made during
an early journey TO Italy are still extant, and
show no mean talent the young archduke was
neither a prig nor DOOk-worm, al hOugh an earn
tst student. He was fond OF sport and exercise,
and won the first prize in shooting competition
with expert TyIolese marksmen, VINO made him
on OF their guild. He was a bright, CHEEKY, JOY
Gus young fellow and when after his sudden ele-
walton 10 the throne he heard himself addressed
for the first time as majesty" he became grave,
and said, sadly:
FAREWELL NOW TO MY YOUTH"
The ceremony with which the crown was con-
ferred on him was solemn and imposing; it took
place on December 2, 1S4S in the ancient archie
piscopal palace OF Olmutz, in the presence OF the
imperial family the ministers, the court the rep
resentatves OF the nobility, army and clergy. The
prince OF SchwartZenberg read aloud the act OF
aodcaton OF Ferdinand and the act OF remuneration
or Francis Charles, and the proclamation OF the
majority OF Francis Joseph, who, advancing
toward MS uncle. knelt before him so overcome by
am nr hat a nIrIh
posed monarch gave him his blessing; then en-
bracing him, said aloud: "GOd bless you! II you
deserve II He Will stand by you. Do not be un-
done freely"
CoNCILIATING HUNGARY.
Atthat period Hungary was seriously disanected,
and showing unmistakaDe signs OF rebelnon-not
without reason, for 1t was coerced by vexatious
laws and irrttated by unreasonable restrictions
Even the Magya airs were submitted to them; the
prohibition against the Carrying Of weapons was
allow the chefs 10 have steel blades to the swords
which formed an inherent part OF their national
costume and In order TO maintain the hits In the
scaoodrd they were replaced by wooden laths, and
with these max shifts the Magyars hau TO salute
the emperor. Drawing the hostile attitude OF the
Hungartans. the young sovereign's first act was
native language, recalled their glorious past,
granted amnesties, suspended courts martial, re-
owners, and by his frank and fearless manner RAJ
lied TO his side the majority OF the malcontents
HIS MARRIAGE.
In 1858 bis engagement to the Princess Elizabeth
Of Bavaria was made public. She was only six
teen and he twenty-three when their betrothal
was solemnized at Ischl, and their beauty excited
universal admiration The discovery OF the crown
or ST. stephen on the same day at Orsona where
~ had oeen concealed, which since the year 1000
had been closely connected with the history OF the
Magyar country, was considered a happy omen
As soon as the young empress appeared at Vienna
sne won all hearts by the destinations OF her
Dazzling beauty anu the charm OF her manner In
the flush OF MS pride and happiness the Young en-
psror was lavish In his hosralities. He granted
E2O,OOO among the poor OF the capital In order
10 snow his lovely bride TO all the subjects OF his
triumphal progress through the Danubian prov.
inceS on TO Milan and Venice, where the people
although smartlng under the rule Of the stranger,
laid down their weapons before the fair empress
and loudly acclaimed her. The subjugation OF
hungary was completed when she appeared on
the balcony OF the palace at Buda and bowed
sInlllngly TO the crowds below.
HIS FAMILY.
In the space OF four years two daughters and a
prince were born, and the felicity OF Francis
Joseph seemed complete. However, shortly AFTER
ward-perhaps to shake on a secret dIsappoint-
ment in his cOnjugal relationship emperor under.
took series OF loug journeys. He went TO Athens
and Constantlnople, was present at the opening of
the Suez Canal ana visited Jerusalem, which since
14s6 no ruler or the house OF Hapsburg had en-
tered As he came in sight OF the Holy City he dis
mounted, and, according to custom, kissed the
gTOunu As SUM as ne ndQ passed The gates he
proceeded on loot TO the holy sepuchre, with his
escort, and kneIt In prayer. On through Cairo and
under the Pyramids, he returned 10 Vienna by
Corfu and Trieste. He had already been to Paris
during the exhibition or 1867, and pronounced the
liberal and Pacific speech at the Hotel de Vile
which seemed 10 guarantee the am1ty OF the two
Nations.
In 1881 his son, the Archduke Rodolphe married
Stephanle second daughter OF the king OF the Bel
CLANS he has daughters, but as yet no son. TO
the grief OF his father who longs to the direct
succession 10 the throne assured,
UNHAPPY MARITAL RELATIONS
Francis Joseph has possibly by this time become
reconciled TO the evergrowng emergency OF tastes
and opinions between himself and the empress
which widens the breach beyond healing How.
ever ne may feel the world Is not admitted into his
commence, and ON the rare occasions when the i'm
aught on which TO base q critical Judgment He
| Is model grandfather, and worships his grand
chlidren; the hours he spends with them are the
pleasantest and brightest OF his somewhat SOM
gre NE. Self-cOntained and reserved, he has as
YET mad prophetic flashes, such as wnen he repeat
GUY ainrned his belief that the COmte de Cham
poTu would never reign In France.
Notwithstanding the disastrous defeat of Sa-
iowa, Francis Joseph can look back upon the past
lorly years with Unsuitable pride and with consci
business that he has promoted the welfare OF his
people, and that his reign has been marked by
S'eaoy progress and growing prosperity.
| N. DES
The Prince Of Wales, Tastes.
| FROM London Modern Society