Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-12
AN EMPEROR's HORSES.
A AGlimpse at the Imperial stables
of Austria.

AGlimpse at the Imperial stables
of Austria.
Frank Richardson writes to the Bal
more Sun from Vienna. about
Francis Joseph and bis horses, at
follows: "All the royal family are
fond of horseback exercises, and the
Empress, when in England two OF
three years since. was pronounced to
be the best lady rider in Europe. 1t
was her custom always to accompany
the Emperor on his journeys through
the great public parks OF Vienna; but
it is now year or more since she has
been on the back of horse, having
been positively inttrdicted such exer-
else by the learned doctor OF Amster
dam, who attends her. As she is fiftv
years old it is perhaps time she should
give up such violent exercise as she
made It.
II visited the stables of the EN-
peror which, with the courtyards,
cover l don't know how many acres
of ground, and saw the spacious in
closure where the Empress used to
break in fractions steeds before riding
them 10 public. A priva'e dressing
room for her especial use is attached
with all conveniences, including mir
rors all around for her to admire her
self in her riding-habits, and gallery
for band OF music, which played
while size displase ed her skill and nerve
amid the plaudits of the select few
who we're admitted to the exhibi-
ton. The stables are not more fine
ly appointed than several l have
seen belonging to private gentlemen
in the United States, but were many
times larger, and the stalls are i'm
mensely roomy. The Emperor owns
more than three thousand horses,
distributed through the stables at
tached TO his various palaces in town
and country.
sin the Vienna stable there are now
about four hundred and forty horses,
attended by 200 stablemen and grooms
and guarded by regiment of infan-
try. The horses are all picked and all
young. Over each stall is the name
and pedigree Of the horse and the
year in which foaled, and saw none
that were over six. When they get
past that age they are considered no
longer fit for the Emperor use. but
could not discover whether they are
sold or given away. Never less than
eight horses are put to the great coach |
on state occasions, nor less than |
four for the smaller carriages. To
very few Of the coaches is there a |
drivers seat, as postilions in the |
most gorgeous and elaborote livery
are put upon the horses. There are
two sets Of horses particularly which,
If may be permitted to borrow that
favorite feminine expression, were
just too lovely for anything
There were twenty milk-whites and
twenty coal-blacks used for the state
coaches on grand occasions. The
whites were white as white could be,
and the blacks, twenty magnificent
stations, who carried their proud
heads as high as any Emperor, were
black as black could be. Such flowing
names, such tails, fairly trailing on
he ground, and combed as fine as the
hair of women, were sight to bshold.
. here were nearly one hundred horses
in the stables, used only under
the saddle, and upon whom no har-
ness had ever been placed. 1t would
be quite impossible that Francis Jo-
Heph or any O. her man could get much
personal use out OF the 5000 horses,
even If he devoted his whole time 10
riding and driving. But the entire
stock has a chance to show what it is
made Of, for it is the custom OF the
Emperor upon all State occasions to
provide the numerous staff which
attends him and the Empress with
coaches and. horses. This staff will
include hundreds, male and female,
of the blood royal and Of the nobility,
beside the military officers.
The collection of carr ages is not
less interesting than the horses. The
number here is about one hundred
aud fifty. There are dozen or more
grand coaches, blazoned all over, even
to the wheels, axles and poles, with
gold and gilt, and the panels orna-
mented with painting. The orna-
notation OF the coach first made for
Marie Therese could not have cost
less than 100000. This coach is
never used nov. Sanding by its
side is the coach in which
Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie
Louise first rode as consorts, and
not far away il the little coach
upon which rested the infant limbs Of
their unfortunate offspring, the Due
de Reichstadt. A tiny little coach OF
rich and artistic design, and which
was drawn by goats, is there to re-
mind Francis Joseph of the drives
which he enjoyed before he put on
tronsers. There are several carriages
which belonged to the Archduke
Macmillan, The brother OF the late
Emperor, and also the saddle which
he rode in Mexico before the Mexi-
cans put cold lead in him. These are
regarded as precious relics, and no
one is allowed to put his finger on
them"
The Wh ale Robbed of Her Young