New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-19
HAPSBURG CASTLE.
THE CRADLE OF THE HOUSE OF AUSTRIA
TO BE SOLD

lrRox AN OCCASIONAL coHRssPoxDESr OF TIE TaIDuSEl
Munich, Oct. /.
Arohduke Ferdinand d'Este. the present neit-
apparent to the Austrian Crown, has just oakeh
steps to buy from the Swiss Government INC
ruins of the Castle Of Hapsburg The young
Archduke in 30 doing is actuated chiefly py q ee
sire to fulfil one Of the last earthly wishes Oh
Crown Prince Rudolph. The latter. few mon'ns
before his tragic death at Meyerling. undertook
q trip to the Canton Of Argau under the stric'esV
incognito to visit the place where his nlusuriouh
ancestor, Rudolph l., founder Of the House VI
Hapsburg and first Emperor Of Austria, hVeo III
the year 1850. Accompanied only by CounS
PotocN and two officers of his household, huooAph
walked from the railway station at Scnlnznach
to the melancholy and densely wooded heigh'
where the crumbling towers of the grand OLD 1ore-
ress profile their still forbidding pattie"eh's
against the sky. The Prince spoke but little, anu
when he caught sight of the gray masses Oh 'ho
castle, with its moat filled with aquatic piah'S
and it's ivy-grown towers above which TWO grea'
white owls were ciroling high up III the an ne
stopped Short awed by the many Thoughts OIL ',e
past and gone glory which the view OF the orao'e
of his family brought to his mind. The view was
truly a magnificent one, for Schloss llapsburS b
vet mighty place set among the endless woodS
and grassy hills of Argau, huge rambling struc'-
ure half fortress half palace with trees centuries
old clustering nearby, as in the days when armies
of knights were won't to sweep down upon ~ iihe
vultures. to be CALAMITY received on the points
of the lances of the founder OF the place. ue
Chevilier Radbot, who built 1t in concert WIN Ills
brother. Arch Abbot Werner, in the year lo2o
silence like death enveoped the ruins Nothlng
stirred in the half-wild gardens which eH.ehoeu
20 the edge of the woods. Solemnly the moon
arose above the turrets and battlements ana Tue
vast expanse of messy stones gathered erca0
dignity and auserity from its mellow. lah'aS'io
liaht. In his heart the Crown Prince registered
a VOW to make the old place his own and 70 re-
store it to its departed glory but, when some oaSs
later he offered big sum tor its purchase 10 ''.e
Republican Government Of Switzerland, MS AL
vances were met with curt aud not over-pollec
refusal, and this jewel OF the past is still In 'ie
hands of the IIelvetian like broken eagle nest
in the grasp Of a cowherd. IL Is stateo ~'a'
Archduke Francis d'Este has been more lucky III
his negotiations, and that the antique remains oil
S.b,oss Hansburr will once more become the prop
ertv NJ the descendants of Rudolph l. 1t Is
sod n think that the room once inhabited BY
tbejr famous ancestor-the only apartment, by
tho wav vet in an almost perfect state of prcserva
,;on-is now used as a drinking-saloon The rest
~ t. snacious but half-ruincd chambers and halls
have been converted into stables for the COWS ana
n;os. No wonder that when the Crown Prince
visited Schloss Hapsburg tears Of mortihcation
shoula have filled his eyes at the view OF SO un-
,oralleled a piece of vandalism. Turning toward
the old guardian of the place, who was showing
linn round the Archduke inquired what use was
r,v made of the North Tower the highest OIL the
fonr still remaining "Ok. that's from where we
si1nal fires. replied tile old man. Indeed, muir
INJURED His Imperial IIighness muslngy linen
he added with sigh Yes one can see lar from
here but not far enough, however, TO discover
the fire which will one day consume Europe from
ON. end tn the other" The dul-witted SWISS
cozed with some establishment at the young mar
Wh1m he supposed to lie some ORDINARY p pI -,
little thinking that the words ne "us u'i h .ho
understand lad Just been pronounced oN tle
descendant of the great Rucoph, whose nanny,
which was so often his lips, mean, gravy It's
and noble works, even to his limited hteineencc,,
The officers of the Imperial Austrian lamp a.
Rrick gave an entertainment to their men tle
other day. which certainly lacked neither t Ure.
irality nor simplicity OF contention: dheS
;ncyncnsvc as they were amusing, and wh itn
hugely delighted both the participants ana Gno
oncers thereof First therc Was pgpene pia as
Officers servants participating therein. nun
drcd Of them were solemny stood up IN row,
each with pair OF very muddy noo,s !" Then
VIXEN this was given they began to scrub, ana
daub and brush away for all they were worth el.;
Their Checks pulled up and crimson, and Their .hs
H dofs Of their exertiohs. The who sue
ceeded in cleaning his pair Of topboots in thfe three
minutes won three gold ducats and vas Sarne 20
his Comrades with loud hurrahs! After this
large troop Of cavalry appeared on the scene got got
M in imitation Of Buffalo Bill and his Indians ana
o wy MANY of the men were in war-palnt
end wore wigs made OF horSetalls. :,
The concluded de- %h anS sSces
ION The tents were brought into requsiton, and
for which moreover the little town OF Bruck had
been ransacled for all Of Its old tin dishes pans
% transform after a fashion into the coatarmor
he,n,sts and shields OF crusader times. The horses
were perfectly trained, and fell apparently dean
os sonn "A touched by hroomstck lances until
every knight and his steed lay motionless In the
sand of the arena.