Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-12-15


......
Archduke Ferdinand d'Este, the pres
emit heir-apparent to the Austrian crown,
has just taken steps to buy from the
Swiss Government the ruins Of the
castle of Hapsburg. The young Arch
duke in so doing is actuated chiefly by o
desire to fulfill one of the last earthly
wishes of Crown Prince Rudolph. The
latter, a few months before his tragic
death at Meyerling, says correspond
emit OF the New York Tribune, under
took trip to the Canton Of Argau under
the strictest incognito, to visit the place
where his illustrious ancestor, Rudolph
l., founder Of the House of Hapsburg
and first Emperor of Austria, lived in
Count Potocki and two officers of his
household, Rudolph walked from the
railway station at Schinznach to the
melancholy and densely wooded heights
where the crum bling towers of the grand
old fortress profile their still forbid
ding battlements against the sky. The
Prince spoke but little, and when he
caught sight Of the green masses of the
castle, with its moat filled with aquatic
plants and its ivy-grown towers
above which two great white owls were
circling high up in the air, he stopped
short, awed by the many thoughts of
the past and gone glory which the view
of the cradle of his family brought to
his mind. The view was truly magni-
ficent one, for Schloss Hapsburg is yet
mighty place, set among the endless
woods and grassy hills of Argau, huge
rambling structure, half fortress, half
palace, with trees centuries old cluster
ing near by, as in the days when armies
of knights were wont to sweep down
upon it like vultures, to be gallantly re-
ceiVed on the points of the lances of the
founder Of the place, the Chevalier Rad
bot, who built it in concert with his
brother, Arch Abbot Werner, in the
year 1920. A silence like death en-
veloped the ruin. Nothing stirred in
the half-wild gardens which extended
to tho edge of the woods. Solemnly the
moon arose above the turrets and battle
ments and the vast expanse of messy
stones gathered great dignity and
austerity from its mellow, fantastic
lighG. In his heart the Crown Prince
registered a VOW to make the old place
his own and to restore it to it's departed
glory, but, when some days later he
offered big sum for its purchase to
the Republican Government of Switzer-
land, his advances were met with a
curt and not over-polite refusal, and
this jewel of the past is still in the
hands of the Helvetian, like broken
eagles nest in the grasp Of a cowherd.
It is stated that Archduke
Francis d'Este has been more
lucky in his negotiations, and that the
antique remains of Schloss Hapsburg
will once more become the property of
the descendants of Rudolph I. 1t is sad
to think that the room once inhabited
by their famous ancestor-the only
apartment, by the way, yet IN an almost
perfect state of preservation-is now
used as drinking saloon. The rest of
;he spacious, but balf-ruined chambers
and halls have been converted into
stables for the cows and pigs. No won
Ter that whom the Crown Prince visited
Scbloss Hapsburg tears of modification
should have filled his eyes at the view
Of so unparalleled piece of vandalism.
Turning toward the old guardian of the
place, who was showing him round, the
Arohduke inquired what use was now
made of the North Tower, the highest Of
the four still remaining. "Oh, that's
from where we signal fires" replied the
man. Indeed" murmured his Impe.
rial Highness musingly. Then he added
with sigh: eyes, one can see far from
there, but not for enough, however, to
discover the fire which will one day con-
sumo Europe from one end to the other"
The dull-witted Swiaa 0azed with aono a
establishment at the young man, whom
he supposed to be some ordinary tourist,
little thinking that the words he was
unable to understand had just been pro-
nounced by the descendant of the great
Rudolph, whose name, which was so
often on his lips, meant grand deeds and
noble works, even to his limited intelli-
! gence.