The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1891-03-05

Archdule Ferdinand d'Este, the pros.
ent heir-apparent to the Austrian crown,
has Just taken steps to buy from the
Swiss Government the ruins OF the
castle of Ilapsbarg. The young Arch
duke in so dog is actuated chiefly by a
desire to ful1ll one OF the last earthly
wishes of Crown Prince Rudolph. Tho
i;itter, few months before his tragic
death at Meyerling, says a correspond
ent of tho New York Tribune, under
took trip to the Canton of Argau under
tho st-ictcst incognito, to visit the place
where "is illustrious ancestor, Rudolph
l., founter Of the House OF HapsbuyS
and frs, Emperor of Austria, lived l.:
the year 1859. Accompanied only bJ
Coun: Potocki and two officers Of biz
household, Rudolph walked from the
railway station at Schinznach to tho
melancholy and dcnsely wooded hcigh Is
where the crum bling towers of the grand
old fortress profile their still forbid
ding battlcmerts against the sky. The
Prince spoke but little. and when he
caught sight of the green masses Of tho
castle, with its Inoat filled with aquatic
plants and its ivy-grown towers
above which two great white owls werc
circling high up II the air, he stopped
short, awcd by the many thoughts Of
tho past and gone glory which tho view
OF tho cradle of his family brought to
bis mind The Wow WAS truly magni-
dccnt ono, fer Schloss Hapsburg IS yet
. mighty place, set Among tho endless
woods and grassy hills of Argau, q huge
rambling structure, half fortress, half
palace, with trees centuries old cluster
Ing near by, Is in the days when armies
OF knights were wont to sweep down
upon it like ynlturos, to be gallantiy ro-
ccivod on tho points OF the lances Of the
founder of tho place. tho Chcvalier Rad
lot, who built 1t in concert with his
brother, Arch Abbot Werner, in tho
year ics3. A silence like death en-
veloped the ruin. Nothing stirred in
the balf-wild gardens which extended
to tho cd.o OF tho woods. Solennly the
moon arose above the turrets and battle
mcnts and the vast expanse Of messy
stones gathered o great dignity and
auste-i;y from Its mellow, fantastic
lighe. In his heart the Crown Primes
registered 4 vow to make the old place
bis own and to rostora it 70 Its departed
glory, but, when some days lltcr he
offered big sun for its purchase to
the Republic ~ Government OF SwitEsr-
land. his advances were clct with
curt and not ovcr-polita refusal. and
this jewel OF tho past Is still in tho
hands of the Hclvotian. like broken
eagles most in the grasp Of cowherd.
i: Is stated that Archduke
Francis d'Esse has been mora
lucky in his negotiations. and that tho
antique remains OF Schloss Hapsburg
will once more become the property Of
tho descendants Of Rudolph |. 1t Is sad
70 thi K that tho room onoo inhabited
by their famous Anoestor-sho only
apartment, by the way, yet in an almost
perfect state of preservation is now
used as drinking saloon. The rest Of
the spacious. but balf-rained chambers
and balls have bern converted into
stables for the COWS and pigs. No WON
der that when the Crown Princc visited
HopdilS eDSkS va
should have filled his eyes at the view
of go unparalleled piece Of vandalism.
Turnins toward the old guardian Of The
place, who was showing him round, the
Arohduko inquired what use WAS now
mado OF the North Tower. tho bighesto o;
tho four still remaining. ''Oh, that's
from whero we signal fires, replied the
man. Indeed" murmured his Impe-
rial uighrcss musingly. Then he added,
with sigh: "Yes, one can soc far from
there, bat not far enough, however. to
discover the fire which will ono day con-
sumo Europe from one end to the other"
The dull-witted Swis, gazed with some
at the young man. whom
&c supposed TO be s3c;e ordinary tourist,
iittlo thinking that the words he was
unable 20 understand had just been pro-
nounced by tho descendant of the great
Rudolph, whose name, which was SO
ofton on his lips, meant grand deeds and
noble works, oron to his limited intclli.
ycnco.