The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1891-04-02
buIiLUS& A-Al oGJhG.
Tho Cradle OF tho House Of Aus
tria to Be Sold.
An Tntcresting Historic Relic to Eeoonas
Once Moro the Property Of tho Haps-
burgs-The FIRST Rudi;ph's Rom
Now Used AZ - Drinking Hall.

! Archduke Ferdinand d'Este, the pres
ens heir-apparent to the Austrian crown,
has just taken steps to buy from the
Swiss Government the ruins of tho
castle Of Hapsburg. The young Arch
duke In so dot-g is actuated chiefly By a
! desire to fulfill ono of the last earthly
! wishes of Crown Prince Rudolph. Tho
latter. few months before his tragic
death at Meyerling, says q correspond
ent of the New York Tribune, under
took trip to the Canton Of Argau under
the strictest incognito, to visit the place
where bis illustrious ancestor, Rudolph
l., founder of the House of Hapsbu-S
and flrss Emperor OF Austria, lived II
the year 1850. Accompanied only By
Count Potocki and two officers of hiz
household, Rudolph walked from tina
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. Tho
Prince spoke but little, and when he
caught sight of the green masses OF tho
castle, with It's moat filled with aquatic
plants and Its ivy-grown towers
above which two great white owls wero
rircling high up in the air, he stopped
short, awea 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 magrli-
fcent one, for Schloss Haps6urg Is yet
. mighty place, set among tho endless
woods and grassy hills of Argau, hugo
rambling structure, half fortress, half
palace, with trees centuries old cluster
Ing near by, as In the days when armies
of knights wero wont to sweep down
upon it like vultures, TO be gallantiy re-
ceived on the points of the lances of tho
founder OF the place, the Chevalier Rad
bot, who built 1t In concert with his
brother, Arch Abbot Werner, in tho
year 1910. A silence like death eu-
veloped the ruin. Nothing stirred in
the half-wilG gardens which extended
to the edge OF the woods. Solemnly tho
moon arose above the turrets and battle
ments and the vast expanse Of messy
stones gathered great dignity and
sustority from It's mellow, fantastic
light. In his heart the Crown Prinoo
registered q vow TO mako the old place
his own and to restore 1t to its departed
glory, but, when some days later he
offered a big sum for its purchase to
tho Republican Government OF Switzer-
land, his advances were met with
curt and not over-polite refusal, and
this jewel of the past Is still in the
hands of the Hclveti2n, like broken
eagles nest in the grasp of cowherd.
It is stated that Archduke
francis d'Este has been moro
lucky in his negotiations and that the
antique remains of Schloss Uapsburg
viii once more become tho 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 tho way, yet in an almost
perfect state OF preservatior-is now
used as q drinking saloon. The rest OF
the spacious, but half-ruined chambers
md halls have been converted into
stables for tho cows and pigs. No won
Ger that when the Crown Prince visited
Schloss Hapsburg tears of modification
eiipulG u%fC Aiici LIS Eyes hL tuo Wow
of SO unparalleled piece Of vandalism
Turning toward the old guardian OF the
place, who was showing him round, the
Arohdullc inquired what use was now
made Of the North Tower, the highest of
tho 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: "Yes. one can SEQ far from
there, but not far enough, however. to
discover the fire which will ono day con-
snme Europe from one end to tho other"
The dull-witted Swiss gGzed with some
establishment at the young man. whom
ne supposed to 10 soIae ordinary tourist,
Ettlo thinking that the words he was
unable 70 understand had just been pro-
nounced by tho descendant of the great
Rudolph, whose name, which was SO
often OH his lips, meant grand deeds and
noble works even to his limited intelM-