The sun., 1894-03-23
HoLI rHURsDlr ir v1rrxl.
A. s-y.-sr % ns. K.s.. ws.h,-s oss
Msn's Feet.

Fc- ~ csuryt- A.. Eas Usm
After Rome and Seville. Vienna remains
enc Of the rare towns in which the tradition
OF Holy Week IL preserved almost intact.
The stranRest ceremony. beyond . doubt. is
that OF the washing OF feet. which takes place
on Holy Thursday at the court Of the Emperor
The Pope prsctIsss II in the Vatican and the
Emperor does not want to be left in the shade.
He has even gone step further in the affair
for while In Rome twelve old men re-
celvs the honorable ablutlon. at Vienna
twelve old women are added to the twelve old
men. But the Empress Elizabeth. who was
booked for the washing OF the venerable female
tradition, and every yesr ear when the time Of the
ceremony 10 approaching she leaves Vienna
escapes ] the oTis.nciss Fi of the affair. ' W"
dItios. The Whoie coaf. Is ASSN Sied on hi.
there is an uninterrupted dsiiie Of Grand car
riages bringing all the princes. the high dig
ssp o. IN. sss srsnS s%psS sas sa old
assembled to get their feet washed by the En-
asnss az aeS
draperies, there stands upon a slightly raised
ps,i0Srm& tS & long and simple table coyered ,S with
Supper By the masters Of the fenalssance. are
SHOWS Of time have fallen. They are ali. clad
in eort Of medinval costume. composed OF q
lOnR DthCk ClOHk Win WnHe cape.
AT the foot OF the platform. forming the most
violent contrast by their brilliant and bediz-
snsd o ~. tne Sw Of the
froeged in gold or silver and buttoned by large
scarlet, with cir fur "a lpaks and plumes. and
Knights of Malta. clad In white. with the inn
breasts. between the m .rble colon n ado which
stands, , GROUND the teSie d little tribunes are are
n N vttad 0u n aaatad
Preceded by the clergy and surrounded by
the members OF the i'm perial, family. the Em-
white dolman. red trousers with q gold band.
booted and spurred. and his sword By his
the day. while in little blue clouds the incense
with the perfumes LETT after the balls Of the
The ceremony really commence. with q ban:
auet with thirteen courses. all OF the simplest
the Old sentlemen the different dishes. which
Of the empire. The guests never touch the
dishes. but at the close Of the ceremonies
nsg d wse the
with the imperial arms These tninGs are
PRICED greatly. sad are often sold to collectors
The Emp serves the twelve old men. and
In clearing the table he is aided by eleven
nephews, and cousins. Then the table is re: =
moved. and tho ceremony OF washing the feet
begins. Omcers In gay uriforms approach the
platform. remove the shoes and stockings
stretch along their knees a heavy white CLOTH.
which. reaches from the first man to the
twelfth. The priese has not yet finished the
Gospel OF the day; but the moment he comes
to the words "Et c0ph inrarr pedes disc.puio-
and kneels down In front OF him. At this crit
ical moment his Majesty can hardly suppress
q grimace. A priest on his left pours few
feet OF tho first man. Another priest holds q
costly basin under the feet. and the Emperor
toes This cloth is hsnded to him by page
who kneels at his right. while another hehind d
him swings the censer When his Malesty
washes his own hands.
Then Count Hunyady. grand master OF cere-
monias advances toward him with o plate
upon which there are twelve purees each
containing thirty pieces OF silver; Tho sov:
ereiRn gives these purses to the old men, an d
one after the other they retire. The affair is
andad