The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-07-12
AN empgRoR.s HUMILITY.

AN EMpERoR's HUMILITY.
Ceremoay. % Feet Washing al Conducted
By Francis Joseph.
An interesting ceremonial is that con-
Quoted by: the emperor OF Austria on
Holy Thursday, in the ceremonial hall
Of the palace, and thus described by
correspondents: At ten o'clock the doors
are closed to invited guests. Then
enter, one after another, groups of high
functionaries, among them the chaplain
Of the court, in splendid vestments,
whose duty it is to read the appropriate
passagesfrom the Scriptures during the
ceremony. Altar boys, bearing lighted
candles, stand on either side Of the
reading desk, arranged Mt one endof the
hall Colonies and captains, high and
mighty by right on lesser occasions, arc
made to stand back and In line on this,
for to-day only those OF higher grade
are to do duty.
Then hobble in the twelve old men.
Such another group OF the '.lean and
slipperedn it would be hard to find.
They have been chosen in part from
among the almshouse folk according to
their age as well as worthiness. The
oldest to-day was lo1 years of age, and
all looked pathetically worthy. Two
attendants aided each old man to ms
place at tho table. and had personal
care of him throughout. The aged men
were dressed in the garb OF Spanish pill
grims-black robe, leather girdle, black
hose and sandals, soft felt fat hats, the
brim widest in front and behind these
also black. and broad white plated COZ
lars.
Next enter the twelve archdukes
chosen to assist in the ceremony
Lastly we see enter q quiet, gray
haired man in the sixties. He wears
the uniform of general. He is simple
and modest in his bearing and action.
| It is Francis Joseph, emperor OF Aus
tria, King OF Bohemia, and Apostolic
King Of Hungary.
Since the days when Christ washed
the feet OF the disciples, the popes have
! sometimes initiated the Master. This
! is the ono instance in which m en-
| peror. has observed the custom. lie
enters and takes his position on the
platform at the upper end OF the table
Directly enter tho twclye men OF his
body-guard, magnificent men in scarlet
and gold, each bearing q tray on which
ARE various dishes of food. They halt
and turn about, each man facing one
OF tho twelve, but remain at the foot OF
the raised dais. THIS emperor takes
the dishes from each tray and places
them before the guests Mt the table.
The guards retire with empty trays.
Then the twelve archdu'tes advance
mount the platform and stand IN line
| close to the table, an archdukc facing
each old man. They remain there but
g moment before up steps the body
| guard with empty trays. each one halt
Fling behind an archdukc. who then re-
moves the dishes from, the table TO the
tray, when off marches the guard in
swift military step to the ante.cham'
Der. Tho archdukes then step back to
their places Shortly in comes the
| guard with trays bearing the second
course. Again the emperor with his
| own hands places the food before his
venerable guests, again the archdukea
appear, standing for moment as II
| about ito serve; again steps up the
guard, off goes tho second course, and
80 it goes through four courses.
Meanwhile the twelve old people only
aeok at the incoming and swiftly vanish
ing goodies during the time the ccre-
mopy passes. Hnf 1t il comforting TO
kuow that as . Feward for wF9t mnst
from the nature Of the case be d most
tantalistHg ordeal all these appctizing
dishes that we sec 10 pompously brought
in only to disappear are really Feent TO
the almshouse after the ceremonial.
THE next event is the appearance OF q
tray on which ore o vase aud bowl
ell of gold, borne by aigpifary, an
other following with salver OF nap
| kins Of finest damask. The chaplain Mt
this moment begins intoning: Verify,
/ say unto you, tho tna.scT Is not
greater than the servant" etc. Others
pour water over the feet OF the old
men, the largo golden bewl placed I'M
derneath to receive the water, and the
emperor, kneeling. wipes with napkin
tho feet of each Of the twelve in turn.
This ceremony ended, the brother OF
the emperor brings tray containing
twelve purses Of white leather, sur
pended ON gilt ei,aiIas, each containing
thirty-two pieces of siives. The en-
peror places one of them about the neck
Of each old man. an,1 this closes the
ceremony of the "lusswaschung. N.
Y. World.