Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-17
"OLD GLORY" IN AUSTRIA
How an American Woman Floated the Stars
and Stripes.
A "Fahnenweih" mt kitzbuhel - Maxi
ing a New Regiment of
Soldiers.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


KITZBUHEL, September 4, 1895.
The event mentioned in my recent letter
to The Evening Star from Kitzbuhel proved
unique and interesting. On that occasion
the stars and stripes f1oated for the first
time IL, the little Austrian town.. The SOL
diers came, and for ten days they con-
Quered the town. Gray coats were every
whcre-on the roads, in the fields and
woods Early in the morning came the
tramp, tramp, by our tiny house, as the
regiments filed past On their daily march.
Small squads were left behind, and these
We saw putting up poles along our one
street and along the road to the castle.
The great day was to be Sunday, August
4, and the princess was to arrive Saturday
night, SO everything must be in readiness.
Such q subdued festivity was in the air!
At last we caught the fever, and decided to
aid the old frau in decorating the house,
but we were too stanch Americans to hang
the Austrian flag unless our stars and
stripes would be allowed. So we applied to
Herr 'Burgenmeister for permission, which
was readily granted, and then the question
arose as to where it was to come from.
Make it, of course, and make it we did,
taking as a pattern the cancellation stamp
of the flag now used on letters. l blessed
our government for that, for we are sure
pointed stars just right without it, and
right it must be, for was there not the
widow of an English author at the cha
teau? She, We knew, was as aggressive
against America as her husband had been,
so it must be just so.
However, willing hands made light work,
and Saturday we were ready with our dec
orations. Alas! the raindrops came down
faster and faster, and the flags which were
already floating looked wet and bedraggled,
but we must decorate. Soon we had the
little house gay with Austrian and Tyrolese
colors. with the exception Of our window.
% fhn last
was ready open came the window and our
beautiful flag was floating proudly in the
breeze, with an "Ach, we schoenr' and
Ach, vie huebsch!' from the frau and
fraulein.
Our part was over, and we could now
watch and wait. Watching was great fun,
Tor the peasants began to come from the
town to- see the little house, and the dig
nltaries came too. But what flag is thai?
That, said our frau, lis the American
and her pride and joy knew no bounds
when she was congratulated by one of the
officers on her house. She is dear old
flau, and was very kind to her Americans
The rain ceased by night, so the illu,nina-
ton could take place, and a more prettily
illuminated little town I have never SEEN
T&pers were in all the windows, and the
HEADQUARTERS were adorned with a portrait
of the kaiser and kaiserin. I am sure the
princess must have agreed with me as she
drove quietly through the town as the
dusk was falling. Afterward the regiment
ed round the road up the hill to Schloss
Hapsburg, among the dark pines, while
from each mountain top gradually came
light after light, as one after another the
bonfires were lit. We cared not for the
dampness. but rejoiced in the brightness
Of the sky as the queen of the heavens
rose from behind one of the peaks and
dimmed all earthly illumination
Surely tomorrow will be fine, and SO say
ing we went to our coucheS to be ready
dof the event. which was to take place at
O'Clock. We had now found out what it
was to be-a "Fahnenwe!h," or "consecra-
ton of colors" for a new regiment lust
fo rmed. ar d which was to take oath to the
colors on the morrow and to receive its
name. The princess had come to act as
proxy for the ArchduchesS Stephanie, who
was sponsor for the regiment This cere-
mony was to take place in the field, which
had been decorated. and looked beautiful
but alas. at B. when the band marched
through the streets playing a choral, the
mists hung heavy over the mountains, and
by rain was falling.
At we knew 1t could not take place in
the field, and now we thought there is no
chance of our seeing it in the church, as
there will be no place for outsiders, and we
have lost our place we would have had in
the field. Americans are generally taken
care of when they are not obtrusive and
were we. for standing just outside the
church watching. the princess, tall hand
some woman, entered, followed by the
general staff and all the town dignitaries
An OHCeF came up ana SaiO. w Ill the Ia
dies follow nle?"
1t was one who knew of the stars and
stripes" We followed and had excellent
seats in the gallery.
The soldiers composing the new regiment
filled the aisleS, the officers standing in
front of the choir. The town authorities
were behind them. In the stalls were the
officers and ladies and gentlemen COM
prising the suite of the princess, who was
seated directly in front of the high altar,
near g table on which lay the new flag.
Mass was said by the priest, after which,
having changed his vestments, he ad-
vanced to the table. The princess arose,
the officers donned their caps and drew
their swords and the men stood at '.atten-
tion." Then the oath was taken and the
princess advanced. Click" came the sound
of the first nail binding the silken flag to
its staff, the princess welding the ham
NOR. She was followed by all the dignita-
ries anil officers and about twenty or thirty
of the men until the flag was firmly nail
ed in its place, and all but the sermon was
over. This was not long and soon we were
again among the crowd, listening while the
general presented the flag and exhorted the
regiment to do its duty. Regiment Franz
Josef" as 1t will be henceforth known,
was then at liberty to march to quarters,
followed by the older regiments that had
remained outside all this time. And old Sol
was shining brightly, having come forth
from his veil of clouds and mists not ten
minutes after We entered the church.
TyroleSe soldiers and peasants are not
grHmbiers, so they took it philosophically
and enjoyed their day in spite Of not hav-
ing seen the "Fahnenweih."