The San Francisco call., 1898-09-11

eide of Prince Rudolph, heir to the crown of the Hapsburgs, Empress Elizabeth had been failing both in body and mind. The decay was so slow as to be almost imperceptible at first. It was shown to have grown out of her grief for the tragic death of her only son. But the outbreaks of the Elm press and had of late passed the bounds mere eccentricity, and it was necessary to keep her in a sense under surveil- lance. She was not crossed or inter fered with. Her whims were not mo- ticed seriously, albeit they were some times expensive, and she did practically as she pleased. None the less, she was lovingly watched and guarded.
 Ten years ago the Empress was still one of the most beautiful women in Europe, just as her husband, Francis Joseph, was one of the handsonest men of his years to be found anywhere. The Empress was then one of the best horsewomen of her time. She surprised even the daring cross-country riders of England and Ireland when she visited those countries by her grace, courage and dash. Of late she was but a wreck of her former self. She lost her high spirits, summed the companion ship of former favorites and spent her time in mourning and breeding over the past.
 llc ease Ol IIhlpISSS IlllZdDSlH,. lS markedly pathetic It may truthfully be said of her that she was a good woman, who had done her duty since she shared with her husband the ruling of Austria-Hungary. When they were married 1t was said of the royal. bride groom and bride that they were the handsomest couple in Europe. He was Gas he Is stilD broad-shouldered and tall, handsome and frank of face, and as courteous as knight of old. She was fair, vivaciouS, brilliant in conver- sation, and at the same time with the dignity of a Queen.
 Many changes have occurred since the marriage of the Princess Elizabeth to the ruler of Austria, and some of these have been such as to sadden the lives of the Austrian Emperor and En1- press. First the favorite brother of the Emperor married dancer. Stripped of his honors and offices, he bought mer- chant vessel-he had been trained for the navy-and, taking his bride with him, started in to make his own living by trading. His ship is supposed to have gone down at sea. At any rate 1t disappeared, and the Archduke is still among the missing. Then came the hu- initiation of Austria by Germany, and the Maximilian episode, and finally the tragedy in which Prince Rudolph figured All of these things have served to make Francis Joseph melancholy, DIOhcn o1u lllC cllCCI QpOA his wife has been much more severe. Even the influence of her husband, who was devoted to her, and her one mar ried daughter, the Princess Valerie, were lost upon her.
 About ten years ago, when Empress Elizabeth became infatuated with the English sport of fox-hunting, she was striking woman in appearance. She looked much younger than she really was, and she created a furore in Eng land. She spoke English like native, was unconventional, cordial in manner and witty. She speedily became popu- lar. Following the hounds was a pas sion with her. The Empress of Aus tria was a familiar figure on the hunt ing field, and, to use sporting express sion, she rode straight. There was no fence or hedge too high, and no ditch or water jump too broad for her. In her first season she won more praises for her good riding and her pluck than for her accomplishments as Empress of Austria
 In her own court Empress Elizabeth always displayed these same amiable qualities. In no court in Europe is eti- quette more strict. in none are the nobles more proud or more jealous of their rights and privileges. Even Fran cis Joseph, an amiable, easy-going man, has been bound as with hooks of steel to all the old rules and traditions of the Hapsburgs, the Austrian Caesars" as they proudly call them selves. Empress Elizabeth showed that she was able to ride roughshod over old fogy traditions and unwritten rules But she did this with such tact, so quietly, and yet so thoroughly, that the old court favorites that had ruled the roost prior to the coming of the clever young Empress scarcely knew how 1t was that they gradually fell to the rear and left their places to be filled by another coterie, younger, more. lib- eral, more brilliant and more In accord with the tastes of the Empress.
 The young woman went further The old court at Vienna had been more cor rupt than any other in Europe. It was a hotbed of scandal. Royal names had been smirched, and even that of the Emperor himself was not free from scandal. The young Empress set her self to the task of working out re- form in this direction. It was a diff cult task Indeed, itiwas one in which she could hope to succeed only in part But she accomplished more than 1t had been thought she would, and she made the court at Vienna more healthy as to morals than it had ever been in the past What is more, she enlisted good natured, easy-going Francis Joseph in her work. He, perhaps. had no real interest in 1t or sympathy for it. But he loved his clever wife with deep and abiding love that has never waver- ed and that still abides.
 Yet 1t seems sort of tragic out