The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-13
copyright. 1881

""ot hoW the Woflu Is tui ana reeh
ing over with tragedy. Here a grea
empress is killed; in another place a
unknown boy falls by the colors that h
was so proud to protect; then way OF
In some lonely corner a bitter, cynica
man bids goodby to the world, for n
has found nothing sweet In IL, Will
among party OF gay companions
handsome woman surprises them al
by the shot OF pistol because ther
nave been too much life. too much low
and too much so called happiness II
her career.
Did you ever sit down and think on
the terrible life of the Hapsburgs? Wha
doomed family they Scent From tn,
days or Marie Antoinette, who walked
so proudly to the guillotine. there seem.
TO have been nothing but unhappiness
and sorrow. The fair haired Marie
Antoinette saw her son and heir beaten
starved and Ill treated by rough jaler
TIL the tears no longer flowed down her
race. She could no longer weep, and
When tears are taken from a woman
surely her last refuge is gone.
The dark haired Elizabeth she also
or the house of the Hapsburgs. saw "A
very young son kill himself simply be-
stronger than he could bear. And vet
he was only 13 years old. Justly he
feared the future. Then n girl of II
was murdered, a pretty, dainty rose
bud to whom even life was envied.
Afterward there was that most awful
death, the death of the son and heir.
the death of the gay and joyous Ru-
dolph, who, seeming. like his brother.
to look into the future, murdered the
woman he loved and then killed him
self. This was at the supper table. the
gay. festive board where each was
drinking the health of the other and
from which some one had TO carry the
news TO that lonely mother. She had
grown lonely by this time. Gradually
her children had been taken from her
by the dagger or the pistol and she
wandered over the face Of the earth.
nndlng no place to rest. Always the
word murder seemed TO hang, like
the sword OF Damucle~ over her head.
Last year the greedy flames found
her beautiful sister, the Duchesse |
q Alencon, one who was eager To help |
the poor, and beautiful i'm her desire to |
ofer bread To those who lacked il. She !,
was caught by the whirling pitiless |
wind or fire that in taking away her
sweet breath was even brutal enough |
In death to render her body unbeautifuI.
so they all went. and Nine. la Du-
chesse. as the empress preferred TO he
called. since she could hide herself un-
der that name, sought refuge In Eng
land and Ireland. She was followed
here, there and everywhere by the
friends who loved her best and who
spoke words OF consolation. as well as
by those dumb friends that. when she
was told that she must no longer ride.
since some bitter bastard might take
her life from her, would come To her
ana eat Jumps of sugar from the dainty |
hand that never hurt, but always did
good. one who saw il said that there
was never more beautiful picture
lhah that or the empress of Austria
surrounded by her favorite pets, each
sehtiy pushing the other in its eager
less 10 get nearest to her or To gain
rom her the bits Of sugar that were
leld out and she, like a child expecting
he loving looks as thanks in return.
And now she has gone away. The
'reat cathedral bells toll the masses for
he dead, and those TO whom she has
een friend raise their hats and honor
Ter by that great silence only given To
he dead. Here she lies. magnificent i'm
eath, and yet in death she and you and
are all equal To her. to you and To
1elhere can only be said "Au revoir"
ecause or that certainty that we will
leet again.
Ihlnk OF the going home! Think OF
ne empress, and then think of the SOL
'er boy! There is no great difference.
10 you remember going home after n
leasant party? The day over. Won
each the time to say a laughing Good
y."
10 you remember the time when n
Ieasant group, after studying the mag
llcent colors used by the great Master
achieNe the wonders Of the world.
ttered the somewhat awed "Goodby?'
ana yet there come into everyday life
tuations that are quite as wonderful
nd they all lead To the eoinr homo |
lst today there is a young and pretty
ri In ono Of the rough. everyday cars =
at fly over the great mountains carry oI
s home hundreds OF soldier boys. some 10
al. some wounded and some so happy in
cause they are going home. There ia CO
accident. The whole train is delay- ! Sc
Tor four hours. A young boy goes je
rough the car begging, not for money. $,
u Tor whisky, but for quinine, the 10
attn giving bark that will bring eli
'ength. as he explains. ito that other III
How that / am taking home TO his II
'ther." When there is an opportunity. mn
pretty girl takes her quinine to the no
9iy' wounded soldier boy and finds 70
n gosping, sighing. wornout and al lit
Isl dead. The quinine is quickly CIV be
and then. with the daintiness of a Tn
atcWoman, n fine handkerchief IN tn
'ped la cup OF water and the SOL all
n IS tace is freshened up. while his bo
n Is made To look n little more like Wi
~ OK q human being. There they tn,
nd the pretty maiden and the boy. Yo
he is only that. who few months an
started out 20 fight for his country. on
% YOU and like me- he had an opln- tin
, an1 he announced IL: mir
foi SEQ. miss, until ] really and !
- got TO know all about "a 7 didn't ov,
am IS how this here war was " hat mo
sSr really snG rightly is. But, my In,