Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-23

oio1hhS ON farllament buildings and
palaces and suspended across the
streets, and decorating towers and
arches. Emperor Francis Joseph is 70
years old, and for that reason 1889 and
1900 are put side by side. The night Is
IN regalia of fire. 1t Is amazing how
the most destructive element In nature
can be commanded into service, and it
VIII take the shape Of u crown or q
throne or q sceptre. or a shield or q
sword. or an equipage, or q human
race: and how that element which I'M
restrained is the terror of the world
can be compelled to express admira-
ton and kindness and love; how 1t can
ne made to write on the black pages of
night coronation and betrothal. For
three nights fire has reigned in Vienna
and all Austrian cities, and 1t has been
peaceful reign. 1t means congratula-
non and victory over the wear and tear
OF seventy years.
The Emperor is unique personality
and but for the peoples love for him
tne empire would long ago have been
divided. Hungary Is rs anxious now
to be independent us in the DAYS when
Louis Kossuth struck for freedom. and
MS son now stands in the Hungarian
Parliament with an influence that halts
legislation concerning the empire
whenever he Will. But Emperor E'ran-
CHS Joseph Is so kind SO charitable, so
sympathetic. so helpful. that while lie
lives Austria VIII remain intact. Every
one knows some story OF his compass
sion and generosity. Hearing that one
OF his officers who had become blind
had said that his only comfort now
was music, the Emperor gives the poor
man seat for life in the opera house.
BY such deeds he has won all hearts
His agonizing bereaYements have in
tensified the affection of the people for
their ruler. The suicide or murder of
his only son (and 1t still remains
mystery how he was done to dcath)
and the assassination of tile Empress
two years ago. have called forth n
loyal love seldom seen in other nations.
Having no son TO succeed him he Is
educating his nephew for the throne
q splendid lad of thirteen OF fourteen
years Otto. the father of the lad
would have been the next Emperor
but he does not wasN the throne, and
no one in the empire wants him to take
1t. He Is one-half bad and onc-half
imbecile. He keeps the air full of
standardization. He goes into a restau-
rant, orders all other persons to depart,
and having taken full possession of
the place, he and the group OF wild
fellows with him drink themselves
, drunk and then smash the crockery
and the decanters and the tables, and
the window glasses and no one dare
protest, for he belongs to the imperial
family. But the next day the. bill for
this registering destructiveness is sent
TO the Emperor, and he pays It.
Otto Is the terror of the neighbour
hoods when he is inilamed of strong
drink. Riding on horseback through
the country districts. he met funeral
procession of peasants. AS is the GUS
tom. they were carrying the coffin on
their shoulders. Otto made them stop,
and put the coffin on the ground. and
then he with his horse leaped over the
coffin this way and that until the
drunken deirum was satisfied. Hear
ing of this. or some equal offensive
ness, the Emperor called this erratic
specimen of royalty into his presence
and severely reprmanded him. Otto
was soon after seated at his own table
with some rollicking companions, and,
when the l;mperorS name was men
toned, Otto said: II will show you
my opinion of the Emperor" Then the
outrageous eccentric lifted from the
table bowl of greens and took it
to a statue or bust of the Emperor
standing in the room, and poured the
greens over ii, thus celebrating all
the attractiveness of that work OF art.
The Emperor heard of this, and COM
manded the recreant man into his
presence and told him that he knew of
the insult offered him on that occasion,
and in the presence of the imperial
family and their guests. he boxed
Otto's ears.
This royal nuisance Is peculiar
equestrian, and has one of his horses
so trained that he can without dis
mounting ride up the front steps of
restaurants and hotels, and into the
doorway, and through the hall, and
into the baroom, and the horse puts
his forefeet on the counter and waits
for drink and the cup is put to the
horses mouth. either by Otto or the
landlord, and the animal Is compelled
TO drink. without having any choice as
10 the style of liquor he may prefer
The old Emperor is tired of paying the
bills of these reckless adventures, but
he finds that the sooner such bills are
paid the less disagrceable publicity.
The royal outlaw is incorrgibie and
Will never be allowed to mount the
throne of Austria. His son does not
take after him.. but after his mother,
The three most interesting churches.
to me, in Vienna, the THE Votive
Church." THE Capuchin Church" and
THE Augustine Church" The Votive
Church was built by Macmillan, of
unhappy Mexican experiences. He and
his brother, the present Emperor, while
young men, We're taking walk in
what were then the fields and an as
sassin sprang at the young Emperor
and cut and stabbed him until through
loss of blood he seemed dying Then
Maxilmilian standing there made q
vow that IL God would spare his broth
ers life he would build on that spot
magnificent temple to the praise of
God. Francis Joseph recovered, and
through the efforts of Maxilmilian the
promised church was built in comment
grafton. The seventy-eight stained
glass windows glorify the light as it
pours into the most brilliant church in
Austria.
Everything beneath the two great
49,.