Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-23
Or. Ialnlage at Austria's Court.
Otto, Austria's Royal Billy.

dlrses are rendered In the main audi
ence room. Those services ended, the
body of the deceased is carried down
the steps preceded by the priesthood
and followed by the family of the de-
parted. The place Of the sepulchre is
closed with o huge iron gate. within
which stands an officer of religion.
The sad and solemn procession having
reached the iron gate, the nearest re-
lative knocks on the gate. and the
robed ecclesiastic within asks. who
is there. and why do you Gomez" and
the leader of the procession replies. IT
am hiaria Theresa. Empress of Aus
trla. come wishing my soul con-
quoted TO the realms OF the blessed and
my pody put in sepulchre!" Then the
gaze Is opened, and, with chanting, the
pouy Is welcomed and entombed. or
course, the right name Of the ruler
buried is mentioned But Empress
EiizaDeth was taken to the tomb in
TINS church with different utterance.
The service for the dead in the main
audience room and the requiem being
concluded. the body was taken down
the steps accompanied only by the EN-
peror, and the bearers, and the priests
who ofllciated.
IEe Emperor. overwhelmed with the
assassination of his wife, and not hav-
ING left the palace during the week
'.t'se l-'is'sSN EctWesl the CTuol Qeeu ana
tne day of entombment, descended
with slow and feeble gait at the head
OF Tie caskct, and then there was a
MATT. and the Emperor with trembling
hand knocked at the iron gate of the
mhusoleum. and the priest within ask
cd: Who is there and why do you
Gomez" And the answer given was
this; IT. Francis Joseph. Emperor of
Austria. come with Elizabeth. Empress
OF Austria, asking that her soul be
conducted to the realm of the blessed,
and that her body be put in Sc
puichre!' Then she who had been the
most beautiful woman in Europe, and
who had ridden with the Emperor into
battle with the hosts of Austria and
who had been the dashing equestricnne
on as spirited horse as was ever bit
ted or saddled, easily controlling the
whirlwlnd With her riding whip. now
lies down haggard and broken hearted
over the behavior and tragic death of
a foolish son. who was 1.-THE heaviness
of his mother"
Another difference that Emperor
Joseph ordered in regard to Elizabeth,
the dead Empress, was that her heart
should not be taken out and placed in
the Church OF Augustine, another OF
the great churches. For centuries, IL
had been the custom. that while the
rest OF the body of prince or princess,
king or queen, archdukc or arch
duchess, emperor or empress was
buried in the Capuchin Church, the
heart was removed from the body and
taken to the Augustine Church. In Il
darkcned room of this church, we look
ed upon about one hundred and twen-
ty-fve earthen or metallic jars contain
ing the hearts OF the princely royal
dead. But the heart of Elizabeth, the
Empress. for some reason, is not among
them. The Emperor probably thought
that the sacred form that had been
pierced with the assassin's dagger
ought not to be touched by post-mor-
tenn incision.
This Augustine Church is the place
of marriage for the imperial family,
and the story of bridal professions in
the aisles of this cathedral would If
well told thrill nations. You must
visit the treasury OF the place to get IL
competent idea of what diamonds and
emeralds and rubies have glowcd and
flashed on the foreheads and necks of
royalty moving to the altar in this ST.
Augustine Church ut Vienna. Here
they are in bracelets. in knots of bril-
liants, in aigrette and corsage. In her
aldic embroideries, in dadcms. Bridal
gifts from kings and queens to those