The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-20
HUMILITY OF An EMPEROR
IN PRESENCE OFF COURT, AUSTRIA
RULER WASHES POOR
MEMS FEET
IS AN ANNUAL CEREMONY
Affair Attended by Many Dfgnitaries
and Has a Gorgeous Aspect
Presents to Aged
Men,
VIENNA Cor. Chicago Daily News

In the presence of the imperial family,
the diplomatic corps and the highest Of
hc1als Of Austro-Hungary the emperor
this morning knelt in his palace in vi
emma and washed the feet of twelve POOR
and aged men. This ceremony, COM
memorative Of Christs washing the feet
of his disciples at the last supper has
been regularly carried out at the Austrian
court here for more than 200 years. 1t
was introduced here from Spain. Today
was the ffty-thrd occasion on which the
emperor, Francis Joseph, has performed
the service, he having assembled the
throne in 1913.
The great ceremonial ball. in the new
wing of the imperial hofburg, where the
service was held, presented a magnificent
and gorgeous spectacle. In the body Of
the hall were scores of military officers
in their most brilliant uniforms
Knights of Malta, cabinet ministers and
court functionaries. The diplomatic
corps was accommodated in boxes rang
ed along one side of the hall. Imme-
diately in front Of these was raised
dais, upon which stood a long table COW
cred with white cloth and laid for
twelve guests to be seated along one
side.
SCENE is PICTURESQUE.
Shortly before the time fixed for the
ceremony, the twelve old men were
brought in, supported by court officials,
and each accompanied by two relatives,
mostly women, who were privileged to
stand behind them during the cere-
mony. Clad in ancient pilgrim garb,
with quaint broad-rimmed beaver hats,
and wide linen collars, the men, whose
ages ranged from ninety-siX to eighty
seven, formed picturesque sight. After
them came a dozen stalWart lifeguards-
men, in scarlet and gold, and stood be-
hind the old men and their relatives In
the meantime the diplomats and dis
tinguished guests had been filing the
boxes reserved for them. The United
States was represented by the retiring
ministers, Addison Q. Harris, Secretary
Charles " Herdliska and wife. and
Frank A Vanderlip, former assistant
secretary to the treasury. On the right
of Minister Harris sat the British am
bassador, Sir Francis Plunkett
The approach of the emperors pro-
cession was the signal for silence, and
every one stood to receive his apostolic
majesty. Heading the procession were
two archbiShopS and the papal nuncio,
followed by the court chamberlains,
twelve archdukes and last Of all the
emperor, wearing the uniform Of an
Austrian field marshal. The archdukes
formed in line facing the old men, and
the emperor stood at the end Of the
then marched into the hall, followed by
twelve seminarians, bearing trays con-
tanning meats and delicacies, and stood
before the table The emperor then
deftly and speedily took the dishes from
the trays and placed them before each
old man, returning afterward to his for
mer position. AS he walked down the
table he was followed by the grand
court chamberlain, Prince Lichtenstein,
bearing his white wand
FOOD TAKEN FROM TABLE.
Immediately the emperor reached the
end of the table the twelve archdukes
mounted the dais. The lifeguardsmen
marched from their position behind the
table and stationed themselves Behind
the archdukes, each carrying a large
tray. The archdukes rapidly took tire
dishes, which had stood untouched and
untasted, from the table, placed them
on the trays and the guardsmen marched
out, followed by the two officers with
drawn swords, as well as by the some
what disturbed and wondering looks of
some of the old men, before whom such
unWonted delicacies had been SO gra-
ciously placed and sunmarily removed.
The archdukes then returned to their
former position
Once more the guardsmen marched in
and stood behind the table and the pro-
cession of food-carrying seminarians
headed by the officers with drawn swords
again appeared. The emperor repeated
his act of serving and the imperial arch
dukes again removed the dishes In all
four courses were served and removed In
less than quarter of an hour.
vIANDs NOT EATEN PUBLICLY.
In former times the food was actually
eaten at the table, but this made the
ceremony so long that it was decided in
stead to give each man his portion to
take home. In those days, too, the cere-
mony was rendered more attractive by
| the performance of q similar service by
| the empress for twelve aged women.
At the conclusion Of this part Of the