Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-23
EMPEROR RIDES
IN GREAT STATE
TAKES PART IN PROCESSION OF
CORPUS CHRISTI
VIENNA TURNS OUT EN- MASSE
MedlaevsI Pomp and Gorgeous Page
antry Mark Annual Ceremony
but Austrias Monarch Has
Greatly Aged
VIENNA TURNS OUT EN- MASSE
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
VIENNA, June 22.--Amid accom-
paniments of medieval pomp and cir
cumstance the aged Francis Joseph,
emperor of Austria, king of Hungary
and Bohemia, ETC.. took part in the
yearly Corpus Christi procession in
Vienna today. His majesty was greet
ed enthusiastically by his people as he
was driven through the streets of the
inner city, but 1t was the universal die
tum of the Viennese that their emperor
had aged greatly since they last saw
him take part in this ceremony two
years ago, and the appearance of his
majesty, who will, IL he lives, celebrate
the sixtieth anniversary of his acces-
sion to the throne in 1908. suggested to
many minds that this may be the last
time the venerable monarch will ap-
pear before his people as participant
in this beautiful festival Of the Catho-
lie church.
Beginning with the earliest morning
hours the streets of the inner city of
Vienna were filled with movement and
life in expectation Of the coming pro-
cession, and by z o'clock the windows,
balconies and stands along the line of
march were crowded with people The
streets were decorated with flags,
boughs of trees and many colored hang
ings, and at convenient places tempo
rary open air affairs had been erected.
The procession started from the Hof-
burg, proceeded to the cathedral on
the Stefansplatz, where the religious
ceremonies were held, and then re-
turned to the Hofburg.
Clerical and Military Contrasts
Gorgeous colors, crimson, gold and
silver, magnificent uniforms and trap
pings, glowing tunics, the clanking
march of soldiers and the silent tread
of clergy in strange contrast, the flash
ing of jewels and the glare in the sun
light of the. white robes of the priests.
barbaric and brilliant splendor and
silent prayers marked the progress of
the sacred and military procession in
honor of the consecrated host.
The lesser clergy came first. Then
came equerries, pages and others of
the imperial household. Kettle drum
mers in gala uniform, the court cham
berlains. many high personages of
state, generals and other high military
officers followed.
The host was borne by the archbishop
of Vienna, surrounded by prelates of
the church, and after him came the
emperor. In former years it was the
custom of his majesty to walk but now,
because of his age, he rides. Today he
appeared in a gala coach drawn by
eight of the royal white horses and ac-
companied by Archduke Franz Ferdi-
nand, the successor to the throne The
other archdukes, all in magnificent uni
forms, with royal carriages, came after
his majesty.
The procession marched to the main
entrance of the cathedral and went in |
through the broad doors facing on the |
Stefansplatz. After the religious cere-
monies it took it's way back to the |
Hofburg over another line of march, in |
order to give the people of the city
Increased opportunities TO witness the
pageant.
From the balconies of the palace, the |
procession was witnessed by the arch
duchess and her children. The cere-
monies came to an end with the de-
filing before his majesty of the troops |
which had taken part therein.