The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1905-08-18
EMPER0R'S
BIRTHDAY
AUSTRIAN RULER HAS
REACHED ADVANCED AGE
His Subjects Today Are Assisting
I'm the Celebration of His Seventy
fifth Birshday-The Occasion Was
General Holiday Everywhere.

uShSFoa atVhuay ENeFyWnefe.
Vienna, Aug I8-The spontaneous
and enthusiastic manner in which the
whole Austrian monarchy celebrated
the seventy-fifth birthday OF Emperor
Francis Joseph today gave the most
conclusive proof OF the love and af-
lection which the people of the empire
kingdom bear their venerable ruler.
There is probably no more popular
ruler in the world than he and it NAV
truthfully be said that ever since the
second day Of December, I848, when
he succeeded to the throne after the
abdlCatlon OF his uncle, Ferdinand, his
popularity has increased from year to
year His uniform generosity and
kindness won him the hearts Of those
even, who at one time stood in tho
ranks of the revolutionists and the
fortltude and dignity with which he
met such severe visitatons, as the
death of his only son and OF the en-
press tended to tighten the bonds of
sympathy and love existing between
him and his people.
In former years, when the emperor
was younger and both the empress
and the illfated crown prince were
| living, the demonstrations Of popular
love aften assumed rather boiSterous
character, especially in Vienna and
| other large cities with predominant
| teutonic population The death of the
crown prince, which shattered so many
fond hopes, put a damper upon the
subsequent celebrations of the en-
perOr'S birthday and this condition
naturally became even more acute after
the death Of Empress Elizabeth. The
character of the celebrations became
more subdued and dignihed, but far
more expressive of the universal feel
ing &: loN& anS sympathy for the cruel
ly bereaved monarch.
Aside from its purely official feat
ures the celebration today bore ittle
resemblance to former celebrations,
although popular sentiment for the
kaiser was probably stronger than
ever Special thanksgiving services
were held this morning in every
church in the monarchy. Here, in
Vienna, the pontifical high mass at St.
Stephens attracted the largest crowds,
among them many hundreds OF for
eigners. The service at St. Augustine's
were attended by several thousand
persons, among them many high Of
hcials and dignitaries of the court.
| There was also a special service at the
chapel in the Hofburg.
| During the early hours OF the fore
noon the emperor received the men,
bers Of the foreign diplomatic corps
in the throne room Of the Hofburg
and received many autograph letters
from the other European rulers, be-
sides thousands OF telegraphic mes
sages of congratmation from all parts
Of the world. Later in the day the
emperor received the members Of the
imperial household, the ministers of
the cabinet, the presiding officers and
delegations from the imperial parlia-
ment, the reichstag and the Austrian
and Hungarian diets. He also gave
| audience to numerous delegations rep-
i fiscal departments and deputations OF
| civic organizations from all parts of
/ the monarchy. @'a .<@.
The day was generally observed as
a holiday. All the government Offices
and nearly ali places of business in
Vienna and other cities were closed
Iall day and the employees were given
an opportunity to join the popular
!, fetes. Thousands OF people. crowded
the Ringstrasse, and the streets lead
ing to the Hofbufg, in the hope of
catching a glimpse of the emperor.
The military parade in the afternoon
which wa sreviewed by the emperor at
tracted many thousands OF sightseers,
but the popular celebration in the Pra-
tier was undoubtedly the most popular
event of the day All kinds OF arnuse-
ments were provided for the pleasure
loving multitude, military bands fur
nished music and the seemingly end
Hess procession of carriages filled with
elegantly dressed men and women,
passing up and down the broad ave-
lnues OF the Prater offered something
upon which the splendo dor-loving Vien-
inese could feast their eyes. A magnif-
cent display of fireworks in the even-
ling wound up the popular festivities
Iof the day.
There were no other elaborate cele-
Ibrations out OF respect to the special
treuuest of the emperor, not to spend
money on such celebrations, but de-
lvote it to charitable purposes. As
Usual, the emperor himself made liberal
donations for charitable purposes in
honor Of bis birthday
III y