The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-12-02
HONOR FOR
AGED KING
FIFT Y SEVEN YEARS
A RULER OF
AUSTRIA
LOYEAND RESPECT SHOWN
By Great Demonstration of
People at Vienna.
(By Associated Press.)

] VIENNA DeC. l.--fllty-SeNen years
ago today. in the storm and tumult oc
casioned by the revolution of 1S4S
Francis Joseph was placed on tn,
throne of the Hapsburg. The ami
versary was observed today in the cap
ital and elsewhere with thanksgiving
services and other outward forms a,
in past years. But It needs scarcely
glance under the surface of things t,
see that the conditions in the dual EN-
pire today are almost precisely the
same as those preceding the outbreal
Of fifty-seven years asS The volcano
may burst forth at any moment or ii
may continue to rumble and sputtei
until the hand which has so long held
the sheath Of nations together is re
laxed by death
Through all the storm and stres.
Francis Joseph stands steadfastly al
the helm guiding the ship Of state as
he feels in duty bound
A keen observer of national oondi
tions once styled Emperor Francis
Joseph "the most universally respect
ed monarch in the world" The ven
cradle monarch enjoys not only the
love of the people he rules-a love
having in it much Of the intimate, un.
reasoning character found in that Of a
child fot its father-but from political
opponent as well as friend, from high
and low, from stranger and familiar,
respect. sincere, and full.measured, Is
his.
It is this love and respect shown by
all classes which, in the troublous
times Austria is now experiencing
justify the statement that the empire
in its present form will endure so long
as Emperor Francis Joseph lives, and
it is because OF realizing how much OF
the old emperor's power over his peo
pie is purely personal that calm-ihsnk
ing men fear that when he has laid the
scspter aside the turbulent factions
now making themselves felt on every
side viii overthrow the entire govern
mental structure
The same writer who described
Francis Joseph as the most universally
respected monarch in the world might
also with equal truth describe him al
the "unhappiest monarch" AT Il
years OF age the venerable emperor
stands bent and broken, heartsore ant
weary. The domestic tragedies which
have blighted his life, including the
murder Of his only son and heir undel
circumstances never yet cleared NJ
ana the assassination Of his wife, tn,
beautiful Empress Elizabeth, have
been reeounted so often that they d,
not need repetition.
Practically deserted by all his kr
save his beloved daughter, the Arch
duchess Marie Valerie and his grand
children, the aged monarch is left t
pursue his life journey to the end with
out those pleasures and comforts ac
corded 10 his humblest subjects il
their declining years
The emperor's tastes are exceeding
ly simple. lie rises at about 5 O'Clock
requires very little help from his vale
and prefers to shave himself His col
fee and. rolls are brought to MIN in hi
workroom, which adjoins his bedroom
and is large and sunny and hung witt
dark crimson and gold Besides tn
emperor's large writing table. life
size portrait Of Empress Elizabeth an
one of two religious paintings, tn
apartment contains merely necessar
amount of rich and comfortable furn
ture. A window, being thrown ope
over the courtyard below lets in tn
strains Of military music that is playe
when the guard is being exchanged.
The emperor's chief recreation nov
adays Is hunting He cares nothing ia
, either cards or novels, but looks car'
, fully each day at a summary prepare
for him Of an press excerpts whic
might be supposed to interest him. II
discourages gossip The intricate nj
chine OF state espionage throughol
the empire makes him independent {
the ondits as a source Of informatio
as 70 what Is going on.
Through rigid adherence to ol
canons OF court etiquette he abhol
vulgar and meaningless display an
pose Of all kinds He Is direct
speech ana impatient Of weanderir
oaiciai language
ThouNh he mistrusss the arlst0cra