The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-22
MEDIAEvAL POMP.
It Is Revived in Vienna by the
Austrian Emperor.
In the Yearly Celebration of
Corpus Christi.
MAY BE HIS LAST.
Aged Monarch Shows Evidence
That He Is Failing.
Rides in Coach Drawn by Eight
White Horses.

Vienna, June 22.-Amid accompani-
ments of medieval pomp and cir
eumstance, the aged emperor of Aus
tria, king of Hungary and Bohemia,
etc, Francis Joseph, 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 it was the universal
dictum of the Viennese that their
ruler had aged greatly since they last
saw him partake in this ceremony
two years ago, and the appearance of
MS majesty who will, if he lives, cele-
] brate the sixtieth anniversary of his
accession to the throne in 1908, sug-
gested to many minds that this may
be the last time the venerable mon
arch will appear before his people as
q participant in this beautiful festival
of the Catholic church.
Beginning with the earliest morning
hours the streets of the inner city of
Vienna were filed with movement and
life IN expectation of the coming pro
cesslon and by o'clock the windows,
balconies and stands along the line of
march were crowded with people. The
streets were decorated with flags,
Dougns OF trees and many colored
erected
The procession started from the Hof-
burg, proceeded to the cathedral on the
Stefansplatz where the religious cere-
monies were held and then returned to
the Hofburg.
Gorgeous colors, crimson. gold and
silver, magnificent uniforms and trap
pings, glowing tunics the clanking
march of soldiers and the silent tread
n o rf in e5f4 r7e-. rae4 "a
flashing of jewels and the glare in the
sunlight 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.
Order of Procession.
The lesser clergy came first. Then
eQuerrleS, pages and others of the i'm
perial household. Kettle drummers in
gala uniform, the court chamberlains,
many high personages of state, gen
erals and other high military officers
followed The host was borne by the
Arch bishop of Vienna surrounded by
prelates of the church and after him
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 accompanied by Arch
Duke Franz Ferdinand, the successor
to the throne, the other archdukes, all
in magnificent uniforms, 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 its way back to the Hof-
burg over another line of march in or
der to give the people of the city in
creased opportunities to witness its
glittering pageantry. From one of the
balconies of the palace the procession
was witnessed by the archduchess and
her children.
The ceremonies came to an end with
the defling before his majesty of troops
which had taken part therein.