Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-03
HEALTH OF EMPEROR
RUMORS AS TO CONDITION OF
FRANCIS JOSEPH.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
VIENNA, May 3.-Sensational rumors
regarding the health Of Emperor Francis
Joseph of Austria have been circulated so
often that it becomes apparent that there
Is malice in some of these attacks Rumor
after rumor OF this class and character
have been demonstrated to be absolutely
unfounded.
His ma1esty's excellent health is undoubt-
eoly due to the absolute regularity of his
life There is no more conscientious mon
arch on any throne Formerly he used to
remain in the Hofburg in this city all win
Ter, and only go out to his beloved Schon-
Drum about the end OF April: but for the
last TWO years he has spent the whole win
ter there. coming to Vienna for state bus;
ness only. Every morning summer and
winter, his majesty gets I'D at 3 o'clocl,
BY his toilet is completed and he poas
Ior long walk in the park of the castle.
ne generally goes far as the palm
mouse, but Is also very fond of visiting
the fine menagerie, where he feeds tbe
deer and channels which are kept there
over winter. At 7:30 he is bac kin the pal
ace, changes his boots, and at O'Clock
enters his carriage always an open one,
unless 1t Is raining, and drives via the
Schonbrunner and Maria-Heifer strsssen
TO the Hofburg, drive of about twenty
minutes. as his majesty is the fastest driver
In vienna, city where everybody drives
fast. From $50 to 4 O'Clock he never
ceases work, receiving ministers and func-
tionaries and perusing and signing state
documents. He does not even rise from his
desk for lunch; his servant simply brings
him tray containing couple of dishes
a vegetable and a stone mug containinr
half a litre OF Pilsner beer. That, with'a
roll and salzstengel, forms the whole re-
past.
Drives Back to Schonbrun.
At O'Clock he drives back to Schon-
brunn, and at $50 dinner is served. to
which one of the archdukes or one of his
aids de camp is sometimes invited This,
however, is not often, as his majesty cares
nothing for dinner. and says he gets
through with it most quickly when he eats
alone. Last winter he had the visit of his
favorite granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth
Zu Windisch-Gratz, with her husband and
children, and since her operation for an
pend1cit1s she Is again at Schonbrunn In
spite OF the fact that she is the emperor's
guest, she brought the personnel of her
kitchen with her from Prague. The en-
peror's chef cooks for him alone, so that
the princess must have some one to pre-
pare the meals for herself and her family
Francis Joseph takes the greatest interest
IN his great-grandc hfldren, and goes to
see them every morning in the Kammar-
garten, where they are taken for their
walk
The emperor was formerly a great
smoker. his fayorite being what in Austria
is called a Virginia. a long, thin, black
cigar with a straw through the middle.
They are. however, very strong. and by the
order of his physician his majesty had to
give them up and now smokes light Ha-
vana cigars in a long meerchaum holder.
OF late years the emperor has left most of
the duties of representation" to the Arch
duke Franz Ferdinand. the future emperor
He no longer goes to any of the great
Wanna balls though he generally does tho
honors at the entertainments given within
the Hofburg. He still opens the Vienna pic
ture exhibition In person, and not long ago
at this function spent two hours inspecting
the works of art view. very fatiguing
thing. as every one who has tried 1t can
certify.