The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-09-08
FRANCIS JOSEPH
WANING IN POWER
Digniiied But Kindly Ruler
of Austria-Hungary.
Some of the Experiences Of Aged Mon
arch and His Royal Alliances
and Court intrigues.
HuNGARIANs IN ANGRY MOOD.


~ ME-. i.
Vienna, Sept. S-The emperor of
Austria is spending the summer at
his country palace at Ictchi In the
Austrian Alps, where he has recently
received q visit from the ex-Empress
Eugene of France She travelled
half way across Europe. she said, to
see him once more before she dies
and to have an opportunity once
more of thanking him for all the IA
vors he had done to her and to her
family. She Is now over so years
of age and very feeble. although her
mind is as bright as II ever was. and
she may be still ranked with the most
brilliant women in EGrope.
II was a dramatic scene when the
aged emperor met his gucst upon her
arrival at the railway s.ltlon and
kissed her Familiarity upon both
cheeks And when she left he ac-
companied her to the station and
kissed her good-by with tears rolling
down his cheeks Since the death OF
King Christian OF Denmark, and
Queen Victoria, Francis Joseph and
King Oscar of Sweden are the only
relics of remarkable generation of
sovereigns. Francis Jopph is 7GI
years old. In two years more he will
celebrate his slxtieth anniversary of
his coronation--his diamond jubilee.
Next to Queen Victoria. he has ruled
longer than any sovereign of modern
times, but. by reason of several trag-
edles he has no son to succeed him |
There has been series of nephews |
upon the throne of Austria; Francis
Joseph himself was not a direct heir,
but was the nephew of Emperor Ferd-
inand. who abdicated in 1SiS. His
successor will be his nephew. Francis
Ferdinand, and unless fate should in
terfere the latter will be succeeded
by his nephew. Charles. the eldest
son of his eldest brother.
Excellent Health.
The old emperor is In excellent
health and spirits. and during these
iurE summer days is in the open ar
from sunrise to sunset. Notwith-
standing his age he arises at Daylight
every morning and as soon as he
dresses and swallows a cap of coffee
he is OFF into the forest with his
huntsmen and remains all day. walk
Ing ten or twelve miles, climbing
craigs and clamberlng over
rocks like boy He is one of the
best mountain climbers In Austria
The other day, with a heavy gun on
his shoulder. he followed a chamois
up the sides of a peak to the height
Of LOCO feet. He has a steady nerve
and Is a sure shot. which is due to his1
life and his vigorous con-
stitution.
Few men have had so many trag-
edies in their experience: few have
suffered SO many great sorrows His
queen, Elizabeth, as you remember,
was .assassinated at Geneva by an an
archist in 1899. The Archduke Ru-
dolph. his fayorite son and heir to ,
his throne, committed suicide in a..
most tragic manner. Macmillan,
his brother. was shot by the Mexi- /,
cans at Queretero. Ferdinand, his
cousin. better known as John Ortiz" ,
from the face of the .
earth and no one knows what became
OF him. His only surviving brother, ,
Ludwig Victor. became involved in
very nasty scandal several years ago
and was dragged into a police court ,
like common loafer. The emperor
is not saint. but is very fastidious
about appearances and he was so ex-
asperated that he banished Ludwig
for life. stripped him of all his hon
ors. reduced his income and keeps
him a semi-prisoner on an estate
somewhere In the country which the l.
culprit is forDMden 10 leave. Lud- :
wigs palace, one OF the finest and
most conspicuous in Vienna, has been '
closed for years and the curtains are :
closely drawn. :
In addition to these personal sor-
rows, and In spite OF his honest and
loyal endeavors. Francis Joseph has
seen his empire diminish In political
powed and influence upon European
affairs, and now. when his days are
and he approaches the end
OF his reign, II is threatened with
dissolution because of conflicting ma
tional interests which he cannot
check or control.
When two strong men come to