The San Francisco call., 1906-06-17
Visited Every Day by
Aged Emperor Of
Austria,
Reports That Monarch Is
in Poor Health Are
Not True.
SPECIAL CABLE TO THE CALL.

VIENNA, June 16.-Anxious inquiries
after Emperor Francis Joseph's health
have deluged the Vienna newspaper Of
fees for some time about once a week
reports getting abroad quite regularly
that his health is falling. In some
cases the question was put whether a
catastrophe was impending, as had
been reported Lately disouieting
news has spread with so much assur-
ance that the Emperor's body physi-
clan, DR.. Eerzl, was begged 10 explain
what the reports could have been
founded upon
All the answer Dr. Herzl gave was
70 show the Emperor's list of audi
ences on that day. the total number
being forty 1t must be remembered
that the Emperor stands during the
whole time he receives people-three
hours-without so much as a moments
interruption. Those audiences, given
twice a week Con Mondays and Thurs
days. all the year round except dur
Ing his vacation, should be sufficient
proof that nothing ails him.
In the audience room he has a small
marble table with gilt legs. on which
lies the list of persons he is to re-
ceiNe that forenoon, and a few words
beside each name explain the reason
for the audience. The Emperor's eye
sight is excellent at a distance, but he
has TO use glasses for reading These
glasses lie on the table beside the list
and in the short interval between au-
diences the Emperor glances at the
list, so that by tho time the next per-
son is announced ne is ready with his
answer to questions or his sympathy.
HOW ACTRESS WON EMPEROR.
1t was many, many years ago that
the actress, Katti Schratt. gained his
regard during such an audience. She
came to speak her thanks for dis
tinction conferred upon her as an act
ress of the Imperial Burg Theater. She
had never before been addressed by the
Emperor, and after she had courtesied
twice over she was at a loss what to
say.
The Eemperor smiled and encouraged
her with a kindly spoken.
Well, Frau Won Schratt, what have
you 10 say?"
She tried to smile then said
/ had ii all beautifully BY heart, and
now, with your Majesty looking at
me, ! can't remember a word"
The Emperor explained that he could
q help her out Of the difficulty. as he
often had opportunities of hearing
what ladies spoke upon similar occa-
sions and Frau Schrs-tt avafled herself
OF the Emperor's kind assistance, so
the audience lasted much longer than
IL should have lasted according to the
programme.
From that hour dates the Enperor's
friendship for Frau Schrstt, which con-
tinues TO this day and gives the mon
arch daily opportunity of spending
an hour or so in easy conversation and
IN forgetting pressing affairs of state.
The late Empress did all in her power
10 promote this friendship. OF which
she fully approved, and she often in
vited the Emperor and Frau Schratt
70 have afternoon tea with her at the
same time.
But there are other ways Of con-
vincing ones self of the Empercr's con-
dition any day OF the week. All one
need do is to walk along the great
thoroughfare that leads TO the western
terminus and the castle and park of
Schonbrunn before in the morning or
after 4 in the afternoon. At twenty
minutes TO s the Emperor starts from
Schonbrunn in an open carriage, with
his aide-de-camp at his side, drives to
the imperial Burg Palace through the
crowded Mariahilferstrasse, and re-
turns the hundreds of bows made TO
him by shop girls and others hurrying
TO their days work. Between and
he returns by the same route. and,
though the road is more crowded than
in the morning, he never avoids it, but
untiringly lifts his hand to his cap to
,return the kindly greetings that all
who meet him are glad TO give.
PAYS CALL EVERY DAY.
When the Emperor comes to town
90 attend 10 state business he has been
up for hours. He rises soon after 5.
takes a bath, gets rubbed down by one
of his three faithful valets-they are
none too young-and he has break
tasted by 6 o'clock
The Emperor's figure has been the
same for thirty years, so his we'll
made military coats still sit as ele-
gantly on his back as they did when
he was young. His elasticity is due
70 his abstemious life. Coffee and dry
bread for breakfast: one glass of beer
and a outlet for lunch. and another
glass of beer. with soup. boiled or
roasted meat and one vegetable for
dinner. He drinks wine but once a
day, and then only one glass. He is
very fond of getting dinner over in
twenty minutes. so he only has guests
when he cannot help II. When he
dimes by himself the number OF dishes
is very limited and even out of these
the Emperor only touches a few
He Is very fond of smoking but the
strong Virginia cigarettes made cx-
pressly for him disagreed with him,
and he had to reduce the number
smoked in a day 10 half of what he
would have liked it to be. He was
also advised TO smoke the light Ha-
vanas. which were substituted for the
Virginias, in very long meerschaum
and amber holders to prevent the
smoke getting into his eyes.
After the Emperor has breakfasted