The Washington herald., 1906-12-30

/ 1t is intended 20 exhibit on or about
June S. 1907. from Cape Pembroke Light
house Falkland Islands. a new white
/ flashing light in lieu Of the present fixed
Hight. The new light will show one flash
every ten seconds, lasting. sixty-five-
tenths Of a second, and the eclipse nine
/ seconds and thirty-fve tenths. The light
/ house is to be seventy feet high from base
T to vane, and Is black in color, with one
broad white band painted on 1t. Trinity
/ House, London, will issue further notice
before the light IS exhibited.
1 Through the death OF the Archduke
Otto. his widow. Archduchess Maria Jo-
/ sefa. is compelled 20 relinquish her high
position as first lady of the Austro-Hun-
garian court. There has been much specu-
/ latfon in aristocratic circles as to which
/ of the archduchesses would succeed her.
/ After much consideration, the Emperor
| has decided in favor Of his niece, Arch
duchess Maria Annunciata, half-sister of
/ Otto and abbess Of the famous Theresan
/ Convent of Noble Ladies at Prague. The
/ position Of first lady at the VienneSe
court Is one of great honor and dignity.
| its occupant virtually playing the role of
! Empress. Archduchess Maria Annunciata
will continue as abbess at Prague, the
post being one of such Importance and
profit that il Is always reserved for an
| archduchess. The income amounts TO &c.
/ 900 year, besides sumptuous apartments
/ in the magnificent abbey, which occupies
/ a commanding position by the side Of the
/ cathedral and Hradschin Imperial pal
ace). high above the city of Prague. The
abbey was founded by the Empress Maria
/ Theresa exclusively for ladies Of noble
/ birth, and It's members are all nominated
/ by the Emperor. Each has a separate
apartment of two rooms, with service,
| and receives about $500 year. They can
/ 20 into society, and some Of them are
| always TO be seen at court balls. They
enjoy the use of handsome carriages, with
| liveried servants, and a box at the opera.
/ There are no restrictions as to residence.
| the ladies can be there as much or as lit
/ tie as they please. When they go into So
ciety-and some Of them are always to be
! seen at court functiOns-they must wear
black evening dress. with the blue ribbon
/ OF their order. When they marry as
many OF them do. they must. Of course
/ leave the abbey, otherwise they can re-
main as long as they live. An unmarried
| archduchess cannot occupy the leading
| place at court but as Abbess Of Prague,
Maria AnnunCiata ranks as a married
| archduchess. It may be asked why the
Emperor's granddaughter, the Archduch-
ess Elizabeth. daughter Of the Inflated
| Rudolph Is not nominated by the En-
! peror as first lady of the court; but in the
| intricate and complex etiquette Of Aus
/ TRAN society, incomprehensible to the I'M
/ initiated, this Is impossible, because the
4 husband Of Archduchess Elizabeth, Prince
| Windisch-Grazt, Is not sufficiently high
rank to permit the granddaughter of the
| Emperor assuming the position.
/ There has Just been launched from the
/ Vulcan shipyard. at Stettin, the new
Norddeutcher express steamer, the Kron-
! prinzessin Cecile. She is a remarkably
/ fine boat, very much after the style of
| the Kaiser Wilhelm II, but having sun
| dry improvements, as all new ships
should have.
/ NJ. Ferdinand Brunetiere the eminent
| academician and editor of the Revue des
Deux Mondes, who died on December 9
| in Paris. suffered from consumption for
several years. 1t was finally the cause
/ OF his death.
! The first farmer of England is King
Edward this year. At the cattle show at
! Islington his majesty won the champion