The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-22

N1enna-Ine CAFES o. Y lGilIlA alt
cleariu: '',...--s for newg and gossip
The entertaining chatter Of the idlers
encompasses al subjects from the
yarleyi1Es OF politicians to the 1irta-
tioas of actresses. History is revamped
II one breath, and prophecy has a brief
inning in the next. For instance, you
hear a medical man say that the cura-
tive waters OF the famous Carlsbad
springs was accidentally discovered
when a crippled hound fell into one of
them and was dragged out half boiled,
but cured of its lameness. This Curl
GUS bit of information is followed by
n startling political prediction y I'm
anciaI expert asserts that the CONT
mental governments are becoming so
completely enweshed in the net of
Hebrew money lenders that a Jewish
dynasty in Europe IS almost a certain
~. In support of this augury the
speaker makes the statement that it
already requires the equivalent of thu
earnings of 90 per cent Of the popula-
ton OF France to pay the interest on
the sum that country owes TO the
House of Rothschild.
Emperor Receives Poor.
Frequent references are made to the
democratic character Of the aged en-
peror. On certain days of the week he
actual Gives private audiences TO the
pOCres- 90 his subjects. On these oc-
cas;On= re c-Ost humble and pcE&!-
less OF RS people are admitted to he
presence. and no one ever knows the
nature OF these interviews, because the
emperor holds the condolences of his
callers so sacred that he never makes
known their statements. even though
they include the confession Of crime
Probably no ruler ever lived who en-
joyed mixing with his subjects more,
or pr1CticCd his freedom 50 freely.
once when the imperial pa~tv was
making journey. the emperor D-e-
coded his companiCns and Appeared
alone at small II. White % VAS
engaged i'm shaving himself he was
interrupted by the landlord Who being
on the lookout TO- he royal party, en-
tered the room and asked his majesty
i If he knew the emperor Il sometimes
: shave him was the laconic reply
On another occasion a gOod-natured
joke was played on the emperor when
he jOurneyed to a part of his domain
with which he was unacquainted. A
wealthy duke sent word that all prep
arations had been made to entertain
his mapesty at a private castle. but
true to his democratic habits the en-
peror replied that he would rather stop
at a hotel. There being no suitable
tavern in the place, the duke hit upon
a novel idea to give the royal visitor
the best hospitality the community af-
fOrded without offending his within
FOR simplicity. The innkeeper was in
structed to take down the sign in front
OF his tavern. and a larger one dis
playing the Austrian arms and the
words Hotel de L Emperor Joseph"
was then put up in front OF the castle
All the member of the ducal court were
instructed to play the role Of attend
ants at the inn. The duke himself i'm
personated the landlord, while his gen
uemen in waiting appeared as buffers
Wallets and wa ho
donned the white caps and short skirts
OF the maids. and upon the departure
OF the emperor he was driven by a
prince attired as pOstillion. After
wards when his majesty learned of the
deception that had been practiced up
on him, he said he could hardly be Of
Tended at such determined hospitality.
An Old Ceremonial.
The Austrian court still maintains an
old ceremonial called the foot wash
ing which is a unique performance
Tor royal personages to engage in. This
strange survival of medieval custom
occurs during the Easter festivities.
and is still given with all the pornp
and ceremony that marked its observ
ance in the olden times. Every year
on the morning of Holy Thursday
tWenty-fOur gorgeous carriages at
tended by servants in splendid liveries.
are sent to gather Up twelve old men
anu dS many aSeQ women from the
poorest quarter of the city, and fetch
them TO the HOfbUrg palace. After the
performance OF high mass in the pal
ace chapel the dazed visitors are ush-
cred by the court attendants into the
presence Of the emperor and the mem
bers Of the imperial family, who invite
them to take places at twenty-four
snen-covered tables. the men in one
row and the women in another
The emperor, assisted by the princes
and Processes of the royal family
then serve food to the guests, after
which the shoes and stockings of the
I'D people are removed by officers and
radies Of the imperial household. After
the court chaplain has recited the pOr-
ton of the gospel describing the Last
Supper, the emperor and his royal as
sistantS kneel before the old men and
women and pass a wet towel over the
bare feet Of each, wiping them after
wards with a dry one. With his own
hands his majesty puts around the
neck Of each bewildered visitor a rich
! ~ ornamented bag containing thirty
Apieces Of silver fresh from the gov
eminent mint; then the humble SUBJ
tects are driven homeward in all the
style that a king can provide. Aside
from the thirty pieces of silver, which
are worth about fifteen dollars, q bas-
ket containing rich viands in silver
dishes. q bottle of rare old wine, and
an immense bouquet of flowers are left
with each one as a reminder Of their
glimpse into fairyland. If il were
not for these tangible evidences of
what had occurred the old people,
winding out their long, weary lives of
poverty, might easily doubt the evil