The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-11-21


The critical illness Of Emperor
Francis Joseph Of AustriaHungary,
from which he Is but just recovering,
has interested the world in the man
who will upon the death Of the aged
ruler ascend the throne 1t is appar
ent that a new lease OF life has been
given to the venerable king, but
broken BY age and sorrow. II Is GER
tain that the sands OF life are almost
run for him, and that ere long the cry
win ring through the streets Of Vienna
and the empire, The king is dead
Long live the king"
And this man who will take his
place is Francis Ferdinand Of EIaps-
burg, nephew Of Emperor Joseph.
and although the former is i5 years
old the most extraordinary ignorance
seems to prevail not only abroad. but
even In Austria and Hungary them
selves. concerning him. In fact. II Is
difficult TO recall any prince who has
come to the throne IN mature man.
hood about whose personality, char
acter, political views, tastes and even
environment so little Is known In
deed, he is much OF an enigma. not
only to his countrymen. but also to
foreign nations. aud the political out
look Of Europe would appear clearer
10 the puzzled statesmen IN the vari-
ous capitals of the old world If they
possessed more information concern
ing Francis Ferdinand and had some
data on which to base their specula.
tions as TO the probable course Of the
policy which he viii institute as
ruler Of the dual empire
Francis Ferdinand. like King Ed
ward Of Great Britain and King Oscar
3f Sweden, enjoys the educational ad-
vantages OF a personal acquaintance
with the United States, which he Wis.
tied at the time Of the Columbian ex.
hlbltion at Chicago, in the course Of
bis voyage around the world. Travel
always broadens the mind and ex.
tends the range OF intellectual vision.
especially here In America. where
everything. even nature. is on so vast
a scale. and where the horizon Is so
vide II Is therefore Of particular
benefit 10 those men who By reason Of
their birth are called upon 10 play a
dominant role in the control and di.
rection OF the destlnies Of their fel-
low creatures The voyage was on
Francis Ferdinand's own initiative. un.
dertaken because he himself felt that
it would contribute to his equipment
for the Office OF monarch. and that he
enclrcled the globe not as a mere
frivolous tourist hul as a thoughtful
observer and student. is shown By
the clever aud yet modest record Of
his voyage which he published fol
private circulation some time after his
return.
This IS by no means Francis Fcrdl
nand's only venture into literature
and he has to his record several grace
ful monographs, notably one on ths
celebrated Field Marshal Radetkky
remarkable by reason Of the higi
souled patriotism apparent in every
line Of the essay. and two volumes
Of extremely pretty Alpine poetry
Like most Of his countrymen he is de
voted 10 music, and Is something Of !
composer. having put on paper for thl
first time several of those old styriai
melodies which until then had neve
been written, but merely handed dowI
from father to son throughout thl
ages. The archduke is also an en-
glneer by profession; is, so far as hal
been learned, the only prince Of th'
blood who has secured his diploma a.
such. and enjoys nething SO much al
driving the locomotive of an express
train. He is an expert in machinery
and of an inventive turn Of mind; SUI
fciently so, indeed. to have earned 70
himself handsome competence,
not a fortune, had he not been in hi
own right one Of the wealthiest prince
Of the old world
He Is recognized as one Of the bes
sporting shots in the AustroHungarlai
empire, the walls of his home at KC
noplacht. In Bohemia. being adorne
with the antlers Of some 1000 stag
and channels, as well as with tn
heads Of tigers killed IN india th
tusks Of elephants slain in Ceylon an
the pelts Of bear shot In the Rockies
He is an adept in the science Of 200
ogy and natural history and Is a woI
derfuIly gifted artist with the brus
and as a landscape gardener. AND