Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-20

E IduClS JOScpu VI AuSlI1d-I1 uu6dly,
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. It is appar-
ent that new lease of life has been
given to the venerable king, but
broken by age and sorrow, it is GER
tain that the sands of life are almost
run for him, and that ere long the cry
will 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 Haps-
burg, nephew of Emperor Joseph,
and although the former is IS years
old the most extraordinary ignorance
seems to prevail not only abroad, but
even in Austria and Hungary them
selves, concerning him. In fact, it 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, and the political out
look Of Europe would appear clearer
to the puzzled statesmen in the vari-
Gus capitals of the old world If they
possessed more information concern
ing Francis Ferdinand and had some
data on which to base their specula-
lions as to the probable course of the
policy which he will institute as
ruler of the dual empire.
Francis Ferdinand, like King Ed
ward Of Great Britain and King Oscar
Of 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-
hibition at Chicago, in the course of
his 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 80 vast
a scale, and where the horizon is so
wide. It is therefore Of particular
benefit to those men who by reason of
their birth are called upon to play a
dominant role in the control and d.
rection of the destinies of their fel-
| low creatures. The voyage was on
| Francis Ferdinand's own initiative, I'M
dertaken because he himself felt that
! it would contribute to his equipment
! for the Office of monarch, and that he
| Ia o10hn
| frivolous tourist, but as a thoughtful
observer and student, is shown by
the clever and yet modest record of
his voyage which he published for
private circulation some time after his
return.
This is by no means Francis Ferdi-
nand's only venture into literature,
and he has to his record several grace
full monographs, notably one on the
celebrated Field Marshal Radetzky,
remarkable by reason of the high
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 to music, and is something of a
composer, having put on paper for the
first time several of those old Syrian
melodies which until then had never
been written, but merely handed down
from father to son throughout the
ages. The archduke is also an en-
gineer by profession; is, so far as has
been learned, the only prince of the
blood who has secured his diploma as
such, and enjoys nothing so much az
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 fol
himself a handsome competence, Il