The Washington herald., 1907-10-20
BY EX-ATTACHE.


OF all the royal personages Of Europe
there is none who commands just at
present such widespread interest as
Francis Ferdinand Of Hapsburg. The
grave illness OF his uncle, Emperor
Francis Joseph. broken by age and by
sorrow. has had the effect of focusing
the attention Of the Old World and Of the
New upon his successor. and although
the latter is in his 1orty-hfth year, the
most extraordinary ignorance prevails.
not only abroad. but even i'm Austria and
Hungary. concerning him. Indeed, he Is
very much Of an enigma not only 70 his
Countrymen. but also TO foreign nations.
and the political outlook Of Europe would
appear clearer 10 the puzzled statesmen
in the various capitals of the Old World
II they possessed more information con-
cerning Francis Ferdinand. and had some
data on which to base their speculations
as to the probable course Of the policy
which he viii inaugurate as ruler Of
the dual empire.
It is not that he is secretlve. or that
be has pursued the methods of the late
-A't0 A-A'Attn Va AftAh cAll " ilk6E AAillbt bl
publicity was so great that he was wont
TO establish his abode in mountain fast
nesses, and never To drive abroad. save
in the middle Of the night II IS merely
that in Austria q very great gulf exists
between the reigninE house and the re-
maindeT of mankind. Not that the Hans
burgs are arrogant on the contrary.
they are most kindly and unaffected. with
even the lowest classes. They are. how
ever somewhat Olympian in their rela-
tions 20 the aristocracy, and 70 the bour-
goise. and there is but little OF that
close and intimate friendship which
unites the p8triciate TO the members Of
the reigning houses in other monarchies
The Austrian mobiles are faithful, de-
voted and loyal Tet3ineTs of the HapS-
burgs. but always remain in the role Of
servants There IS no question Of their
being the peers Of the sovereign and Of
his family, as in other countries. and
the rE.ations are perhaps best illustrated
by the response given by an archduke
az popular fete to a new-fledged baron
who. with the tactlessness Of the parvenus
of his kind, had taken upon himself 10
deplore the presence of so many of the
common herd, intimating that their con-
tact must be disagreeable to the prince.
Not at ALL the latter exclaimed gen
tally. IF We members of the imperial
familyt were TO be restricted to the COM
panionship of people of our own caste.
we should be obliged 70 spend most Of
our days in the vaults Of the Capucin
Church where many hundreds OF the
Hapsburgs sleep their last sleep
The serious illness which overlook
Francis Ferdinand shortly after the tragic
death Of Crown Prince Rudolf compelled
him to lead for several years a very quiet
and retired life. It was a maIady of
such gravity that II was regarded for a
time as eliminating him from the sue
cessi0n 10 the throne. Contrary to gen
cral expectation, he recovered, and his
convalcscence was signalized by a ro-
nance in which Countess Sophie Chctek.
daughter of former Austrian minister
plenipotentiary at Dresden. and one time
lady in waiting to Archduchess Fred
erick. was the heroine Francis Ferd-
inand insisted upon making the countess
his wife. There was only one means of
doing this. namely. by a morganatic al
lance, and all sorts Of obstacles were
placed in the way thereof. mainly of a
dynastic and political, but also of a more
personal character. The personal oppost-
ton came largely from his relatives, es-
pecially from ArchduChesS Frederick.
who. after his refusal to we'd Archduchess
Maria DOrOthea, now Duchess of Orleans.
had counted upon his marrying one of
her daughters, and who was terribly dis
appointed to find that they had been
cut out, so TO speak. by her lady In
waiting.
Emperor Francis Joseph, however ulti-
mately gave his consent TO the match.
upon the aTchduke's registering a solemn
oath ION ths~Gospels and in writing. IN
the presence Of the princess of his house
and of the great dignitaries of the realm,
whereby ne pledged himself that on be-
coming emperor he would never take ad-
vantage thereof to raise his morganatic
wife TO share his throne, or seek to en-
dow any sons born of the union with
rights TO the crown.
The difficulties which he had encountered
/ in marrying the countess, the anomalous
/ position assigned 10 her as his NOR
/ ganatic wife, whereby she was deprived
/ Of any share in his honors as a member
of the reigning family, and the affronts
to which she was subjected by certain
/ Of his relatives, as well as by some of
the great nobility, who resented the idea
that a mere Bohemian. Countess Chotek.
should become the wife df their future
Emperor. all contributed to keep the
archduke in the background during the
first few years of his welded existence.
Moreover, he is exceedingly domestic in
his tastes, ana has been in the habit
OF devoung all the time that he could