The Washington herald., 1907-05-19
By DEXTER MARSHALL.


Oldest but one Of the worlds reignine
monarchs, and the only one now living
who has had personal experience Of real
warfare, a man who has suffered nearly
every possible disappointment in life. and
knows that his death may upset the del
icate balance Of Europe's peace, Francis
Joseph. OF the House Of Hapsburg. Emper-
or OF Austria Hungary. surely is entitled
to place among the worlds most strik-
ing half dozen old men.
He lacks only three years OF eighty.
and IN the nature Of things his course IS
nearly run. Oscar Bernadotte. the gentle
King Of Sweden. Is a year older. but he
isn't in the running with the Hapsburg
Kaiser. who has people Of more different
nationalities for his subjects than any
other monarch ruling wholly in Europe.
Napoleon had been dead only nine years.
and the memory Of the Corsican was still
vivid. when Francis Joseph came into the
world. He was not born to the Austrian
throne. but had to take it in 1SiS on the
abdication Of his Uncle Ferdinand who
wasn't man enough TO manage his do
minions in that revolutionary year.
Narlike work was cut out and ready to
the hand OF the imperial boy Of IS. since
armed insurrection was IN progress both
IN his Hungarian and Italian provinces.
this being years before the dream OF
United Italy came true He took part
himself in the Hungarian Compatgn.
which was won with the help Of the Rus
slams in 1872 He hoped for continued
peace after that. although he hardly
could have expected it. and certainly was
not 70 enjoy it,
In 1889 he had 20 fight the combined
forces Of the Italians, the French and
the HunSarians. and was beaten in the
great battles Of Magenta and Solfarino.
losing Lombardy. now a part Of Italy
Five years later he joined with Prussia
and whipped little Denmark. Then.
quarreling over the territorial spoils. Prus-
sia and Austria got into a war between
themselves
italy joined with Prussia in this war.
and Francis Joseph's forces were thrash
ed as soundly as the King Of Denmark's
had been. Sadowa was the decisive bat
tie
This was only a year after the cOnclu-
sion Of our own civil war. and Austria
was thrown out Of the German federation
Until then the Austrian Kaiser had been
overbearing toward his subjects. especi-
ally the Hungarians. but his th~ashing
taught him moderation, and in the com
promise reorganization Of his empire. in
1861. Hungary was made a sort OF partner.
though not an equal one. with Austria.
Francis Joseph has had no wars since
1856 and during much Of the forty-one
years elapsing has been a strong factor
in Europe's peace To-day he is beloved |
OF all his subjects. whether they be |
Magyars, Czechs, SIavs, Germans. Ital- |
ians. Greeks. Turks or what not but
they all hate each other, and il will he
a marvel if his death is not the signal |
for a general mlx-up Of antagonistic |
races.
Francis Joseph's family troubles have /
been numerous His mother was the /
Princess Sophia daughter Of Maximil-
ian l Of Bavaria, nevertheless he mar /
ried Elizabeth. daughter Of later Ba- 4
variaH Maximilian For generations the /
have been marrying near rel
7tives. which may account for certain 4
things.
At all events. twelve years after he |
had settled his troubles with his neigh /
oors and his Hungarian subjects. his son /
Rudolph, the Crown Prince, was found /
dead in the same room with the corpse
Of Marie Battazzi. daughter Of Greek |
banker. with whom he was in love
Officially it was declared a case Of double
suicide, but az Meran, In the Tyrolean
Alps. they tell another version. Accord
ing TO II the lovers were found together
By the man Marie Battazzl was soon to
marry. Wild with rage. he grasped a
champagne bottle. and with one blow
rushed the princes skull. after which
he battered out the girls brains also.
Then he fed to nearby Switzerland. where
he is still living, secure as long as he
stays there
The bodies were found by q man in
he imperial service. and he told the
ruth TO Francis Joseph. who sealed the
mans lips by presenting him with one
n two old castles in the vicinity Of Meran.
n the tourist season the man let's rooms
n them TO Americans and others who
Prefer to live in damp old castles rather
han in modern hotels. Whether this
tory is the true one or not no one knows.
)Ut no one believes that the facts were
Is officially reported.
Francis Joseph and his Empress were
N bad terms during most Of their life
ogether Like Francis Joseph's mother.
he came Of the Wittelsbach family 70
which Bayaria's notorious mad king
tito belonged and her eccentricities were
She was intensely jealous. and {
Ossibly with reason, since for many wears ;
he Emperor was a great friend Of Frau
katherine Schratt, Of the Vienna stage.
whom he is said to have married NOR ,
not long after the death Of |
he Empress.
1t came suddenly by the hand Of a an !
rChist, in lSSS. while she was making one 4
( her famous trips from palace to PAL r
Ce in search Of rest and fOrgetfulness
strange story was published In 1899 that {
he Emperor wishing to be married 7
gain 70 a woman Of his own class. had Y
sked for the hand Of another Bavariah I
rincess. Adelgonde Marie Augustine /
herese. granddaughter Of Prince Luit- 7
old. then reigning at Munich In mad {
ttOs palace Her parents agreed. but
he princess. who was In love with a Ra- '
arian army officer. after burning his a
tters. attempted suicide, preferring death S
, the marriage. g
It is said that the Emperor then made a
dvances to one or two other princesses.
oping that from the union thus formed c
son might be born TO take the place Of c
udof as crown prince. but none ac- q
epted him. Rudolfs widow. the Prin- g
'ss Stephanie Of Belgium, gave her faith
'-in-law a good deal of trouble She first
z her cap for Francis Ferdinand. his &
was slated to take the J.
irone when it became vacant-and after c
ard married the Count Lonyay of Hun I
lry and terribly scandalized her dis IL