The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-12-04
A POPULAR MONARCH
Some Stories of Emperor Francis
Joseph of Austria.
KIND TO HIS SUBJECTS.

Was Once Tipped For subduing an
Unruly Horse-An Amusing Incident
Of a Hunting Trip-How He Rebuked
an Official.
Few monarchs have been so we'll
beloved by their subjects as Francis
Joseph of Austria, and his many
acts Of kindness will long be remem-
bered. One day as he was leaving
the Church Of st. Antonius a lad
dressed as a bakers apprentice pushed
his way through the crowd, evaded the
swarms of detectives and ran right
up to the emperor's carriage, which
was already in motion. He held up a
letter which he wanted to hand to the
emperor, and Francis Joseph had the
carriage stopped to take the missive.
1t ran as follows:
Dear Mr.. Emperor, my mother has
been very IL; for many years, and no
hospital will admit her because she Is
an incurable. l can earn enough for
myself, but l cannot earn enough to
give my sick mother the things she
needs. beg you, dear Mr.. Emperor,
to order that she shall be admitted to
some hospital"
Two hours later an ambulance ar
rived before the lads house and con-
veyed his mother to a charitable insti-
tuition.
Not long since the widow of a GER
tain colonel, being by rules Of the serv-
ice unentitled to a pension, had an
audience of the e%mperor-king to beg
him to grant her M
His majesty granted her request and
graciously dismissed her. Then some
candid friend in the anterOom turned
the smiles Of the happy widow to the
wanness of despair by gratuitously
informing her that as the sovereign
had not attached his sign manual to
her petition this was as good as dis
missal. She therefore burst into such
ty came from the audience chamber
to see what was wrong. When be
discovered how matters stood be or
dered a thousand gulden to be given to
the widow from his privy purse. and
for the benefit of the candid friend
and others like him gave latter the
manner of the eastern caliph) utter
ance to what may pass into the Ian
guage as a proverh: IAN emperor's
word needs not the confirmation Of his
signature"
The rather rustic simplicity of the
emperor's attire when ut Fume. the
n place in which he could forget
for a time the cares of state and
the turbulence Of Austria Hungary.
had frequently exposed him to the
most ludicrous errors in identity. 1t
happened one day that the emperor,
dressed in a dusty suit of alpaca and
a straw hat much the worse for wear,
saw an unruly horse which in q burst
Of wild enthusiasm was kicking to
pieces the dashboard of the carriage
to which it was attached and threat
ening danger to everybody within
reach.
Francis Joseph. an old cavalryman,
seeing ut a glance where the trouble
lay, quietly wen up to the horse and
with the skill Of a master brought 1t
to submission.
Good for you. old man. said the
driver. leaning down and giving the
emperor a friendly little pat on the
shoulder. Here is a form for your
trouble" With a grateful smile did
the emperor take the form. thank the
giver and go on his way.
Emperor Francis Joseph Of Austria
was hunting n day and Mt nightfall
FOUND himself at a considerable dis.
lance from the castle In which he was
staying. He was very tired and was
wondering how he could get home
when suddenly a peasants wagon ap.
peared. Hating the driver, the emper
or asked If he might ride. and the peas
an bluntly told him to get in. Then
q following conversation occurred:
ID yon know who I amp asked tn,
emperor.
Upon my faith, l haven't the leas,
idea,' answered the peasant.
Il am the emperor Of Austria"
convinced that his companion was
trying to play a Joke on him. the peas.
ant asked. with superb Indifference:
"And do YOU know who l am:"
NO: l haven't that honor" replied
the emperor.
Well. I'm the shah Of Persia" SAT-
the peasant, and then he urged his ole
horse to a trot, and the emperor 60
such a shaking that he made no fur
ther attempt to V with his i'm
perial brother the peasant.
The Emperor Francis Joseph some
times rebuked his officials in a fashion
which in a less exalted personag.
might be looked upon as a practica
joke. Once the emperor noticed tina,
the roads were in a very bad condition
so he sent a message to the official VIII,
was responsible for keeping them il
order hat in a couple of days Il roya
carriage would be sent to bring him I,
the castle Of Lainz.
On the day appointed the coachman