The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-17
STRANGE ROMANCE
 OF TWO PALACES Kaiser to Live Where Austrian Empress Hoped To FRAU SCHRATT IS READY Will Live In Beautiful Palace of AchiI- leon, Where Assassinated Eliza
 beth Hoped To Spend
 Last Days.

By a curious coincidence of the news, two dispatches from different points Athens and Vienna-are received in this office, one strangely supplementing the other and both dealing strangely with tragic and romantic episodes in the life of Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria.
 Each dispatch, also, centers about a palace
 In the dispatch from Athens the story is told of the Kaiser preparing to move into the beautiful palace of the Achil- leon, where the assassinated Empress Elizabeth hoped to spend her latest years. In the dispatch from Vienna one reads of the long widowed Emperor busily pre- pairing to move into the place which he has presented to his long loved friend" the Frau Schratt.
 Athens, February 8.-The work of re- furnishing the Achilleon, the fairy pal ace built by the late Empress Elizabeth of Austrial in the most beautiful spot in Corfu. and now owned by Emperor William, is being rushed with all pos sible speed. The furniture arrived some weeks ago in special steamer. There were $50 goods boxes most of them of considerable size.
 Fifteen of the largest rooms of the palace have been set aside for the use of the Kaiser and Kaiserin. Five rooms will be devoted to the service of their daughter, Princess Victoria Louise The Emperor's suite. consisting of twenty gentlemen, will be accommodated in a cottage" situated at the extreme end of the garden Another cottage has been built for the servants, 50 in all
 The new decorations consist almost en- tirely of hangings and bric-a-brac. There are no paintings whatever. except such as are affixed to the walls in the classic style of Pompeil. They were done by Greek and Italian artists under the di- rection of the builder, the Empress of Austria. Where the walls are not cov- cred with mural paintings. marble and bronzes are employed for decorative pur- poses
 To be in harmony with the prevailing color scheme, the Kaiser ordered all the furniture to be of white lacquered wood with gold trimmings; the silks of the GOV CTS are mostly pink and light blue, in- terlined with silver and gold The style of the furniture Is empire
 The dining room is the largest hall in the palace and is furnished entirely In mahogany.
 The grand staircase is decorated with very rich mural painting. "The Trium- phal Procession of Achilles" The stair case itself Is of white marble with a gold bronze balustrade.
 There are no carpets in any of the rooms. the parquet or marble floors be- ing covered with rugs or mating. The bath rooms of the Emperor is 20 by so feet and fitted with all the latest para phernalia. The Empress and her daugh- ter. too. have large marble baths The Kaiser has put in an electric plant and dug an artesian well. The stables are turned into garages.
 The imperial couple are expected 10 spend the month of March at the Achilleon. Signor Bontempo, an Italian, formerly of the Austrian navy, is to be the Kaiser's xmajordomo in Corfu. The furniture and all goods shipped to the palace had to be transported from the ship on muleback. The transport was long and difficult as the palace Is sit uated nearly 2oo0 feet above the sea.
 It was shortly after tho tragic death