Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-12
ARCHDUKE IS HATED
Franz Ferdinand, Hear to Aus
tro-Hunnarian Throne,
UNLOVED BY HIS PEOPLE
Secession of Part of Realm Nav
Come on Accession.
HIS MoRGANATIC MARRIAGE
Sophia Chotek Has Made Herself
Popular With Francis Joseph and
Other Royalties.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS,

Other Royalties.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record.
The heir apparent to the Austro- Hun
garian throne is the Archduke Franz
Ferdinand d'Este, nephew Of the EN-
peror Francis Joseph and a son Of his
brother. Carl Ludwig.
He is forty-six years old, a cold, self
ish, narrow. stubborn. reticent man.
without tact or social inclinations, and
altogether an unlovely character.
His father, Carl Ludwig, was a SYM
pathetic and genial man. At the same
time he was religious and reactionary in
his opinions.
He would have made Austria an abso-
lutte despotism II he had been allowed his
way. He used all his influence upon
Francis Joseph, his brother, to prevent
the liberalizing of the government that
has taken place during the last twenty
five years.
Believed to Be React1onary.
Franz Ferdinand is believed to be of
similar reactionary tendencies. The lib
eral party is dreading the struggle
which must necessarily follow when he
succeeds his broad-minded and gener-
GUS uncle.
At the same time everybody admits
that his views are unknown and that ne
may furnish them a surprise party when
he grasps the scepter.
He is a devoted adherent of the Vatf-
cd aA nr1oStS.
Therefore, there is a general expecta-
ton that 1.-THE black pope" as the po-
litical clergy are called, will control the
government.
In Austria the state is Independent of
the church. All religious professions
are tolerated upon an equal footing. but
nearly the entire population are Roman
Catholics. There is a continual struggle
between the liberal and conservative
branches of that church, represented by
the white" and the ''black' factions, or
the secular and the regular members
OF the priesthood.
Francis Joseph is man OF great piety
and observes his religious duties with the
utmost scrupulousness. At the same
time he is a white" and Is surrounded
by liberal members of the clergy. lis lis
nephew. on the contrary, is always with
the blacks
Heir Apparent's Good Points.
Franz Ferdinand, however, has many
good points In the matter OF morals he
is the cleanest OF all the archdukes. and
great improvement upon his ancestors.
his father, his brother, his uncle and all
the rest Of the family.
He is above criticism so far as his pri-
vate life and habits are concerned. HIS
integrity is unquestioned.
10 fathers
husbands, and was willing to sign for
NAL remuneration of the claims Of his
children to the throne of Austria In order
to marry the woman he loved. She was
old Bohemian family, which can trace its
lineage back to feudal times. and has
had several distinguished members.
But the present generation Is poor. To
assist her mother and sisters. the Coun-
tess Sophia obtained situation as COM
panion to the wife Of the Archduke
Frederic, a brother OF Christina, Queen
Dowager Of Spain.
Franz Ferdinand became acquainted
with her while visiting his cousin at
sea. Evidently he was smitten at first
sight. He repeated his visits with sig
nif1cant frequency.
The grand duchess supposed he was
counting one Of her several marriageable
truth she dismissed Sophia Chotek in dis
grace and packed her Off to her fathers
home In Bohemia.
This jealous injustice excited the SYM
pathies and chivalry OF the archduke. He
followed the girl to her home and asked
her hand in marriage.
Remonstrances Not Needed.
This audacious act created consterna-
ton at the court. Franz Ferdinand had
been formally proclaimed heir to the
throne after his cousin, the Archduke
Rudolph, the only son Of the emperor,
died by his own hands in an imperial
hunting lodge at Meyerling.
His father. his uncle and the chaplain
OF the family all demonstrated with him.
but made no impression. Finally the en-
peror appealed to the Pope.
The latter instructed the papal nuncio
at Vienna to interpose. All the nuncio
got for his pains was humiliating snub.
The archduke told him politely that he
must have other matters to attend to
OF more importance than a love affair.
He advised him to keep out of it.
Finally the emperor had long and de-
ciSive interview with the young woman.
He IS said to have used every argument
and offered every inducement that his in.
genuity could devise, and even resOrted
TO threats to persuade her to decline the
marriage. She did not waver
1t was no ordinary love affair. Both
parties had reached years or discretion.
He was thirty-seven and she was thirty
three years old.
Finally the emperor consented to a
morganatic marriage. Franz Ferdinand
formally signed a remuneration of the
right of his children to succeed to the
thrones OF Austria and Hungary and
waved all claim Of princely prestige for
his wife.
Emperor at Wedding.
The emperor attended the wedding July
1, 1900, and blessed the bride, for whom
he has invariably shown the deepest re-
spect and affection. At family gather
ings he always gives her the seat OF
| honor and pays her especial attention.
He never fails to show his admiration
| for her ability and tact. although she is
| plain in appearance. Whenever she is
in Vienna he requires her presence al
the palace constantly, and has raised her
| to the rank Of Duchess Won Hohenberg.
Her dis nified conduct her modesty and
her intellectual attainments seem to have
made a profound impression upon him.
1t is q general expectation that he will
use his authority to elevate her still far