The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-08-19
The BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
Of FRANCIS JOSEPH

Vienna, Aug. 1S-In every town and
village of the polyglot dual monarchy
of Austria-Hungary the eightieth an
niversary of the beloved ruler, Fran.
els Joseph / was observed today by
popular demonstrations of loyalty and
devotion. All public and many private
buildings were profusely decorated
with the national colors and portraits
of the venerable monarch were dis
played in great number. TIE Deums
were celebrated in all the churches
and business, everywhere, was at a
standstill Patriotic exercises and
military parades formed the salient
features of the celebration in all larg-
er communities. AS usual, in defer
ence to the wishes of the aged ruler,
comparatively little money was spent
for displays, while large sums We're
contributed to the fund for charitable
and philanthropic institutions to
which the emperor also literally sub
scribed.
The official celebration in the cap
ital included the usual receptions of
the diplomatic corps, the heads of the
parliament and the diets, the members
and the two cabinets, the chiefs of the
army, the navy and the various fis-
cal departments and of the mayor and
other officials of the city of Vienna. In
the morning the emperor attended
mass and in the afternoon the Gus
tomary review of the garrison ended
the official part of the celebration.
Francis Joseph | was born August
IS, 1880, and ascended the throne in
the early winter of 1S4S, He is the
nestor among the worlds rulers and
1t Is curious fact that, with the eX;
cepton of the King of Greece and the
Sultan of Turkey no Independent mon.
arch reigning today was alive even
when Francis Joseph became Emper.
or-King after the addiction of his
weailing uncle Ferdinand during the
stormy days of the revolution Not
withstanding his advanced age and in
spite OF the chain of sorrows, disap
pointments, misfortunes and even
tragedies which have marked his Nca
reer and saddened, If not embittered
his life, the emperor is still hale and
rugged of health and capable of en-
during hardships that would tax the
strength of even much younger
man. Hunting in the mountains
where the nimble game leaps from
crag to crag, is still the favorite re
creation of the emperor, who has al
ways been a mighty nimrod and al
exceptionally fine marksman. 1t is
probably due TO his love of outdoor
exercise and the simplicity of his fare
that he has retained his health and
strength to such remarkable degree
The emperor's path of life has beer
neither smooth nor strewn with roses
He ascended the throne at critica
period, with all odds against him, ant
his reign has been continuous strug
gle against unfortunate conditions ev
er since, That he succeeded, not only
to maintain his throne under the mos
difficult conditions, but also to win tn,
universal love of his subjects, con
clusively proves him a man of unus
} ual ability and force of character ont
: of the greatest rulers of modern times
! The fates seem to have conspireC
= to make Francis Joseph the most un
| happy and most sorely tried of al
I modern monarchs. Not only did the!
= surround him with difficulties and oh
stacles of a political nature which fire