The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-08-18
ustid-Hungdry Celebrates
Birthday Of Emperor Today
tAmerican News Service,

(American News Scrvice.)
Vienna, Aug. 1S.-In every town
and village Of the polygot dual mon
archry of Austria-Hungary. the eigh-
tieth anniversary of the beloved ruler.
Francis Joseph l.. was observed today
BY popular demonstrations OF loyalty
and devotion. All public and many
private buildings were profusely deco
rated with the national colors and
portraits Of the venerable monarch
were displayed in great number. The
Deums were celebrated in all the
churches and business. everywhere,
was at a standstill Practice exercis-
es and military parades formed the
salient feature OF the celebration in
all larger communities. As usual. in
difference to the wishes of the aged
ruler, comparatively little money was
spent for displays. while large sums
were contributed to the fund for chari-
table and philanthropic institutions to
which the emperor also literally sub
scribed
The official celebration in the capi-
tai included the usual receptions Of
the diplomatic corps, the heads OF the
parliament and the diets, the numbers
OF the two cabinets. the chiefs OF the
army. the navy and the various fiscal
departments and of the mayor and 9TH
er 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 l., was born August
Is. 1880 and ascended the throne In
the early winter OF lS4S. He is the
nestor among the worlds rulers and
1t is curious fact that with the ex-
ception of the King of Greece and the
Sultan of Turkey no Independent mon
arch reigning today was alive even
when Francis Joseph became Emperor
King after the addiction Of his weak
ling uncle Ferdinand during the stormy
days OF the revolution. Notwith-
standing his advanced age and in spite
Of the chain OF sorrows, disappoint-
ments, misfortunes and even tragedies
which have marked his career and sad
dened. If not embittered his life, the
emperor ID still hale and rugged of
health and capable of enduring hard
ships 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 recreation of the emperor,
who has always been a mighty nim-
rod and an exceptionally fine marks
man. 1t is probably due to his love
of outdoor exercise and the simplicity
of his fare that he has retained his
health and strength tn such a remark
able degree.
The emperor's path of life has been
neither smooth nor strewn with roses
He ascended the throne at a critical
period. with the odds against him, and
his reign has been q continuous strug-
gle against unfortunate conditions. but
also to win the universal love Of his
subjects conclusively proves his q man
OF unusual ability and force Of charac-
ter. one of the greatest rulers Of mod
ern times.
The fates seem to have conspired
to make Francis Joseph the most un-
happy and most sorely tried of all
modern monarchs. Not only did they
surround him with difficulties and OBJ
stacles Of political nature which fire.
quently threatened the stability of his
throne, but they visited him with q