The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-03-31

A service whose central decora
tive piece is worth $4,000.
There IL only one guest, a
general aid de camp or high official of
the court The proudest monarch OF
Europe Is alone with one guest Ell
quette demands it,
There are eight services. Hofburg
ceremony does not permit less. Five
gorgeous funkeys in pale blue. pink
and gold serve two men. There have
been no flowers on the table since the
tragic death Of the Empress Eliza
beth; but the lights Of wax candles
CLINT the golden service and the rare
wines in cut glass; they At from his
ioric tapestries TO carved wood furni.
ture and panels such as no museum
possesses and make dancing shadows
In the distant corners.
There are faint, mysterious noises In
the Hofburg. as of furtive steps up
secret stairways in the walls. and
there are silences In which you feel
eyes peeping through holes. The
great palace has an invisible popula
ton Of effaced officials. gliding ecclesI
astics. softfooted domestics. noble old
danes and ancient cOurtiers whose
only sounds are creaking joints as
they slip through Jim corridors where
sentries stand immobile.
II Is the frigid court of n lone, aged
emperor bereaved by bloody loss OF
wife, son and fayorite brother; so high
that none dare offer him sympathy.
stern and unbendlng In his naughty
isolation. When his daughters. Marie
Valera, with her battalion OF children,
or Geisele, became a morose old wom-
an. are not there on some rare visit.
the emperor Is alone" II Ia his wish.
lie Is too old for state dinners and
court functions. except the most indis.
pensable, brief and infrequent
The aged emperor is dreaming of
the gorgeous gala dinners of the past.
He sees the ideal throngs OF other
days. Again he hears the three taps
of the Grand Chamberlain's cane to
announce the entrance of their impe,
rial and royal majesties. BY enchant,
ment doors fly open and the glittering
throng, bejeweled and perfumed. fash,
ing colors amid plumes. aigrette and
flowers. laughing and murmuring 10
the clink OF gala swords and sabers, is
struck to silence. Their majesties
pass.
Vanished all that The aged en-
peror signs. and plans little pleasures
which the doctors will permit him He
may still hunt: doubtless he no longer
climbs crags after the chamois or the
woodcock; but his hand is still firm
rs he waits on his camp stool in the
forest; and stag or roebuck thai
comes within range is sure of his af
fair. Horseback riding is more din
cult and II IL doubly painful to Civ,
up a favorite exercise that kept hin
In touch with the great love OF hi.
life-the army. Twice a year they
hoist him to the back Of a strong. tran
quill animal. a phantom OF the bril-
liant cavalier Of other days; and Fran
els Joseph. stiff and bruised. watche
the spring review and the finale OF tn,
autumn maneuvers. He loves hi
cigar and smokes continually tn
green and juicy marvels made for hin
by the two famous Cuban growers
The aged emperor looks up from hi
cigar. How lonely is the immense pa
ace-full of hidden courtiers. funs
tionaries. servants. II is still earl,
not yet seven. Francis Joseph rises
His guest takes ceremonious leave an
the sovereign goes TO his study. VIVA
q place, that study. Suites of librs
riss and ofnces on endless corridor
from which once went out minute al
ministration Of the dual empire! Ffaz
- Joseph sSghs With relief