New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-27
TheSlight Incidentls Recalled
BY Francis Joseph, Whose
Reign Has Ploughed
Its Way Through a
Procession of Royal
Assassinations.
Assassinations.

,ropvrirht. 1912, by the Brentwood Company
Emperor Francis Joseph in receiving
IN farewell audience the other day Cap
tain W. b. Cotchett, L. 5. A, mi'ita"E
sttache Of the American Embassy .t
Vienna, previous 70 his departur, Tor
America, intrusted him with the Gus
tomary complimentary messages for
President Taft, adding that he enter
tanned a very pleasant recollection Of
having made his acquaintance some
thirty-fye or forty years ago. The late
Alpbonso Taft served a term as United
states Minister in the Austrian capital
and during his sojouTn there his son
William. now Chief Magistrate of this
country. spent some time at the Ameri-
can Legation as an eighteen-year-old
lad and was presented by his father 10
Francis Joseph. The Emperor has an
altogether marvellous memory, the lat
fer being indeed a very. necessary men
tal equipment of Old World rulers, and
10 those who have had the privilege o.
approaching him it is not surprising
therefore. that he should have recalled
the son of a former representative of
the great American Republic at his
court
A PARSONAGE AND TWO BOYS.
That President Taft has forgotten
the incident ] do not for one moment
believe; more especially, as ! know
from personal experience how extreme
" gracious the Emperor has always
been TO young foreigners and the in
delible impression which his kindness
is likely 70 leave on their minds. Thus.
Ike President Taft. l was scarcely
eighteen years old. but little more than
q boy, and had only recently bid adieu
10 school and birching when presented
10 Francis Joseph at Vienna at a ball
given by the Countess julius Andrassy,
the wife Of the Chancellor. The En-
geror shook hands most kindly, spoke
TO me about the great public school In
England at which ] had been educated
and which he mentioned by name, ana
after five minutes Of kindly chaff and
banter laid his hand on my shoulder
and EXPRESSED a wish that / should en-
JOY myself TO my hearts content al
Vienna OF course, the knowledge
which he displayed Of my previous life,
Of my school days, Of my successes IN
college sports. etc, was derived from
inquiries which he had probably mace
a few moments before Of the great
rersonage who had obtained his per
mission TO present me. However, ! did
not think Of that at the tire, but felt
astonished and flattered by his eX-
traordinary acquaintance with my past
life and future prospects, and even
now. when / look back to the incident
IN a more calm and dispassiOnate frame
Of mind, I must confess to a strong
sympathy for the great monarch VINO
in the midst Of magnificent entertain
ment and al a moment when he was
surrounded by foreign and native roy
alties. by famous statesmen and gen
erals and By the most beautiful women
in the land. should find time not only
10 devote five minutes to a mere caIlow
lad OF eighteen, but also to take the
trouble 70 acquaint himself beforehand
with the boys past life, with the object
OF giving the youngster pleasure and OF
putting him at his ease.
COUSIN TO THE EAGLET."
The venerable monarch's reference TO
the President suggests a reflection on
The extraordinary range Of his ac-
ouaintance. 1 have before me as
write a portrait made at schoenbrunn'
showing him as a boy, seated on the
knee Of the Duke of Rsichstadt The
latter, who at his birth in Paris was
proclaimed King Of Rome by his father,
Emperor Napoleon. and who is familiar
10 the American playgoer through Ros-
tands drama, "L'Aiglon" C'The Eag-
ilet'), was very fond of his young
cousin. Francis Joseph, and devoted
Rfnch OF his time 10 the lad, instilling
into him his own pronounced taste for
playing with toy soldiers. Perhaps
there IS nothing more striking than this
picture Of the two kinsmen, the young
man and the child at Schoenbrunn, TO
indicate the long span Of the life OF the
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