The Detroit times., 1912-08-22
Oldest Reigning Monarch, Fol-
lowing Mothers Precepts,
Is in Perfect Health
DEFTLY SLAVES HIMSELF
Scrutinizes His Appearance With
Blade of His Dinner Knife
AS Mirror

Il
> celebrate his eighty -seeond birthday.
Ills reign began Dec. 2. lS4S, SO that
he has occupied the throne for sixty
three years and eight months. Few
monarchs In Europe during the past
Two centuries have had the fortune 10
hold power 80 long. His one-time
contemporary, Queen Victoria, ruled
. as sovereign sixty.three years and
seven months, SO that Francis Joseph
now exceeds her record. OF all the
Hapsburg rulers the present emperor
mas mad the most extended reign
though the house has provided a line
OF sovereigns extending through six
centuries.
The emperor OF Austria rarely APP
pears in public nowadays. But those
who are privileged TO see him fire.
quently are surprised 10 find him stall
wart and hearty. He is filled with the
desire TO do his duty in every way,
TO give sympathy where sympathy is
due, and, very rare quality in per-
sons OF his age, wholly unselfish.
But what interests the general pub
Tic most Of all is perhaps the secret OF
? his perfect health on the threshold OF
SO. This he owes Ia great measure
10 himself Never was a man less
given 20 dissipation Of any kind than
this yenerated prince, who has occu-
pied the throne Of his fathers during
more than 63 years The strict rules
laid down by his mother, Archduchess
= Sophie. are still respected by him
Duty is paramount with him and Is
daily attended 10 before everything
else, at the sacrifice OF ease and com
fort.
He has adhered all his life long TO
the rule OF his mother, that boys, In
order 10 have plenty OF time before
them for work, exercise and recrea-
ton, must rise with the sum, and re-
: tire TO rest when IL gets dark Most
people refuse to believe that the EN-
peror has all his life been awakened
by his valet at a. m, yet Ii Is fact
to this day The emperor sleeps in a
narrow campbell which forms part of
the bedroom furniture OF every place
where he resides during different
parts or the year. The fittings and
linen are taken along with the rest OF
the luggage. When the valet enters
= the bedroom the emperor is wide
awake in a moment, ready to rise and
refresh himself by cold wash The
emperor Insists upon shaving himself
Both his daughters have repeatedly
begged him to allow his hairdresser
to perform this duty, fearing perhaps
that, as he grows older, his hands
might tremble. danger all the more
ito be apprehended because the EN-
peror will not use a safety razor, but
TO no avail. The emperor still shaves
himself
Enjoys Cold Shower Bait.
Then his body physician, DR. Kerzl
appears with the "Masseur," Herr
: Koch, who has been thoroughly train
ed before he was allowed to battle and
massage the emperor, who, notwith-
standing his great age. still enjoys his
cold showerbath, summer and winter.
Next the emperor dresses without any
help. in his uniform always. All the
aid the valet is allowed To give is to
hold out the garments in the success
sion as they are put on. With a slight
/" frown the emperor sits down 70 what
he calls his English breakfast"
A cup Of tea and slice Of ham
with boiled egg Is the morning meal,
which the emperor can with difficulty
be prevailed upon TO take. Until
few years ago he insisted upon taking
his cup of strong coffee with a big
taking il with his brothers at his
mothers breakfast table. He is rather
fond OF plateful OF big strawberries.
After breakfast the emperor takes an
hours exercise in all weathers, and II
possible In his military blouse without
cloak The marvel Is that the en-
peror Is so much accustomed to soil
tude that he prefers walking alone,
even when his daughters are with him
In Ischi during his holiday.
AZ 8 a. m. his work begins His
secretaries for military and civil af-
fairs are waiting to be admitted TO
his presence, in evening dress always,
even among the mountain OF Tyrol.
Before he takes a pen TO put his sig
nature to a document he goes through
the matter three times to be quite
sure that his decision Is right and
s.st Twice a week and oftener his
ministers come TO Tschl to confer
upon some important subject. He
often confers with them In the morn
Ing and afternoon, and in this case
the emperor sacrifices his walk, ride
or drive TO business The dinner
hour in Ischl Is 2 80 o'clock and DIR.
Kerzl often reminds the household
that this is really the only meal of
which the emperor partakes heartily.
The Emperor loves the simple
viands OF the Vienna "Burgerliche
Kuche" better than all the refined
dishes OF the French cuisine. There
Is nothing he prefers TO a slice OF
tender boiled beef with cucumber
salad. His gardeners know this and
grow the most delicious French
(, cucumbers for the Imperial table
Among the people who go to lschl
when the Emperor takes his holiday
there Is an old man who has long en-
joyed a pension, but regards II as his
special privilege that he may clean
me knives used by the Emperor He
sits over them hours and hours,
polishing them with cork and some
fine powder until they look as II taey
> had just come from the cutters.
Many years ago the Emperor once OBJ
jected to a knife that was not we'll
polished. and care was taken that he
should never have cause to complain
again
The attendants, by observing the
Emperor closely. discovered why he