The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-08-21
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


celebrate his eighty-second birthday
Ills reign began Dec. 2. 1S4s, 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 70
hold power so long. His one.tlme
contemporary. Queen Victoria, ruled
as sovereign siXty-three years and
seven months, so that Francis Joseph
now exceeds her record. or all the
Hapsburg rulers the present emperor
has had the most extended reign
though the house has provided line
or soYereigns extending through six
centuries.
The emperor OF Austria rarely an.
pears in public nowadays But those
who are privileged TO see him fire.
quently are surprised to find him stall.
wart and hearty. He is filled with the
desire TO do his duty ia every way.
10 give sympathy where sympathy is
due, ana, a very rare quality in per
sons or MS age. wholly unselfish
But what interests the general pub
Tic most OF all is perhaps the secret of
MS perfect health on the threshold OF
IS. This he owes In a great measure
10 hlmself. Never was man less
given 10 dissipation OF any kind than
thls Venerated prince, who has occu.
pied the throne OF his fathers during
more than 90 years. The strict rules
laid down by his mother, Archduchess
T, sophie, are still respected by him.
Duty Is paramount with him and IL
daily attended to 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 TO have plenty OF time before
them for work, exercise and recrea.
ton, must rise with the sum. and re-
tire TO rest when 1t 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 a fact
to this day. The emperor sleeps in
narrow campbell. which forms part of
the bedroom furniture Of every place
where he resides during different
parts OF the year The fittings and
linen are taken along with the rest OF
the luggage. When the valet enters
the bedroom the emperor il wide
awake in moment. ready to rise and
refresh himself by a cold wash, The
emperor Insists upon shaving himself
Both his daughters have repeatedly
begged him 10 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
10 no avail. The emperor still shaves
himself
Enjoys Cold Shower Bath.
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 emperoP-ur~Sses 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 to what
he calls his English breakfast"
, A cup OF tea and a slice of ham
with boiled egg Is the morning meal,
which the emperor can with difficulty
be prevailed upon TO take. Until a
few years ago he insisted upon taking
his cup of strong coffee with a big
roll. just as he was in the habit OF
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 IL
possible in his military blouse without
q 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.
A. 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 pen to put his sig
nature TO document he goes through
he matter three times TO be quite
sure that his decision Is right and
s.lst Twice week and oftener his
ministers come TO Ischl 10 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: 30 O'Clock and DR..
Kerzl often reminds the household
that this Is really the only meal of
which the emperor partakes heartily.
The Emperor loves the simple
vlands 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 90 to Ischl
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 a cork and some
fine powder until they look as II they
had Just come from the cutters |
Many years ago the Emperor once OBJ !
jected 10 a knife that was not well /
polished. and care was taken that he /
should never have cause TO complain 4
again.
The attendants, by observing the !
Emperor closely discovered why he