The sun., 1912-07-14
OVAL families are far less pic
turesque and entertaining than

turesque ana entertaining than
they used to he. E.ecp, for the
Hapsburgs and Saxe-Coburgs,
who make it point TO supply one sensa-
tion o year, rulers are behaving them
selves correctly.
There was time. not so very long ago.
when monarch was apt TO be either an
invalid or a man Of gayety. Alfonso X1I..
King Of Spain. was chemically dying.
and 90 was Frederick ILL.,. Emperor Of
Germany; Louis. King Of Bavaria. was
insane; the Grand Duke Of Luxemburg
was bed ridden: Leopold OF Belgium,
Edward OF England and Milosh of Servia
outdid by night as we'll as by day the most
confirmed boulcvardier.
Europe now has tame. domesticated
lot of rulers. They lack bri!,iancy.
barring Emperor William H.. but Al
least they no longer ac; like hooibovs.
One OF them. Manuel Of Portugal, tried
it and soon received his due. Even poor
little Phu-yi. the microscopic Mnnchu
Emperor. was credited with ia: herring
documents Of which mature stat esman
would not be ashamed.
II the rising flocd Of democrIc" does
not take away their opportunities the
rulers Of the coming generation should
be rather remarkable men. al lca-', hys-
icaliy. all statements 20 the ,Cn.rary
Notwithstanding
It may be that III" mental and lhysi al
condition Of their forebears IL rcsponsil 10
for the curious rumors which are Icing
continually Circulated concerning heirs
TO the thrones in Europe. Il hI" Lcen
reported that .hc li.,h Caarcwi. ii vas
suffering from tuberculosis Of ,hc knee
and would never be alb. 20 walk; ;ha the
heir 70 the Spanish ,rown was deaf IL
not deaf mute; that ;hc Crown Prime OF
Germany showed traces of men.al de-
ransemen, and ,hGt lis fa hcr va- think
ing Of removing him US his successor;
that Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Aus
tria was being snubbed by the Emperor
Whatever their origin. these rumors have
small basis as rule.
To begin with. Franz Ferdinand, who
is likely to become Emperor Of Austria
Hungary in the very near future, i.
now 40 years old and is a tall handsome
fellow with splendid health, fine horse
man and IA wonderful shot. De Eiowiz
who had some old grudge against him
only found one damaging story TO tel
concerning his character. One summer
while hunting in Ischl the Grand Duke
almost collided with a funeral party
Instead OF refining in his horse. he whipped
him up and jumped over the coffin whit Il
was being carried by six peasants. II the
truth Of Blowitz's narrative is admitted
before condemning the Grand Duke on
the grounds OF sacriicgc the question may
hn Lal ha$b $b~r hia o. hac 81, lao,
way 10 avoid an actual collision with the
mourners.
Twelve years ago, when the health OF
Emperor Francis Joseph gave the Austrian
court cause for worry. efforts were
made to secure a consoIt for the he ir pre-
sump:ive. Negotiation were commenced
with several royal families whose marri
ageable daughters would have proved
suitable mates. None OF the younp
Princesses under cons liberation seemed
to attract the future Emperor.
Finally he became frequent visitor
a. the house OF Archduchess Frederick,
who had several daughters. The Arch
duchess instructed one OF her ladies' il
waiting. Countess Chotek. to watch tht
situation and to do her best to help one
OF her daughters to capture Franz Fer
dinand.
After rather long visit at the Arch
duchess's house in the spring OF 1900
Franz Ferdinand returned to Vienna
leaving every ono convinced that hi
choice was made.
Only it happened that q careless vale
had left behind a few personal trinket
belonging to the Archdukc. Anon.
them we're watch chain and locket. Tn,
Archduchess did what any woman cage
to become an EmIeror's mot her in -lav
would have done. She opened the locket
II contained sophie hotek'r picture.
ON July Of The same year tho Arch
duke took tho lady in waiting as his NOR
sanalic wife.
The Emperor fearing trouble. obligc
ma nephew 10 renounce, not publicly
DW leforo sort of family council tn
rght of his future chilirnn to sucocc
10 the throne of Austria AMI Hungary.
From tho fact that the Em,nror ha
th"n some mlsgivings az to his sub jeCt,
attitude toward his successor, EurorHa
cossirs have periodically endea wore
to 'riGh,en the pablc by ammo uuciug