Las Vegas optic., 1913-08-16
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gary viii be SO years old Monday,
and all parts of the empire are pre-
pairing for the customary celebration
Of the anniversary. The venerable en-
peror is reported in good health,
though the feebleness natural to one
of his years has of late become quite
perceptible. He is passing the sum-
mer, as usual, at his beloved Ischl,
where he still occasionalry shoulders
his rifle and tramps over the hills IN
sarch of game.
OF all the figures Of contemporary
history, that of Francis Joseph is at
once one of the most magnificent and
most pathetic. With long and event
full life behind him, life overcast by
disasters that would have unseated
a feeble ruler, and sadiened by scr-
rows that would have broken down
weaker man, the emperor in the
evening of his days stI1l bears the
burden of the dual crown unbowed.
The close personal attention with
which he has followed the course of
events in the Balkans the past year
and the promptness and vigor with
which he has acted when such action
seemed necessary have amazed even
those who are best acquainted with
the marvellous energy and mental
qualities possessed by the aged ruler
1t will be 65 years next December
since Francis Joseph came to the
throne. Emperor Ferdinand l abdi-
Gated on December 2, 1848, amid the
turbulent scenes that threatened the
dissolution of the empire, and his
brother, the Arehduke Francis, having
surrendered his claim to the throne,
his son, Francis Joseph, became en-
peror of Austria, though he was not
crowned king Of Hungary until nearly
20 years later. At the time of Francis
Joseph's accession to the Austrian
throne Hungary was in a state of re-
volt and, with Kossulh as governor,
declared itself a republic in 1849.
Charles Albert of sardiania again
took up arms against Austria in
Italy Austria triumphed, however,
both in Italy and Hungary and the
emperor devoted himself to the re-
establishment Of his authority.
Francis Joseph was forced To face
a war with France and Sardinia in
1859. These hostilities ended with
the loss of Lembardy. A reconstruc-
tion of monarchy on a dual basis
was effected in 1887.
The family troubles of the "Emper-
or of Sorrows" have paralleled the
trials and tribulations Of the empire
during the IS years Of his reign. His
wife, "the good Elizabeth" to whom
he was married in 1854, was assassi-
mated by an anarchist at Geneva in
1898. His brother, the ill-fated En-
peror Macmillan was executed in
Mexico His sisterin-Iaw, Carlotta,
wife Of Maximilian, has been confined
in mad house in Belgium for nearly
half a century.
Crown Prince Rudolph. the en-
peror's only son and heir, met death
under mysterious circumstances at
Meyerling in 1889. Filth his mistress,
Marie Vetsera, he was found dead in
the royal hunting lodge. How they
died is another secret of the Haps-
burgs.
The young daughter of the crown
prince, named Elizabeth after the en-
press, faithfully carried out the Haps-
burg impulses. When a girl Of II she
met and married a young army Of
ficer against the wishes Of the en-
peror. Her husband proved faithless
and there was tragic ending to their
love when she shot her husbands mis-
tress, whom she had surprised with
him at Prague
The Archduchess stephanie, the
widow Of the crown prince and moth.
er of Elizabeth, married Count Lon
yay, which marriage was contrary to
the wishes of the emperor.
The misfortunes of the Hapsburgs
promise to continue even after the
death of the aged emperor, for his
successor, his nephew, the Archduke
Francis Ferdinand will bring wife
but no empress to the throne In
1900 Francis Ferdinand married the
Countess Chotek, who was lady-in-
waiting at the court At the time
Francis Joseph solemnly announced to
the empire that his nephew's marriage
was morganatic and that therefore
neither his wife nor his children had
any Of the rights Of the imperial
family.