The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-08-19
CELEBRATION
Of The Birthday Anniversary
Of Emperor Of Sorrows"

Vienna, Aug. 16-Francis Joseph,
Emperor of Austria and King of Hun
gary, will be eighty-three years old
Monday, and all parts of the empire
are preparing for the customary cele-
bration of the anniversary. The ven
cradle Emperor is reported in good
health, though the feebleness natural
to one of his years has of late become
quite perceptible. He is passing the
summer, as usual, at his beloved
lschl, where he still occasionally
shoulders his rife and tramps over
the hills in search of game.
OF all the figures in contemporary
history, that of Francis Joseph is at
once one of the most magnificent and
the most pathetic With a long and
eventful life behind him, life over
cast by disaster that would have un-
seated a feeble ruler, and saddened
by sorrows that would have broken
down weaker man, the Emperor in
the evening of his days still bears
the burden of the dual crown unbow-
ed. 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 auted 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 siXty-fve years next De-
cember since Francis Joseph came
to the throne. Emperor Ferdinand 1.
abdicated on December .. 1S4S. amid
the turbulent scenes that threatened
the dissolution of the empire, and his
brother, tue Archduke 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 near
ly twenty years later. At the time
of Francis Joseph's accession to the
Austrian throne Hungary was in a
state of revolt and, with Kossuth as
Governor, declared itself republic
in 1S49
Charles Albert of Sardinia again
took up arms against Austria in Italy.
Austria triumphed, however, both in
Italy and Hungary and the Emperor
devoted himself to the re-establish-
ment of his authority.
Francis Joseph was forced to face
war with France and Sardinia in
1859 These hostilites ended with the
loss of Lombardy. A reconstruction
of the monarchy on dual basis was
effected 1887.
The family troubles of the EN-
peror of Sorrows" have paralleled the
trials and tribulations of the empire
during the siXty-five years of his
reign, His wife, "the good Eliza
BETH" to whom he was married in
1854, was assassinated by an anarchist
at Geneva in 1898. His brother, the
ill-fated Emperor Macmillan, has
been confined in a mad-house in Bel
GUM for nearly half century
Crown Prince Rudolph, the Emper-
or's only son and heir, met death un-
der mysterious circumstances at Mey-
erling in 1889. With his mistress,
Marie Vetsera, he was found dead
in the royal hunting lodge How
they died is another secret of the
Hapsbudgs,
The young daughter of the Crown
Empress, faithfully carried out the
Hapsburg impulses. When a girl of
II she met and married young army
officer against the wishes of the EN-
peror. Her husband proved faithless
and there was tragic ending of
their love when she shot her hus-
bands mistress, whom she had sur
prised with him at Prague
The Archduchess Stephanie, the
widow of the crown Prince End moth
er. of Elizabeth, married Count Lon
yay, which marriage was also con
trary to the wishes of the Emperor.
The misfortunes of the Hapsburgs
promise to continue ever after the
death of the aged Emperor, for his
his nephew, the Archduke
Francis Ferdinand, will bring a wife
but no empress TO the throne. In
1900 Francis Ferdinand married the