Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-08

why have they spared met" This
cry, wrung from one OF Europe's
greatest monarchs, in whose heart
sorrow has left no room for pride,
has given vivid human appeal to
the greatest royal tragedy OF the past
decade. The far reaching political
qualifications OF the murder of the
Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his
wife, the beautiful and romantic
Countess chotek, are almost lost
sight OF in the dramatic circumstan-
ces of this last terrible tragedy of
the house of Hapsburg. and the
strange fulIlment, now extend over
nearly seventy years, OF the blight
ing curse laid upon il by the grief
maddened Countess Karolyi
In his S5th year, Francis Joseph,
Emperor of Austria, has outlived ev-
erything but sorrow. Broken in body
and in spirit, even the reflective joys
of memory can bring no satisfaction
60 this lonely old man, living out his
last sad years surrounded with empty
pomp and splendor. Reflections on
the past bring to Francis Joseph on
ly memories OF defeats, of battles
lost. or diplomacy frustrated. of hui
mutations forced upon him and of
family catacylsms such as no other
ruler in modern history has been call.
ed on to endure '.rhe pride of the
Hapsburgs," for generations a shib.
boleth, has become sorry thing;
humiliation, scandal and tragedy have
combined TO crush II and have left
only a poor ruin Of once noble
structure
The black clouds of destiny first APP
pcared over the head of the young
Francis Joseph when as boy of 10
he was forced to ascend the throne. OF
Austria. thereby deposing his unite,
the weakling Ferdinand, whose vag.
aries threateped to cost the family
the CROWN No monarch ever ascend
cd more turbulent throne. The
crown was itself the creation of no
thing more substantial than dynas.
tic marriages and historical caprices.
Torn as the country has always been
by conflicting racial and religious In
terests, II was at that time dashed by
revolutions and democratic uprisings
that would have daunted the most
courageous ruler. The revolution in
Hungary the most -difIfcuit and l
pressing Of the young emperor's prob
lens, and one which required the
assistance of Russia to solve. It was
finally put down. but only by the use
OF the most violent and severe mea.
sures. One OF the victims of this Sc.
verify was the only son Of the house
of Karoiyi, a young man OF brilliant
personality and promise. He was ex-
ecuted under painful circumstances
and his mother, in the abandon OF
her mad grief, forced herself into the
presence Of the emperor on the occa. |
sion Of grand hall, and in the pres
ence OF the horror-stricken court pro-
nounced terrible curse upon him
andehis house. With the last words |
she fell senseless, and later. died liz |
retirement But the strange scene
and the distracted woman's words
made a deep suppression, an impress
sion which the crowding tragedies OF
4 long reign have made II impossible
10 forget.
MAY heaven and hell blast your
happiness, she cried. May your
family be exterminated May you be
smitten In the persons OF those you
best love. May your children be
brought TO ruin and may your life be
and yet may you live on in
lonely, unbroken and horrible grief
TO tremble when you recall the name
Of Karolyl,s
In the recent tragedy the Austrians
see only a fresh manifestation OF the
lliphf of this maledicfion To the ut
terinost detail. they point out, has It
been visited on its victim. Each sue
ceeding catastrophe in his life has
seemed to drive the knife deeper into
his heart. until. pitiful for his sor-
rows, his people say that Nld the
grief distracted mother see the rnin
that has been wrought even her
vengeful spirit would be moved to rel
lent
The recent years OF Francis JOS
eph's reign have been so peaceful |
and he himself has striven SO earn