South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-02
KING BUSINESS
DANGEROUS ONE
History Points Out How Uneasy
Crowned Heads Really Lie
Another Killing Not Improb-
able. .,..s.,,

Uneasy lies the head that wears a
crown, Is true at any time, but In war
IL is especially so. Since war was de-
clared by France. Russia. Germany
England and Austria Hungary, the
rulers OF these nations have been
guarded night and day with double
vigilance. 1t would surprise the
world not at all TO hear of the assas-
sinatiOn at this time OF one or anOth-
er Of the crowned heads. Though in
all proba bility such an act would
have little or no effect on the general
war. there are fanatics in every ma
ton who might think that TO kill the
ruler of the enemy would demOralize
his armies.
OF late years the courts of Europe
apparently have been converted into
shooting galleries. with royal families
as targets and kings and queens as
bulls eyes
IL was the ASA ssination Of Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand, nephew Of
Emperor Francis Joseph and heir to
the throne of Austria-Hungary that
precipitated the present titanic strug-
gle.
Assassinations within the memory
of the present generation, a sultan of
Turkey. a car and a grand-duke of
Russia, a shah OF Persia, an empress
of Austria Hungary, a king OF Italy,
a king OF Greece, king and queen Of
Servia, a king and a crown prince of
Portugal. a president Of France and
an archduke OF Austria Hungary
with his wife.
mo crown OF Europe seems to be
safe" Father Vaughan, an eminent
clergyman OF London said the other
day. 1T now requires a hero or
heroine TO wear one"
The recent assassination of the heir
20 the throne OF the dual monarchy
furnishes the freshest case in point
and il reminds the world that for 40
years the house Of Hapsburg-the
reigning dynasty of Australians
been little more than royal sham
bles.
Farewell 10 youth" said Francis
Joseph. when ne assembled the throne.
His words were recalled the following
year when a son OF the Countess
Karolyi was slain as a rebel in the
race war with Hungary The countess
uttered this fateful curse upon the
emperor's head:
May his happiness be blasted. May
his family be eXterminated. May he
be smitten in the persons of those he
loves May his life be wrecked and
may his children be brought 10 ruin"
completeness that almost staggers the
Imagination. The emperor's brother
Macmillan, was shot by his own sub
jects in Mexico. His eldest son and
heir. Crown Prince Rudolph. was
found dead In a hunting lodge. pre-
sumably a suicide. His sister-in-law.
the duchess DAlencOn, was burned TO
death in a Paris fire. His wife. En-
press Elizabeth. was assassinated at
Geneva. His eldest brother. Arch
duke John. was lost at sea. His
nephew. Archduke Francis Ferdi-
nand. was aSSassinated
That the emperor himself should
have eluded death seems nothing
short OF miraculous. on many occa-
siOns he has been in imminent peril
Of his life and once was stabbed on
the ramparts of Vienna by a Hun
garian.
The ruler Of Italy. Austria's neigh
hor has Jared little better King
Humbert after esca ping the knife
and the pistol many times was final
u shot TO death in 1900 As crown
prince. Victor Emanuel had only just
escaped from assassins. while on his
way 20 Vienna TO attend the funeral
Of the assassinated Empress Eliza
beth Ever since he ascended the
throne his life has been in greater
jeopardy.
Perhaps the most uneasy crowned
head in all Europe is that OF Car
Nicholas II, OF Russia. or nine
czars. four have been ASA ssinated by
nihilists Countless attempts have
been frustrated 10 remove the pres
ent Russian ruler Bombs have been
found in the palace. Trains on
which II was supposed his imperial
majesty was riding have been blown
Up and shots have been fired at the
ruler. but he has always escaped
Many attempts also have been
made 10 Kill King Alfonso OF Spain.
SIX OF these efforts have been record
ed on the last occasion the would
he assassin chose the unique idea Of
concealing a bomb in a bouquet OF
flowers. which was handed TO the
king as he rode through the streets.
after a military review.
Only one attempt 10 assassinate
Kaiser Wilhelm Of Germany and this
was not confirmed. The alleged Incl
dent was not related until long after
its occurrence. IL was said then that
the German newspapers were for
hidden at the time 90 publish the
story.
SO far az known no attempt has
ever been made 90 aSsassinate King
George Y. or England. and no at
lacks were ever reported on King Ed
ward vi. or his mother. Queen Vic
.Orts