Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-18
LIVES OF MONARCHS
IMPERILED BY THE
ASSASSIN'S DEED
European Rulers, Always in
Peril of Death, Doubly So
Now That Racial Hatred
Runs High.

Uneasy lies the head that wears a
crown Is true at any time, but in war
it is especially SO. Since war was de-
clarcd by France, Russia, Germany,
England and Austria-Hunsary, 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 assassination at this time of
| ono or another of tho crowned heads.
Though in all probability such an act
would have little or no effect on the
general war. there are fanatics in every
nation who might think that to kill the
ruler of the enemy would demoralise 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.
1t was the assassination Of Archduko
Francis Ferdinand, nephew of Emperor
Francis Joseph and heir to the throne
of Austria-Hungary, that precipttated
tho present titanic struggle.
Assassinations within the memory of
the present generation include Sultan
of Turkey. Gar and a Grandduko of
Russia, a Shah of Persia, an Empress of
.Nustria-HunGary, Il King OF Italy, King
of Greece, a King and Queen of Servia,
Il King and Crown Prince of Portugal,
Il 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. 'Tt now
requires a hero or heroine to wear one"
The recent assassination of tho heir to
the throne of the Dual Monarchy fur
nishoS the freshest case in point, and it
reminds the world that for ~ years the
House Of IIapsburC. the reiguing dynasty
Of Austria has been little more than
royal shambles.
Farewell tn youth" said Francis
Joseph when he ascended the throne.
His words were recalled the following
year when son OF tho Countess Karolyi
was slain as a rebel in the race war with
Hungary. The Countess uttered this
fateful curse upon the Emperors head:
May his happiness be blasted. May
his family be extermnated May he
be smltten In the persons OF those he
loves May his life be wrecked and
may his children be brought to ruin.
The curse has been fulhlled with a
completeness that almost staggers the
imagination. The Emperor's brother,
MaXimllian, was shot by his own sub
jects in Mexico His eldest son and heir.
Crown Prince Rudolph, was found dead |
in hunting lodge presumably suicide. |
Ills sister-in-law, the Duchess d'Alencon,
was burned to death In a Paris fire. His |
wife, Empress Elizabeth, was assasslnat- |
ed at Geneva. His eldest brother, Arch |
duke John, was lost at sea. His nephew,
Archduke Francis Ferdinand. was as
That the Emperor himself should have
eluded death seems nothing short of
On many occasions he has
been In imminent peril of his life and
once was stabbed on the ramparts OF
Vienna by Hungarian.
ITALY's RULER
The ruler of Italy Austrias neIghbor,
has fared little better. King Humbert,
after escaping the knife and the pistol
many times, was finally shot to death
In 1900. As Crown Prince. Victor Emanuel
had only just escaped from assassins
while on his way TO Vienna to attend the
funeral of the sssassinated Empress
Elizabeth. Ever since he sscended the
throne his life has been in great jeopardy.
Perhaps the most uneasy crowned head
n all Europe is that of Gear Nicholas IL
II Russia, or nine Cars, four have been
by Nihiists. Countless at
empts have been frustrated TO remove
l
,esn found In the palace. Trains on
which 1t was supposed his Imperial
Majesty was riding have been blown up
md shots have been fired at the ruler,
,ut he has always escaped.
Many attempts also have been made
o kill King Alfonso OF Spain, Six of
hese efforts have been recorded. on
he last occasion the would-be assassin
hose the unique idea of conceallng a
umb I'm a bouquet of flowers. which was
landed TO the King as he rode through
he streets after a military review.
only one attempt to assassinats Kaiser
Wilhelm OF Germany and this was not
The alleged incident was not
elated until long after its occurrence.
t was said then that the German nsws-
apers were forbidden at tie time 10
ublish the story.
So Tar as known no attempt has ever
cen made 10 assassinate King George V
I England, and no attacks were ever re-
orted on King Edward VII. or his
lotheT. Qussn YtstoEia