Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-08-06
How the Fatal Curse Put Upon the Emperor Franz
Joseph Has Swept His Loved Ones Away In a
Tragic Manner e The Most Pathetic
Figure In European History.
20 57I9G 0p 0% LhSE1Z0~7G5.
EZLz17SSLS wII22I74

oath of the Hungarian Constitution
June Sth, 1867. He was but eighteen
years of age when his weak uncle,
Ferdinand abdicated. The father of
Franz Joseph, the Archduke Francis
Charles, would have been the next In
line, but the royal family preferred
young "FranZi," who had already
made his mark as student. Several
times his mother, the Archduchess
Sophie, had given him a hint Of the
honor which was to come to him and
by her orders he received instructions
In every branch Of Jurisprudence. He
also became an expert shot and fear
less horseman. The Archduchess ruled
the father as we'll as the son, and she
knew that the father was totally unfit
for the crown. She finally worried
her husband into declaring that he
had seen a vision while earnestly pray
ing for guidance in the matter He
then told the Court that the spirit of
his father, the late Emperor Francis,
had appeared and laid his hand on
the head of his youthful grandson.
Franz Joseph. This decided the fam
lily and young Franz Joseph became
the ruler.
Reigns Over A Mixed People.
Austria received him with frantic
delight, and the day Of his accession
was one of Joy throughout the land.
The young Emperor even at that age
had a remarkable conception Of duty.
which has served him well during his
long and checkered reign. When first
addressed as your Majesty he turned
pale and murmured Farewell to my
youth" His foot was already on the
| thorny path which he has unfiinching-
| ly trodden for sixty-six years. During
| this time he has reigned over more
than fifty million people consisting Of
! Austrians, Hungarians, Bohemians
! Bosnians and Herzegovinians. They
are his subjects, but besides these a
large number of Germans. Italians,
Russians, Swiss, Roumanians. British,
French, Montenegro, Turkish, Ser
Wan, Bulgarian Leichtensteiners and
over three thousands Americans live In
! his domain.
His troubles began early in his reign,
as @ few months after ne came to the
throne dissensions arose throughout
the land which were followed by ex-
ternal aggressions.
The Curse In 1858.
In 1853 the list OF tragic incidents
, which have marred his reign begar
when an attempt was made to assassi-
, nate him. Early one afternoon IL
{ February Of that year the Emperor
. was taking his daily walk on thu
r ancient bastions which used to encircl'
3 Vienna. attended by single aide-de
q camp, Count ODorrell. The two mel
had stopped to view the movements o
the soldiers who were drilling nearby
] Suddenly man ran up the narroS
{ steps leading to the bastion and deal
= the Emperor violent blow with
d knife. The blow was aimed at tn
o neck. but II struck bone behind TN
r ear and did not mtiict serious woun
g although the conclusion caused parua
= blindness for time. The man prove
:, to be a Hungarian named Lebenzi-
e tailor by trade. He declared that n
q was determined to kill the Empero
y and had waited for the opportunit
If for some time.
l. When the Emperor had fully n
d covered the people Of Vienna, VIII
n have always shown a remarkable az
a, votion TO their ruler set about to bull
v, church in commemoration of the
!, youthful mOnarchs preservation, ar
IF the Votivkirche, a masterpiece OF MOI
al ern Gothic art, was the result. tn
"a beautiful church rears its slende
graceful towers on one Of the wide
s. streets of the Austrian capital and
g always an object of the greatest Il
20 terest TO the American traveller.
n The Emperor was kindly dispos'
NJ toward his subjects, even the HUI
vo garian rebels. and tried to win thel
n but the Archduchess Sophie HI
lie formed the policy Of his reign
ne cruel. heartless policy which Carl
ed death and exile TO many. She W
he heartily disliked by the people, and t