The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-09

iNHiHc, WHO francis or HupSDOrS,
who had until then been Emperor OF
ptre, became merely Emperor OF Aus
tria and King OF hungary.
Since then tho rcpalia of the old
German Empcrors have remained in
the Hapsburg treasury, ut Vienna. The
assumption by the King of Prussia of
the supremacy OF the Confederation OF
the Sovereign States of Germany, ut
the close of the Austro-prussian War
OF sSO6, was Il source of Intense bitter
ness ut Vienna, and this resentment
was still further increased and rem
dcrcd more acute when, in the Franco
German War of 1870, the victorious
King of Prussia assumed the title of
German Emperor. thus emphasizing
the fact that the sovereign states or
Germany, moro than twenty in num-
Der. had abandoned the IIapsburgs for
the liohen2ollerns.
This resentment is likely to no re-
vivcd In Austria Hungary, with Il con-
siderable amount OF force. by this III
,imed petition to the Reichstag at Der
I'm, insisting upon a demand for the
surrender by Emperor Francis Joseph
and by Austria of the regalia of the
OLD German empire. That the demand.
If made, will DO rejected is II forcgone
conclusion. For in Vienna the nrgu-
lneht has already been put forward
that tho Jewels forming the regalia
nave Tor many hundreds of years been
INC private property of the house of
llapsburE, and cannot be considered as
beionging to the new German empire.
even IL IL were admitted that the rat-
Ter was the lawful heir of tho defunct
iioiH Roman Empirc-an argument
which is contested in Austria.
But the very fact that the demand
should have been madc upon the Reich
staE at Berlin has aroused so much
Indignation In the dominions of En-
pcror Francis Joseph rs to momcntur-
ily affect injuriously the relations be-
tween Vienna and Berlin, and incl
dcntally the closcncss of the triple
alliance.
The regaiia in question arc pre-
served in the so-callcd SchatHkammcr
of the liofburg. that is to say, of the
old imperial palace at Vienna. and are
not on view to the general public.
but only rarely shown to very dis
tinSuishcd visitors. Among them is
the diadem with which Charlcmaguc
was crowned on Christmas Day, In the
year 500 at Rome. by Pope Leo Ill,
his orb of the empire, his two sccptrcs
his great sword. his Book of Gospels
and the spear Of St Maurice; all pre-
served In the treasury of the Church of
tho Virgin, at AiX-la -Chapclle, follow
ing his death, afterwards at Nurcm
berg, and used until little over 100
years ago at coronations of the En-
perors of Germany and of the Holy
Roman Empire.
Tho reralia also include the scimetar
of Haroun AL Raschid, the sword of
Tamerlanc. tho coronation mantle, en-
broidcred By Saraccn artists for King
Roger II. OF Italy I'm lll3. and border
ed with Cutie Inscriptions; the family
crown of the Ilapsburgs, made In 1902.
for Emperor Rudolf H., and generally
acknowledged to be the finest master
piece In existence of old German gold
smiths art. likewise an emerald OF
superb beauty, weighing 1850 carats.
and tho so-called I'lorentine diamond.
Weighing 1873 carats. Lost by Duke
Charles tho Bold OF nurGundy, on the
battlefield of Granson. picked mp b.
Swiss Lnndsknccht. sold by him to Il
Bcrnesc merchant for the trii!inS sum
of 50. and passing through many
hands before being finally purchased
by Empress Maria Theresa.
Then there Is the so-callcd Luck OF
the House Of lIapsburg, namely. an I'M
mcnsc bowl of Oriental agate, the
largest and finest piece of agate IN me
world; and in the delicate vcininS OF
which the face of Christ is to be seen.
It's history Is n most romantic one,
and il Is regarded with almost as much
reverence as the Holy Grail. Its for
tunes have been for hundreds of years
indissolubly bound up with those of the
house of HapSburE, much in the same
manner as tho Fairy Goblet. "the Luck
of Eden Hail. sung by the poets
Longfcllow and INLAND, nrc idcntihca
with the fortunes of the old Cumber
land family of Musgravcs.
One Of the most extraordinary relics
preserved with the regalia Is n jewelcd
golden Casltct. dating from the reign
of Charlemagne, containing quantity
Of earth. which is asserted to have
been stained with the blood of Saint
stephen. when he WAS stoned just out
sdc the gates OF Jerusalem.
Last, but not least, there Is n large
ebony and silver casket Of exquisite
design, placed on pedestal all by 1T
self IT contains the keys of every
ono OF the collins OF tho members OF
the imperial family. who for near three
centuries past have been entombcd in
the vaults of the Capucin Chapel at
Vienna.
Copyright, 1871. by the Brentwood
Company