Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-28
FRANCIS JOSEPH
SHATTERED BY WAR
Aged Austrian Emperor Is in
Ignorance of Titanic Events
Taking Place in Europe.
HE LIVES LIFE OF HERMIT
While Apparently in Good
Health, Mentally He Is
Total Wreck.

iSpccIal Cable to The Times Dispatch.
BERLIN. November 27.-whilc the
war seems TO have endowed the Kaiser
With almost supcrhumnn energy and
endurance. II has completely shattered
the nerves OF the aged Emperor Francis
Joseph. whom nobody in Vienna, nor
anywhere else. as far as the general
public Is concerned has seen for many
months.
Through IL has often been stated in
Vienna for the benefit OF the foreign
press that the Emperor is at the Hof-
burg. the gigantic imperial palace
there, in frequent conferences with
Count Tisza, the Hungarian Premier
and Herr Burian, the foreign Minister
on diplomatic and military questions
tho truth is that for almost year he
has never left Schoenbrunn. where he
lives tho life OF a hermit. in total
ignorance OF everything that happens
in the outside world
No word OF the war Is permitted to
pass the gates OF the imperial
hermitage. and Francis Joseph
hears absolutely nothing OF the con-
hhEration to which he gave the
signal himself when ne declared war
against Serbia.
The old Emperor is apparently IN
good health. though exceedingly weak,
but mentally he is tu absolute wreck.
and II Is question whether he has
any idea whatever OF the fact that his
empire Is struggling for its existence
Very often /; is said he gives way TO
violent attacks OF weeping but we
have the word Of Princess Wirdisch-
Eraetz. the latest member of the Haps-
IA a M int
but n" il certainly not crying over his
own sins.
His imperial and royal Majesty" tho
frivolous and incorr!gible princess. re-
Gently wrote 10 n friend here. does
not know what either physical or moral
suffering mems. but. aided by an onion.
he often sheds copious tears"
SPENDS TINE N SLEEP
AND SEES FEW PEOPLE
Francis Joseph. who. before the war.
used TO bc UP at dawn. now arises very
late. though he goes TO bed with the
sun. lie spends an hour every dag In
the winter garden OF Schoenbrunn Pal
ace. sleeps or iozcs for twenty hours
out Of every twenty-four. speaks only
10 his personal valet and very rarely
receives anyone in audience, not even
any OF the numerous imperial high
nesses
When he does consent TO see any Of
his nearest relatives. he mods his head
as signal that they may enter and
shakes II when he thinks the audience
has lasted long enough. which is never
longer than three minutes. Archduchcss
I!ta is generally dismissed In a minute.
but Archduchcss Valerie. an old fav-
oritc OF the Emperor. is occasionally
permitted 10 stay a It'll" longer
1t was with the greatest dIricuI,v
that he was recently persuaded 10 SEQ
Frau Katharine Schrath. who formerly
had n finger In every Diplomatic and
political pic and who came from, yicp,,
to schoenbrunn every mornin,. 10 keen
Francis Joseph company as no dr,,,,
HE coffae
The old monarch has ,o,,. o,,
desirc-to ho left in ncoco an, w. -,
lowed "a die in reaca
"
80, ..,,,,,,.,,
"' "f 'hEE'E
inc possibility OF the existence of
secrc' 'cFmah-Ereek treaty, which has
oeeh discussed so often latc!J, never
round any belief in court circles here.
FROM most excellent source hear
that no such treaty ever existed.
thouGh n family arrangement was
made between the Kaiser and his
brother-in-law. King "Tino."
In return for his promise 70 do his
utmost to keep Greece neutral. King
Constantine received an autorranb Lot
ter from the Kaiser. who gave him his
personal word Of honor that the in
tegrity of Greece would be respected in
any circumstances. and that when the
time came to rearranEe the map of the
balkans. Greece should be rewarded
win certain districts in Serbia and
Albania
rms arrangement was made through
the medium on high parsonage in
the encourage OF Queen Sophie. who,
during august and September last.
mace three round trips from Athens
10 berhn.
was queen Sophie personally who