The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-11-22

history there has been an active au-
thenticated reign that was longer Tradi-
ton says a Pharoah ruled for 80 years
and there is the more credible instance
of Rameses IT, Seostris of the Greeks,
whose reign is reputed to have covered
/ 81 years. But in recorded history there
certainly has been no reign Of equal dur
alton to that OF Francis Joseph. A close
rival and the only one of modern times
was Queen Victoria, who reigned for "a
years.
The aged monarch, although he had
suffered serious inroads upon his health
for many years past, was strong enough
to keep firm grip on affairs of state
almost to the last. There were repeat
ed reports of serious illness from a
bronchial affection, and frequently ru-
mors OF his death, which were proven I'M
founded when Official announcements
were made from Vienna. Some of the
reports asserted that his mind had be-
come affected through worry over the
great war, but the truth Of these ru
mors was not admitted.
In November 1915 on the occasion Of
visit Of Emperor William OF Germany
to Vienna, il was rumored that Francis
Joseph was about to make a possible
move for separate peace, but owing to
the strict censorship in Austria there
was no confirmation of such report.
The ultimatum of July %, 1914 which
Francis Joseph sent to King Peter of
Serbia, denouncing the anti-Austrian
propaganda in that country and demand
ing prompt punishment OF the assassns
OF Archduke Ferdinand, was supposedly /
dictated by Francis Joseph himself and /
it was this document that directly pre-
the war now rayaging Europe.
Five days later, after Serbia had com
piled with all the demands with the ex
ception of agreeing to allow Austrian
to enter Serbia to stamp out
the alleged antiAustrian conspracies,
Francis Joseph declared war.
Aside from the great war Francis Io
seph's reign was one of the most event
iul in history. From his imperial van
.age point he saw the French monarchy Il
20 down, the second empire rise and
rumble, the Commune flare briefly, and
lhe republic OF to-day rise on its ashes
le saw the black pintons of the Prus-
sian eagle stamped on the dag of the
new German empire later to tower
over Austria itself; he
aw the papacy shorn of its territorial
Iemesne. while about pickering fam
ly of petty principalities was welded
nto united Italy; he saw Spain, once the t
.reatest of colonial powers, lose the last 5
# her dependencies in two oceans; he J
aw Japan opened TO western eiviliza I
ion, and later defeat the sprawling t
colossus of two continents; he saw the
1ost absolute despotsms-R Russia, Tur a
ey and Persia--concede representation
o the people; he saw at a distance the !;
'nited States cement its federation
nth the blood of a great internecine
'ar, and he saw his own brother prove
hat monarchy could not take new root "
II American soil
In his own country he faced internal il
issensions and external aggressions from p
he moment he came TO the throne. BY
ne war Of 1859 with France and Sar n
mia he was forced to ccde Lombardy p
, Italy; by force Of arms and treaty q
g lost the Duchy Of Holstein TO Prussia y
nd Venice to Italy; and by the revolt
Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, he :;
arely escaped having his dual empire
1t in two.
But in human interest his personal
rrows overshadowed all One after an
her they came upon him. In 1858 the
It of tragic incidents began with an at -,
mpt upon his own life. In 1867 his -
other Archduke Maximillian, after a ~
ree-year experiment as emperor OF =,
exico, was captured by the army of r.,
e patriots and condemned to death by -
court martial, whose sentence was ex ~
uted notwithstanding intercession in
5 behalf by the governments of the
nited States, England and Prussia.
There followed the burning TO death OF NJ
niece in Vienna; sister met similar
tie in Paris; and a cousin drowned an
mself in Stahrenberg lake Yet these
re but minor tragedies in comparison to
tn that which befell the ancient house
the Hapsburgs in 1889 when Rudolph, Ia
e imperial prince upon whom the Aus de
-ians pinned their hopes, met death in
mystery which to this day is not tiy
AIRED
@louded in still deeper mystery, If pos we
lie, was the disappearance that same tn,