New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-22

Longest Reign IN History.
1t is doubtful if il all history there
has been an active, authenticated
reign longer than that closed by the
death of Francis Joseph.
AT nineteen years of age he ascend
ed the throne of Austria, upon abdi-
cation of his uncle Ferdinand l., Dec.
z, lS4S, his death today ending an
active reign of sixty-eight years, all
but the first twenty of which he was
also apostolic king Of Hungary.
tradition says that Pharaoh ruled
Tor nlnety-nine years, and there is the
more credible instance of Rameses
II, Seostris Of the Greeks. whose reign
Is reputed to have covered sixty-seven
J airs.
But in recorded history there GER
tainly has been no reign equal in
period Of time of that of the Haps-
burg which closed today. Louis XIV
of France was nominalfy king for
I scTenty-two years. He actually oc-
cupied the throne for little more than
half a century. A closer rival, and the
fonly one of modern times, was Queen
Victoria, who reigned for sixty-four
lyears.
Francis Joseph's reign was as event
lful as it was dong. From his imperial
Vantage point he saw the French
monarchy go down, the Second En-
pire rise and crumble, the Commune
ifiare briefly, and the Republic of to-
day rise on it's ashes; he saw the black
opinions of the Prussian eagle stamped
ION the flag of the new German en-
pire-later to tower threateningly over
Austria itself; he saw the papacy
shorn of it's territorial demesne, while
iabout a pickering family Of petty prin-
fcipalities was welded into united Italy;
The saw Spain, once the greatest of
lcolonial powers, lose the last of her
dependencies in two oceans; he saw
Japan opened to western civilization,
and later defeat the swrawling Colos-
sus of two continents; he saw the most
absolute espotisms-Russia, Turkey
and Persia-concede representation
to the people; he saw at a distance the
United States cement it's federation
with the blood of a great internecine
war, and he saw his own brother
prove that monarchy could not take
new root on American soil.
In his own country he faced inter-
nal dissensions and external agrees
sions from the moment he came TO
the throne By the war of 1859 with
France and Sardinia he was forced to
-eeede Lombardy to Italy; by force of
arms and treaty he lost the Duchy OF !
Holstein to Prussia and Venice to
Italy; and by the revolt of Kossuth,
the Hungarian patriot, he barely
escaped having his dual empire cut II
two. ,. .
Great Personal Sorrows.
But in human interest his personal
sorrows overshadowed all. One after ,
another they came upon him. In
1853 the list of tragic incidents began
with an attempt upon his own life. In
1857 his brother the Archduke Max
lmilian, after three years experiment
\ as Emperor of Mexico, was captured
by the army of the patriots and con-
demned to death by a court martial
Il whose sentence was executed notwith-
standing intereession in his behalf by
the governments Of the United States
England and Prussia.
There followed the burning to death
of a niece in Vienna, a sister met
4 similar fate in Paris: and cousin
1 drowned himself in Stahrenberg Lake,
yet these were but minor tragedies in
comparison with that which befell the
4 ancient houGo of the Hapsburgs in
1889 when Rudolph, the imperial
prince upon whom the Austrians
pinned their hopes, met death in
mystery which to this day is not
cleared
Graves hold the secret of that fate
full night at a hunting lodge in Never
ling. There have been dozen YER
sions of what occurred One true
Ftory' relates that the crown, prince
was struck dead by Baltazzi a Hun
Earian chevalier who loved the Bar
nness Marie Vetsera and who was
frenzied by finding the girl and Prince
d Rudolph together in the castle of
] Merceling after the crown prince had
given his pledge not to see the girl
n again Another that the crown prince
killed the uncle of the young Baroness
when he came to rescue her and that
both Of the young lovers afterward
committed suicide. The truth is not
known.
Nephew Disappears.
Clouded in still deeper mystery, if
possible, was the disappearance that
same year of Francis Joseph's favorite
nephew, the Archduke Johann Sal
vator Heir to the throne at the death
of Rudolf, he renowned all of his
Imperial dignities and fled the country
q rs John Ortiz captain of a merchant
ship, never to be heard of again The
next of kin, the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand who became heir presump-
tive, added a further burden to his
uncle's heart by morganatic mar
4 rage to Sophie the countess of Cho.
TEX, by whom he has had three chill
dren, no One Of which can succeed tc
the throne.
But it is doubtful if any or ali Of
! these reverses weighed more heavily
upon the emperor's heart than the al
most recent tragedy at Geneva, wher
4 the Empress zabeth, who had beer
called the most beautiful woman il
Europe was stabbed to death by