Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-07
Emperor, Princely Monarch,
Blackened by Scandals and Intrigue

OIsen II has been said OF this man that
only the care that he exercised held the
oGsl monarchy together.
Idol of People.
Francis Joseph was the idol of his peo-
pie. and especially Of. the inhabitants Of
his capital city, Vienna. His tall, gaunt
figure was familiar to every viennese. He
rode through The streets unguarded bow
ing graNeis to the salutatlons of his low
ing people. IL 1t became known that he
was TO leave the city, a large crowd In
Var;abiy would congregate or his route to
the railroad station to see him drive by.
ne was imperial, yet democratic, for years
ne held weekly audiences with the COM
mon people at which any one of his sub
!ecis could appeal to him for the .righting
or a wrong. He would speak to the Wen
nese In their beloved dialect. aud they re-
cite today that in the intimacy of his
.Wn family 1T was his pleasure to use the
subjects but knew the sorrows nj at
%itict.ons Of his family life, and of recent
years as the people realized his austere
loneliness, hedged about by the extreme
etiquet Of the most ceremonious court OF
europe. their hearts went out to him and
when they. spoke OF the old man as our
FRANCIS" the appellation was sympathetic
and sincere. 1t has been the custom OF
the emperor. on the occasion of certain
religious festivals, to march through the
streets OF Vienna from the Hofburg to
ms people would greet the dign!tied fig
ure with cheers and more or less %vocifer-
Gus evidences OF their loyalty and love.
But more recently, as they perceived and
commented upon the weight Of his years,
the noisy salutations ceased and IN their
stead came n silent but heartfelt greeting
to the noble and venerable monarch. He
was still the sane imperious ruler. but the
people said "he Is bowed with years and
perhaps this Is the last time we will see
hin. And after he had gone by they
Joseph was beloved for his kindness, his
alniabtity. his modesty and his rectitude.
Ills determination and ability had saved
the empire from Il hundred dangers, and
his high moral courage had made it pos
sib!e for him to hold in leash the fretting
and threatening aspirations of Chech.
fole, Magyar Serve. Ruthenian and Bull
The dead monarch suffered long and un-
complalningly. and In q sense his people
are glad that death finally has brought
MN a surcease of earthly strife and sor-
row. His long life has exemplified more
than. that of any sovereign OF today the
maxim that uneasy lies the head that
Born in 1880.
Francis Joseph ], was born in the royal
palace OF Schoenbrunn, Vienna, August Is.
1850. He was the eldest son Of Archduke
FRANCIS Charles. second son of Emperor
Francis 1. of Austria and of A~rchduches.
sophie, princess of Bavaria. Ferdinand
]. abdicated, the crown was renowned by
Francis Charles, and Francis Joseph be-
came emperor OF Austria on December 2,
Francis Joseph's marriage took place on
April "a, 1854. His bride was princess
Elizabeth Amalie Eugene. daughter OF
Duke Macmillan Joseph. and cousin on
her mothers side to the king of Bavaria.
-Four children were born to the royal
couple. They were the Achduchess Sophie.
born in 1855 and dying in infancy two
years later; A~rchduchess Gtsela, born in
1906, Who became the wife of Prince Leo
pod, second son of Prince L-uitpold of
Bavaria: Archduke Rudolph, born in 1858
and died in 1889, and the A~rchduchesa
Marie Valerie, who was born in 1868, and
who III 1880 became the wife of Archduke
Francis Salvador.