Evening star., 1918-11-26
CARES NOW BESET
FORMER EMPRESS
Imperial Family Of Austria
Hungary Confronted by
Greatly Changed Conditions.

VIENNA. Sunday. November "a (by
the Associated Press).-When former
Empress Zita Of fAustria-Hungary re-
ceived the correspondent today at
Eckartsau Castle. he was shown the
children, especially Otto, the eldest,
who passed his sixth birthday ami
versars caly last week, and given an
former imperial family in greatly
changed circumstances.
In view of the food conditions which
supply everywhere the correspondent
had permission to present the children
with two-pound box Of American
chocolates. Spaking In English. the
former empress thanked him effusive-
~ for it. saying:
Children Lack Milk.
For two years we have not had real
chocolate. It also is most difficult TO
obtain milk for the children, without
which. not only mine. but al cn,lSsea anSses
may fall i1l.' .-t.- :.
|. Otto, a golden-haired, blue-eyed.
grave boy, shook hands
with the correspondent, saying In
English:
The former empress said that Otto
had just learned the English words,
adding:
Boy Interested in America.
'rHe speaks only German and Hun
garian. but he is intensely interested
to know all about America, where 1t
is and what kind Of people live there
He also is anxious to talk to you,
as. we see 80 few new faces
The former empress seemed to take
pleasure in talking OF her children
and gave the impression of being
wrapped up in their welfare. She
is not considered a beautiful woman,
but her manner IS gracious: Like TX
dences of recent cares and appre-
nension for the future. She. per-
sonally cared for her children all dur
ing the war.
seriously following the army as q
career the former empress went with
her husband to his various posts
Since the war they have spent the
winters at Luxembourg and the sum
mers at Sievering, so as to be close
TO army headquarters at Reichenau.
where the former emperor went dally.
Infreeuently they lived in Buda-
pest or at other castles in Hungary.
The empress was not able to accom-.
tri.s to tn" Prssian or Italian fronts.
During their short stay on the I'M
nerial throne they did not reside any
e--eat 1an~th Of time at SchoAnbr'-rn !.
the old summer palace on the out
skirts of Vienna, as there were no
living apartments or other conVen-
fences there. The old Emberor Francis
Joseph barely found room at Sehlen-
brunn for himself and his suite.
F>-nrernr Charles ard the ennpress
had expected to remain at Schoen-
bun, ding the no,iticaI dtssen- o'>s
in Austria, but when the Austrian
republic was formed they went 70
Eckartsau at the suggestion OF offl-
Gals of the republic.
Domestic Unhappiness Reported.
Reports have been circulated that
the life Of the former imperial paif
was not especially happy. as the EN- :
press had been criticised as an Hal.
ian fsha was, a primers OF fte
OF Bourbon-FarTnaC It was also sala
that she interfered at state councils
when. the ministers came to see her
husband 4 Reports were circulated.
tho. that the former emperor was
heavy drinker.
The officers and women In attend-
mer empress assured the correspond
ent that their family relations were
nerfect. They said the former em-
peror was such a hard worker as to
exhaust all those about him. It was
said also that he has a will Of his own
and that he set out to make peace
when the war spirit Of the Austrian
people slackened. although his advis-
ers claimed that he dug his own po-
litical grave by SO doing. The former
emperor also lost the support Of the
German population of the empire
when the Germans felt that he de-
sired to make separate peace ana
desert Germany.
what will become. Of the former inn
perial family Is a matter Of conjec-
ture. There are rumors. however. OF
their going travelling when the rail-
ways are in better condition.