Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1921-08-05

4 nMEa-f1O~ the o. IN
eeivsd By Ris Own Subjects.
---------------------------
II he should live to be a hundred.
almost any man who had reached the
think age in 1914 viii recall through
the remainder Of ms allotted life
some emotional reaction from those
days that interyened in that summer
between the murder Of the Archduke
Ferdinand at Sarajeyo and the actual
outbreak Of the war on August 4th,
just seven years ago this week. II he
were in New York ne will recall the
cloud and the tension that fell over
the business world. the extras Of the
newspapers, the crowds about the
bulletin boards. the hush that fell over
restaurant and club as great and
widespread war became more and
more Of certainty. II he were in the
country he will recall the eagerness
with which the daily papers were read
and conjecture upon conjecture was
built from the meagre facts that lay
beneath the innumerable rumors com
ing cut Of World completely awry.
To the man in Indianapolis or the
farmer in Windham county as they
look back over the seven years that
have passed it did not seem that the
murder Of a single Hapsburg royalty
could have any effect upon the life
and being Of an American, yet he. too,
lived to hear the echo Of the shot that
truly did ring round the world.
sidelights on the war and its caus-
IS, its personalities and is conduct,
we shall have for many years The
truth probably will come to our chill
dren or children's children. For Us.
who lived through the struggle, the
facts will always have q tinge Of the
personal and we shall ever be incapa-
bic Of the calm judgment and analysis
Of the contest which will come to lat
er generations. We must wait for me-
NOR and letter, fer diplomatic docu-
ment and a clear summary Of actual
fact to be blended into a single whole
before the true estimate Of the
worlds greatest war can be told or
understood.
OF Franz Ferdinand. the Firebrand
of Europe"-or of the world, II We
prefer,-we in America knew little
before his assassination There had
been newspaper yarns Of his morgan
attic marriage, his scheming with the
Kaiser for the dominance Of Europe,
his unpopularity in the Dual-Empire
But in the daily life Of indianapolis
or Windham County. we repeat, he
was a figure OF little interest. merely
marionette IN the European puppet
show danRled before our eyes now and
then by the efforts of this or that col
orful newspaper correspondent.
In 1917. few months after Ameri-
ca had entered the war. there came 20
New y ork an American woman. whom
We shall call Mrs. X She had spent
most Of her life in Europe and for
some fifteen years had been a promi-
nent resident Of Vienna. Very rich,
beautiful and distinguished linguist,
he had made for herself definite and
unique place in Viennese society. She
entertained lavishly at her Ringstrasse
apartment and also at a romantic old
castle which she owned midway be-
tween Vienna and Budapest From
her we heard much Of Franz Ferdi.
nand, his life and above all fascin-
ating story Of his death.
Mrs. X. in the last week Of July
1914, was alone with her companion
at Bors, her old Magyar castle. She
awaited the arrival OF Viennese
friends. a certain Count and Countess
h.. who were lord and lady in waiting
to the Archduke On Friday evening
there came telephone message say
ing that the guests could not come as
they were commanded Unexpectedly
20 accompany Ferdinand and his wife
10 Sarajevo Mrs y gathered about
herself that fateful Sunday evening a
gay company Of the Magyar nobility
from the surrounding country They
were some twenty edd In number and
there was q brilliant dinner party as
scmblcd in the are=old banquet hall Of
the castle
There WINS old Count Letza, two
members Of the Cabinet. a number Of
the younger nobility q the country
side general two diplomats and
their wives The conversation was
scintillatng, the dinner perfect and
Mrs. y was proving herself the host
ess Of her reputation
Shortly before the thinner ended aqd
the ladies were about te leave the
room a footman whispered &C. Nrs y
that she was wanted on the telephone.
1t WAS long distance from Vienna
and most important Mrs Y hurried
from her guests, grasped the receiver
and heard from "a prominent friend al
court the news that was calling an
Europe TO combat Franz Ferdinand
was dead
In the moment that the telephone
clicked of something Of the terror Of
what was 70 come in the next few
years swept over her She sat FOR a
moment petrifed with horror The
heir 20 the throne had been killed 2
Similar news had rocked the empire
wears before when the Crown Prince