Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-03
NO PORTENTS ATTEND THE
PASSING OF A MOCK CAESAR
The Death Of Charles Hapsburo In sn'Il.
ing Madeira Adds the crownlns irony
TO the Tale Of a Hapiess and Out.
Moded Dynasty

to the Tale Of a Hapiess and Out
Moded Dynasty
SNTylIE heavens themselves blaze forth the
L death Of princes" Caesars wife. and
consequently above suspicion. was not nlone
in this belief, of which there was to her swift
confirmation In the most famous assassina-
ton Of all history. The celestial obbisato
was impressive. Thunder shook the capitol.
The earth trembled. With appropriate ges.
lures great julius fell.
In the absence Of detailed reports from
Madeira. it may be assumed that the usual
delightful weather prevailed in that insular
paradise which was the pleasant place Of
exile Of the dying Hapsburg. Perhaps the
! modern heavens arc democrat.zcd perhaps
merely Indifferent.
Whatever the cause, It is certain that
little relationship can be traced between
their moods and the wreck Of thrones or the
fate of obsolete monarch!es. Something
more than the passing of King is needed
to ruffie modern skies, even though lie be q
Caesar.
For such. according to strained but
once potent theory, Charles Hapsburg was
II his death Is Of comparatively slight prac-
teal Importance historically, it is fraught
with solemn significance.
THAT race declared q recent commcn-
tator in appra!sing the Hapsburg line, 'is
mad and sanguinary anachronism.' Yet it
was that race which four centuries ago
dominated both the old eastern and the
new found western worlds.
Charles the Fifth has been called every
inch an emperor. According TO sixteenth
century standards, the ascrption IL justified.
That singular hypothesis. the Holy Roman
Empire. designed 70 initiate the mastery of
the Caesars. was Quickened into new reality
under Charles Ilapsburg, virtual lord OF
Europe King Of Spain. through his fathers
marriage with the weak minded heircss of
Ferdinand and Isabella; ruler OF Germany,
dictator of the dest!nies Of Italy, conqueror
Of Tuns. inheritor of the Netherlands and
claimant Of all tic vast Americas save
Brazil.
However perverted and untiincly, ~Ome OF
the invulnerablc pride and nristocrncy Of
the Hapsburgs is understandable. Beside
this line tie Hohcnsollern. are rlimbers,
parvenus. upstarts.
But the new world. which In the deepest
sense is without geographical division, is
impatient with mere consciousness Of the
accident of birth. Kings. unless shrewd
enough to save their face. by voluntary cf-
fac"ment or BY the exhibition of fortnight
qualities of citizenship. nrc profoundly dis
credited.
George Of Great Britain is an amiable
symbol: Victor Emmanuel Of Italy con.
stitutional leader of some ability, and AL
fonso OF Spain--an indirect descendant of
the IIapsburgs, by the way--rctains his
throne largely through personal charm.
1t is as men, not as monnrchs, that these
three surviving royal rulers Of major Euro
pean nations are tolerated. The Scandi.
navian Kings are citizens in fine robes, suit
able for pagcantry or dedication ceremonies.
1t was the misfortune Of the Hapsburgs,
undistinguishcd in the main for notable gifts
either of the mind or heart. TO remain per-
sstently unresponsivc to the march OF civ
ilization. For at least century and half
the chronicle Of the Hapsburgs is dark and
terrible. Enenlightenment rather than de-
liberate tyranny was their bane.
Tho fates have been remorseless. The
record is ensanguined with murders, sui
cides assassinat!ons. shipwreckcd dynasties
and acute personal griefs and miscres.
Marie Antoinettc, slain on the altar OF
impulsive and irresistible democracy the
Empress Elizabeth, perhaps the least cu-
pnble of the doomed house. assassinated: /:
Maximilian executed for q mad attempt to
!mplant medievalsm in the Western Hem.
isphere; Crown Prince Rudolph, suicide in
a sensual orgy Archdukc John Nepomuck,
of destiny unknown; Archduke Ferdinand,
whose death provoked world cataclysm;
Charles, bunglng aspirant for vanished
throne over an evaporated cmpire-these are
n few OF the many tragic figures which
crowd the poignant romance of the hapless
Hapsburgs.
The last adult Of the line wa, in certain
respects q pitiabe figure. Apparently in
capable of accommodating himself to actual
conditions, his end amid the sunlight and
flowers Of Madeira Is exquisitely ironical.
Philosophers may discern an application OF
the doctrine of atouemcnt IN the descent
and prolonged degeneration Of the Haps-
burgs.
IL is not easy to conceive that, save for
handful Of infatuated react tionarics, the chil-
dren Of Charles ever will provide inspiration
for royaltst activities OF any consequence.
After 700 years the curtain falls on the
Hapsburss. The death of Charles. although
it provokcs no stir, Is in sense relief.
The heavens under the new dispcnsation are
smiling, implacable.
MAZE WAN EOP ApT