Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1897 — WHAT A HICCOUGH MEANT. [ARTICLE]

WHAT A HICCOUGH MEANT.

To a Gnllant Young Man It Brought Title and Land*. One of the grandest houses of the Austrian nobility Is Indebted for Its princely dignity to a piece of courtier-like loyalty, performed by one of its members during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa. The august lady, during tlxe midst of some function, had had the misfortune to hiccough in a peculiarly loud and aggressive manner, not altogether In keeping witli the laws of polite society, but which in Japan or Oriental countries would, of course, have been regarded as a piece of lofty breeding. Perceiving that her majesty shofyed traces of embarrassment—for even empresses are human—a young Austrian nobleman stepped forward, and, with a most clever assumption of Intense mortification and humility, craved her majesty** pardon for his gross breach of manners. The empress received his apologies, not only graciously, but also gratefully, and from that time forth the young man’s fortune was made, and before tlie empress died he had been promoted, not only to the rank of count, but also to that of prince, besides being generously endowed by his imperial benofactrcss with means to support his titles.—Boston Herald.