Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1912 — Page 2

ENTLY, cousin. If you make Black growl you will be badly noted In this house.” He had jostled a bad-tem-pered old pug. Slender youth, proud, laughing, with Ironic mustache, he thanked the sour Sophie for her warning, as she passed the chateau. It was May, 1853, in the park of Possenhofen. She was the eldest daughter of Maximilian, duke of Bavaria, a crank convinced that all his dogs had souls. He was Francis Joseph, emperor of Austria, king of Hungary, Bohe-

mla, Dalmatia, Croatia, Esclavonia —and twen-ty-three years old. He had come to demand the hand of Sophie. He had seen her. She would do. The Wittelsbach, though plain home folks, were of exalted blood, fit to espouse a Hapsburg. His own mother had arranged the match. He would ask Duke Maximilian after the banquet —and make a prompt get-away to Vienna, where pleasure waited. Alone beneath the trees, a pup came romping to him; and a fresh, sweet young voice cried: “Dick, come back!” And he marveled at the vision, a beautiful girl of sixteen, supple, Blender, of proud, pure type, laughing flower on a tall forest stem. She had been running, and stopped, blushing, breathless: “Please excuse Dick, monsieur!** . ■ - : ■ “Don’t apologise for Dick, mademoiselle. His friendship is a recommendation. I know the ways of the house,*’ he answered. "Father thinks so,’’ she laughed. "Your father? Then you are—” "Elizabeth Amelia, duchess in Bavaria.” Francis Joseph had already started in for a flirtation. He stopped, troubled. Holding out his hand, he asked: “Why have I not seen you before?” I Very young, serene and haughty, yet impulsive and tender, unafraid df the youth in tourist tweeds and struck by sudden admiration, Elizabeth held out her beautiful white hand. “I\am too young lo figure at the banquet, l ' she said. And Francis Joseph understood. His uncle wished to marry .off the elder daughter first. He whispered to the younger girl, laughing, tempting: "Be dressed, on the lawn, before the banquet. I’ll arrange.” It was the first escapade of Elizabeth, and It had the excuse of love at first sight. She dressed and descended calmly, pursued by affrighted tiring women. On the lawn Francis Joseph offered her his arm. The effect was theatrical. Duke Maximilian was wild With anger. After the banquet the young emperor drew him aside: "My uncle,” he said, “I have the honor to ask the hand, not of my cousin Sophie, but of my cousin Elizabeth.’’ "My nephew,” said the duke, "it is impossible." "Then I’ll ask for neither," said Francis Joseph. So be quitted Possenhofen. Three months later, on the birthday of the emperor, all Ischl was en fete. To the imperial villa many great ones were invited, notably Duke Maximilian, his duchess, their three sons and four daughters. JThe church of Ischl was packed for morning service. To- universal surprise, as the imperial cortege entered, the proud mother ot Francis-Joseph humbly stood aside, and motioned young Elizabeth, the blonde Elizabeth, to pass before her. And the young emperor took her by the hand. Approaching the altar, he said to the priest. "My father, here is my fiancee. Bless us.” Their wedding tour passed in Moravia. It was an ideal honeymoon in a mountainous country, where the young emperor was worshiped by a loyal peasantry. They rode from town to town, almost alone, Francis Joseph triumphant, Elizabeth happy. She had found the Prince Charming of her dreams. AH changed when they returned to Vienna. The first morning the blooming beauty " was refused entrance to her husband’s study. An usher in green and gold, with gold chain and ivory wand, barred her way, bowing ceremoniously: "Pardon, your imperial majesty may not enter to his imperial majesty without being announced." As Elisabeth, simple Bavarian princess, protested that she would pass, a high officer corroborated the flunkey’s words. Ashamed, wounded, angry, she was forced to wait, feeling the smiles of the courtiers behind her back, until word came that the emperor would receive her. Bitterly she complained to him, but Frauds Joseph declared that etiquette must be observed. Scarcely seventeen, Elizabeth had no experience to struggle against a hundred conspiracies of the court suggested by the brutal this relentless woman bad desired her son

ROMANCES near to THRONES

to marry Sophie, whom she could rule. Forced to yield to Francis Joseph’s infatuation, she resolved that the blonde Cinderella should not long rule over the light and thoughtless heart of the emperor. The first deceptions were wrapped in mystery. His mother feared to risk the tears of Elizabeth. At that moment they spoke of a beautiful Italian countess. How had she entered the closed circle of Vienna? Just before the birth of Elizabeth’s first child, when the mother-in-law again directed ceremonies, the Italian woman was invited to a great court ball, and Francis Joseph paid her such attentions that she was at once dubbed favorite. Within twenty-four hours a charitable soul Informed the tender Elizabeth of her misfortune. She was so stricken that she fell gravely ill, but remained faithful to her system of silent dignity. Time passed. 7.:: ■ The birth of a little son, Rudolph, was a great joy to Elizabeth; yet before he was six months she learned that his bringing up was to be taken out of her hands. “But he is my son,” she faltered. "He is the heir ot the Hapsburgs,” replied the Archduchess Sophie. "But the emperor has authorized me —* "I withdraw the authorization,” said the terrible mother-in-law. Tears, protests were without result; the baby boy was given a wet nurse and governess, replaced laterfijy a tutor, the Count Bombelles, who, many years later, took part in the orgie of Meyerling which terminated Rudolph’s life, which shows the character of the tutor. And Elizabeth was only at the beginning of her troubles. At this moment there appeared at the palace theater —directed and financed by the emperor—a Mme. Roll, actress of small talent but radiant beauty. During a whole season the court asked one question: “Who is Mme. Roll’s protector?" It could not be the emperor. He was never seen with her. At vacation, when it Was learned that the Roll would take a villa at Ischl, summer residence of the imperial family, everyone said, ‘Now we shall know who is the protector!" The bijou town was too small to keep a secret And within a week it was known to the general stupefaction. The phantom lover of Mme. Roll appeared unmistakably. It was the emperor! «, It was too much. Never before had he flaunted a? favorite so publicly. Elisabeth told him /that he must choose between 'Mme. Roll and neroelf; and the emperor pretended to send away the actress. But the wife was not deceived. She waited. She had taken a resolve. The occasion was a hunting scandal. Francis Joseph, with certain gentlemen, had to Murzzuschlag, and when he did not return with them a strangely piquant story was confided by one, Count K to his young wife, on oath of secrecy. The emperor had been struck by the beauty of a peasant girl of tender years, whose conquest had details worthy of a ruder age. Now the emperor Was staying "to console the child.” The Countess K hurried to the tea of the empress. In a circle of spiteful young women all the details of the adventure were Whispered with such tact that Elizabeth heard every word. When tha last auest had kissed / ' * •_*- -- ' -t ~

first Love<z%Z the Last Love of . ster,lingZ_

her hand she called her old nurse, brought from Possenhofen. 7- —■’ ———l “Pack my valises,’’ said Elizabeth, "we leave tonight “For long?” "For always.” The two women slipped from the Hofburg and took the first train at the southern station. Only the next morning did her mother-in-law learn of Elizabeth’s flight. An hour later the chief of police had discovered that the empress was en route for Trieste and the Imperial yacht. A telegram was tent to retard its departure on some pretext, while high functionaries followed on a special train. not known, but Elizabeth returned. The scene was terrible, between husband, wife, and mother-in-law. Francis Joseph, fearing scandal, dragged himself on his knees before Elizabeth and even reproached his mother for her cruelty. But nothing could change Elizabeth’s determination. She would only consent to avoid scandal. That night Professor Skoda of the Vienna faculty, after much repugnance and long discussion, signed a bulletin declaring that the health of the empress demanded a milder climate than Vienna. The next day, accompanied by high dignitaries, she left for Antwerp, where a magnificent yacht was hired to take her to Madeira. _/ She tired of Madeira. The imperial yaeht was put at her disposition. She visited Norway, the Mediterranean, the Adriatic. Francis Joseph came on her unexpectedly at Venice and persuaded her to return temporarily to Vienna, for the sake of appearances. To distract her mind she spent millions on a chateau at Linz, where her great pleasure became to break in young horses. This was the period of her friendship with the famous circus woman, Eliza whom Elizabeth declared to be a better lady than any of the Vienna court. Finding Linz too near Vienna, she spent other great sums on the chateau of Goedoelloe, In Hungary, where her taming of the man-killing stallions of Count Festltlcs became almost a historical event i It was whispered that Elizabeth was trying to get killed without the sin of suicide. There were reconciliations. To return to her husband was represented to her a religious duty. Each time, however, the Interest of Francis Joseph In the theater seemed so paramount that she started off again. She returned for Rudolph’s marriage, where she wept bitterly. She rejoiced a while in Rudolph's baby child. On the morning after the tragedy of' Meyerling it was to her that Count Bombelles brought the awful tidings— Rudolph had committed suicide with Marie Vetachera, and it was Elizabeth who broke the pews to the emperor. . - -Her hobby now became her palace at Corfu, the Villa Achlllelon, which will remain famous In history as the greatest folly of luxury, and art of a prodigal sovereign. It cost above $16,000,000. , William n. of Germany now has It Only a terrible craving for sleep caused Elizabeth to leave Corfu. Now commenced a round of climates and Specialist*. At Baths Nauheim the population so followed her about, that she decided for Switzerland. Francis Joseph, who had joined her for a week, objected. "I have bad reports on Switzerland," he said. "Full of anarchists.” ; ' "7’ 2”“ "I am only a poor woman, Francis," she replied. "They will not hurt mA* Yet Lucchinl stabbed her as she boarded the lake steamer at Geneva—like a simple tourist with a single companion. None sesnected that she was more than jostled. The

boat .steamed slowly out. The Hungarian orchestra struck up a lively csardas. Elizabeth fainted. The x Countess Sztaray cut her corset strings and found a tiny triangular wound below the left breast. "Quick, a doctor. The empress is wounded!” There was no doctor, and the boat put back to Geneva. Opening her eyes Elizabeth asked: “What is the matter?” "Do you suffer?” faltered the countess. Elizabeth smiled “no” and feebly waved her hand in time to the jaunty music of the csardas. There was a melancholy smile on her face as she slowly shut her eyes. Elizabeth had died in beauty. An aged emperor dines alone on gold plate from the famous service whose central decorative piece is worth $15,000. There is but one guest —a general aide-de-camp or high official of the court. The proudest monarch of Europe is alone with one guest. Etiquette demands it. Five gorgeous flunkeys in' pale blue, buff, pink and gold, serve the two men. There have been no flowers on the table since the tragic death of the Empress Elizabeth; but the lights of wax candles glint the golden service and the rare wines in cut glass. They flit from historic tapestries to carved wood furniture and panels such as no museum possesses and make dancing shadows in the distant corner. Silence. — 4 _ - The aged emperor is dreaming of the gorgeous gala dinners of the past. He sees the ideal throngs of other days. Again he hears the three taps of ,the grand chamberlain’s cane to announce the entrance of their imperial and royal majesties. How lonely is the Immense palace, full of hiding courtier?, functionaries, servants. It is still early, not yet seven. 1 ■ . a Francis-Joseph rises. His guest takes ceremonious leave and the sovereign goes to his study., Z His real life begins. , A confidential valet helps him into hat and overcoat. By a bijou elevator, whose door imitates a bookcase, he descends to the ground floor. He walks twenty steps across the little courtyard to the door, where an auto-limousine awaits him. There is no special secrecy—it is tb avoid ceremony merely. He gives no directions; the chauffeur knows where to go. Quitting the frigid, solemn Hofburg, out into the bright-lit bustling early evening of Vienna, past crowds hastening to theater and music hall, into fair streets of residence, the auto stops at a comfortable villa. The old sovereign enters the gate alone. The front door opens as he mounts the three marble steps. When the door shuts he is no longer the dread lonely emperor and apostolic king, but Herr Schratt, regularly called the "colonel,” careless and easy, negligent and slouchy, bright, warm, cozy, snug among old friends. Years ago, when the Burg theater was A wing of the Hofburg, the great actress Katha* rina Schratt—the Sarah Bernhardt and Rejane of Vienna —was presented to Francis-Joseph by Empress Elizabeth herself. For long, she too has lived retired; and the mourning emperor found her so intelligent, so fine and also good, that old loves and sorrows having burnt out. an* affectionate friendship grew up to give him a kind of peaceful solace. Leaving crown and scepter on the hat rack, he enters the bright little cardroom that adjoins two bijou little parlors and takes the best easy chair, while Madame Katharina hastens with the foot-warmer. Herr Schratt sprawls in unspeakable content The bell rings, and the partners of Interminable games of tarok—a sort of Austrian bridge —arrive. They are two ancient friends of the great actress, become friends of Herr Schratt always the same; Herr Palmer, director of the Bank des. Pays' Autrichiens, and an interna* tionaT private banker so extremely illustrious that his name is as well known as Franz-Jo-sef's, and—a thing that never ceases to upset the court —an Israelite by race, birth and religion* in the strict sense! The Jewish banker and Monsieur Schratt—not the head of the Holy Roman empire—are fast old cronies to the sorrow and scandal of the Countess Chotek, morganatic but directing wife of Archduke Francis-Ferdinand, heir to the dual crown. Often the emperor loses all the money in his purse a dozen florins —at the nightly game of tarok. He plays badly. None wants him for partner; so they cut to see who takes him. He laughs boisterously. Meanwhile tea is prepared In the adjoining dining room. At ten o’clock the auto-limousine is announced, and Madame Kathrina helps the “colonel” into hat and overcoat The auto rolls through the streets of Vienna, still bright and boisterous, to the cold, solemn Hofburg. It stops at the little door of the small courtyard. The old man enters, and a silent valet meets him. Up the bijou elevator they ride, to the study he had left three hours ago. The confidential valpt takes his hat and coat. > The emperor has returned. ,

STORIES of CAMP and WAR

OPENING OF THE CIVIL WAR Edmund Ruffin of Virginia Fired First Shot at Fort Sumter —Story Told by Judge Pryor.. "The first shot fired In the Civil war,” said Judge Roger A. Pryor the other day, according to the New York Herald, “was fifed by the hand of Mr. Edmund Ruffin of Virginia. It may be recalled that Virginia stood out long against secession. At the. Virginia convention a majority opposed taking the state put of the union, and the secessionists knew that without the border states, of whicTi Virginia was the leader, the cotton states would speedily be crushed. We all felt, I in particular, that the'one way to get Virginia to unite with her southern neighbors was to strike a blow against the Union. “After consultation with Mr. Jefferson Davis and others of the secession leaders I went down to Charleston, and from the porch of the Mills hotel delivered a speechto practically the entire population of Charleston. In, that speech I urged the southern troops to strike the first blow,, and assured them that once the conflict was on Virginia would secede ‘within an hour by Shrewsbury clock.’ "The next meeting I was deputed by General Beauregard to demand the surrender of Fort Sumter. We knew, of course, that surrender was impossible, but I was instructed after surrender had been refused to go at once ’ tp the nearest battery and order the com mandant to open fire. “When I got to Battery Johnson and was met by the young captain in charge I presented my order, and he, with much emotion, embraced me and said that It was my impassioned speech of the previous evening that had made war possible, and he offered me the chance of fame by firing the first gun at Fort Sumter. It was an honor I could not well refuse, and yet I was not anxious for it. “Back there in Virginia where the fight for and against secession had

The First Gun of the Civil War Went Off With a Roar.

been prolonged and bitter I had known Edmund Ruffin, a gentleman of considerable estate and owning many slaves. When the Virginia convention voted against secession Mr. Ruffin was so Incensed that he shook the dust of his native state from his ‘feet and became a citizen of South Carolina. Then* old as he was, he promptly enlisted as a private at Charleston. It was while I was in the midst of my quandary with the captain of Battery Johnson that I saw Mr. Ruffin, musket on his shoulder. “To the commandant I said: ‘Sir, I appreciate the honor you would do me, but I could not think of depriving others more worthy than myself. Here is the man whose devotion to the southern cause makes him .worthy of the honor.’ I Introduced Mr. Rffln to the commandant and explained the circumstances, and when I left the fort to watch, from the front, the effect of that first shot Mr, Ruffin had the lanyard of the gun In his hand, preparatory for firing. "Scarce had we got outside when the gun—the first gun of the Civil war “—went off with a roar. We could follow quite distinctly the flight of the shell, and we watched it in its course until it burst with terrific force right over Fort Sumter. “That was the first shot! Virginia seceded at once, when, the first blow having been struck, President Lincoln called upon her for her quota of troops. Mr. Ruffin, as soon as the state had taken the course he deemed right, went back to Virginia and resumed his citizenship there. He lived' during the rwt of the war. He was on a large estate of his in Amrita county when the news came to him of the surrender of Lee at . Appomat-tox-and the loss ot the southern “Tcnpntrt survive the liberties ofi my country,’ he said, with a resolution ta firm as that of Cato. He leaded a double-barreled gun, and, palling the to^oThta^e^offi®*’ *** ***** •"“•***