Play Sisi For Me

Play Sisi For Me

THE LATE EMPRESS ELISABETH The Austrian Emperor has sent to the Government of Geneva, through Count Von Kufstein, his Minister at Berne, the sum of 20,000 francs for the poor, as a donation in remembrance of the late Empress. His Majesty has also charged Count Von Kurfstein to decorate officials and others who rendered services during the late sad events. Frau Meyer, wife of the proprietor of the Hotel, Beau Rivage, where the Empress died, receives the Elisabeth Order.

Globe - Thursday 15 March 1900 THE LATE EMPRESS ELISABETH

The Emperor Francis Joseph has ordered from a Berlin firm a monument to be placed over the tomb of the Empress Elisabeth in the Capucin Church in Vienna. It consists of a pedestal, adorned with palm branches, and the favourite flowers of the deceased Empress. Above this is a cross, at the foot of which a winged angel is standing. The inscription runs: "In memoriam sempiternum*."

*In everlasting memory

HER MAJESTY'S JEWELS

It is pretty well known that the Empress possessed a very large fortune and income in her own right, but is is not very generally known that her Majesty's collection of jewels was not only unique, but in many respects, was considered to be one of the finest in Europe. A large proportion of the collection, to the value, it is stated, of over £600,000, is to be realised, and the proceeds are to be applied to various religious and charitable purposes. There are several special jewels, which are to descend as heirlooms in the Imperial family. Among these is the Golden Rose, presented to the Empress by Pope Pius IX. The Queen Regent of Spain has been the recipient of a similar distinction "for virtue" from Leo XIII. Six Italians, said to be Anarchists, have been arrested in Barcelona, in connection with the murder of the Empress of Austria.

"A particularly mournful interest is said to attach to the will of the late Empress, which was completed less than three months ago. It bears the date of June 20th 1898, and the preamble opens with the remarkable sentence:- "One never knows what may happen".

Queen Victoria, Bertie, Beatrice, Toria, Princess Aribert of Anhalt, and the Hereditary Princess and Princess of Leningen attended the Crathie parish church for a memorial service on Saturday morning.

In London, a requiem mass was said at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was attended by the Duke and Duchess of York, Helena, Louise and Lorne, and representatives of the Queen, Prince of Wales, and other members of the Royal family. Also in attendance were members of the foreign Embassies and Legations.

Franz Josef issued a rescript expressing his thanks for the sympathy for his bereavement. He also instituted a new Order, to be named after the late Empress, for women of distinction.

THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA

"The funeral of the late Empress of Austria took place on Saturday afternoon in the Capuciner Church, Vienna. At noon the Royal Chapel in the Hofburg, where the body of the Empress had been lying in state since the previous morning, was closed, and at four o'clock the funeral, procession started from the chapel to the Capuciner Church. There were immense crowds of spectators, many of them in mourning, all along the route and the whole city was draped in black. Outside the church were assembled the generals of the Austrian army, the foreign ambassadors, the Hungarian magnates, and representatives of the Austrian aristocracy. Within the church, which is very small, were the members of the Imperial family, and the foreign Sovereigns and representatives, among them the German Emperor, the Kings of Saxony, Roumania and Servia, the Crown Prince of Italy, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, representing Queen Victoria, and the Grand Duke Alexis, representing the Tsar. The funeral service was conducted by the Archbishop of Vienna, and on its conclusion the coffin was lowered into the vault below the church, the Emperor following it to its last resting-place."

EMPRESS ELISABETH AS A HORSEWOMAN

It was reported that Elisabeth rode for six to eight hours daily Elisabeth's "Circus" (riding school), was described as "a small round building with a glass skylight, a few seats for spectators, a few rings on the walls, and a long leading-line hanging from the ceiling." She later built a second one at Schonbrunn. Elisabeth was advised to abandon riding by her physicians on account of sciatica. She refused to part with her favourite horse, (the others were given away), Lord Waterford, who lived until after 1891 in the Imperial stables.

THE LATE EMPRESS ELISABETH