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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 17, 16 August 1889, Page 11

A curious story n told in the columns of I'amt;/ Fair, from Berlin, that the Emperor of Austria has only been prevented trom abdicating by the "paternal command of the Pope." A month a?o the Kmperor bad ijin'e mvip up his mind to surrender the reins to his nephew — for whom it i<- cnirently believed that he entertains neither affection nor ieb[oct — and both Taaffu an 1 Kalnoky tried in vain to turn him fiotn his i\ solve. They applied, thertiore. to the Pope, who at once wrote a letter, which had the desired effect. This is the story, ana it ceitainly has an air of probability about it. for Franz Joset has aged gieatly since his son's death, and has lost all the zest he formerly ha'i, even in the mere drudgery of government. Once the most hearty and z-alous of rulers, he is now languid and indifferent. As a consequence, ministerial troubles are multiplying, and intrigue is nourishing, The state of the health of the Emprcb*. too, is deplorable. The symptoms of mental derangement have Kcumi; very pronounced since her sou's death, and the doctors say that if tneio is not a change for the better soon in her general physical condition permauent losamly will be assured.