Award for Johann Hofer and Emperor's Birthday Celebration in St. Leonhard in Passeier

Tyrol.

St. Leonhard in Passeyer, Feb. 13. Although always heartfelt, as befits loyal subjects, but never as solemnly as this year, the birthday of His Majesty, our most gracious sovereign, was celebrated in this remote valley as well. The occasion was provided by the merits of the court cashier, Johann Hofer, of this place, regarding the defense of the country, which His Majesty most graciously deigned to recognize by supreme decree of Oct. 24 of last year, granting him, alongside a substantial pension of grace, the smaller golden medal of honor with loop and ribbon. Already on the eve of this day, chosen with circle-office approval for the solemn presentation of the medal, several mortar shots, which made a special impression in this narrow valley, announced the rare festivity. The dawn of the day itself was announced in the same solemn manner, and early in the morning an unusual liveliness caused by the gathering of rural folk from the entire neighborhood suggested an extraordinary event. At 9 o'clock, a festive high mass with the Ambrosian hymn of praise was held in the local parish church, with a Schützen company on parade. After the church service, which was attended by the local official staff, the dignitaries of the surrounding area, and the municipal heads, they proceeded, preceded by the cheering schoolchildren, with Hofer in their midst—who was already decorated with 2 silver medals and 1 gold medal—accompanied by the Schützen company, consisting mostly of his comrades-in-arms, with Turkish music in a solemn procession to the usual assembly hall, where the portrait of His Majesty the Emperor was displayed with appropriate ornamentation. The Imperial-Royal district judge then read the supreme award diploma, delivered an appropriate address, and, with the exclamation: long live His Majesty the Emperor, in which the assembly joyfully joined, pinned the medal to the chest of the graciously honored recipient amid the sound of trumpets and kettledrums and the firing of numerous mortars. The same solemn procession then proceeded to the Black Eagle tavern and opened the free shooting match given by the rewarded Johann Hofer to his comrades-in-arms. Thereupon they gathered for a merry feast, and thus ended this celebration, never before experienced by anyone in this valley, which will remain eternally unforgettable to the inhabitants of Passeier and will always keep alive the feeling of gratitude toward His Majesty the Emperor, who most graciously deigned to recognize and reward the merits of the local valley inhabitants.