Celebration of the Emperor's Birthday in Botzen

Tyrol.

Botzen, Feb. 13. The supreme birthday celebration of our most gracious Emperor was celebrated here yesterday in a very simple but all the more heartfelt manner. At 9 o'clock in the morning, accompanied by a parade of the Kaiserjäger Corps garrisoned here and the firing of mortars and flawlessly executed volleys, a solemn High Mass and Te Deum were held, devoutly attended by all authorities, school children, and a great number of citizens, in order to offer Almighty God their bounden thanks and most suppliant prayers for the inestimable grace of the preservation of our dearest sovereign. In the evening, in the tastefully illuminated and packed local theatre, a festive song *) written specifically for this joyous day by our patriotic poet Knoflach and set to music in the manner of a cantata by our worthy composer Jakob Schgraffer was sung in front of the decorated portrait of His Majesty with resounding instrumental accompaniment and widespread lively participation, a loud threefold viva was offered to the most beloved monarch, and this soul-stirring celebration concluded with a theatrical performance given by local theatre friends to general satisfaction. The entire proceeds, dedicated to the local fund for the poor, amounted to 361 fl. 15 kr. R. W. This day of the finest and noblest cooperation in a truly patriotic sense will be unforgettable for Botzen, revealing at the same time such splendid talents for the arts and for harmonious social life. May the consciousness of having dried many a tear of poverty serve as a reward and an encouragement to the noble participants to perform similar fine deeds in the future.

*) This has already appeared in print in No. 13 of the Bote für Tirol und Vorarlberg.