Visit of Archduchess Sophie and Archduke Ludwig Viktor to Merano

News of the Day.

Merano, 17 Sept. (Corresp.) On the 15th of this month, after 12 o'clock noon, mortar shots from the nearby Kiechelberg announced the arrival of Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess Sophie with her youngest son, the promising Archduke Ludwig Viktor, in the ancient regional capital of Merano. Through long double ranks of male and female school pupils, the civic guard, the Tyrolean riflemen, and a detachment of Archduke Leopold Infantry, the archducal carriage drove to the Post on the Sandplatz, where the Imperial and Royal Highnesses took up their lodging and were received with the utmost deference by the spiritual and temporal authorities of the town, led by Gubernial Councillor and District Captain Hammerer of Bozen.

Upon alighting and prior to entering the inn, bouquets of flowers accompanied by an appropriate address were presented to Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess and the young Archduke by a delegation from the educational school of the Institute of the English Ladies; and when the high dignitaries appeared at the window, the fine riflemen's band played the national anthem. Thereupon, Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess deigned to receive the respects of the clergy and the entire municipal leadership, who were introduced in two groups by the District Captain. In doing so, the Archduchess showed great cordiality and condescension, speaking with much affection and appreciation of the faithful land of Tyrol, and particularly with maternal tenderness of her illustrious son, the reigning Emperor Franz Joseph. After the audiences were concluded, traditional flag-waving was performed. In addition to the District Captain of Bozen, the Dean and the Mayor of Merano were also invited to the midday banquet. In the afternoon, the high guests deigned to make an excursion to Castle Tyrol, where they were likewise received festively, returning to Merano only late in the evening. On the 16th, being a Sunday, Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses deigned to hear Mass in the chapel of the Institute of the English Ladies, and thereafter visited the facilities of this establishment and its boarding school, then the beautiful Hospital Church built in the purest Gothic style, as well as the hospital under the care of the Sisters of Mercy. After dining, Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses drove to Lebenberg Castle to view the beautiful panorama of Merano from a different perspective. There, the high guests were received before a drawn-up company of riflemen under the roar of mortars by the Imperial and Royal District Judge of Lana and the owner of the castle, Mr. Karl Kirchlechner; after a brief stay on the heights of the castle, they descended to Lana, where the travel carriages of the high guests were waiting.

During the final descent to the village, the mortars fired, and cordons of riflemen with a music band were lined up for the reception. Surrounded by these armed regional defenders, the flag-waving was repeated, whereupon Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses departed for the district town of Bozen, accompanied by heartfelt blessings. The finest autumn skies favored the presence of the exalted mother of our beloved, chivalric Emperor; may she preserve a pure memory of our proven loyalty during the days of greatest peril for our ancestral ruling House of Habsburg-Lorraine, so that she may remain a mother of the fatherland to us.