The 101-gun royal salute boomed like spring thunder, proclaiming to the world the birth of Karl Augustus, Crown Prince of the Austrian Empire.
This directly set the crowds in the streets ablaze. People cheered, jumped, and embraced one another in excitement. Some students and Pan-Germanists took out the black-and-gold ribbons they had prepared long ago and put them on, singing the Austrian Empire's national anthem at the top of their lungs.
"God bless our Emperor Franz, Our beloved Emperor Franz!
May he grant us lasting peace, And let the glory of our homeland endure forever.
Rule with wisdom, guard with justice, Spare us from shame and peril.
May God protect him, Our Emperor, As he has done before, unto eternity!"
First, the bells of St. Stephen's Cathedral joined the chorus; then came the bells of all Vienna. City Hall urgently ordered every gas lamp in the city lit, and all manner of long-prepared celebrations began at once.
Nearly every food and drink shop in Vienna hung out its "Open" sign. This had been arranged beforehand: if all went well, they would serve the royal family.
And every Viennese citizen needed only offer a blessing and a copper coin to receive a gift.
"Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Emperor!"
The waves of cheers rose and fell along Graben Street, running east to west, and Kohlmarkt, running north to south. Before the gates of the imperial palace, royal maids scattered exquisite sweets among the crowd.
In an age when sugar prices were soaring, such an act was undoubtedly lavish. But it was nothing much—after all, he knew best whether sugar prices had really risen.
"Did you see that? A Crown Prince! Our country is more secure now! Business will pick up! The celebrations will never end! Everything will get