Black Archduke

Gleaming, silent, a grey limousine crossed the huge square before the House of Parliament at Budapest last week, and drew up at the massive portal. A flunkey opened the door and out stepped a man clad all in black. Four blazing diamond brooches held in place the sole ornament of his costume, a green sash across his breast. He was the Archduke Albrecht of Habsburg, claimant to the Hungarian Throne (TIME, Jan. 24 et ante).

As the Black Archduke passed through the Gate of Honor, two lines of guards with leopard skins thrown over their shoulders saluted. They saluted again when the three other Habsburg Archdukes entered: Archduke ("Papa") Friedrich (father of Albrecht); Archduke Josef, his mutton chop whiskers sprouting above a crimson field-marshal's uniform; and his son, Archduke Franz, clad in a golden tunic, lost in the high sable collar of his purple cape.

Thus, amid the typical barbaric splendor beloved of Magyars, opened last week the newly constituted Hungarian Upper House (TIME, Nov. 29). Not since World War days has such magnificence dazzled at Budapest. In the galleries sat the Habsburg Archduchesses, ablaze with gems. They even more than the men, hoped that the new Hungarian Parliament would take up at last the question of who shall sit upon the Throne of Hungary, now held by the Hungarian Regent, Admiral Nicholas Horthy de Nagybanya. Brusque, sailor-like, Admiral Horthy opened Parliament last week with a short speech, crisp, noncommittal.

As he spoke there listened 240 Senators, divided into six groups as follows: 1) the 4 Archdukes, by hereditary right;* and 34 representatives of the old Hungarian nobility, by election from that class; 2) 80 representatives of urban and rural councils, elected for five year terms; 3) 30 representatives of the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths; 4) high dignitaries of the State, Judiciary, Army; 5) 40 Senators elected by Chambers of Commerce, Chambers of Agriculture, and representing "Big Business"; 6) 40 appointees nominated by the Cabinet and appointed by the Regent. ^

*Habsburg Archdukes have this right if they satisfy all the following conditions: a) have resided five years in Hungary; b) own land in Hungary; c) speak and write Hungarian; d) are of age.

"Habsburg Archdukes have this right if they satisfy all the following conditions: a) have resided five years in Hungary; b) own land in Hungary; c) speak and write Hungarian; d) are of age.