On Holy Thursday the Emperor and Empress of Austria, in the presence of their whole court, of the Privy Council, the Diplomatic Corps, and the superior officers of the Vienna garrison, washed the feet of twenty-four poor old men and women, having previously served these venerable paupers with a plentiful meal, placing the several dishes before them with their own hands. After the old people had partaken of the good things provided for them by the imperial bounty, the tables were cleared by imperial archdukes and ladies of honor. Subsequently a purse containing thirty pieces of silver was presented by the Emperor to each of the old men, and by the Empress to each of the venerable dames, one of whom had all but attained her hundredth year, while the youngest of the twelve was a hearty octogenarian. This religious rite is rarely seen in this country. It was celebrated on the twenty-first of August by the Primitive Baptists of Hillsville, Va., a mountainous region of South West Va. There were about 800 present, some coming from hundreds of miles. "The preliminary exercises were singing and exhortation or discussion, the speaker first announcing some point of doctrine or religious thought. The hymns were lined by reading one line only at a time. The arrangements for administering the ordinances were circles of seats, those allotted to the sisters being in a double row and facing the brothers, who were seated in a single row. Within the circle was another seat for the ordained and officiating elders. There was a table with bread and wine, and under it were buckets of water, basins, and towels. The bread and wine were first passed around by the officers of the church, after which came the feet-washing. The elder who began the ceremony drew off his coat and vest, and girded a towel around his waist. He then began on the right, washing and wiping the feet of the brother at the head of the line, who in turn arose and remaining barefooted, performed the office to the one next him, and so on until the feet of all had been washed. The elder who was the first to perform the rite was the last to receive it. The sisters performed the rite in the same manner as did the brothers. At the conclusion the elders, while singing, passed around and shook the hands of all the brothers and sisters." King Humbert, of Italy, and his wife, are making themselves quite popular by their unassuming manners and sympathy with the people.