The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-13 00:00:00

MODEL WORKING MEN.

An interesting account of the personal character and
future prospects of the Austrian working man is given by
Mr. Lytton in a report to Lord Bloomfield, dated the 31st
ult., which has lately been printed with other reports
from diplomatic and consular agents abroad respecting
the condition of the industrial classes in foreign
countries. Mr. Lytton says that in his own
intercourse with the working men at Vienna
he has been surprised by the appearance of
a much higher degree of culture and intellectual refine-
ment than he expected to find among them. He attributes
this to the social life of the Austrian working man. In
that country, he thinks, certain phenomena are to be
observed which find their counterpart in the social life of
the upper classes in England. The instruction given by
our great public schools and colleges is not much to boast
of ; but the whole life of an Englishman born in the
upper ranks of society is a self-educating one. From
Parliament and public business, from the great
officers of the State, from the responsible manage-
ment of vast public and private interests, from frequent
foreign travel, from a rich store of inherited refinement
and habitual intercourse with the most cultivated society
of all countries, as well as the often repeated necessity of
mastering new subjects of study in which society is
generally interested, he is constantly, and almost
without conscious effort, developing his intelligence,
and augmenting his store of information. So, as
regards the Austrian workman, his immediately osten-
sible sources of education are not great. But his daily
life is more or less subject to the incalculable
influence of two great agents of refinement—the theatre
and the concert room, music and the drama. The stage
is still an active educational agent throughout Germany.
The drama is still regarded by German critics as the
noblest province of poetry, and dramatic success is still
valued by men of literary genius as the worthiest and
widest on which they can rest their reputation. It con-
sequently happens that the intellectual pabulum pro-
vided for the Austrian working man by the theatre,
which he so passionately loves and so faithfully
frequents, is the masterwork of all the greatest poets,
thinkers, and men of letters, from Goethe to the present
day. Of course, this would not be the case if the theatre
were unfrequented by the upper and middle classes, or if
the interest taken in it did not enter deeply into the daily
life of the whole population. But the Austrians, in com-
mon with all other Germans, are a theatre-going people, and
it is from stage representations that all classes of society,
from the highest to the lowest, derive nightly instruction,
as well as amusement. The merits or demerits, both of
the actors and the pieces in which they perform, are
habitual subjects of general conversation, intelligent
interest, and thoughtful criticism. The German
stage is under no religious ban, and, owing
to the same causes which enlist on its behalf
the highest literary genius, histrionic art is more
respected there than in England, and the actors and
actresses themselves are a class of persons very
superior in all respects to those whose vulgarity and
coarseness are tolerated and even admired by London
audiences. Curious illustrations of the love of the lower
orders in Austria for dramatic representation are afforded
by the crowds composed entirely of the poorer classes (the
greater part being probably artisans and their families)
which may daily be seen waiting with great patience and
good behaviour about the doors in the best theatres in
Vienna hours before those doors are opened,in order to obtain
Good places. The same as regards the opera houses.
ood performances of the works of the best musical com-
posers are abundant, and accessible to all classes of the
population at a comparatively trifling expense. At the
numerous places of resort and recreation, frequented by
the Austrian working man, the chief and most general
source of recreation is music. The music at these places
is never very bad, and often very good. There are very
few Austrian working men who cannot sing or play some
instrument, and who do nit belong either to some amateur
orchestra or singing club.—Pall Mall Gazette.

THE ULSTER CUSTOM.—The Irish Secretary has
given notice of the following amendment in the Land
Bill :—After clause 1, insert the following clause
(Legality of tenant custom other than Ulster _.
custom.)
If in the case of any holding not situate within the pro-
vince of Ulster, it shall appear that an usage prevails
which in all essential particulars corresponds with the
Ulster tenant-right custom, it shall, in like manner, and
subject to the like conditions, be deemed legal, and be
enforced in manner provided by this Act. Where
the landlord has purchased or shall hereafter
purchase from the tenant the benefit of such
usage as aforesaid to which his holding is subject,
such holding shall thenceforth cease to be subject to such
usage. A tenant of any holding subject to such usage
as aforesaid, and who claims the benefit of the same, shall
not be entitled to claim compensation under an r other
section of this Act, but a tenant of a holding not c
aiming
the benefit of such usage shall not be barred from making
a claim for compensation with the consent of the court
under any of the other sections of the Act, and when
such last-mentioned claim has been made and allowed
such holding shall not b 9 main subject to slih usage a
aforesaid.