The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-25
From the N. Y Literary World.
THE FATE OF VIENNA.


The recent startling events at Vienna the SAN
culinary instruction the flight Of the emperor the
siege Of the city by the forces under Windisch-
gratz its resistance bombardment, and surrender,
have been the most exciting items of Intelligence by
the last steamers. They will give more immediate
interest to sketch of the scene which this part
of the Revolutionary Drama of Europe is being
acted.
Vienna is an Imperial city the g Kaiser Stadt"
of the wide and rich domain of Austria. Since the
time Of the first Macmillan it has been the resi-
dence of the Emperors of Germany, and Of the
princes of the House Of Hapsburg, all of whom
have delighted to add to its magnifcence and
beauty. No city on the continent presents more
substantial evidences of regal wealth and splendor
and few offer greater attractions to the traveller.
There is something peculiarly striking In the stu
alton and aspect Of Vienna. The city itself, that
rich prize which excited so often the cupdity and
daring Of the Turks, and under whose walls the in
fidel hosts were twice so signaly defeated-in 1929
by Charles V, and in 1888 by the chivalFous Sobi-
eski, now occupies but small portion Of the dense
ly populated area included under the name. Its
wide and lofty ramparts its dark trowning walls
the deep foae ditch at their base; and the outer
esplanade beyond, encircling the city in its entire
circumference, still exist but their warlike uses
have long ago been abandoned, and they now
serve the peaceful purposes of amusement and de-
coration. The ramparts are promenade from
which one looks down over perpendicular wall
upon the fosse, converted into a pleasure drive,
while the esplanade beyond, now laid out in walks
and parks, stretches like green belt around the
city, and divides it from the suburbs. These SUBJ
urbs, which in fact only an extension and over
flowing of the city, contain the great majority of
the four hundred thousand inhabitants of Vienna,
and include some Of its finest streets and buildings
Among these are the villas of the Princes Meter.
mich, Lichtenstein, and Esterhazy, and the imper-
ia palace of Belvidere whose galleries of painting
and sculpture are the chief pride and ornament Of
the capital. Within the walls, the streets are mar
rower and the buildings that line them oftier and
more magnificent. Poverty, the smaller trades, and
the more economical citizens are banished to the
suburbs; only the weather. portion can AFFORD to
live in the immediate shadow Of the grand palaces
ofths Austrian and Hungarian nobility (the richest
Of the contnent), which crowd the streets Of the
city proper. More magnificent still, rises the vast
pile of the imperial palace, city by Itself, includ-
ing the library, with Its 1000 volumes and rare
manuscripts, the museum Of antiquities, minerals,
natural history, &C., the finest Of their kind In
Europe, the Theatre and Opera House, and every
other appliance Of royal luxury and taste; while
the Cathedral of st. Stephen, with all It's Gothic
grandeur, and its lofty pire, conspicuous for miles,
sta ads in the centre ofthe city, its nobest ornament
and crown.
Vienna is generally compared to Paris But the
comparison conveys no idea Of Its distinctive char
aeter Remote from the great routes of travel;
hundreds Of miles from any Of the other cities Of
Europe the centre of an old despotism, and PEG.
pie not naturally inclined TO change, IL has nothing
f the cosmopolitan bFilliancy and exhaustess yari.
gayety Of Its owns far more genuine and satisfactory
in which the quiet, Germanic good humor expands
into something of Italian vivacity, and is tnged
with glow Of Oriental luxuriancy. In Paris,
amusement is distraction, in Vienna is relaxation.
In Paris, it is killing time; IN Vienna, It Is making
the most of it. In Paris, the Palais Royal, the
theatres the fetes the balls, refugees from eaaHi
and the miseries of solitude in Vienna, the Tang
saale, the Prater and the Yolksgarten are crowded
by lovers Of gayety for its own sake. Especi-
ally popular are the Voksgarten, and similar places
ofresort, where on golden summer evenings the peo-
pie gather under the trees in crowds, and unres-
trained and idle, If to the singing of birds, or the
falling of water listen to the inimitabe music of
Strauss, the idol and darling of the Viennese.
The writer of these paragraphs happened to be in
Vienna in the month Of June, l947, on Corpus Do
MIMI the great festival of the year. 1t was bright
beautiful day, and the streets were thronged with
the population, all eager for the spectacle. And in
fact, more imposing sight is rarely to be seen
than the procession which signalizes this ami
yersary of the Church at Vienna The Emperor
and Empress, accompanied by the whole Court, in
full costume escorted by the Hungarian and Italian
guards, the most brilliantly equipped military corps
perhaps anywhere to be found-with the clergy
and ecclesiastic bodies, walk bareheaded through
the principal streets of the city, stopping at inter-
walls for religious services at affairs erected in the
public squares. 1t was hard to tell, which was
most to obseFve-the dazzling splendor Of the i'm
perial corege and the striking effect of the varied
and splendid line as it moved slowly along the mag
nfcent streets and squares or the apparent salts
faction and delight Of the populace as they gazed
on this gorgeous display of royal pomp, and then
dispersed to enjoy themselves contentedly in oqes
and odSini.
Perhaps it was the last time that an Austrian
Emperor shall venture to walk through the streets
of his Kaiser-stadt. The same Ferdinand, who, on
I Il < r.
loyal and loving subjects, has twice since fled from
them, and now commands their reluctant submis-
sion with eannons and bomb-shells. Again within
the last five weeks has the gay capital been be-
sieged and beleaguered this time not by Mustapha
and his unbeleving hosts, but by the armies of its
own sovereign, who was wont TO delight in his
paternal rule, and the hereditary title of pater pa
trie." The romantic sotudes Of the Prater have
been the scenes of battle and carnage. The very
altar-steps of st. Stephen have been stained with
the blood of civil war. What is to be the fate of
Vienna! At this moment it is difficult to conjec-
ture For the present the imperial party is success
full but its old stability never be restored All
over Europe the iron hand of Revolution Is SKATER
ing the finely-wrought textures OF grace and beauty
which centuries have spared and perfected. The
grandeur and the wealth that have been the slow
growth and accumulation of despotism, liberty in
its quick, convulsive energy, is bringing to swift
destruction. Such catastrophe has lately been
impending over the brilliant Austrian capital 1t
is wrong to the spirit OF Liberty to rejoice that II
has been averted-but it may be that it is only de-
ferred and present exemption from its desolatlng
effects has been dearly purchased, If at the expense
of human rights delayed, and human tyranny per-
petuated The true patriots Of Vienna, and some
such it cannot be doubted there are, may still anti
cipate final struggle for freedom. Should it come,
they might learn the lessons Of resistance from the
lips of their oppressOTs, and adopt as their watch
word the imperial motto which may still be read on
| the walls of the Kaiser saal Of Frankfort,
Miser, qui norton appetit;
MiseTOT, aui timet w. A. b.
HOUSE FURNISHING STORE.