New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-14
NrW-YoRKER IN AUSTRIA.

T1S IA n. AtaE took up their stately and
s;,h,,.mb;e march across the plains Of Russia
-, ,...hea Central Europe through the valley
81 tbe Danube. leaving here and there traces OIL
tt.;r tassage. Central Europe Is, in fact'
ro,.ic of nationalties. When student az
wanna often counted in the great hall OF the
I,iversity. the representatives OF twenty-five
different nations, speaking as many languages,
and exhibiting almost every type Of the human
family. A Hungarian poet says that his unior-
inmate country contains numerous representa-
fives Of every race inbabiting Europe and Asia.
There Is no region more favorable for ethno-
ersphical pursuits.
But have found the higher class in Europe,
and especially tho nobility, to be everywhere
much the same in all respects, excepting Ian
ausee and religion. For striking national traits,
for traditions and time honored usages-in fact
for almost everything that can interest the
thinking traveler-we must look TO the humble
classes This have done from tke first. Shortly
after landing at Liverpool, and while standing
in front Of st. Georges Hall, admirrg the ale
gorical sculpture which adorns the tympsuum
of its portico, was beset by half a-dozen pro-
fessionsl, peripstetic bootblacks. They urged
their claims as if nights lodging depended on
their success, and in knowing and cunning
manner that must have been borrowed from the
eoyned and powdered barristers who frequent
the Courts Of ST. Georges Hall One fellow
evidently saw that was fresh from the New
World, and for penny begged TO give my boots
"the real Yankee shine" but he was quickly
underbid by black little urchin, who with
more artistic air, "his eye with fine frenzy
trolling" wished to put on "the Exhibition
"touch."
The plebcians of every country are, after all,
the true conservatives; as those who are wealthy
and boast of patrician origin have less attach
ment to things strictly national, and conse-
ouently are more apt to initiate foreign usages.
Our ideas as to what constitutes people or
nation are generally indefinite. In Western
Europe where hereditary ranks exist, combined,
not unfrequenty with great wealth, and where
contempt for labor is carried to an astonishing
extent we are uniformly referred to certain
high families and persons eminent in one branch,
as the proper opponents of the nation. That
however, is not true. They are not the real
and proper opponents Of people. The Empe-
Tor Napoleon, Persigny, GuizOt, Lamartine,
with other sarans and numerous works of art,
DO not constitute France France is what is
eeen Of the multitu3es in the streets of Paris,
and in the provinces wandering about in wooden
shoes and earning scanty subsistence by trades
and means so unimportant as to be unknown in
our own country. / have visited most of the
great galleries of Europe and studied their pic
lures and statues, but must confess, with feel
jsgs Of pain mingled with the pleasure that cell
ebreted works of art bestOw, l ask myself, How
came these therel How is il that this or that
sOyeregn--for these great collections belong to
Kings and princes--has been able to pay so many
thousand dollars for an old painting or piece
Of ststusry2 The answer is simple; these things
are rather the opponents of wrong and oppres-
sion; kings exhibit and enjoy them, bat the
people have had to pay for them-and at the
cost of how much suffering how many tears
The longer l live in Europe the prouder do l
become of my native country and its institutions.
There are here moro splendid specimens OF art
men more profound in certain branches OF sell
ence. and individual instances OF greater wealth;
but the glory of our Republic is that every man
is sovereign, that want is limited, that educa'
ton is SiHused, and that even in the lower
classes there is great amount OF intelligence
and virtue. Art, however, is not of necessity
confined to the hot-bed of European despotism;
happier accidents will yet be discovered for her
development Under the fostering smile OF
Liberty nobler ideals will arise and lOftier con-
captions be realized. If not, may that art which
adorns the palaces of kings perish forever!
These thoughts were suggested by visit 70
the gallery of paintings in the museum at Pesth'
The pieces, relating for the most partto import
ant events in Hungarian history, were not nu-
mercus. but like our own productions in that
branch of art, strictly national original IN con-
ception and bold in execution. Like ourselves
the Hungsrans have been too busily engaged IN
developing their political system to bestow much
time and study upon art. Ii was with them, De-
fore they lost all liberty, as with the ancient
Athenians; the man who did not engage IN po-
litcal life was regarded not only as harmless,
but also as useless person.
The Hungarians are, however, passionately
fond Of music and song. On sunny afternoons
the Magyar chiyslry repair to the sylvan retreats
along the Danube to engage in conversation with
the stately Hungarian danes, OF wind with them
the labyrinth of the dance. The evening breeze
creops softly up the river, bearing with 1t the
breath of flowers and the song of birds. AgiPsy
band mounts the rostrum. These rude musi-
clans, the dusky children Of Asia, render the