New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-14
E0OTWA.SHING.


Eastern Budget tells us, was performed at
Vienna this Easter. Twelve of the most hope
lessly poor old men and women that could be
procured were brought out of their rags and
dirt, properly bathed and attired in suitably
picturesque old German costumes, and then
placed in the Throne-room, in "the presence
"Of the Royal family of Hanover and the
principal court dignitaries, together with an
immense crowd of visitors" invited, let Ills
hope, for the moral effect of the spectacle,
rather than from any consideration of rank.
The twelve representations of Poverty were
then seated to cold collation. which was
placed before them by the Emperor and En-
press they were not, however, allowed to
eat anything, the dishes being Immediately
removed and placed in wooden vessels. The
feet of the women were then washed by the
Court Chamberlain, the Empress touching
them with laced towel, Prince HohenlOhe
and the Emperor performing the same office
for the men. The Emperor and Empress
(after washing their hands, then hung round
the neck of each bag containing thirty pieces
of silver, and the poor old wretches were sent
back to the squalOr in which they had spent
their lives in Court carriages, each with
bottle of wine and his dinner, while the Impe-
rial party, let us hope, betOok themselves TO
their accustomed routine, secure of approving
conscience and a smiling heaven with the
sweet consciousness of having discharged their
duties to Poverty for another year, and vindi-
Gated their claim to be faithful disciples of the
meek and lowly Savior.
The ceremony does not seem to us so unique
as some would have us believe. There is a
great deal of foot-washing going on in the
world. Poverty manifests itself to Napoleon
Just now in less ideal form than the "twelve
"old men in ancient German costume" Of his
Viennese brother. He offers it, therefore, the
bonnie bouche of a vote instead of q cold dinner
in wooden pail; but the one gift has about
as much meaning and is as lasting and effect
i've as the other. There are certain prelates in
Catholic and Protestant churches who live in
palaces and draw princey incomes solely on
the strength of a triennial sermon, in which
they declare themselves the humble followers
of Him who had not where to lay His head.
This is one of the most profitable and remark
able feats of foot-washing known, and has
long been the envy of the uncOnsecrated
world. For the truth is, we are all of us adj
dicted more or less to foOt-washing; we have
all of us some favorite short and easily
scrawled note of hand with which to pay our
enormous debt to right or to virtue. And it
is curious to observe how very small an
amount of cash the world will accept as a
payment for that debt and how long we can
keep our credit up with boldly written due
bills.
We have, unfortunately, in this country no
picturesque ThrOne-roOms or medieval cos
tunes in which to discharge our obligations to
our poor brother. He thrusts himself before
us-a drunken Irishman, negro asking for
work, or Piegan woman with the soldier at
her throat-with Iuncompromisng pre- Raphael
itsm of detail. Whereupon, we dance at our
calico ball, and hand over the befrillcd gowns;
we eat creams at the strawberry festivals, or
rattle the prizes at the fancy bazaar, and there
after glow with righteous virtue. We have
stood on the same plane with Poverty for one
day in the year, have helped wipe its soiled
feet with our laced napkin. We are worthy to
be His children who said, "Inasmuch as We did
at to the least of these. ye did it unto me-,
If Heaven has given us children for whose
well-being of body and soul we shall be held
accountable some day, we are very apt, if we
make pursuit of business or fashion, to deal
with the little burdens after the Imperial fash
ion of Vienna. We are careful that their cos
tune shall be picturesque, medieval or other
wise; we pay for having them taught to dance,
fence, use the dumb-bells, speak French, and
chatter of dozen half understood sciences
if we are very conscientious we send them to
a Sunday school or church to be taught re-
ligion, and then we tie thirty pieces of silver
about their necks and send them out into the
world, washing our hands and saying, Il am
innocent of the blood of this man."
Religion has long been fashionable, and
Denitence classically severe NAV DO said "