New-York tribune., 1873-05-24
VIENNA.

fyRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNk.J
VIENNA. May 7.-The grand state dinner to the
Foreign Commissioners, given in behalf of the Aus
t,ian Government by Or. Banhans the Minister Of
Commerce. came of last night. The spacious and
s,,eant halls of the building of the Horticultural
Society in the Park Ring were chosen for the ban
ouet and before o'clock, the appointed hour, a
lsug line Of carriages began slowly and safely-ac-
sordng to the inHexible police regulations of Vienna
TO deposit the guests. The building, which stands
m charming garden is divided by galleries resting
on pillars into three halls disposed in the form of
broad-topped letter T. In each of the three wings
there were three tables running the entire length
bright with flowers and huge spergHes OF
frosted silver, and sparkling with crystal.
At the intersection of the wings was
placed the chief table, for the host and MS
most distinguished guests against a background
Of palms and rich tropical plants Inc hgnt'
dividing galleries above. of which was occupied
by Strauss band the painted ceilings OF the NAILS
and the panels of frescoed flowers between the
windows all softly illuminated by thousands of wax
lights made a picture which would have been
almost too brilliant had not Its features been so
harmoniousiy combined The Minister OF Commerce
received the guests tne entrance Oh rne southern
hall. He is a short, stnEdy gentleman OF so with
broad handsome face, dark eyes and mustaehe and
very graceful and engaging manners When we
arrived. punctually at c, there were already more
than ahundred guests, mostly Austrian officials ofthe
higher grades, with few in military uniform. 1t
was fully half an hour before the whole company
of five hundred were on hand. and the guests, most
Of whom had in the mean time been appropriating
places by leaving their cards Of invitation on the
plates could take their seats at the table. The
prof1sion of orders worn was something remarka-
be: the American and English guests were really
the only persons not thus distinguished. Every
other individual of whatever country had at least
arbbon in his button hole the most the short
cod chains which have been invented TO carry any
uumber, from ten to fifty, without covering the
whole breast, or, of necessity going below it then
came a large class with broad ribbons around their
necks, and finally, more scattered. the flashing
diamond stars. There were Turks. Greeks, and
ROumanians, all in red caps, Japanese in European
costume, and several Field. .Marshals and Generals,
whose gorgeous uniforms were doubly effective, as
they moved through the black-cOated crowd.
The Minister Of Commerce had the Chief Commits
Goners of Germany and France, DR.. Moser and
Baron de Sommerard. on his right and Earl Cow
pei representing England on his left. Baron
Schwarz-Senborn the Director of the Exposition,
sat opposite to him. Baron Schmerng. President
Of the HerreRhGus. and distinguished name in
Austrian politics, was him. At the main table
ID the central hail. Prince Auersperg. the Minister
President. presided. DR.. Unger Minister OF the In
terror sat at the head Of the table on the right and
Baron LASER also AIiaister, at that on the left
The most distinguished members OF the Austrian
Parliament, the bankers Mayer and Rothschild, and
other prominent personages Of Vienna were among
the company Mr.. Thomas McElrlth, Special
American Commissioner, was the only one of our
Commission who came, the members of the new
Commission having declined for reasons honorable
70 themselves as gentlemen and satisfactory TO the
host of the evening THE NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE
vas the only American journal represented.
Tie courtesy Of tho Austuans toward their fellow
guests from other lands was something absolutely
perfect II was marked by an ease and grace, a
warm expansion Of manner, the like of which can
hardly be found 10 any other society in the world.
When Strauss BEGAN 20 shake his raven locks and
The rich strains Of Mendessohn's midsummer
Nights Dream poured through the halls. we turned
to the neaa Of tde banquet, which proved to be
equally rieh and rare As a specimen OF "a state din
ner in Vienna it is worth quoting. The Boston
detetic refomer, whose beau-ideal Of dinner is a
Gass of lemonade, slice of muskmelon, a piece Of
boiled beef and ice-crsam, may be shocked; but
there be those whose mouths will water and whose
heaIs mo. stomachsD will expand with longing as
they peruse this list
SouP Ia ReyeHos. MADEIRA OF 1922
Pa'e Dc iOle gras. (h1eSt Austrian vine OF 1882
slioe salmon anu trout g.; Julien of 1903 ..
Eti De umh and ycgc ables. tSJ"iuborger Clbinnt)
e-ioAen lreassee aud mushrooms Chateau La Rose
Loosers, sane; raUtyok. CCaateau d'Yquem. 1861
Gees roasted on the spit Veuye Clcquotl
e-l1e 0i YeDisOD.
Apartgls.
Saeaa PAu6ccalne. umperial Tokay OF 1881
Osese ices, fruits, Strawberries, liqueurs, &c DC.
muciea1 of IA. 10 o1c
worth giving. After Memberships magnificent
overture came the following:
New Vienna" a waltz, by Strauss.
.iIiuug rliu Rhapsody" by Lisz.
Hlennese Blood" wars by Strauss.
Evening Song" by Schuuatnn.
,Au. DlnausIande' polka by Strauss
Aaicu irOm The Ruins " Athens" by Beethoven.
Two features Of an Austrian banquet may be safe
recommended to American imitatiOn-punctuality
ana short speeches As soon az the Roman punch
nc cooled the palates of the five hundred guests
" Aoser Of the German Empire arose to speak. He
'esAn with bit Of polite exaggeration, that Aus
wa has ever been shining light of culture aud
hoality"-wbich was little too sUrong even for
s'As Of our Austrian neighbors-but soon descended
Na safer level referred TO the necessity of further
SFelOpment and of creating sucn great opportuni-
Ns Tor 1t as the present, and closed by calling for
taeers for his Majesty the Emperor Francis joseph.
t~Se were responded TO with hearty will, the
eshd falling IN with the inspiring national hymn.
lhe Minister OF Commerce, DIR. Banhans followed
ma brief but very excellent speech, in which there
vas no more gOrfeation of Austria than the history
u TIE last few years justifes. Having after long
acc severe struggles entered the ranks of the Con-
'atOtiohal States" be said, Austria has opened
aheld for the ideas OF Right and Freedom, and has
called her people together according 10 their differ
tht uatlgnslfiaa 70 fol N tho r,oiicv NJ
osa'e. Hand in hand with the idea of Freedom,
eN Of progress in all popular interests and indus
S~ entered Austria. Her people, zealOusly work
g have endeaYnreh 10 narficinaLa In the intellec-