Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-07-02
AUSTRIAN GERMANS.
How They Differ From the North
Germans-Viennese Vivacity, Le-
witty and immortality.

How They Differ FrOm the North
Germans-Viennes Vivacity, Le-
witty and immortality.
The Austrian Germans are an entirely
different class Of people from the Amer
can Germans, or at least those Germans
who usually come to America. They
are more like the Italians or French in
their dispositions and modes Of life, as
we'll as their vivacity and impetuosity.
They are neither frugal nor careful of
their earnings, but will spend the pro-
ceeds of weeks work in halt day s
enjoyment. The better classes are given
to speculation and money ventures OF
all kinds, and are lavish in their per
sonal expenditures when they are in
funds. Even those who prey upon the
soiourner in their midst seem rather to
regard it as shrewdness and smartness
in business than as practical dishonesty.
If anything is bought at store, when
it is sent to the hotel with the bill, two
or three forms are added to the price
agreed upon under the plea that it was a
mistake. If you refuse to pay 1t, ne
will shrug his shoulder like a French
man, and exclaim, well, | will have to
lose it." He will relate to his friends
all these small specimens of rascality as
a practical joke, and draw out others OF
a similar character from his hearers In
return. The same man will probably at
the next moment throw all the amount
he has thus gained to the waiter boys at
the cafe table.
But the most marked difference be-
tween the Austrians and the Prusslans
is the lack of virtue among the large
class of the women and the fact that a
husbandless mother stands as fair in
public estimation as the mother of a
child born in wedlock. Her reputation
of character among her friends and as
sociates is as bright as before her fall,
and these little Irregularities are no bar
against her subsequent marriage. Italy
is supposed to be the most immoral
country in the world, but | have seen
and heard enough here to convince me
that Austria is close at her heels. The
fact that abeut 9000illegitimate children
are born in the general hospital in this
city per annum is proof positive OF the
laxity of the public morals.
Notwithstanding all this, there is but
little to be seen on the streets or in the
public places of licentious women. There
is no place here for these professionals,
as it is mainly the working-girls who are
thus led astray, but who are victims
rather of the affections, and of this loose
public sentiment, and can scarcely be
classed among those who sell themselves
for the greed of gain and life of gilded
vice. The common soldier in Aus
tria cannot marry during his time
of service, but he invariably
ferns temporary female alliance
wherever he may be stationed, and
neither party are degraded by the con
nection. The mothers of the children
born at the hospital return to their work
and the children are sent to the Found
ing Hospital, where three Gfths of them
die Such condition of society and
nublic septiment has its effect, more OF
less unon all grades of life, and virtue is
regsrded pretty generally as at a dis
connt Even the pictorial papers here
constantly publish cartoons Illustrative
of the state of morals. One, the other
U
day was the tgure of stranger just ar
living in front Of hotel with MS witse,
and two young men pointing and ,ia ia9gn,
inc at them. To question as to w nat
are YOU laughing at2 the answer was,
ave are laughing at the idea OF man
being fool enough to bring wlie 70
Vienna" Everybody understood 1t, and
everybody laughed.
There is another popularity about the
Austrians that indicates how different
they are from the North Germans. If a
person stops on the streets. or before a
window, any one that may be standing
near is sure TO address you, and youi
next neighbor in passenger car inva
riably persists in commencing a conver
sation.