New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-04
THE UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION.
CHAPTER OF vIENNEsE FUN.

tFROM THIS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TRIBUNE.l
VIENNA, May H. Although the Great Krach
Crash as the papers here call it, still hangs over
Vienna like black thunder-coud which has not
yet discharged all its electricity there is little
brightness around the borders Of the sky. Fresh
insoIvenciss are reported and there is now and then
another suicide; but there is general feeling Of be-
lief that the worst is over. and the drawn-down
corners of the public mouth relax from their grim
dependency. Rapacity, also, has had its claws
clipped the sunshine Of the last two days brings
few more strangers TO Vienna and o few more
thousands to the Exhibition 80 that, to use the
pressive language of Joseph c. Neal, buried Hope
pops up revived, and cracks her rosy shins !"
We must not be too hard upon the Viennese
after ALL The roots of all that has recently lowered
here go back through a great many years. and are
fed by the most unsupported elements. The change
in the whole political life of the people not only
tends 10 all their interests but it is too recent to
have entered into and modified their natures. The
inertia fostered by the old system still remains, and
cannot be overcome except by a new generation.
Old-Austrian slowDess, Slavic cunning, and Hebrew
greed have impressed themselves upon nearly all
classes of the people. There few who are able to
feel what the Exhibition symbolizes, but a great
many who are eager to use its opportunities. Many
visitors therefore, find discomfort instead Of the
courtesy and hospitality for which the city has been
Justly renowned. On the other hand. the author
tiles, seeing the evil and anxious to correct it,
forced to find new expedients in place of the arbi-
.rary measures which they would have applied
few years ago.
We must not be too hard upon the Viennese, for
they are very hard upon themselves. I venture TO
say that report which has been sent from here by
any correspondent has been 20 bitterly satrical,
merciless, the articles and epigrams which ap-
pear every day in the humorous papers. There
must be at least dozen of these and they seem to
have large circulation among the people. The
principal of them the Figaro, the Rikia, Cock
a-doode-do D, the Bonnie, the Vienna Punch, the
FIOk Flea and the HumOristSche Bldtter. The free
dom with which they assail or ridIcule persons and
measures is one of the most remarkable features of
the change which has come over Austria. Carl
catures of we-known officials, absurd parodies
Of the Court bulletins covert partisan attacks, and
the most daring rdicule of priests and the Papacy
constitute their stock in trade; yet since my az
rival. l have not heard of a single instance of a
number being suppressed. The humor of all these
papers il aorid, rather than mellow and racy: now
and then il amounts to positive venom. They show
few specimens of pure wit like the KladderGdatsch
Of Berlin OF the old London Punch, and there is
much personal attack in them which seems simply
malicious For week past nearly all have been filled
With a sort Of savage merriment over the great
financial crisis. The Jews. especially, are
skinned alive in their illustrations; but
| do not find a single note of
sympathy with the thousands of cOnfding deposit
tors who have been ruined. Many of them predict
the failure of the Exposition gaily If the pride
and reputation of Austria were not concerned in its
SUCCESS In short their freedom OF careature 10 so
new that they have not yet learned its higher and
In ri To 4 of nripa at
tempted to be established here about the LIST of May
however, they have done good service. There was
no end 20 their illustrations and imaginary dia-
Iogues between guests and walters. One represents
a stranger stalking away naked from restaurant
where he has left purse and garments in pay
ment for dinner; another shows waiter bringing
bill about ten feet long, and the guest in despair,
Jumping out the window; another, again. has
waiter-an exquisite picture of supercilOus condo
seension-saying Here's glass of water, Sir"
while the alarmed and embarrassed stranger replies:
I'D like to have one, but-realy-Fm afraid can't
afford it, Some of the dialogues represent the
waiter as adding five OF ten kreuzers after every
dish in order TO round OFF, or make even sums,
while another after counting small piece Of boiled
beef at one form, asks the guest: Was it goodP
and when the latter answers Yes" adds: One
form morep
Direction of the Great Exhibition hopes TO regain
largo part of the outlay, very sharply rdculed
Not only the restaurants and drinking pavlions but
the chairs the music, and the provision for newt
able human necessities are taken up. after the
other and properly scariied The other day, when
the Rotunda leaked badly in twenty places Figaro
announced: I'VE learn that Baron schwarz-
Senborn has made concession of the leaky spots,
for 100000 forms. to American. The latter in
tends to use them as coolng-off places for over
heated visitors at the rate of . kreuzers minute"
The Floh has two large illustrations OF the
same leaking. of them being the Rotunda in-
verted and dscharging the rain into barrel with
the words: ." If we must have Rotunda in the
shape of funnel. the spout should be undermost"
Another journal says that the leakage was inten-
tional in order 10 make new concession" for
umbrellas and visitors are henceforth to be fined for
bringing their own. So the changes arc ruug upon
every feature of which strangers here complain and
some which they would, of themselves have ac-
cepted as VIennese pecularities. The Mem III
kerih has the following dialogue: "Straa-
qer-"T This is really scandaous; | am up
70 my knees in mud" Baron Sehiodrz-" Pardon me.
that is object Of exposition: it's the big mud of
Ketskemet in its natural dimensions" The Figaro
publishes this communications MONSIEUR: in
close to you 100 francs to enable French ouvrers to
visit Vienna; if the journey should cost more, the
ouvriers will furnish the rest. The Exposition is a
new triumph of Partisan civilization; for Vienna is
France France is Civilization, Civilization is the
world. Your immortal VICTOR HUGo.' And also
this, apropos Of the Crash
Qud sum miser tune dicturus
QUEEN patrOnem rugaturus,
Quum viz Rothsenild sit securus"
The latter is hardly humOr. Much better was the
variation of the Berlin RlGdderaddtsch, in comment
ing on threatened union Of tho Ultramontanes and
the Communist p6trolears-" super hanc Petroleum
at tn