The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-03-16
Vienna.

In the course Of few weeks tens Of thou
sands of Americans will flock to the ''banki
of the beautiful blue Danube" and partici
pate in the enjoyment of the great Ind us.
trial Exposition, which will be opened il
Vienna on the first of May. and which
there is every reason to believe, in splen
dor, variety, extent, aud arrangement, will
that have been held MP to the present time.
Although the capital Of Austria, next to
Paris, is Enthusiastically tie most magnif-
cent among the great cities Of Europe, it
in measure, has been neglected by
American tourists aud, for this reason,
not be unacceptable to our readers.
The city of Vienna is beautifully situa-
ted Oh both sides of the Danube, which
there is exceedingly wide; and the two
parts of the place, tho principal of which,
including the old town, lies on the right
did bridges. Prior to the sudden growth
Of Berlin in the last law years, Vienna
was the largest. city in which the German
language was spoken but, if Berlin has
now larger population by one hundred
thousand than Vienna, the latter still retains
its old fame of being an infinitely mole beau
tifni place than the capital of the new Ger
man Empire. berlin has undoubtedly
many attractions, many superb palaces,
many grand old churches but its popula
ton is homogeneous while Vienna, aside
from its superior architectural beauties,
and its by far more interesting historical
traditions and "reminiscences, has this ad
vantage over its great northern rival on the
river Spree, that it is populated by a south
ern race, noted for its lively character, its
cheerfulness and versatility, and that there
are mingled with it's German inhabitants,
who form the bulk of the population, re-
representatives. of all the numerous races of
Eastern Europe, whose peculiar costumes
lend most varied and animated aspect to
street.-The in Vienna.
The history of Vienna is fraught with
the most momentous and interesting mem
cries. Its origin is not accurately known.
Tradition says that it was founded by
Colts, under the name of Wimbledon. Un-
der the early Roman emperors it became a
municipal city, under the name of Vindo-
bona, and here it was where the great en-
peror and philosopher Marcus Anrelius
vaded by the northern nations, and re-
NAMED a long time in the hands of the
Rugii, who called it Fabiana, from which
the present name of the city seems to have
arisen. Gothe, Lombards, and Avarians,
then held the place alternately. until final
I042, Henry III. held there regular Diet.
Maximillian I. made it the capital of the
archduchy Of Austria, and from that time
forward it increased rapidly in Importance
aud population. After tho two sieges by
the Turks, under Solyman, in 1927, and
which the city offered most heroic resist
auce, it was surrounded by strong fortif-
cations, which the French, after brief in
vestment, destroyed in 1909. The city has
now population of upward of seven hun
dred thousand inhabitants, which is in
creasing SO rapidly that the Austrian stat
isticians estimate that it's population in
1875 will exceed one million,
The cathedral of S. Stephens is justly |
considered the pearl ofall the architectural |
mon uments ofVienna. There are few finer |
churches in the Christian world. Its con- |
was commenced A. d. ll44, and
in 1893. Its steeple is four hun
dred and twenty eight feet high, and from |
the top the spectator enjoys m lost enchant-
ing view over the vast city, and the beau !
tiful valley of the blue Danube. The in
terror of the church is gorgeously decorated,
and contains many memorable tombs,
among them that of the Industrious Prince |
Eugene of Savoy.
Among the other churches deserves to |
be mentioned that of the Capuchins, in the |
New Market, with the vault and tomb of
the imperial family. visit to that vault
will bring the traveller face to face with |
the dust of many personages who bore
conspicuous part in the history of modern |
times. Here repose, till the great day Of
Resurre ction, the Empress Maria Theresa, |
the despotic Francis H., NapoIe"n's IA her
in law the unfortunate Duke dc Reich
stadt and, lastly, the ex-Emperor Maxi
MILAN, of Mexico, and his imperjous
mother, the Archduchess Sophia. The
gloomy memories with which this sombre
vault is filled, are not relieved by the gor-
geous ornaments with which some of the
imperial sarcophagi are cmbellished.
Next in beauty Co the cathedral Of st.
Stephens is that of 81. Carlo Borromeo,
built 10 one of the suburbs in ful6lment of
a VOW which the Emperor Charles vi.
made when the plague ragged in Vienna,
in 1877.
The imperial palace, the Hofb"rg, ia a
vast but gloomy looking old pile but it's
Interior rivals in the magnificence of it's
decorations, and the extent and value of
it's collections, the most renowned Tesid- |
ences of the Old WorldSprinces. Ia beauty
of architecture and symmetry 1t is far sur
passed by many of the other palaces of
Vienna, aud especially by the Belvedere,
which, was built by Prince Eugene of Saw
oy, on one Of the most delightful sites in
tho city, aud by the palace on Joseph'S
Place.