The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-01-23
MI sc ella eou s..
Written for tile Asgis g. Intelligencer.
Letters From Europe.
NO. w.
NO. ".

VIENNA, AUSTRIA, Dec. Goth, 1878.
Mr.. EDITOR: In this letter will try to
fulfil the promise of my last, j. e., to say
something about Vienna in her everyday
clothes. 1t will, therefore, in all probable
ity, be very dry letter to most of your
subscribers, but may, nevertheless, find a
few interested readers among that class OF
| people who are fond of facts and statistics.
The limited time which I have to devote
to your columns will not allow me to do
all my work at once, and give you Vienna
as it is, in single package, and so must
| divide it up into more manageable parts.
| In the present communication will only
give you sketch of the city ITSELF the
principal streets and buildings, with few
remarks on the police and postoff1ce sys-
| tens.
| The earliest knowledge we have of Wen
ma is as primitive Celtic settlement, which
was superseded by the Roman municipium
| Tindob0na. The Roman emperor and phil
osopher Marcus Aureius died here, in the
year A. D., $780, The name of the town
was subsequently altered to Faviana, and
downfall of the Roman empire it changed
hands quite frequently. In 791 Charlie
magne extended his sway as far as Vienna.
In 1882 Rudolf of Hapsburg invested his
son with the government of Austria, and
since that time Vienna has been the seat of
that historic family. The city was twice
besieged by the Turks, in 1929 and in 1858,
occupied by the French for short time,
after the battle of Wagram, and threatened
by Prussians in the war of 1866.
Vienna is situated on the Donau canal
or the most southern branch of the Danube,
about 430 feet above the level of the sea !;
contains in the neighborhood of 100000
inhabitants and is garrisoned by about
| 10000 soldiers. The inhabitants are most
ly Catholics, though there are $4,000 Pro-
testants. 10000 Jews and 800 Greeks
among them. The city has increased very
rapidly during the past few years both in
size and number of inhabitants. Many of
the finest buildings are new and the cree
ton of Others is now being carried on to
considerable extent in many parts of the
city. The handsomest church is not yet
| finished and within few years fine new
Rathhaus and University building will
grace the Ringstrasse. The peculiar form
ofVienna was brought about in the follow
ing way. Formerly, the central portion or
Stadt was surrounded by high wall,
and the suburbs, now most considerable
portion of the city, grew up outside of this
rampant. In 1868 this wall was levelled,
by an imperial decree, and the space occu-
pied by it transformed into one of the most
beautiful streets in Europe. 1t is called
Francis Josephs Ring, or more convenient.
ly the Ringstrasse, and surrounds the inner
| ri IN ci do hot boz 4 L.
the Donau canal. Outside of the Ring
strasse lie the different suburbs SO called,
though in reality they IRE integral parts of
Vienna proper of the present day, known
by different names as Joseph Stadt, Leo
pold Stadt, &c. The Ringstrasse is one OF
the handsomest streets in Europe. nearly
two miles in length, and about 800 feet in
breadth. 1t begins at the Aspen bridge,
on the Donau canal, on the one side. and
after having encirclcd the "Stadt" ends at
the Angarten bridge on the other 1t is
divided in all its length into five parts; q
broad carriage way in the middle, with Il
broad foot way and "Reit Aler" on each
side. A row of trees hedges each side OF
both the foot ways, which, though they are
yet young and small, promise in the future
to add much to the beauty of the street
There are six rows of street lamps, which
at night present a very fine appearance
The street-car railway runs the whole
length of the street, branching off in various
directions into the different suburbs Al
though the Ringstrasse is now one of the
ornaments of Vienna, it has, as was above
mentioned, only been open few years, and
may yet be said to be in its infancy. Tn,
trees which adorn it arc yet small and
many parts of it are yet unoccupicd by bull
dings. Those which already front upon il
are of the finest kind, and there arc man,
now in course of erection which promise tc
add much to its beauty. When completed
it will be unsurpassed, if equalled, ant
will be noble monument to the taste an(
enterprise of the present government.
The "Graben" may he called the Broad
way of Vienna, though in form it is more ,
square than street. 1t is the centre of til,
fashionable retail trade of the city, and OF
1t, together with the Kohlmarkt," Roth
enthurm Strasse" and "Kambnerstrasse,
which open into it, are situated most of tn,
tirst-class retail establishments. 1t alway