Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-20
OLD WORLD TOPICS.
THE GREAT STANDING ARMIES OF
eUROPE-MUSiC IN GERMANY.
The ewiss Republics Soidfcrs--3O. 900
Visiting Amerioans-Austris's Good
Emperor--Other Features
from a Stat Correapondcnt.l

VIENNA. August Sl.-in travelling
through the European countries one is inn
pressed with the apparent quiet that pre-
walls everywhere. and the great number OF
soldiers 20 30 seen seem useless. bat yet
oil Of the nations fthc continent particu-
larly are compelled TO maintain enormous
standing armies. and 10 have a still greater
number Of reserves 10 be called out at n
notice should necessity re0uiro
During my waudcuncs IN Germany /
thought that country was won1criuliy pro-
lihc IN mualc gardens. bet Austria - even
moro of those or lcriv llacc, - amusement
than are 20 he found IN the empire over
which the NcunE Emperor William rules.
II might he naturally supposed that these
people who look sol peaceful AMI coutented
have nothing t. fear. but with CGrrisons
III oil the leading citIc', and soldiers walk
ing about everywhere there can he no
doubt that The several g0vcrrmouts arc
taking no chances. They arc st,.l carrying
ont tho old aGa-c In times o. peace
prepare fox war" T. places q a,ouse-
ment vhsre have met natives
VINO speak fneEsa, they cay that
there l. no telling when 9 Euro
pean war ina7 break ont. They dread en-
OUt 0.tdA F'tAitrF 10 Nt.NshA sAs''tAs4 ~ 800
thing % the commerce and happiness ~
any nation 20 become involved IN III
Guilty demanding a rush 20 arms. Eu-
Inors which We on tho other SIDE az tho
Ai,antlc would pay ID attention 10 are
d.sturb.L. 10 the Europeans, and .sle-
cisly il ihcie - anyth ~ mcnaclus IN tho
Official papers Of France. The CONT
mental people fear IA outbreak on
the part Of the Frcnch more than
any others, AID they wal tel
YOU that tie vcrv moment Trance can
form reliable alliance with RUSSIA there
j. going TO 10 trouble. as the e1cltso.o
French are waiting chance b get another
whack at the Germans, whip them II pos
s,ble. and take back Alsace and Lorra'ne
The Frauco-Prussan was tue last great
war on tire continent. Gld 81 sHo'h her oc-
ours many nations may 10 iF 4Ncd.
Austria Aas - watch Rus'ia COZ IN ally,
ana the fooIng be;ween tAoso two coun-
trles Is not the best.
AIrACE Foouyo.
Austria. with H. compa. ativeiv-drp'eted
treasur, and one Of tho poorest financial
system. e AN country on the continent,
~ compelled 10 MAINTAIN on tho present
pence fpp.irg an army OF $4,000 ~ roh-l
numbers. t. SAY nothing Of nor lgnaVy ;
and her army on "A war fooNnc lsoVcr ,OiJ,-
ODJIu II and Zl5.0l0 horses. J has ls larEe
considering taat the population az the en-
tire IL IN round numbers about 4p,OjO.uJJ.
GtTmanv's army peace footing IS ab out
half million men aud war footing about
million and q hMf. Nnen Emperor VII
liam was IN England last nonth there was
story which emauatoi from Ier.s to tie
effect that Lord Salisbury III a con
ference with the young monarch
tired 10 induce him 10 disa-m lie country.
4 q l.. -. ~ gH lF q
papers il other quarters William inten q
70 keep Mp his army 10 matter WHAT tAe
cost may To-.
The Austrian soldiers nro poorly dressed
in COMPARISON with the English AMI
German soldlory end tho man AID officers
are not such fine specimens paysica-IY'
either
MILITARY erEyICE
Having 10 DO 50 much military serylco
is very hard upon the Ecn IN the various
European cOuntri0s. While III Nv Yer
land few weeks ago the cashier OF a Lead
inc hotel told me that lie was once moro
compelled to give up LIS position 20 do ser,
vice Ia the army. it vas incOuvenIont anl
distasteful. hut there Was no escape. hehad
already served one year. ana would have %
serve TWO more, though not cOnsecuuYoIF.
In discussing the subject further re-
marked tia: Il VAS surprising tAst
switzerland had stood 90 many hundreds
OF wears as an independent Little repubhc
surrounded "a IL WAS by monarchi--. AID
tie greedy old mvIarcLs anxious 10 pes
up ANYTHING loose that WAS lying around
In the share o: territory. "Ot, faid he,
our Country is poor and rugged AMI not
much OF it-noted chiefly Tor mountains
BESIDES, our gIea, mountain passes are IN
pregnable and our army, knowing Inc
country and being so well fortified. could
keep ont any invading foe. still We Keep
up large army la proportion t. popula-
tiOn. We have only about 5.V01,O people
III all and yet our army. ncludlls~rcIulai
federal troops and reserves, Is about ZJO'-
900 men,"
In the INIT states we can truly he
thankful that oIr geographical situation
does not permit threatening war-clouds 70
hover over u. tut we have something that
IL far worse than maintaining big stand
Ing army IN times Of peace.
ouE HEAVY PENSION FUND.
We pay more IN pensions than any M
ton has ever disbursei. and the amount
taken last year from the pockets IF oar
people was about Sl2i, 0O0. O10, IL takes only
about $50 900 600 year III our money -
keep w the great German army aud pas
the pensions resulting from the franco-
pruss!an war aud in addition 10 that We
oxpend $50, 0O0 year on our insignih
cant army. The Europeans csnnot under
stand this. and they think that We have
60 much money that we literally throw. II
away IN pensions. 1t is a subject thai
they comment on continually IN their pa
peIs, and some day the tax payers viii pro
lably awaken to the sltuatloo ana put
stop 10 the annual rohberies that are Inad'
IN the name Of the "oLi soldiers"
ANfCH rLGTY.
From the most reliable data obtalnab!'
& IL estimated that about 5000 American
have visited or vii visit Vienna this year
A great many English people also visit III
Austrian capital, and all are well repaid
tor Vienna 10 one oil tie most beautiful an,
interesting cities Oh tho Continent. IL
population, including Immediate suburbs
l. about million and "a half, and tie rat
Of increase Is large. The CITY Is extend
ing rapidly IN al directions, ond u
bulldings are surprisingly handsome. Tbs
streets are splendidly paved end the dif
ferent styles Of architecture afford va
rlety ind solldlty that are truly pleasing
70 the eve. The beverage, however. Il
poor. and this IL Only accounted tor from
Tho fact that tho natural drainage Is bad
aad the water supply limited. During
my STAY here the weather las been th'
wsrmest they have had this summer
tLOuSh the ttiNlel 81 u4o Lat ~ no l-t+ti
been uncomfortable. In many Of IN
finest portions Of the city, however. Tn
sewers give on. a dreadful stencil and II
como localities. especially where th'
poorer classes 1--we. the smells are almOs
unbeareblo.
AlEIOvrD EUTyR
Conversa.ions with the natives would in
dicgte that the Austrans are verv Inucl
devoted t. the.r monarch, the EmpeTO
Francis Joseph. 1hls "a because ne IS DO
only man who rniLglos extensively Wit
the people. but he is benevolent and char
liable. Out of his large income no ha
gwen much - relieve distress, and sevcra
Vienna people whom ! have net IniOrne
me tina. when the Emperor is IN town h
has d habit Of gong about the streets III
accompanied just Ike al ordinary pedc.
trian. Ii saluted by On ordinary man Ii
will courteOIsiy return the salute aud TIM
j. appreciated greatly by his subjects. VIII
yoie hin man not gwen 20 putting o
luss." The Impr'ss - not 50 popr
lar. She - exclusive and IL sal
10 lie woman of rather unbalance
mind. being related 10 the crack-Oraine
ROYAL family % bavaria that has turne
out 50 many lunstics within the past thu
g. YEAR.
Ten years ago |, Will be remembered tia
theatre burned in Vienna IN which neal
~ one thousand persons lost their l!yeI
II was QUO Of the most calsnltous hole
Causts Of modern times. On the site {