Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-04-13

Sterling Heilig writes from Vienna
under date of March LIST, as follows:
The pleasureloving disposition of the
NienneSe requires that there should
be a large playground for the common
people. This playground which is also
4 magnificent park, is the famed vi
ennna-Prater
The HaSenheide district of Berlin,
with its immense beer gardens, shows
plainly enough the methodical tenden-
cies of the Prussians. 1t is nothing
of a park the Hasenheide, and each
garden is fenced off from the other
A common street with tram cars fur
Their separates these gardens into two
distinct rows. The great park of Ber-
lin-the Thiergarten, close to the cen
ter of the city-iS ariStocratic in its
looks Nursemaids wander in its fair
but melancholy avenues, and lovers
hold their trySt beneath it's forest
trees. Fine carriages roll along the
level drive to CharlOttenburg, and horse
men canter in romantic groups along
its winding alleys. But there are no
shows in the Berlin city park, and
everything is quite decorous. If you
want beer you go to a beer garden,
il you want a park you go to the Thier-
garten, Damen, Herren, right, left.
Berlin is nothing if not methodical.
Vienna is further to the south than
Berlin. Her people are more volatile
and restless. They do not rely alto
gether on shows to amuse them, but
they like to amuse themselves as we'll.
Accordingly, the fatherly disposition of
the Emperor Joseph IL, more than
100 years ago, threw open to them the
beautiful and extensive park they ell
the Prater
Nothing is methOdical in the Prater
Everything is free as air, and every
possible form of amusement Tubs elbow
spectators.
The Prater is at once the most demo
cratic and the most ariStOcratic place
in the world. You cannot help seeing
that the aristocracy Of Vienna is quite
sure of itself. 1t has no idea of dis
couraging the common people, with
their very common amusements and
their most uncommon noise, from a full
share in this chosen park of meadow
and woodland, where the prOudest la
dies take their dainty airings. And the
people are so well grounded in respect
for their SuperiOrs that there is no
room left for resentment or suspicion.
The Prater is situated on the east
side of the city. Until 1866 it was the
private property of the imperial family,
and in that year was given to the peo-
pie. 1T is much over 1900 acres in eX-
tent From a large circular place at
the eastern end of the city there radi-
ate three wide avenues, cutting through
the Prater. These are the Haupt-allee,
the FeuerWerk-allee and the Schwim-
msschulallee. The last is by the Dan
ube, and at it's end there is a splendid
establishment known as the Free Mum
icipal baths There is a room in it for
], 200 persons in all, and if there should
be more at any given time desiring to
be clean the terrace of n fine cafe while
they are waiting affords a view of the
Danube channel as far as the lookout
mountain of Kahlenberg. In the Haupt-
alice there is the aristOcratic drive. BY
its side, between it and the fireworks
avenue, are settled all the delights of
the Vienna populace.
This WurStel-prater is q noisy place
It is at the very entrance of the arts
tOcratic drive and sprawls along it's side
for many an acre. Nothing is fenced
in. The man without a kreutzer MAY
walk about all day and be amused.
The amusement is not of a high order
but it is loud, hearty, and innocent
Wurstel means buffoon; the Wurstel-
prater is well named
The raZzle dazzle begins with the
Prater-stern, a wide, circular place ct
the end Of the busy Prater street
Here is the terminus of dozen street
car lines, where, Sundays especially,
the cars unload their thousands. Di-
recty you are in the region Of cheap
restaurants, whose advance agents
baWl their attractive items in your cars
before your feet have touched the
ground Saltwater fountains squirt
brilliant colored strip, and cakes,
and toys, and cheap cigars riot with
each other in q Babel Of cOntending
appetites, while round-faced little boys
and girls dance and fairly scream with
pleasure Of anticipation. There are
grinding organs over in the trees, and
the thunder claps of big bass drums
n hoard To 10 tho bnarSo
peals of showmen gesticulating on their
platforms in the open air.
''Fantasmal Isabella! The first beau
ty of the world!''
Before we reach this fine fellow, who
has the loudest voice of all, the roped-
off grounds of many a peoples cafe
chantant must be passed. 1t is true
that an admission fee Of a few pennies
is charged to go inside Of each, but as
many Workmen with their wives and
families stand contentedly outside and
watch the shows as there are people
seated on the benches. Beer in Vienna
7QL -HIuI0U sMoH II pug 'dr9Q9 s!
rfckety orchestra, which has nothing to
lose at any time, rattles on even more
recklessly because it is mixed with the
confusion Of a dozen others like itself,
and clowns off the stage answer to
clowns on the stage with many a prac
teal joke upon their friends and rela
tons in the audience.
The Wurstelprater is not one street
lined with these ludicrous amusement
places. 1t is large town or village Of
tents and booths and gardens beneath