The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29

Every ono knows that. In order to enter
aristocratic society in Vienna. you must have
at least sixteen dunrterings. that is to SAY, you
must be Of unmixed noble descent for at least
three generations exclusive OF your own.
The rigor Of this rule has been scarcely Mt all
abated since tho first third OF this century.
when the Countess OF Jersey, coming to
Vienna. found that there was some doubt
about her being received by the aristocracy.
This was not on account OF her supposed
liaison with tho Prince Regent. but owing to
the fact Of her sleeping partnership In Coutts's
| bank. As late as thirty yenrs ago. Mr.. Motley.
writing from Vienna. said: II an Austrian
could be Shakespeare. Calico Raphael. and
Nelson all in one. he couldn't be admitted
into good society In Vienna unesa he had the
sixteen auarterings Of nobility which birth
alone could give him. Naturally 1t is
not likely to excite ones vanky. that
one goes as a Minister. where. as an indivd-
ual he would find every door shut against
him." The late Lord Lytton. when an attach6
at Vienna. ventured one evening to suggest to
noble lady the fitness OF attracting small
pinch OF tho intellectual salt OF the country
within the charmed circle Of society. He re-
ceived the frigid rejoinder: But my dear
lord where would you draw the !iney We
should end by landing in the gutter" 1t is. In
truth. a common saying among tho Austrian
nristocracy that recognizable mankind only
starts into being with the baron" The fact
that neither talent, character. nor wealth
will gain man admission to the circle OF the
Austrian nobility is fairly enough pronounced
responsible for the creation and prevalence OF
the national type known as the "Trotter'-a
type OF pinch Drained dolt something like
what the Russians call a "krugom durak."
Iii. 80 a
solid in asinine qualities from the centre to
the circumference. Whereas the English aris-
tocratic loaier" is. as q rule. robust. II not
athletic. the Austrian Trottel is usually an
effeminate- looking creature. with hair parted
down the middle. pinched low forehead.
little eyes set close together and sunk In his
head. and vacant grin displaying aggressive
teeth planted in q long. straight. narrow jaw.
An appalling type this truly: a fathomless
ocean OF stupidity One would never for q mo-
ment imagine him to be possessed Of physical
courage. though this 10 an attribute OF all Aus
trians. for he tries his utmost to make you
doubt It ny wearing silver and gold bangles
round his wrist 1t Is mainly in Vienna that
the aristocratic Trottel finds imitato-s. Here,
as In other capitals the eneEYated sons OF the
middle class are inclined to copy the vices OF
the aristocracy. though this inclination is much
less common than 1t Is in Paris or London.
The notion that the modern Austrian mobiles
can lead their countrymen as their forefathers
used to do is obviously untenable. because
their traditional ideas keep them aloof from
the Who'll. intellectual life OF the country. They
generate no intellectual life among them-
selves. and. the GU trent literature OF the coun-
try being mostly Liberal. they do not read.
This Is not true Of the Hungarian nobility.
and OF course there are exceptions among
the Austrians: but how few they are the fol-
lowing an ,cdote will testify: We are told that
Count L.. a wel-known member OF the Herren
House. lately hailed cab and told the driver
to take him to Gerold's book store. the princ-
pal book store In Vienna The cabman looke ed
puzzled. and admitted that no did not know
tho shop in question. "Whatr' calculated
Count l., you pretend to be a Vienna cab
driver and do not know Gerold's?' Half in
apology and half In tone OF wounded dignity
the cabman replied: Your lordshir must
excuse me. but am only In the habit Of driv-
ing gentlemen"
or course there is a little to be said upon the
other side Motley himself bears witness that
nothing can be more charming than the
manners OF the Austrian aristocracy. both