The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-08

season and incidentally to sho W marked
respect for the wine-filled fruit.
From each side Of the balcony lines of
wires were sire tched sustaining massive
lunches of all kinds of grapes. twined and
intertwined with leaves. Everywhere the
delicious fruit was in evidence and fresh
made wine was pressed in the refresh
ment-r Dom.
Many amusing games were introduced.
as is the custom in Austria. Among them
was the frequent marriage OF the girls, the
arrest OF grape-stealers and great Quanu-
ties Of divorces by the Burgomeister,
whose headquarters were ia close prOX-
imtv to the imprOvised prison. guarded
by "Peter," the old Vienna Prater watch
man, who used to hold forth at the en-
trance to the music hall with a lantern as
big as squirrel-cage aud keys that
weighed five pounds.
Frequent attractions of the following
laws kept him busy falling the disturb
ing element, whose fines were collected by
Burgomeister Michaltschke: Failure to
obey laws, cents; disturbing the quiet of
the night, cents; resisting an officer, 10
cents; stealing grapes, 10 cents; drinking
thy neighbours beer Che gravest offense
possibe), ID cents.
Whenever the jailer got victim in his
clutches, the news was at once communi-
Gated To the burgomeistef, who gathered
in the fine, raising it occasionally IL the
gent behind the baIS was in a hurry to
get out and keep a dance engagement.
The strings of grapes were Just high
enough to miss the heads of the dancers.
and were just luscious enough 10 be
stolen by everybody present At one
time the Jail was packed to the door and
the fine collector ran out of small change.
When business got light, Peter would
grab the nearest man, throw him into the
| % a m
breathing.
A full orchestra was in attendance. and
the merry crowd gave way to mirth and
lBw-breaking with vengeance.
Suddenly from distant corner rang out
the church bell and the matrimonial bureau
was ready for business. There was a
wild rush for the spot. and some thirty
FIVE couples were made temporarily insane
in eight minutes. The village parsoD. l..
Tommer, collected 10 cents from each
groom before issuing his certificate, which
was handed to the bride. and the young
lady who was married the most times be-
fore midnight was to be awarded the
choice of all the gentlemen in the room.
AT late hour the gr0oms discovered that
they Lad 10 break all sorts of INV ritten
laws TO suit the whims of the new-found
brides, and appealed to the burgomeister
IN a body for divorce, which was granted
upon the payment of 20 cents. BY the
time the prize was ready for distribution
the matrimonial records were so badly
mixed up with the divorce laws that the
sight of them would have driven Cupid
Haley out OF Office for life.
Thus the merry games were carried out,
and The young and old alike let no oppor-
tunity go by to break the laws and pay the
fines.
Along the walls large placards set forth
some wise sayings. the best OF which were:
Girls without spuuk are like lantern
without a candle"
Having tasted the grape we want more"
by mixing wine with kisses both be-
came permissible"
July PEOPLE never 90 TO hell"
whats the use of gold when music
reigns?"
'Clothing is scarce, shoes are dismantleu,
but girls are always plentiful"
Al Dight the crowd increased, and many
tasty costumes appeared on the floor.
President Albert Schokay at the head of
the Verein OeSterreich made himself vaiu.
able as a receiver of guests. and turned
them over to the enjoyment Of the hour
with a Chesterfield's grace.
The prizes for costumes were distributed
at 10 r. NJ, and consisted Of BARNARD
fowls, such as are raised by the reasantry
OF Austria, and were delivered to the Win
Ders alive and fat.
BY IL o'clock the grapes were all gone
and every lady in the room had been mar
ried aud divorced.
Before the guests left they thanked the
tavern-keeper. Joseph Alkalay, and his
staff, II. Kiffinger, K. Thoma, T. Kump
and L. Lamberg, who had designed the
good cneer and made the wine feast such
brilliant success.