The record-union., 1896-05-10
LIFE IN VIENNA.
Sketch of Some of the French and
Austrian Customs.

Following is an extract from private
letter dated at Vienna, Austria) writ
ten by Miss Grace Keiser of Muncie,
Indiana, who is now studying music in
that city. to her nephew, Clarence Da-
Wis of this county. Miss Keiser has
twice visited Sacramento, and has
many acquaintances here:
l spent the holidays with some de-
Ightful French friends in Marseilles.
Their Christmas was a very merry one
indeed. On Christmas night there was a
beautiful tree, with all sorts of amusing
gifts on it. / received q number of funny
toys; one was music box in form of
coffee mill. Then there was a grand
dinner. But when the fruit was passed
we found the bananas filed with cot
ton and tiny doll inside We PLAYED
games and danced very like one would
do at an American party
| stayed three weeks and then came
here. What change it was from flow
ers and sunshine to winter, with snow
and cold winds! All the way to Genoa
i was warm and delightful, and after
leaving there we went through a long
tunnel, and when we came out were in
another world We had left the beau
tiful blue Mediterranean, the flowers
and gayly dressed Italians all behind.
and were in the mountains covered
with snow. I did so want to stop once
more in Venice and Genoa-they are
so beautiful and filled with interesting
things.
The first thing one sees in Genoa is a
magnificent statue Of Columbus. vi
ic al icl,t ftrI oh. ic
cold. 1t is not so artistic as Paris, but
almost as beautiful, and that is say
ing much. The Ring strasse is no doubt
the finest boulevard in the world. All
of the handsome buildings are in it
the Rathhaus, or City Hall, Houses of
Parliament, Burg Theater and Opera
house and the Burg itself, or palace.
where the Kaiser, Franz Josef, lives.
The place where the Ring is was once
the old wall that surrounded the city.
We go often to hear the Strauss con-
certs, and l have danced to the music
of The Beautiful Blue Danube when
Strauss himself directed
Very soon after getting here the
grandest ball of the season was given
at the Rathhaus. 1t was the most mag
nificent affair l have ever attended.
The King was there and nearly all the
court Such gowns of brocade, en-
broidered with jewels, l never dreamed
of. 1t was all most dazzling. Many of
the men were Generals and high officers
in the army. and were in full uniform.
The hall was beautiful with flowers and
brilliant lights. When the Kaiser came
in everyone in the hall shouted and
waved their handkerchiefS
The Danube River flows through the
old part of the city, and the bridges are
very picturesque. | wish you could go
with me through the picture galleries.
for they are filled with beautiful pic
lures from all over the world. Many
of them are from the old Spanish and
Italian masters that were painted hun
dreds of years ago.
Then, too, you would enjoy the music,
for Vienna is the musical center of the
whole world. In all these foreign cities.
where all the men must serve a time in
the army, there are military bands and
companies of soldiers to be seen at
nearly very hour of the day And
when the weather grows warmer the
bands will play in the parks, of which
there are a great number.