The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-28

1 drew to Vienna noble refugees from all parts of Europe, and the blood of the Austrian nobility contains mingled strains which in measure account for the versatility and charm of the class.
 The women are usually good looking and often beautiful. Moreover, the ma jority of them possess the indescribable quality which, for want of more de- finite name, Is called charm. They are gay witty, good at repartee, remarka- bly, well gowned.
 The men are brilliant. dashing, good looking, extravagant. The level of intel ligence and wit Is far above that of the ordinary smart set; yet, oddly enough, there is no social circle in Europe where so little honor Is paid to talent or even to genius.
 The Austrian noble is charming to his intimates. He seldom recognizes the ex- istence of any one beyond them. A few daring social leaders have tried to iIn- prove the condition of national art and literature, to draw the great writers and artists forward and pay them social hon ! CTS. Ii can't be done. The smart set will buy pictures, will read books. will go to exhibitions. It will not receive the painters or the writers. They are out side the pale. Genius cannot storm Austrian tradition.
 A few of the nobles, born to the Vien- nese purple, have shown genius them selves. That Is a different matter. Of the Baroness de Suttner, the writer; of Princess Metternich, of Baron Mundy Austra's great phianthropists; of Count l Wilscek the arctic explorer, Viennese nobility is proud. They belong within the gates.
 The smart set spends much of its time at country houses staying in Vienna only while the court Is there, for two sea- sons. which last from January to ash Wednesday and from Easter until the ! time of the great races in June. During | these seasons there is one wild whirl of gayety The court, as court, has little j to do with it, for there are only two court balls.
 Not to be invited to the first one is a social calamity, for everyone who has the right of presentation at court Is in vited. The possession of sixteen quarter ings eight on each side of the family, is necessary to presentation, save in the case of Hungarian nobles, who are pre- sented on eight quarterings. So, not to be invited to the court ball means that one is shy on quarterings, and that is sad indeed. The second court ball is for the every elect, the royal family and its intimates To be invited to it sets the seal upon the standing of the social as- pirant.
 But 1t IS OutSlue the court l1dt tue fun goes on. Everyone entertains Every day and evening is crowded with func- tions. Certain great families entertain lavishly and constantly all through the season. Nothing Is dull. Everything goes with a verve a snap.
 There are judges who contend that the haute bourgeoise Is the social leaven of Vienna, and much more agreeable than the court circle. It Is divided into the Jewish and the Christian sets. The first is perhaps the wealthiest and most ex- travagant class in Europe. There Is ex- aggerated luxury, but there is also gen jus, intellect.
 In the haute bourgeoise one finds the men of brains the men of genius whom one misses in the exclusive court set. The women are quite as fascinating as those of higher rank. and more broadly culti' vated. Here are the beauty, the wit, the grace, the luxury the gayety-all tha counts in the aristocratic set, save thu blood. Possibly the brains and genius more than compensate for that loss.