Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-06-03
NOTES OF A TRAVELLER
AN AMERICANS IMPRESSIONS
OF AUSTRIA AND PEOPLE.

! Moravia, the Crown land of the Austrian En-
pire - Olmutz and Its Fortress - Napoleon
and His Grand Army-Battle of Austerlitz,
in Which he Defeated the Combined Armies
of Austria and Russia-The Castle Of Aus.
terlitz-Favor Shown to American Visitors.
Nestled between the Little Carpa-
THAN mountains and the Moravian
Hills lies the little state of Moravia
with an area and population about
equal to those of Massachusetts. The
people, in common with those of Bo-
hemia, the two Silesias. and a small
portion of Hungary, speak the Czech
tongue and belong to the Slavonic
race. There is much of chronological
interest connected with them but we
will not stop to consider it now. Their
allegiance to AustriS is characterized
by quiet contentment, and they seem
to be as happy as any people in Eu-
rope. One-ffth Of the population is
German-Austrian, and it is, doubtless,
the adjusting element. Yet, there is
little or nc friction, and they all are
pleasing people to visit.
/ was drawn there by business with
German Austrian. Mr.. Weygel, in
the city of Prersu, about fifteen miles
from Olmutz. Mr.. Weygel had pur-
chased large plant of carriage and
wagon making machinery from the
house with which am connected, and
the object of my visit WAS to clear
away some doubts regarding the uses
and intentions of q few of the ma.
chimes. l had the pleasure of an even.
ing with his family. Both Mrs. Wey-
gel and he speak English fluently.
having acquired it by study. Mr..
Weygel only had been in an English
speaking country, he having made one
tour to London. Their library was
we'll supplied with English books,
among which was fair share of Amer.
ican authors. Mrs. Weygel was fond
OF Longfellow and made it q point to
read Evangeline at least once year.
She required her children to learn
English and l have enjoyed cores
pondence with them in English sinse
visiting there. For many days pre-.
viously to reaching Prersu, l had not
heard an English word spoken, and it
was like dropping into haven OF rest
to be welcomed by such family.
My mechanical duties there were
not burdensOme, for such were the
skill and intelligence of Mr.. Weygel
and his wOrkmen that a represen tation
Of American methods was quickly
grasped. His market is mainly vi
enna, and his warehouses and sales.
rooms in that city are fully stocked
with all varieties Of American designs
of vehicles, in faultless workmanship
and finish. Carriage springs of all
sorts he gets from America, in car.
load lots, shipped from New York by
way Of Trieste. And. notwithstanding
the enormous Austrian imposts, he
can get the springs, delivered at his
factory, at fifty per cent. less than
Austrian or German springs would
cost him; with the additional advan-
tage possessed by the American prod.
duct Of being guaranteed as to endur.
snce and residence. He imports hick.
ory timber largely from America, but
the larger part of the timber consumed
by his factory is derived from the for.
ests of the vast estate of the Archbish.
op of Olmutz, one Of those old-time
Prince-bishops whose wealth, dignity
and privileges are beyond estimate.
Mr.. Weygeps two older sons were
under education at the University Of
Olmutz. in my correspondence with
them they have written according to
their moods, in English, French and
German. A shadow passed q year
ago in the sudden illness and death OF
the elder son, and the pathos of the
letter from his brother was of q depth
which grief only can render. While
talking about the ancient city of o.
mutz, aud its stronghold, the impris.
Onment of Lafayette at Neisse, in
Prussisn Silesia and in the Castle of
Olmutz for five years-1792 to 1897
was thought Of. He was arrested by
Austrian officers in his flight from
France to the Netherlands TO escape
the vengeance OF the Jscobins. The
length and rigor OF his imprisonment
we're such as to break even his strong
spirit aud cause detection and despair
all too rife in those hard and troub.
lOus times. As he was not friendly to
Napoleon he did not expect favor from
that quarter. 1t was not, however, in
NspoleOn's nature TO see Frenchman
in foreign prison and he demanded
the release of Lafayette. Austria
deemed it prudent 10 obey.
A few years afterward all Moravia
was under military scourge. While
we we're talking about it, Mr.. Weygel
fell into reminiscent mood and re.
peated many stories which his grand.
mother had told him. The Russians
were the allies of the country and the
people welcomed them. But such was
the vandalism of the Russian soldiers
that they soon became detested. They
would enter the mansions and cot.
tages unbidden and purloin every
delicacy and bit Of bric.a-brac in sight
What a difference was felt when Ma.
poleon's army came into the country
The French soldier was the soul oil
courtesy, never violating the privacy
of peasant or prince. If he felt com
PEELED to take anything under the exi
gencies of war, he did 80 with such
apologies as made the people feel more
comfortable with their enemies than
they had been with their friends.
How did Napoleon get such an army
OF men? This tempts to short di
gression. He had simply to gather
them, for he found them made to hi.
hand and want. They were coined ir
the matrix Of the widest civil pans
that ever rocked the world. In ths
Place de IL Concorde they had seer
the descending knife close the earthly
career Of thousands of the vilest an(
the best in the mad effort to realiz,