The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1912-03-22
vIENNA's GAY NIGHTS OVER.
Cafe Crowds Go Home Early and
Glasses Do Not Tinkie.

Glasses Do Not Tinkle.
Vienna, March 14.-"Gay Vienna" of
tinkling glasses, beautiful women and
Merry Widow" fame, is rapidly dis.
appearing. Only here and there Is
still trace of the life that has made
the city world famous. Gay Vienna"
has become a misnomer. It's gayety
Is dead when compared to that OF
Berlin and Paris and only the beauti-
full operettes and sensuous dreamy
music of Franz Lehar is keeping this
fame alive. The streets at night, for
merly presenting a lively animated
picture of cosmopolitan life, are al
most deserted by 10 o'clock in sharp
contrast with those of Berlin.
To one who has not been in Vienna
for some years, the change is surpris.
ing. There still are the beautiful cafes
where people enjoy themselves as
only the Viennese can, but there is a
lack OF the former zest, bubbling vi.
vacity spontaneousness and enthus.
iasm. Pleasure Is at low ebb when
compared with years gone by. The
cafe frequenters and the Viennese are
still fond of spending the evenings in
the cafes, depart early and few Of
them keep open all night.
Personally it may be attributed in
part to the fact that Gayety in Vienna
is not staged for the particular benefit
OF the tourists, as is the case in some
Of the other continental cities. AL.
though one Of the most interesting of
European cities, 1t is little off the
beaten tourist path.
Two reasons are given by the Vien-
nese for the dying out Of Gay Wen
na." First, the fact that there has
been no court life to speak of since
the death of Empress Elizabeth by as
sassination in 1897, and second that
Vienna has not been touched by the
whirlpool of sudden wealth and pros
perity that hit Berlin several years
ago. In capital, brilliant court life
has much to do with prosperity and
social life and activity. Franz Joseph
is lonely old man.
Ferdinand, heir to the crown, is not
very fond Of society and functions. He
married beneath his rank and conse-
quently his wife is not regarded as
his equal. They have lived quietly
She cannot be and has not attempted
| to be, first lady of the land. There
| has been little need of new gowns
| and jewels for court functions. This
has had dampening effect upon the
various grades and degrees of social
order.
"The Berinese have lost their heads
as result Of their tremendous pros
perity in the last few years." the
Viennese say. eve keep on in oul
own more quiet and more natural
way"
Budapest, the capital OF Hungary
has had remarkable growth in the
last few years and much of Vienna's
former gayety has transformed itsel
to Budapest. Building operations II
Vienna have virtually been at a stand
still for some time and as a conse
quence rents are tremendous and the
need Of dwelling in this city of two
million has become so urgent that the
city authorities are taking measures
to help erect buildings for the poorer
classes. This, together with the gen
eral rise in the cost of Wing keenly
felt in this country of low wages, and
a dead court life" has been the wet
blanket that is extinguishing the
gayety of Vienna. For, after all, II
takes money to pay the fiddler.
Vienna is still, and long will re-
main, the city Of magnificent theat
ers; of wonderful acting and OF
sweet. dreamy musical productions
1t is an advance post near the occi
dental-oriental frontier-the capital OF
twenty-six ationalties-with a very
interesting and charming cosmopol
tan life. 1t still has it's quarters
where life is by no means dull. But
Vienna's fame rests upon its gayety
in the higher circles of society and
the Viennese have the hope that when
! Ferdinand mounts the throne, the
merry days will return.
| Bio Sale Near Iona Pine,