The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-04-18
vIENNESE MERRY
DESPITE DEFEAT
They Know They Were Beaten,
Admit 1t, and Let 1t
Go at That.
SMART CAFES ARE CROWDED
People Are Well Dressed, Cheerful,
and Pay Enormous Prices for
Chocolate and Sales.--future
Left to the Politicians.

Left to the Politicians.
Vienna.-perhaps the most striking
Characteristic of Vienna just now is
its citizens indifference. TO enter the
crowded, smart, beautifully decorated
cafes and watch the lively, laughing
public there is to ask: do these
people realize that they have lost the
war and an empire, aud are reduced
to being citizens OF a poverty-stricken
state of under 100000, with an enor-
nous war debt. bankrupt exchequer
and an ever-growing army Of unem.
plcyed|
If foreigner visited this city's
cafes and restaurants without being
told that he was in a country that
had been engaged In Il disastrous war
for over four years he would think
lis citizens summed themselves in peace
full prosperity. Laughter, careless talk
about the opera, the ballet and n
prominent actress private life greet
you from all Mdes. Not q word about
war or politics
Officers In bright colored uniforms
with much gold lace and with rows of
decorations glltterlng on their TUNES,
are as lively as the civilians, while
the wel-gowned women in costly
fashionable furs and Jewelry. leave
nothing 70 those who enjoyed life here
before the war. They are every whit
as "chic," MS gay and as up-tO-date.
The smartest Cafe.
Strange to relate. Vlenna's smart
est dearest and most sought-aftet
cafe was opened during the war. The
Cafe Krantz Is the last word in lux
ury and attractivehess. Money has
been lavished on its decorations, and
its music is supplied by the orchestra
Of the Volks opera, conducted by the
popular yiollnist and composer Willy
Weinberg. Here idlers sip chocolate
made with water ut 90 cents a small
rup, eat small cakes Of whitest flour
ct 20 cents each, flirt, chat and listen
to as good music as you can enjoy
anywhere in the world.
Each seat at one of the little round
tables costs II cents on ordinary days
but on holidays, such as New Years
eve. You cannot get inside the place
under 60 cents, while the best seats,
which are in the gallery upstairs,
overlooking the high hall, where the
uusic Is, and the main part Of the
cafe, cost 81. Every seat is taken
every occupant happy, careless and
absorbed merely In pleasure.
The same crowd is to be seen at
Pucher's tea room opened a year
ogo, with brocade hung walls and dis
Greet corners. Here, a cracker costs
so cents and n cupful OF chocolate so
tents, while n portion Of imitation tea
without sugar or milk, can be had for
70 cents. The crowd here is rs wei
dressed, as cheerful and as indiffer
ent to the Versailles conference as that
In the Cafe Krantz.
The Atlantis, another magnificent
cafe built during the war is on the
ground floor of hotel, unopened
only because Vienna cannot ind fur
uiture for It. At least II was TIL r
couple of days ago. when the italian
Military commission arrived here
General Segre In command. and
opened Offices on the first floor. The
Italian flag hangs from the balcony
pyer the heads Of the cafe habltues
bat nobody mentions it, or the war
and its disasters.
ais This What We Fought For?"
Now and again some battered look
ing officer in shabby uniform can be
seen scowling on the thought
less crowd with look that says: as
this what we fought for" But such
are few and far between. The ma
iority Of the military people take re
cont events like The civilians. A Wen
nesc explained Il TO me-:
"They are so happy Tie war il
over"
II matters not what comes next
he problems of the future are LETT
to professional politicians. The war
Is o5er, the cafes are attractive the
opera is open. These are the things
which matter. No wonder you hear
ieople say. "There Is no fear Of
bolshevlsm, for people are too careless
to want it,
This attitude Is not the boastful
Sne of the Germans, who tell the uni.
verse they are not beaten. The Aus.
uian knows he is beaten and says SO
But so long as his pocketbook is stuffed
with paper money he keeps smiling
and goes to the restaurant and cafe
Of his choice 10 look ut the pretty
women aud talk about the ballet. Moth
| ing else Is worth notice.
Frogs as Wasp Eaters.
The common green frog has been