Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-08

Thus che was like Washington. d. c..
only her accretion of prestige. culture
and popularity extended from Roman
times.
while the population of Austria-Hun-
gary was but half that Of the United
States. Vienna was the art. musical. and
tourist center of a population fairly COM
parable to that of the United states
Therefore Vienna's position to-day
may he likened to that of Washington,
should the American Capital suddenly
become the chief city of an area equal
only to that of Virginia, with popula-
ton little more than that of Pennsyl-
vana. To complete the comparison. one
must imagine this Virginia trimmed with
new born and none too friendly nations.
That would mean its nine millions of
people could not buy foodstuffs. coal, or
raw materials from adjoining States.
That is Viennas plight to-day.
vienna abounds in relics of her
former glory. Such reminder is st.
Stephens the st. Peters of
Austria which has been Vien-
nese shrine for seven centuries. The
of Viennas early fire department..
by climbing 700 steps the fire watchers
reached a platform where there were
four telescopes, sweeping every point of
the compass. Each quadrant, covered by
one telescope, was divided into sections.
enabling the observer to determine the
exact locality of the fire House owners
In each section corresponding to these
! sectors were listed In great books by the
side of each telescope, and as soon as the
| observer determined which house was
ablaze he wrote the name on slip OF
paper. threw it down a long pipe, to a
janitor below. and by him the fire was
reported to the city authorities.
Legend as we'll as quaint fact
adheres to many of the landmarks OF
Vienna. To the south of the city is a
beautiful cross. the Spjnperinn am
Itreuz. The site was a rendezvous for
tourists because of the panorama of the
city It afforded, Though the present
cross is more than five centuries old il
replaced a simpler crucifix, which is said
to have been placed thee by woman
whose husband went away on one of the
mile circumference, and is about Is feet
went to this point every day to spin an6
to pray. When he returned she erected
the cross. as an act of gratitude, witt
the money she earned by spinning.
| only a few years before the Worlt
war Vienna embarked upon municipa
ownership to an unprecedented scale
Not only did the city own her electric
and gas lighting plants, her street rail
ways, and warehouses. but also he
breweries. pawnshops, and undertaking
esta blshments.
LAS BELTS city to which the western
world owes debt of gratitude because
1t was the bulwark against the Turks
Vienna was heavily fortified. The pull
ing down of these fortifications mad
room for the extensive park system
With the demolition OF the inner ring o
forts space was given for the Ring
strasse, or boulevard, which has n tive
various sections given over to dfferen
wide. Around this circle, or, more ac
cuately. octagon. run steet cars. passinl
various sections given owe to differen
phases of city life, such as the Opera
the business street. the city palace O
the former Emperor. and so on.
Vienna is not on the Danube, but i
connected with the rivers course, severa
miles away, by a canal"