New Britain herald., 1920-02-11
VIENNA PRESETS
 MANY CONTRASTS
Silks in Shops While POpulaCe
 Goes Barefoot

Vienna. Feb. 11.-Thc authorities recently authorized the population to cut and take from the municipal for ests that surround Vienna as much wood as could be borne on the back three times weekly. The plan was to meet the pressing need of people who could not buy or obtain from the public ration enough fuel 10 cook with.
 A fortnichts experiment showed that, with the complete destruction of one superb forest park of 150 acres only fraction of the wood went as intended, while orGa nzed bands of profiteers cut and sold 20,OOOOOO crowns worth.
 The incident is typical of proiteer- ing conditions in this ca pital. The pa perS daily report the frustrated or successful smuggling and out of the country of contra band articles and commodities. A band of Spanish smugglers recently were caught on the southern frontier with large quan- titles of gold. silver and platinum which they were trying to take out in automobiles. The low exchange value of the Austrian crown makes smuggling tempting game and men take desperate chances. The from tiers are guarded closely and every one searched. but the left hand trade is unchecked.
 Money Still Powerful.
 Money can still buy any necessity or any luxury here. While the mass of the people are hungry and cold and ill-clad. the splendid hotels and restaurants continue SO crowded that it is impossible to be served unless reservation is made for a table In crowns the prices are fabulous A simple meal costs the months salary or an office nan, yet prOfiteerS and ali"n spectators throng them as well aS the cab2rets and night amusement plnccS of all kinds.
 On tho one hand-is luxury and reck- less spending and on the other star Eation. The swarms of street beg gars increase. men. women and chill d"cn with their insistcnt appeals. The cheaper coffee houses are filled from opening to closing with those draw ing their Is crowns daily of out of work subsidy. Strikes and threatened strikes bring enormous increases of pay and, prostratc under it all. is the mlddle-claSs. the professional and clerical ranks who have neither or Ganization nor resource They arc not entitled to out of work pay nor enabled in any way 10 increase their incomes.
 Curious Contrast.
 Vienna presents curious contrasts Nearby is q shop once famous for it's delicacics. It's windows arc dressed with timed salmon, d few sardines. both to be had only on a flat ration ca rd, some imitation liquors and ScaIN-looking bOnbons.
 In the great shopping streets Of inc inner city the windows are filled with magnificent furs. works of art. tailored costumes, dainty silks and other Women's wear. jewels and oth- CT articles de luxe. But for sturdy clothing. for shoes and wooIcns for those things that a populace needs in a hard winter cline, for fats and flour and sugar. ono can search Vienna in vain. A diamond rare painting. tapestry sable coat, dainty sla ss- ware or exquisite leather and porcc- lains things can be found in the Kar- neStraSSe or the Grabcn or the smart shop streets that radiate from them hut the owner of any one of them will sell you moro readily for bacon. flour or sugar than for crowns. Recently many shops have refused to sell ex- cept for esta blshed foreign monics although such a procedure is in di- rect violation of the law.
 Daily Quotation.
 The government daily quotes the official rate Of exchange at which for cign money will he cashed in it's own bureau. but this means nothing as af- fectnG private transa Ctions in banks and with money changers. Some days these will give from ten to twenty points more or less. than the official rate according to their own judgment of conditions. There arc daily raids on illicit money changers in cafes. hotel corridors and in the side streets of the BourSe, often net ting millions of crowns. but the game goes on.
 NIIEI q OTI DIIDOM