The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-06

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK llEGA-D.
Copyright, 1891, By TIE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris. Feb. s.
In all upset and suffering central
Europe Viennas misery leaves the
most depressing effect imaginable on
tourists. This hopeless atmosphere Is
absolutely contrary to the still strong
sentiment Of optir1istic nationalism
which is to be found In Budapest and
Warsaw and is widely at variance
with the glowing prosperity which
seems to dominate all parts Of Czecho-
Slovakia. according to Americans who
have just returned from q months
tour wherein they studied the pos
sibilities Of extending the food relief
plan.
Vienna is typihed by cold hotels,
cherries streets after nightfall and
poverty everywhere, but above all by
the lack of any confidence in the fu-
ture of the Austrian nation Deserted
by the big Powers and victim OF
specuIators of all kinds, the people
have actually reached the stage where
they would welcome death rather than
worry through another year such as
the last one.
situation in Border states.
One observer whose views carry great
weight with Herbert Hoovers relief or
ranization describes the situation In
central Europe thus:
vienna is veritable dead city. Its
business life has stopped because the
people have not enough with which 10
buy even necessities. Fortunately the
b,x a
suffering by using the Austrians' war
time system for relief distribution and
the women and children are faring bet
ter than they did during the previous
winter. Coal and other fuels arc al
most unknown to the average citizen.
Instead men and women OF All walks
of life arc not ashamed to spend an
hour in the Wienerwald surrounding the
capitaI cutting brushwood wherewith 70
heat their homes. Sixty pounds OF
underbrush are supposed; tczbc "a daily
ration. but those who are strong enough
carry more IL allowed to do SO.
'.Thc sight is innpresslve. but sadden-
ing--two endless lines of human beings
slowly plodding through the snow COW
cred broad boulevard leading to the
forest one line going. the other return
ing with the daily burden OF firewood.
''Only the Bristol Hotel has enough
hot water on Saturday nights to allow
n few of the guests to battle. Others,
like the majority of the Viennese now.
do not worry at all about hygiene.
Theatre. Crowded Nightly.
"Much has been said about the Vienna
Opera. Yes, II Is running and the ule-
stres are crowded nightly, like most OF
the moving picture houses and coffee
houses. mainly because there is more
warmth there than in the homes or
hotels. But evening dress Is rarely to
be seen, the audiences being deciueaiy
shabby and showing plainly that the
now system of turning old clothing is
spreading to what were once the better
class residents. There are furs OF the
most expensive kind in the shop windows
which give a false air of prosperity but
this is offset by the taste Of Viennas
food. which Is no longer prepared with
butter as in the palIny days but with
the yiiest grcases. Everything is badly
served--in fact the only well kept
feature of Vienna life is the street car
system, but owing to the lack or fuel
the cars do not run after IL o'clock.
THE public Is listless and wanders
aimlessly about. stopping to listen TO
street discussions OF what Austria's fate
il to be but caring little what really
happens"
Budapest Is also described as suffer
ing economic trials but according to the
informant OF THE NEW YORK HERALD
correspondent the people have new
born sense OF national greatness ana in
tend TO make something OF their country.
There is sprightiness In their step
which is not found In Vienna and the
food In hotels and restaurants is better
scrted and better cooked. Budapest
walls that IL the treaty had been prop
erly drawn up the whole Austrian EN-
pire would have been given to her. and
while the petty racial difficulties would
have been difficult to overcome 1t would
have meant great impetus to Hun
Eary's prospects.
.'rhere is a fearful wave OF idleness
which. II unchecked by persons OF un-
Outstanding. will soon start Hungary on
the down grade despite It's protested de-
spisal OF Austria's fate"
Poland Deserted.
Poland offers by far the hardest prob
lem for relief workers to solve. the In
formant said, because the people seem
absolutely discouraged by the fact that
the Allies seemingly have deserted them
Just when the chances seemed brightest
for recreating a powerful nation.
NJ Sapieha. Polish Foreign Minister.
has drawn this picture Of the starvation
that is facing Poland ussfess foodstuffs
hegin to pour In next month. All
American credits have been used up
nothing but military aid is coming from
France and the nation Is faced by the
German Bolshevist menace, although no
one officially credits the reports or the
threatened spring attacks from the east.
Poland now is relying only on the
meagro supplies obtainable from Eu-
mania. Meanwhile the Government
bread lines are growing In number and
length, while the factories at Cracow.
Poscn. Lodz and Warsaw are reducing
their output 80 per cent. The situation
will become graver when the Russians
begin releasing 1000 Polish prisoners
week as soon as the Riga treaty becomes
effectlve--and to meet the future all
Poland has consists OF promises of eter-
raj affection from the whole world, sew