The Washington times., 1922-08-20
VIENNA, Aug. z.

VIENNA aug -
K TEVER in the history of the worl
IN perhaps has human life presente
such amazing contrasts as at I'll
present moment in the ancient imperi,
city of Vienna.
Night and day pleasure-mad beauties
actresses, singers, dancers and social fa'
orites - are amusing themselves an
others with a recklessness never befoI
surpassed, while men and women of til
once ruling and intellectual classes-fol
mer noblemen, public officials, doctor
scientists, lawyers and bankers and the
wives and daughters-are unable to fin
enough food to eat or clothes to cove
their backs.
So scandalous have become the cond
tions that to remedy them one of the mo.
drastic and extraordinary laws ever dt
vised is soon to be put into effect. Th
law provides that every citizen of Vienn;
unless especially exempted, shall put
eight hours daily work in fields and fat
tories or other useful labor which wi
increase the city's food supply and Pre-
vide clothing for the coming Winter.
The law, which has behind it the unite
support of the intellectuals, .impoverishe
nobility and the workers, is aimed pal
ticularly at the butterflies who have a
they want to eat and drink and wea
while Vienna is in the depths of dest
tuition 1t has behind it also the supper
of various other elements in Austris
which are working to bring order out o
the wreck of the Empire.
When the law is passed many beauties
whose lovely faces and graces are no'
the delight of the rich; will be sentence
to hard labor on farms or in factore
eight hours every day. If they hav
strength enough after their days toll an
their fair hands are not too badly torn an
their delicate feet not too weary, they ca
do as they please with their nights. Bu
if they refuse to labor, then they will G
to Jail until they make up their minds t
work.
By this means it is hoped to check tn
nightly displays Of extravaganza and ser
suality which more than anything else ar
driving the capital to some
thing all still responsible heads
of the government fear-Bol-
shevism.
1t is certain that when the
law is passed few of these
beauties will be able to escape
drudgery. Their actions have
been carefully noted for some
time by the indignant and i'm
poverished mobiles and intel
lectuals, who have seen their
own daughters die from lack
of food and from exposure
while these women danced in
jewels There are some, how
.h1 xx,in hn
iently. These are those who
while taking part in the night a
life have had the generosity to
share their gifts and earnings
with their poorer sisters.
Some explanation of the con-
ditions that have led to the law
is necessary to a proper under
standing of its severity.
Food spectators called Mile.
"schiebers," and profteers of w,
all kinds, are enjoying earnings WI
scarcely dreamed of in any
other epoch. Their wealth runs
up into many billions in the present cul
rency. So topsy-turvy are present cor
ditions that it is often possible for thes
men, by bold speculation, to double thei
capital several times in a day.
These profteers want amusement, an
they get it. Vienna is now full of cor
cert halls and cabarets that only open q
one or three o'clock in the n rning an
keep going at full blast until breakfas
time. The most beautiful girls in tn
country have been secured as singer
dancers and entertainers at these estah
lishments.
Austria was always celebrated for II
pretty, light-hearted, pleasure-lovin
women. Many of these have now learne
that their only chance of enjoying tn
luxuries of life lies in contributing to tn
nocturnal gaieties of Vienna. Their pei
formances are often very artistic and al
ways quite unrestrained. There is n
censorship in Vienna.
In many cases the artists at these cab
arets wear little but ropes of pearls, dis
monds, emeralds and other jewels. Thei
profteering admirers are very generou
and think nothing Of giving a rope o
pearls that once adorned an empress as