The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-08
AUsTRlANs HAVE
SYSTEM OF GETTING
FOREIGNERS Cash
All Kinds of Dances Pro-
vide Exhilaration That
Induces Giving.

VIENNA. Jan. Because of the
effect descriptions Of bacchana-
liam. revelrous. and laughing Vienna
had on subscribers to foreign relief
organizations feeding a few hun
bred thousand Austrian children,
public dancing in cafes is not per-
mitted except by special license and
then only a couple OF hours at tea
time,
And again, since approximately
10[per cent of the receipts for wine.
high-priced mineral waters, confetta
ticklers. cotton balls, stresmers,
and other appurtenances of cabaret
life are diverted from the pockets
of cabaret proprietors into the .pur-
chase Of such useful commodities as
baby shoes -Fnd food for families OF
policemen and other government
employees. a hectic cabaret life is no
mean source Of state revenue.
Therefore Vienna has perfected
system of inducing foreigners and
local profiteers (none other can af-
ford it, to give until il hurts with
out the use OF electric pianos and
the other destinations lumberjacs
devices which would give scandal
| mongers the opportunity to intimate
that Vienna was happy and there
fore undeserving to have its poor
fed by outside relief organizations.
1t has been a popular theory
| among cafe owners that the exhll-
aration of swinging the light fam
tastic. or whatever Is the latest
verb for shaking an ignoble limb.
with the concomitant thrill OF
| cheek-to- cheek work, were neces-
sary attributes to induce short. far,
| bald-headed men. college students.
and wives. and things to sit up all
night, or at least until o'clock. the
| official bedtime. and drink charged
win blanc with the idea they were
guzzling champagne. buy beefsteaks
for chorus girls, and do the other
things that contribute TO the sup
port and prevalence of acrobats.
flower girls. dish washers, fur deal
ers, walters, taxicab drivers, pro-
fcssional male dancers, and doctors
Knows the CosmIc Urge.
Vienna, which prides itself on
knowing as much about the -cosmic
urge as Paris. Flo Ziegfeld and
| Freud. has proved there is nothing
to this theory. All she does to NIL
her gilded palaces-meaning cafes
with spenders and merrymakers
is to serve with the food a program
as follows: l. Phantasy dance: 2, a
| take-off on the Oriental dance; 3, a
! toe dance; 4. an apache dance where
the cave man overcomes his female
prey: 5. Russian pigeon dance; 6,
a ballet dance: I. a take-off on the
Oriental dance: s, another Oriental
| dance; 9. 10. II. IL. 10. II and IS,
some more dances, including the
| negro clog.
The Church of England varies It'll.
ritual more than the leading Wen
| nese cafes vary lin principle" from
this program. There are just
enough dancers to make it exciting
competition to see who can get the
| prettiest to their table.
| So the cafes are filled to over
| flowing, even the floor space which
used to be reserved for public dane
ing is crowded. Along those pres
| emit are the old FOUNDERS. so COM
mon in Chicago. Superior. Wis. and
! st. Paul when Pussyfoot Johnson
was a kid. including Ribald Laugh
ter. Painted Lips. Leering Looks.
! GoogoO Eyes. o. Ia, Kid. Horatio.
3 >.
| All the cafe proprietors have to
| worry about is some more new
| taxes and the chances OF bank rob-
I berries.
Cafe life is International. Huma n
beings containing Az per cent or
/ more speak the same language the
world over. Constantinople, Bucha
| rest and Reval are dancing the bear.
| shimmv or toddle. depending upon
| the efficiency of their Geographic
communication to the States.
Here guests can only watch these
dances. but It has the same effect
| of reducing instincts to the lowest
common denomination. wiping out
such artificial distinctions as race,
creed and birth. and convincing the
innocent bvstanders that if history
could be effaced wars would be i'm
possible.