The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-12-23
"The Last Time
Was Easter"

NCchtAiueo FROM G>uSe DIX
the constant comparison be-
tween the occupation methods
used by the Russians, and the
Americans, British and French
When your paople co." one man
told me, grimly, Il and my fam
lily go, too. / don't know where,
but we 60"
As a consequence rumor runs
wild in the city, it receives CON
siderable impetus from the al
most constant international DO
litical intrigue which goes on in
this great center where East and
West meet. Situated as kind of
International island in the Rus
sian zone of occupation, the city
receives visitors from Poland,
Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia,
as well as from the occupying
powers. And the principal topic
of conversation in the cafes is
politics.
Politics are important also
from the standpoint of food and
clothing for under present
postwar controls, the govern
ment seeks TO enforce a ration
program and price restriction,
all so drastic that a voluminous
black market has come into be-
ing. "The black Market" one
Austrian remarks, "offers the
only means of obtaining enough
food and clothing-otherwise we
should nearly starve."
AS it is, almost the only food
available in reasonable quantities
are fresh vegetables, principally
because nearly everyone who
has the space maintains yege-
table garden. But a simple sta
pie like potatoes is often very
scarce. Meat is a once a month
occasion, while sugar and butter
are carefully conserved. All this
in spite of the fact that ration
coupons are bought and sold on
the black market.
Clothing is all but impossible
TO obtain, and the shops are al
most entirely bare of hats, dress
es and mems suits. Only the
souvenir shops, with attractive
merchandise for the traveller, are
we'll stocked. Yet even here the
American dollar are supreme IN
black market operations. GA sim
gle cigarette is worth one or more
schillings-the official rate for
which is 10 'schillings to the dol
lar. The black market rate is APP
proximately 100 TO the dollar).
The average Viennese is thin
you rarely see fat person,
and unless he is well-to-do
enough to visit theatre or
night club occasionally, you rare
ly see him smile. He is worried
about fod for his family, the high
cost of living Ga common laborer
earns about 500 schillings per
month, and 2l2 pounds OF butter
If he can get it - costs lOO
schillings), whether the govern
ment will authorize additional
price increases and whether there
will be enough coal this winter.
In addition, he is worried about
the Russians and the interna-
tional situation.
His newspapers do not help
him very much. Most or them
are political, some published by
each of the occupation powers
The Viennese is not quite sure
which is propaganda or Which
is truth.
One day l took to lunch a
young Austrian woh had heiped
me great deal in getting about
the city. Under army reguia-
tons, at the officers mess toi
which American civilians are
accredited, an American IS per-
mitted only twice month W!
bring in one guest.
Our lunch this day at une
Hotel Bristol, skillfully prepared
and handsomely served by Wen
nese walters in full dress attlre'
was, by American standards
quite simple; soup, pot roast po-
tatoes "a little salad, rolls, butter,
cake and coffee. None OF TINS
comes from the Austrian economy
lit is all imported by the army
from, the states, or raised IN army
gardens in Austria) My guest
ate slowly, relishing every NOR.
sci. "You know" ne sald' allios3
apologetically, "the last tune
!. .