Year: 1873

VIENNA, August 8, 1879


Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon was fixed for the
review of the Austrian troops in honor OF the
Shah. The general custom has been to give these
reviews to distinguished royal guests at an early
hour of the morning, so that the soldiers, fresh
from the nights repose brushed up for the morn.
ings parade, could make the best possible display.
But the one oriental habit which European travel
has not reformed in the mighty ruler of Persia is
that of lying in bed late In the morning; and as
there was no one in the suite of the King Of Kings
to venture to hint to him the propriety OF rising At
six to see the royal parade at seven the Austrian
authorities made the best they could OF the sit
uatton. and ordered the parade for six O'Clock in
the evening.


THE PARADE GROUND.


On the western side Of Vienna there is q wide,
grassy plain breaking into gentle hill and run
ming down to narrow stream, called the Smelz.
On one side are the palace and forest Of Schoen-
brunn, the other the city OF Vienna. This plain
Is devoted to military purposes and has been sed-
ulOusly guarded against the encroachments Of the
growing capital in order that the troops may drill
and muster and prepare themselves for war. The
plain has an interesting history attached to it. 1t
was here that the old armies assembled that went
Dut to do battle against the Turk. 1t was here
that Napoleon reviewed his troops before
the battle of Wagram. Here he encamped the
army commanded from his headquarters at
SchOenbrunn, and here also took place those
splendid reviews which celebrated the sessions of
the congress at Vienna, when the kings OF Europe,
having overthrown Napoleon assembled to make
holy and perpetual peace.


We reach the PLAIN about quarter OF an hour
before the time set apart for the review, and find
100, 900 people present before US. The police and
military have mapped out the vast open square
plain and around them the multitude are hinged
and densely packed On the west Of the slope is
small pavilion, and horsemen are careering over
the meadow, giving orders for the evolutions and
movements of the troops. Far or to the left we
the long lines of infantry standing at rest and
breaking away from view down the slope OF the
HILL On the right several squadrons of cavalry are
massed, while intervening spaces are occupied BY
batteries OF artillery, Now and then distinguished
persons drive on the ground and ride to the ap-
pointed station to join the suite of the Emperor.
Other persons, not In military costume, but hav
Ing some claim to note, attend In carriages
and watch the parade from the outside OF the line
very much as one watches the entry Of the horses
in the Derby. There Is the usual amount OF anxiety
about the Shah's coming for, although 1t has been
published that he will be here at SIX, no one Is
certain of his arrival.


THE EMPERoRs CONE.


At six the sun Is quite high and throws 1ush
OF heat and flame over the plain, darkened by
clouds OF dust that come from the parched and
whitened roads outside. At six precisely q thin
line OF cavalry is seen ascending the slope from
the direction OF Schoenbrunn. 1t moves along
first in column and then as group, and apparently
struggling cavalcade, TO the number, as the eye
judges, Of three or four hundred. BY looking
through the glass we see at the head OF the line
fhp Emn nf ria in p,ofa a cnIa
OF regiment, and at his side the Ruler
Of the Universe, on favorite gray Arabian steed.
He wears the diamond star and the Damascus blade
frosted with diamonds and gems. The two
monarchs ride advanced o few PAGES at the head
OF the cavalcade which is composed OF as brilliant
and varied retinue as ever followed king.
Representatives Of all the armies OF Europe
are there, and OF most OF the armies OF the
East, In every manner OF fashion and costume,
from the plated and braided and furred Hungarian
hussar, whose uniform Is a trophy OF luxuriance
and taste and extravagance, down to The sheeted
emir, who looks as though he had suddenly thrown
white gown over his person, as he goes careering
over the PLAIN like phantom. We observe repre-.
sentatives from the PrussIan army wearing plumes
or Ptckelhaube, and scarlet officers from
England then French, Swedes, Danes,
Turks, to the number, as we have
said, OF about 200, struggling after their ma
jestes In slow procession. Parallel to the
edge OF the group we observe court carriage
with two members OF the imperial family and the
Princess Jonve as guest which quietly follows the
troops. As the cavalcade descends upon the plain
the musicians strike up the persian March," and
then the monarchs begin the review, down one
line, up another, slowly walking the Shah observ-
ing the troops with what seemed to be q half
curious halr Indifferent gaze, now and then turn
ing to the Emperor 70 make some remark upon the
appearance OF the soldiers, and acknowledging
sslutes only when they came from general
Od1cer.


THE MARCH PAST.


After he had gone from regiment to regi-
ment and inspected the troops in line
he returned slowly to the pavilion,
10 observe the march past As he left the end Of
the column for this purpose every band on the
deid commenced the "Persian March," and the ef-
feet Of many instruments from dinerent parts Of
the wide plain, not keeping in unison, but as 1t
wsre one tune crashing against the other, was
striking and unique. Amid all this clamor OF
trumpet and drum the Shah TOOK his position close
70 the pavilion, with the many-coored retinue
gathered about him. Then came the march past
Ioooo infantry, In company front, slowly
denied before the emperor and his guest. Then