AUS 2 
OORE’S RURAL -NEW-YORKER. 
Sffa teiielcr . | As one approaches Vienna from the South, 
^ the countVy for miles about the city seems like 
-——- -——— -- a vast plain. The tall and numerous brick 
OUR EUROPEAN LETTER. towers that rise Trom factories and brick kilns 
_ in the suburbs of the town >rivrs it au imposing 
„ air. The city baa its peculiarities; one must 
ikn'NA, Austria, July 4, 1873. pay f or the privilege of getting into the city, to 
I journeyed by the Adriatic Sea from Ven- say nothing of the demand made upon florins 
ice, entering the Austrian dominions at Trieste, after oneo inside. The entrance fee, however, 
In traveling by rail one becomes gradually ar- | n passing the city’s gate, is sinnll -eight or ton 
customed to the changes that manifest them- kreutzers. If one is out later than ten o’clock 
selves In going from one country into another, in the evening, he must pay front ten to twenty 
Hut in sea-going it is quite different. It is like kreutzers to the portierof his hotel or boarding 
a blank loaf only between t.wo pictures. So the house, to let him in. If be is a traveler, or a 
Italians, with their handsome faces, their polite member of the Exposition Commission or any- 
manners, their musical language and the bliss- body above the rank of a workman, he must 
fnl tranquility of Venice, were confronted by pay twenty kreutzers. as the fee is according to 
the gross, ugly, Southern Ger¬ 
man type, the rmle, Austrian 
manners, the horrible jargon 
of Southern Austria, that Is 
neither one language nor an¬ 
other, and of the tumult of 
Trieste, which seemed to he the 
noisest city In the world. I 
longed again for Italy, a wish 
also intensified by the awaken¬ 
ing knowledge that every ar¬ 
ticle pertaining to human needs 
teosts just double the moment 
one crosses the Austrian line ; 
and as neither my soul nor my 
purse were indifferent to dol¬ 
lars and cents, which in Austria 
became guilders and kreutzers, 
I was not made happy by the 
change. I hope when the Mil¬ 
lenium dawns there will be a 
universal currency at least. To 
calculate one’s expenses and 
ono’s probable expenses to the 
last penny before, so ns not to 
carry the currency of one coun¬ 
try into another, where it will 
be worthless. Is one of tho trials 
of European travel, to say noth¬ 
ing of learning the names and 
values of new coins and bank¬ 
notes, Although possessing a 
head moderately mathemati¬ 
cal, it was several days before 1 
ascertained the value of a guil¬ 
der, or llorin, tube fifty cents of 
American money, and a kreut- 
zor to be worth half a cent, 
I here bcinga hundred kreutzers 
in a florin. In Austria t here is 
no paper money smaller than 
the florin ; Iho silver coins in 
common use are in ten and 
twenty kreutzer pieces; coppers K.I1NTG- STRASSE JBO 
in four and one kreutzer pieces. 
In Italy there were coins current of the value one’s rank. I do not know whether this rulf 
of a quarter of a cent the toll being on one of has a tendency to bring people In earlier or not 
the bridges of that amount. 1 do know that il, makes strangers furious, at 
The 8cenery In Austria one can hardly turn around in Vienna without 
is charming. The freshness and richness of Paying twenty kroutBers for the privilege. No- 
June was on everything. The farm-house gar- body doca ,hft •""k'hlest favor, such as the 
dens worcJl)led with the old-fashioned Mowers- foniinonest »Pirlt of kindness prompts people 
peonies, snowballs, roses, pansies looking for "? " l 101 *’! l, ps do ’ "d'lout putting in a 
all the world as they did years ago at my old <’n»rgo lor th« service. All these things preju- 
homein Central Now Vork. Men and women djce stranK ° ra !,sai,,sf 1,10 Viennese, and they 
were harvesting; for in all German out-of-door Cf,ny ;, f uy w,th them anything but a pleasant 
work there arc throe and four times as many rellie,n ’ramv ol \ ictina. Trie city is clean, 
women employed as men. There wore no raa- ' ve “ ril "n<-rous handsome gardens, 
chines doing tins work, at at home. Cut grass ,mt ' lothln ‘» r tf > particularly distinguish it from 
was put up to dry on sticks driven into tho any ,sirsc ’ m^nly-built town, 
ground. Most of the farm-houses were while. The Exposition Building 
as well as the churches, and the latter were stands in the Prater, a large park, which Is to 
usually built on the top of a high hill—always Vienna what Central Park is to Now York. The 
in a bold, picturesque spot, that produced a fine main building is cons! ructed on what is called 
effect. Tho Austrian landscape, to me, is in- tho fishbone plan a central hall with courts 
finitely liner than t he Italian, while the Bern- branching from each aide. This main passage is 
inering Pass, between Grata and Vienna, is [ Interrupted in the middle by an immense Ro- 
indescribably magnificent, it is a ride through tunda. In this building are displayed all tox- 
niountaJns and over mountains, with enchant- tile fabrics, everything pertaining to house 
ing valleys hundreds of feet below, and green furnishing, ornaments, minerals, etc. Added 
hills reaching into the clouds above. There j to this are numerous out-buildings, a picture 
were the Winter pines, which reminded me of gallery, hall for machinery, model buildings, 
some balsam I had seen advertised In the restaurants, etc. 
Rural. At the railway stations were droves of Each country lias a section to Itself—a portion 
boys and girls with bouquets of flowers to sell, I of the main hail, with its adjourning courts if 
may entertain in regard to tho machinist's pro¬ 
fession, they cannot but confess that the great¬ 
est benefactors, and consequently tho greatest, 
men, the country has been honored with, were 
the men who invented the telegraph, tho sew¬ 
ing and reaping machines. But this crossing 
the ocean to moralize on homo affairs, will 
never take us through the Exposition. 
The American Educational Department has 
an attraction in the stereoscopic vlows of scones 
in the New York public schools. There arc al¬ 
ways a crowd of heads, eager to get a glimpse 
of our school children and ourschool discipline. 
Our Educational Department is the only ono in 
the Exposition which has no display of needle¬ 
work. I remmuber hearing an English woman 
make a spirited attack against, tho system which 
required sewing to be taught in English schools. 
KliNT G- STRASSE BOULEVARD, VI EINTTsT A. 
one's rank. I do not know whether this rule 
has a tendency to bring people in earlier or not; 
l do know that il makes strangers furious, as 
one can hardly turn around in Vienna without 
paying twenty kreutzers for the privilege. No¬ 
body does one t he slightest favor, such as the 
commonest spirit of kindness prompts peoplo 
in other places to do, without putting in a 
charge for the service. All these things preju¬ 
dice strangers against the Viennese, and they 
carry away with them anything but a pleasant 
and I thought she was quite right. And the 
other day, when 1 heard an earnest Ohio woman 
making a like attack against the system which 
»r/iu/bvlit from our public, schools,! thought 
she was quite right. In another letter r hope to 
lie able to write fully about the .Klndor-garten 
system so popularly In vogue throughout Ger¬ 
many. 
My first impression of the Exposition was that 
it was simply a vast, bazar, and that there was 
nothing I had not already seen, or at least its 
and tho little, white, woolly-faced 
Eldelweiss 
fastened on branches of pine. A Berlin gentle¬ 
man, who had been our traveling companion 
for the last three days, bought Eidclweiss for 
myself and the English girl with me, which fact 
greatly amused her and an old German sitting 
in another corner of the car. When she had an 
opportunity to explain her amusement, she did 
so, saying Mint in Germany it is the custom for 
a young man to offer himself in marriage to the 
girl he loves by giving or sending her Eidel- 
weiss. A friond of hers, who had spent some 
time in Germany, had made the acquaintance 
of a young German, who became so much at¬ 
tached to her that after her return to England, 
in a letter he sen* her. he inclosed the Eidel- 
weiss flower. She, being in entire ignorance of 
its meaning, accepted the letter as an expres¬ 
sion of pleasant compliments, ana thought no 
more about it. The poor young man meantime 
was overwhelmed with despair that his offer 
had not. even elicited a response of any sort, 
and he really fell ho ill from hts chagrin that his 
mother wrote in his behalf to the English girl 
whom she herself also dearly loved—reproach¬ 
ing her for her cruelty in not replying to her 
son’s proposal. The astonished girl wrote back 
that she had received no offer from her son, and 
it was only after the exchange of some letters 
that she learned the meaning of the little 
white flower. 
remembrance of Vienna. The city is clean, like, in New York or I’aris; and my first sur- 
well built, has numerous handsome gardens, prise, that among so many people from so many 
but nothing to particularly distinguish it from supposed different nationalities,an little variety 
any large, modernly-built town. I of costumes should be seen. China Is largely 
The Exposition Building represented, hut, there is not a Chinese to be 
stands in the Prater, a large park, which Is to I h . er ®* Jf*'® iU ® tr . ,lin M,n J , * : .‘T Chi,,ttws » 8 
Vienna what Central Park is to Now York. The , nZ Ch,n,,St ’ ,! r xh "" t tlon an<l t0 ? k 
main building is const ructed on what is called ZTl m T ,7 ? rh ,° 
the fishbone plan- a central hall with courts ^ave a little irfHco or salon In the uj.dst of tlielr 
branching from each Side. This main passage is fhauMm i ntr Z f traet J?" ,rM 
interrupted in the middle by an immense Ro- than their country » prod nets. They are dressed 
tunda. In this building are displayed all tox- l ul J* '“Monabla; oJvlIiaed mode, look 
tile fabrics, everything pertaining to house ^SSlT tt,r ot mb ' eU 
furnishing, ornaments, minerals, etc. Added ^ J , , e<>r ^'"'[ s Drc 
to tills are numerous out-buildings, a picture , . ".'T hdlC86 , sbl,0H ; bcau ‘ 
gallery, hall for machinery, model buildings, '" y h T V f' w*°dBand ivn r Hwan«l «i r .ed herbs 
restaurants etc enough to stock a drug store. '1 lie oddest things 
Each country has a section to Itaelf-a portion « presenting-the Chinese in 
of the main hail, with Its adjourning courts if Z- ™ n “ tUde and costume-thc 
so much space is required. This arrangement Chmu 7 lau <? h or eating, wrestling, J 
ba. but one alvautnV 5 fu,ntal'iTSSmw SSi * «“• 
;< tbo products ,,r the country it represents. '* odd. pretax,... a,„l tame. 
But. it brings nothing but arrangement int o dl- Roumanla, 
rect competition and comparison; and as for which is a little country beyond the Danube, 
arrangement, has not much to exhibit; but her department 
The American Department is the most beautifully and artistically arranged 
s simply hideous the very worst of all. ofany ' n Gic Exposition, and wholly oriental, 
lit hough America exhibits some good things— The niOKt ‘"' si ffnl&«ant articles are arranged so j 
’or instance, the best photographs, tho finest as to be attr;i, 'tivc. There are quantities of | 
lOttori hale, the best wines, the most complete heautlful embroidery; rustic wood, covered 
lehool-house — yet the only thing that saves with vinea 5 a « d everywhere about figures of 
IS from tot si failure is our machinery. In rnen and women dressed in the greet variety of ' 
hat department we are triumphant. One rea- costume8 tba t abound in that country, In one 
ion why our machinery is so superior is because cn d c 'f the section there is an artificial rnoun- 
t is matte by machinery. If there is one raa- tain ’ covered with P^es, with a lake at its base, 
shine more than another that attracts special mountain trees and the lake are stocked 
ittentlon, it Is that which fits a wagon tire to a with the birds ’ fowlsand flshea of the country, 
vheel—not heating the tiro to expand it or cut- bome of the birds are 8,ls P endt,d in the air, as 
ing out a piece if It is too targe, but simply, by if flying ’ by imperceptible threads. Then there | 
beer force, compressing it to the required size. a salon—very simply hut prettily fur- 
It is a matter for surprise, that America is so nished—the chairs made bright by having the 
ich in inventions, when toe country has done bac k* and bottom covered with difbsrent-eol- 
,nd still does so lit tle to encourage inventions ored tapes, of an inch in width, which are cross- 
>r to educate boys possessing marked mechan- I ed *n and out like splints in a chair bottom. 
i:al genius. Our inventors liavo groped along, The Department of France 
ftentjmes Into direct poverty, laughed at for is magnificent—brilliant. Every article that 
heir devotion to their “absurd" ideas; but in i man, woman or child can wear—every article 
pite of every obstacle, have marched witli set j that can decorate a house or a palace, are here 
ace and set purpose until the light dawned and found in tiioir coinpletest perfection and beauty 
he inspiration took visible shape. And what- and arranged with fantastic, taste. Spools of 
ver false notions boys or the fathers of boys ■ thread, skeins of silk, buttons, cords, tassels, 1 
so much space is required. Tins arrangement 
has but one advantage- it furnishes a summary 
of the products of the country It represents. 
But it brings nothing but arrangement, Into di¬ 
rect competition and comparison; and as for 
arrangement. 
The American Department 
is simply hideous — the very worst of all. 
Although America exhibit* some good things— 
for instance, the best photographs, the finest 
cotton bale, the best wines, the most complete 
school-house — yet the only tiling that saves 
us from total failure is our machinery. In 
that department we are triumphant. One rea¬ 
son why our machinery is so superior is because 
it is math by machinery. If there is one ma¬ 
chine more than another That attracts special 
attention. It Is that, which fits a wagon tire to a 
wheel—not heating the tiro to expand it or cut¬ 
ting out a piece If it is too large, but simply, by 
sheer force, compressing it to the required size. 
It is a matter for surprise, that America is so 
rich in inventions, when tne country has done 
and still lines so little to encourage inventions 
or to educate boys possessing marked mechan¬ 
ical genius. Our inventors liavo groped along, 
oftentimes Into direct poverty, laughed at for 
their devotion to their " absurd" ideas; but in 
spite of every obstacle, have marched with set 
face and set purpose until the light dawned and 
the inspiration took visible shape. And what¬ 
ever false notions boys or the fathers of boys 
and all such minor articles, are festooned and 
arranged to represent flowers, fruits or land¬ 
scapes. Tho brocaded silks and royal velvets 
from the Lyons looms arc only rivaled by the 
laces wrought by the patient toll of hundreds 
of peasant women. In the musical section 
there is a machine Tor playing tile piano. It is 
the same length of the key-hoard of the piano, 
and has Angers corresponding to the keys. A 
man turns n crank to work the machine, and 
these wooden or bone fingers strike tho piano 
keys, lo play a certain tunc, a roll of paper, 
full of differently shaped ami sized boles, ap¬ 
parently corresponding to the notes of the 
music, and which act upon, or secure from be¬ 
ing acted upon, by certain springs In the ma¬ 
chine, is introduced in it, anil gradually unrolls 
and works out at thu opposite end as the music 
progresses and finishes. Thnt 
is nil I was able to see of tho 
mechanism. I only know that 
the melodies were accurately 
playod and very agreeably ren¬ 
dered. 
One very ciovorly arranged 
section, called the Flax Room, 
belongs, 1 think, to Holland or 
Belgium. In tho center is a 
fountain composed of flax in 
every stage of its ripeness, from 
the seed to linen thread. The 
silky libers fall over the urn in 
imitation of water, while all 
about the basin are. ornamenta¬ 
tions of flowers, fruits and vinos 
wrought of Max. About tho 
fountain are counters lined 
with linen goods, from the 
coarse toweling to the finest 
damask. A very cleverly ar¬ 
ranged section in 
The Austrian Department 
is devoted to soap —soap In 
every color and shade of color 
and degree of transparency— 
soap monuments, soap hens’ 
nests and eggs of soap, baskets 
of soap with soa p fruits—slices 
of Cake, cheese, meats, and 
sandwiches of soap In perfect 
imitation —but no soft soap. 
That is an article tho Austrians 
make no use of—at least in a 
metaphorical sense. 
Every day, from four to eight 
o'clock, there is music in the 
Prater, and Straubs ofen plays. 
He is a black-eyed, wax-mous¬ 
tached little follow, active und 
lively as his waltzes, and wears 
an air «»f perfect harmony and 
self-satisfaction. At 7 o’clock 
the Exposition closes, and everybody is driven 
out. There arc police stationed at every suc¬ 
tion. People who are unable to walk through 
the Exposition can lie wheeled In a chair for 
I ten florins a day. The entrance fee Is a florin 
each day, except Sunday and Monday, when it 
| * s fifty kreutzers. On such days large excursions 
often arrive from the country. 
Mary A. E. Wager. 
-- 
SOD-HOUSES IN NEBRASKA. 
True sod-house builder finds his material 
ready to Ills hand in every furrow of the virgin 
prairie bis plow turns up. The sods, compacted 
by the tramp of buffaloes and bound together 
by tho roots of the “devil’s shoe-string” and 
every other vegetable production, form better 
bricks than tho Hebrew* could liavo furnished 
Pharaoh even before he denied them straw. 
Out of this prairie quarry about nine days’ labor 
of one man stillices to complete a sod-house 
fifteen feet, square on the inside-a dwelling 
warmer in winter and cooler in summer than 
any frame house. I have seen such an abode 
nine years old, yet still in good repair. Many 
dwellers in houses of this sort, have assured me 
that they have suffered nothing from dampness, 
oven when they had no floors, no ceilings, no 
plastering nor paper hangings. But all these 
four additions soon garnish the original sim¬ 
plicity of many sod-houses. 
The very roofs of sod-houses are often made 
of sods supported on poles, which the settlor 
can cut along the banks of every watercourse. 
Hut if he Uvea near no stream, tie must buy at 
least rafters, and perhaps boards and shingles 
for covorlnghis housetop. Sod roofs are wanner, 
lumber roofs are less liable to leak. 
RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGES IN FRANCE. 
The Paris correspondent of the Tribune says: 
That Christian pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial, 
continuous through I he month of Juno, in no 
way interfered with others. The Abbe Ror- 
QtfETTE says t hat the daily average of visitors 
to the Sanctuary of Lourdes, since the summer 
set in, is 2,(100. A correspondent of L’ Uniters, 
writing from there oil the 3d of July, says that 
•5,000 pilgrims were present the preceding day, 
and it records a miracle performed in the sight 
of all. “ Cakoltne Esskutaux, aged 33, very 
infirm these ten year’s, and pronounced incur¬ 
able, by her physicians, of an hereditary spinal 
malady, being brought to the grotto in a car¬ 
riage, was taken out. and dipped In the divine 
pool, whereat she presently cried out, ‘ L am 
healed! ’ and straightway her distorted, para¬ 
lyzed limbs became flexible, her dimmed eyes 
clear-sighted, and the sores that covered her 
body disappeared, leaving no trace of scars.” 
