The
Prater Presents A Mixture Of Garden, Meadow, Upland And Forest; The Lofty
Trees Arranged In Avenues Or In Clumps Give A Delightful Protecting Shade.
On The Road Destined For The Carriages There Is Every Afternoon A Most
Brilliant Display Of Carriages.
Another avenue is destined for equestrians,
and two avenues, one on each side of these two, for pedestrians.
There are
besides winding footpaths, that conduct you all over this vast extent of
ground, and circular grass plots surrounded by trees where the pedestrian
may repose and eat and drink if he will. Here are restaurants in plenty,
cafes, Panoramas, exhibitions of wild beasts, swings, tennis courts,
places for running at the ring, do for burlesque dramatic performances,
farceurs, jugglers, De Bach's Equestrian Amphitheatre in the style of
Franconi, Salles de Danse, baths, billiard rooms, gaming tables, and even
houses appropriated to gallantry. In fact, the Prater is quite the
Paradise of the bourgeoisie of Vienna, who are fond of the pleasures of the
table and take every opportunity of making dinner and supper parties. The
bourgeois of Vienna are far more sensual than spiritual and not at all
disposed to self-denial.
Excellent hams and sausages are to be had here; and the Viennese who dines
and sups heartily at his own house never fails, during his evening
promenade, to take a tolerable good portion of ham or sausage, with a
proportion of Offen wine or Maylander Beer, by way of staying his stomach
during the tedious interval between dinner and supper. I need scarce add
that smoking is universal, as indeed it is all over Germany, for I scarcely
ever see a German without a pipe either in his mouth or fastened to his
coat and a bag or pouch of tobacco either in his pocket or attached to his
button hole. In the Prater dances often take place in the open air
between the grisettes of Vienna, who are in general handsome and well made,
and who dress well, and their lovers and admirers. The Prater was first
opened to the public by the Emperor Joseph II. The Au-garten is another
place of recreation and amusement, but on a smaller and much more tranquil
and sober scale, than the Prater. None of the lower classes think of
coming here, tho' it is open to every body decently dressed: there is not
that profuse eating and drinking going forward. It is more properly
speaking a promenade, and forms a garden with alleys of trees where music
is often performed and there is a superb saloon where refreshments may be
had. The Au-garten is frequented chiefly by the Noblesse and Haute
Bourgeoisie. In the morning likewise it is a fashionable resort to drink
the mineral waters. It adjoins the Prater, being on the same island. It
was the favourite lounge of Joseph II, who opened it to the public by
affixing this inscription on one of the gates:
Allen Menschen gewidmete Erlustigung von ihrem Schaetzer
"Place of recreation open to all Men by their esteemer."
VIENNA, Aug.
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