I. "It is the
people in the circles who are not sure."

"What I mean is, the people who used to have stalls are now in the
gallery, and the people who formerly never came to a theatre are now in
the stalls," said the Austrian solemnly.

The intelligent Austrians are in a very gloomy frame of mind. Although
the Government is nominally Christian-Socialist, it is very weak and
practically unable to cope with the Communist and extreme Radical
elements. It is a common opinion that Austria lies almost as low as
Russia. "The social destruction of Russia is being done bloodlessly in
Austria. The working class is well-off; every one else, except the
speculators, is in poverty," said Dr. B.

"We have the officials for a first-class State, and the need for the
number of a third-class one," said Capt. S. "Our army now, the new
army which we have obtained, is the worst army ever known in any
country. I have been in Haiti, and the Haitians are splendid fellows
compared with them. Our soldiers are merely a bodyguard for the
Socialists, and robbers all. The true army, that went through the
unspeakable sufferings of the war, was turned on the streets to starve.
Austria may have been serving a bad case, but the army was not to
blame--it was doing its duty. But there is one humble consolation now;
we have a condition of affairs in Austria which cannot continue.
Austria has become an economic plague-spot in Europe."

"It would interest me to have your opinion," I asked. "Has Austria a
national spirit? Does the heart respond to its name?"

Capt. S. thought not. "I favour union with Germany as the only issue.
Few would grieve if 'Austria' were no more. We are German, and the
idea of union with Germany has now made considerable progress with the
people. But it is possible that the idea is not so popular in Germany.
It would be a grave responsibility to unite any country with the
financial and political wreck which we have here."

I put this question of the future of Austria to a Monarchist. He did
not favour the idea of a union with Germany, but of a renewed union
with Hungary. He still believed the Hapsburgs could return.

I put it to a working man, but he favoured the State as it was. If
only the cost of living could be brought down it would be a very fine
State, as wages were so high.

The Petite Entente of Czecho-Slovakia, Serbia, and Roumania, is
strongly opposed to a reunion of Austria and Hungary, and would