Chapter II: Preface

IN this volume I have endeavored to give my young readers a clearer and a more intimate knowledge than is usually possessed of the vast territory known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is a collection of provinces united under one ruler, and which is, strange to say, the only country of importance in the world that has not a distinctive language of its own, since the various races--German, Slav, Magyar and others--each speak their own tongue.

The northeastern provinces, Galicia and Bukowina, have not been considered in this book, owing to the fact that they are included in OUR LITTLE POLISH COUSIN; and, for a similar reason, Hungary and Bohemia have been omitted, as each is the subject of an earlier volume in THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES. The book consequently is chiefly devoted to Austria proper and Tyrol, but the other provinces, including Dalmatia and Bosnia, are not neglected.

The publication of =Our Little Austrian Cousin= is most timely, since the Balkan War, now drawing to a close, has occupied the attention of the world. The Balkan States lie just to the south of the Austrian Empire, and Austria has taken a leading part in defining the terms of peace which the Great Powers of Europe insist shall be granted by the Balkan allies to the defeated Turks.

=Our Little Austrian Cousin= can well be read in connection with OUR LITTLE BULGARIAN COUSIN and OUR LITTLE SERVIAN COUSIN, describing two of the principal Balkan States, which volumes have just been added to THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES.

Among others, I am especially indebted to Fr. H. E. Palmer, for much information concerning country customs in Upper Austria.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE
I. A VISIT TO OLD VIENNA 1
II. DER STOCK IM EISEN 24
III. THE FARM IN UPPER AUSTRIA 41
IV. THE PEASANTS' DANCE 65
V. SOME TYROLESE LEGENDS 75
VI. MORE LEGENDS 86
VII. A NIGHT WITH THE SENNER 100
VIII. THROUGH THE TYROLESE MOUNTAINS 109
IX. THE HABICHT-BURG RAVENS 124
X. THROUGH DALMATIA AND THE BORDER-LANDS 135
XI. VIENNA 154

List of Illustrations

PAGE
"FERDINAND AND LEOPOLD ... WOULD HELP WITH THE
CATTLE" (_See page 100_) _Frontispiece_
ST. STEPHAN'S CHURCH 12
EMPEROR FRANZ-JOSEPH 22
"'CHEER UP, MY LAD,' SAID THE STRANGER" 29
"IT TOWERED HIGH ABOVE HER HEAD" 72
STATUE OF ANDREAS HOFER, NEAR INNSBRUCK 83
"TRAMP THUS, IN VAGABOND FASHION, OVER THE MOUNTAINS!" 111
THE ROSENGARTEN 121

Our Little Austrian Cousin