A CURIOUS AUSTRIAN CUSTOM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 127, 31 December 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

A CURIOUS AUSTRIAN CUSTOM.

Austria-Hungary on Easter Monday is no place for an Englishwoman, as the author of "Recollections of a Royal Governess" discovered. She describes the scene at a luncheon party thus: —

" We had finished our dessert, when suddenly Count Potocki scizod his finger-basin, and, raising it high in the air, deliberately emptied the contents upon the Paris hat of the lady on his right. With that signal every man caught up jugs and carafes, and a wild tumult ensued, the deluge spaiing none. The table was a lake of running water. Exquisite creations of French millionery wilted and became masses of damp straw and muslin; toilettes from Vienna ran tbtir wet colours 1 into petticoats from Paris; powder disappeared, and fringes hung in straight, unbecoming Avisos; dainty, silk-stockinged feet sloshed in their soakid slippers. For myself, I had taken refuge behind a tall palm, where presently 1 was discovered by a small gentleman, who rushed wildly at me, a carafe in bw hand. So enraged was l at the bare thought of such an mdignitv l>eing perpetrated on me that I drew myseJf up to the full height ot my sft. 10in., glared ferociously at him, and exclaimed in my most tragic tone (it would have been a tragedy lor me if my lace dress had been jWllt): 'Xe Mor'gena, N'e Morgtna.' The Ijitle gentleman wis very much asioiiished at finding ; ny opposition ' - t'w> fun, but it was explained that the lady was an Englishwoman, which apparently excused everything. In a short time our carriage war. announced, the drenched ladies were wrapped we'll Hi rugs, tucked into their equipages, i ud we were driven swiftly home."