In 1824, there were 289,598 people living in Vienna, 49,550 of them within the city walls. As the imperial capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there were many different nationalities found in the city - Hungarians, Poles, Serbs, Croats, Greeks, Turks. The Viennese were thought of as good-natured, honest and hospitable with a marked propensity for good living - principally good eating and drinking. However, the regime under the Emperor Francis l was quite strict, with an authoritarian secret police. Restaurants and cafes could stay open until midnight, but no later. Only during 'Fasching' - Carnival time, when the great balls were held was an exception made. There were no brothels, but there were allegedly 20,000 women living by prostitution in 1827. The lower strata of society were generally very badly off, with many consequences such as a high mortality rate, often caused by epidemics of tuberculosis. The best houses were in the inner city and were inhabited by a prosperous middle class, who set great store by physical comfort. Property rents were determined by the proximity to the city centre. In the 1830's and 40's there was a decline in living standards with most working class families paying nearly a third of their income in rent.
The Tavern was the most popular place of escape on Sundays and holidays. The better off favoured walks and excursions in the countryside around the city. It was the Emperor Joseph ll who had opened the Augarten and the Prater (spacious parks adjoining the Danube) to the general public. The Prater was hugely popular with the Viennese. There were Restaurants, taverns, puppet theatres, swings, bowling alleys, circus gymnastics, impressive firework displays, coffee houses. Above all, Vienna was a city of music and dance - with organ grinders on every street corner droning out melodies from the music hall and opera. Many dance halls sprang up and gradually became more extravagant - one of the most famous being the Apollo room which boasted artificial ponds, grottoes, waterfalls and flying eagles !
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