brought
up by the members of the commission who were to be present during the
demolition of the guns, which to all intents and purposes had ceased to
be artillery pieces for more years than the combined ages of the
commission. Following them came all the ragamuffins of the district,
rejoicing.
We
had a score of hefty fellows in our regular employ, led by one
Ferdinand. He was by no means young, but to see him lift and bring down
the heavy sledge-hammer was like witnessing Vulcan at the anvil. At
first the members of the commission would stand closely round
Ferdinand and his fellows, watching the demolition, which was being
carried out in a leisurely way. Nor was there any hurry about it, in
truth, for first one member of the commission and then another
absented himself from the group to go and have a little friendly talk
with the principal of the firm in his private office. At last there
they all would be, sitting in his cosy room and helping themselves
freely to his best Havanas and slaking their thirst with Rhenish of the
choicest vintages. As a rule we closed the proceedings by sending to
the nearest cab rank for a string of vehicles to carry the gentlemen of
the commission to their respective homes. Then came the turns of the
lower ranks, of the guards. Within a couple of hours we were rid of the
whole boiling of them, and everyone again was happy.
Or
was I the only unhappy one? Poor Austria! The youth I then was saw that
the canker of corruption had eaten too deep into your bowels for you to
be saved. If ever an organised society of men committed suicide it was
you, the people of the fair land of my birth.
