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<h1>OUR LITTLE<br/> AUSTRIAN COUSIN</h1>
<small>By</small><br/>
<span class='author'>Florence E. Mendel</span><br/>
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<h2>PREFACE</h2>
<p><span class="smcap">In</span> 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.</p>
<p>The northeastern provinces, Galicia and
Bukowina, have not been considered in this
book, owing to the fact that they are included in
<span class="smcap">Our Little Polish Cousin</span>; and, for a similar
reason, Hungary and Bohemia have been
omitted, as each is the subject of an earlier
volume in <span class="smcap">The Little Cousin Series</span>. The<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</SPAN></span>
book consequently is chiefly devoted to Austria
proper and Tyrol, but the other provinces, including
Dalmatia and Bosnia, are not neglected.</p>
<p>The publication of <span class="smcap"><b>Our Little Austrian
Cousin</b></span> 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.</p>
<p><span class="smcap"><b>Our Little Austrian Cousin</b></span> can well be
read in connection with <span class="smcap">Our Little Bulgarian
Cousin</span> and <span class="smcap">Our Little Servian
Cousin</span>, describing two of the principal Balkan
States, which volumes have just been added to
<span class="smcap">The Little Cousin Series</span>.</p>
<p>Among others, I am especially indebted to
Fr. H. E. Palmer, for much information concerning
country customs in Upper Austria.</p>
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