Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-09-19
Switzerland, the Rhine, and Ger
pnanV.

Mr.. Greely's impression of the Land
of Mountains. of the rival river of oul
Hudson, and his account of Bloomerism
in Germany, cannot TAIL TO interest our
readers. OF Switzerland he says:
Mature is here rugged mother, en-
acting incessant toll of her children as
! the price of the most frugal subsistence,
but under such skies, in the presence OF
SO much magnificence, and in land q.
equality and freedom, mere life is worth
working for, and the condition is accept.
ed with hearty alacrity. Men and
women work together, and almost equal.
ly, in the fielGs; and here. where the me-
cessjty is SO palpably of Natures crea-
tlon,-not Man 's,--the spectacle is far
less revolving tina. on the fertile plains OF
Piedmont or Lombardy. The little
patch of wheat is so carefully reaped,
that scarcely grain is left, and children
bear The sheaves on their backs to the
allotted shelter, while mothers and maid.
ems are digging up the soil with the
spade, and often pulling up the stubble
with their hands, preparatory to another
crop. Switzerland could not ford TO be
a kingdom,-the expense of Court and
Royal Family would famish half her
people. Yet everywhere there are signs
of frugal thrift and homely content.
met only two beggars in that long day s
ride through sterile Switzerland, while
in similar ride through the fertile plains
OF Italy, should have encountered hun
dreds, though there each days labor pro-
duces as much as three do here. II the
Swiss only could live at home, by the
utmost industry and economy, think
they would very seldom be found else
where; but in truth tie land has long
been peopled TO the extent of its capacity
for subsis;ing. and the steady increase
which Their pure morals and simple hab-
lis ensure must drive off thousands in
search of lhe bread of honest toll. Hence
their presence elsewhere, in spite of their
passionate attachment to their free ma
tive hills
Of the Rhine
"From Menlz to Coblentz, fifty. four
miles there is some magnificent scen-
cry, though | think its natural beauties
do not surpass those Of the Hudson from
New York to Newburg. Certainly
there are no five miles equal in rugged
grandeur to those beginning just below
and ending above West Point. But the
Rhine is here somewhat larger than the
Hudson; the hills on either side, though
seldom absolutely precipi,ous, are from
one TO five hundred feet high, and are
often crowned with the ruins of ancient
castles, which have very picturesque
appearance; while the little villages at
their foot, and the cultivation (mainly of
the vine,) which is laboriouslv prosecuted
up their rocky and almost naked sides,
contribute TO heighten the general ef
ect.' $ =
"Fhere are some bold heights, dignifi-
ed as mountains, below Coblentz; but
the finest of the scenery is above. The
hills disappear some miles above this
city, and henceforward to the sea all is
fiat and tame as marsh. On the whole,
the Rhine has hardly fulfilled my expec-
tations. Had visited it on my way to
the Alps instead Of jast from them, it
would doubtless have impressed me more
profoundly; but | am sure the st. Marv's
of Lake Superior is better worth seeing;
so think, is the Delaware section of the
Erie Railroad. l. is possible the wealth
er may have untitled me for appreciating
this famous river, for more cloudy, mis-
ty, chilly, rainy, execrable English day.
| have seldom encountered, 10 travel
ers blessed with golden sunshine, the
Rhine may wear grander. nobler as
pect, and to such leave it,
Of Germany n
"The cultivation, though not always
judlcious, is generally thorough, there
being no lack of hands nor of good will.
The day being fine, aud the season hur-
rying one, the vast plain was every
where dotted with labourers, of whom
full half were women, reaping rye, bind
ing it, raking and pitching hay. hoeing
potatoes, transplanling cabbages, beets,
etc. They seemed to work quite as
heartily as the men. But the most char
acteris,ically European spectacle ! saw,
was a woman unloading great hay
wagon of huge cord wood, at railroad
station, and pitching over the heavy
sticks with decided resolution and effici-
ency. 1t may interest the American pi-
oneers in the great panialet,e (or is il
pantaloon! movement, to know that she
was attired in appropriate costume--short
frock, biped combinations, and a mannish
oil-skin hat. And tins reminds me that,
coming away from Rome, met, at the
half way house to Civita Veccllia, a
French marching regiment on lis way
from Corsica TO tho Eternal City, to
which regiment two women were attach
ed as suffers. etc., who also wore the
same costume, except that their hats
were of wool instead oil oil-skin. Thus
attired, they had marched twenty live
miles that hot day, and were to march
as many the next. as they had doubtless
done on many former days. 1t certainly
cannot be pretended that these women
adopted that dress from love of novel
a., or n lav;ro 10 loo "A n nayu fashian n,