Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-30

Ing AoiiucE dIu Ills WlIt were bitthS ofi uooaSh
benches by a table, taking their meal what
meal it was could not determine, as it was ten
o'clock in the morning; too late for breakfast,
too early for dinner they had an earthen pot
OF weak coffee or something of the same color,
and pieces OF brown bread, which they dipped
in and ate, taking drink of the fluid now and
then, and apparently enjoying their frugal meal.
The old woman gave me a YAH in answer
to my request for milk, and taking a glass tun-
bier from closet she wiped the dust ont Of il
with her fingers, and going into q dark room,
the dairy likely, she brought me draught OF
as sweet milk as ever wet the lips of man or
boy. The cottage was not clean, / am sorry
TO say it; but perhaps all other cottages are
this may be rare exception. / looked up a
fight of stairs, and the appearance of things
there did not suggest to me the idea of taking
lodgings, but giving the woman a bit of silver
for which she thanked me in German, walked
on, refreshed with the milk and the moments
rest while was getting it.
A little further on, and fine mansion, with
castellated towers, stood on the rising Hill, com.
handing wide prospect of mountain scenery,
but the road did not lead ms near to it. Per.
haps the proprietor of the valley had his home
up there, and the tenants below may not be
thriving; certainly it looks as if there were
wealth, taste, comfort, elegance in those old
halls, and having had milk in the cottage,
presume ! might have wine in the mansion.
We soon lost sight Of every sign of dwell
ing, and walked on through pine forest, the
saddest of all forests to tread in the signing of
the air through the tree-tops making music
"moumful to the soul" A water course, in
followed logs carried through thewoods, led ON
to a mill by the way-side, into which we entered
to see novel operation, and as queer little
miller as anybody ever saw. The water turned
an overshot wheel outside of the mill, and this
turned two large wooden cogwheels, which
raised two beams and let them fall up and
down, upon pine bark, which was thus pounded
up fine enough to be used for tanning. But
the miller who fed the mill with the bark was
man dwarf about three feet high, well enough
proportioned, stout, healthy fellow, forty years
old. He looked up and laughed us q good morn
ing, and went on with his work, which made
such noise that it was useless to converse.
And Just as we left the mill we met woman
not more than three feet long, so nearly the
same age and size, we could not but think they
might be another remarkable pair of twins, who
would have made the fortune Of any body bring.
ing them to America for exhibition. We were
now in manufacturing valley. The fine water.
power was improved to drive looms in mill,
where twenty girls were weaving, and when we
passed, which was at III o'clock, they all quit
for dinner, and trooped by us in rows of six
their hair braided and hanging in two strips
half way to their feet. They seemed to be very
happy among themselves and modest and we'll
behaved as we walked along with them for
while.
Other establishments for working iron were
in the same neighborhood, and village called
Kriens had some beautiful houses in it-one Of
them with twelve windows in q row in front,
and three stories high, q fine mansion; and all
of them were surrounded with flower gardens,
tended with care, and glowing with splendid
dahlias and other flowers. The best houses
have yet seen in Switzerland are covered, in.
stead of clapboards, with small round-end shin.
giles, put on SO neatly as to look like scollop
shell work. The little models of Swiss cottages
sold in America, and sold here at every turn, do
not give correct idea ofany of the cottages that
have yet fallen in my way. So we walked from
one to another hamlet, studying life in these
secluded places, where the habits of the people
are quite unsophisticated as if they had never
been mile from home-the children did not
know Of such place as Lucerne, though not
i've miles of-but there was peace, order, thrift,
and contentment-the mountains rise suddenly
from behind their dwellings, and shelter them
from the winds, and God watches them in the
winter when the deep snow fills this vale and
they are as contented as if they knew that PEG.
pie live on the other side of the hills. Some Of
the cottages were beautifully covered with grape
vines, trained between the windows, and giving
them an appearance of luxurious growth, that
might be adopted in our country far more than
it is. The vine thus cultivated occupies no
space that could otherwise be used, and is an
ornament and protection, while it yields deli
cious and abundant fruit.
Our walk this morning of FIVE hours brought
us through this valley and back 70 Lucerne by
one o'clock, and if there had been any good
reason for it, we could have walked dozen miles
more toward night. Instead Of that took a
nap, and wrote this letter before dark, making
a fair days work. We had been brought more
Immediately into contact with the country
people, and saw more of their way of life, than
we would have seen in month of travel on the
thoroughfares. None of the places we visited
are even named in the guide books, and we
thus had the pleasure Of breaking out Of the
beaten path, and finding one that was new and
interesting. .i
LAKE OF THE FOUR FOREST cANToSs.
The Lake of Lucerne is called the Lake OF
the Four Forest Cantons, a longer but q yery
appropriate name, as it's shores are washed by
four, and only four, of the Cantons Of Switzer,
land ucerne, Uri, Unterwalden, and Schnytz.
Above all the lakes of the country, and perhaps
Of the world, it is distinguished for the majesty
of its scenery and the grandeur Of its historical
associations. have fear that my Impressions
Of this lake may be regarded by my friends as
more enthusiastic than just, and am disposed
to fortify my opinion by that of one whose au-
thority will certainly be respected. Fortunately
his opinion is quoted in the hand books, or /
should not have had !. to copy. Speaking Of
the classic associations with the lake and
around it, Sir James Mcintosh saws:
1T is upon this that the superiority Of the
lake Of Lucerne to all other lakes, or, rs far as
know, to all other scenes upon earth depends
The vast mountains rising on every side, and
closing at the end, with their rich clothing Of
wood the soft spots Of yerdant pasture seat
tered at their feet, and sometimes on their
breast, and the expanse of water, unbroken by
Islands, and almost undisturbed by any signs
IF living men, make an impression which il