Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-04-19


what sounds reach our ears, and echoed and
and resechoed around lis, as the driver yells and
screa1ss for the conductors assistance. Oh what
a ridiculous scene. The diligence stops and we all
STOP, while general laughter prevails. The con-
ductor is highly amused relieves US of dangling
top, and we again moving on nicely arranged for
sightseeing. The road is splendid, smooth and
even and the ascent is gradual that it is scarcely
pereepsibe. large portion Of it is built up from
deep CULTS, with solid masonry, having low railing
slight protection. 1t is about thirty feet wide
thirty thousand men were employed liz its ecal-
struction and it cost five thousand pounds sterling
mile We pass numerous houses Of refuge, built
for travellers, places of safety in times of great
slides of snow from the mountans also twenty
hospitals, the largest of which is st. Bernard near
the summit of St. Bernard, where many are cared
for during the severe winters.
Now the scenery is beautifully picturesque, now
grand, now awfuIy sublime. Now we pass beneath
huge Cliffs bending over the road, high above us,
from which great rocks have already fallen, now
through solid stone tunnels and galleries cut out of
solid rock; surrounded by high, barren mountains;
now we are upon the very verge of frightful pre-
cpices, great yawning CULTS, winding our way
through deep gorges now the eye is attracted by
beautiful cascades, some punging and foaming,
others gliding noselessly and gracefully down the
sides of the mountains, sparkling in the sunshine,
displaying all the colors of the rainbow. Thus we
move on, the road winding round and round, the
river far beneath, tumbling and rushing along over
its rugged bed of rocks while we have no fear,
but are almost clothed with an inward pleasure
our eyes are charmed, our souls filed with wonder
and delight, while the lips become, as it were,
sealed, and words fail to give expression to our
feelings.
Now we look around and find ourselves sur
rounded with snow-capped mountains, smoking and
gittering in the sunshine like bed of diamonds;
now we have reached the summit, and are witness
ing the grandest scene of the day. Yes, this is
transcendent. We seem under some enchantment,
we appreciate, we admire, but there is no express
sion. Can we ever forget the sublime picture now
before uss Oh no! we thank God for the sweet
privilege of gazing upon his grand and beuateous
works. Feel hunbled in our unworthiness and
perfect helplessness, conscious of His almighty
power. Truly, this day has been worth all the rest
of our tour and in after years my soul shall feast
on its memory.
Great piles Of snow now border the road, and
we have snow-baling, really novelty in summer.
Here, too, is a bunch of pretty flowers, gathered
by the side of snow-bank. What think you of
that? Is it not contrast enough? We can now
look down on Brigg, village at the base of the
Alps, where we shall dine. 1t seems but short
distance from here though it is three hours travel
The descent is easy and rapid. The scenery con-
tinues beautiful and grand, but though more SUBJ
dued-is sometimes startling as we dash suddenly
beneath roaring waterfall, seemingly dangerous,
but as it passes over gallaries Of stone, we feel
safe
Well, we have reached Brigg where we refresh
ourselves little with good dinner, amuse our
selves little conversing with an amusing English
man just from his native isle, travelling to see, not
knowing how or where to satisfy his desires, and
greatly afraid of putting his hands into his pockets
once too often. We resign our open carriage for
the coupee of the diligence, pass over fine farm
ing country, and reach Martigny at two o'clock in
the morning, after travelling necessarily during
hours. We rest but few short hours
and then partake of parting breakfast with our
American friends, whose pleasant company we have
so long enjoyed. We see them mounted on mules,
with long spearheaded poles, fitted out for an ex-
cursion to Chamounai and Mount Blanc. We ten
der them heartfelt farewell and they have gone,
and soon we too have taken carriage and are
passing over rough country. Harvesting is being
carried OH by the women, who are large and mas
culine in appearance. As you have heard, the
couture is very common in Switzerland and nearly
disease.
Passing one night and day in Vevay, on the
shores of lake Geneva, we take steamer for the
city of Geneva. The lake is magnificent sheet of
water, and from every part Of it we see the snow
capped Mount Blanc towering above all the other
peaks of the Alps This lake is entirely dissimilar
to Como, but in some respects not less beautiful
This is much larger, and the mountain ranges are
distant from the Shores whilst those of Como are
ike unto our own Lake George. Lake Geneva is
about forty miles long and eight miles wide, and
The shores are studded from one end to the other
IN both sides with fine villas and thriving villages
Well, we have ridden over this beautiful cty-seen
he junction of the Rhone and Arno, which run
together nine miles without mixing, maintaining the
distinct blue of the Rhone and the muddy waters
IF the Arno; have seen the houses of Voltaire and
Rousseau, fine old church-St Peters-the scene
If Calvin's labors fine old building, originally
Catholic but now strictly Protestant. We are
pleased with this clean, pretty city. 1t is we'll built
has fine wide streets, and a population Of thirty
thousand. Yours, CoRR1E.
BEAUTIES OF MoNARcHY.-It is calculated
hat the number of children born on the 10th of
March, to all of whom the Emperor and Empress
ire godfather and godmother, must be about
!, 800. Each child is to receive gift of 5000
'rancs. All the boys must be named Louis Eu-
gene, and all the girls Eugene Louise. A sum
# 100, 900 francs is to be given to the poor to