Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-02-05
1T tI1st&llaut0us.
MOUNTAIN PEAKS.

Mont Blame Is umqueStionably the lion of
the ale Of ChamOuni-the mountain magnet
that attracts tourists from all parts of the
globe Everybody has read of De SauSsurc,
lis aDXictieS and achievements, and MYRIAD
Of lpine Directories tell of the exploits of
AUldi0, Barry BoSworth, Count BoniIe, and
Gabriel Hendrcngen, the Swedish adyenturer.
No one who has passed the glaciers fails to
hear OF Madame Henriette d'Angeville. and
her hcro:Sm Oh the summit Of - the Monarch -
Everybody has read of the Groads 1Iuleis and
the rosy sunScts-the Grand Plateau and the
moonIight--thc sharply defined Aiguji1es and
the Uane din G0uie-the Cascade of Pelerins.
and the Ice-towerS Of the BoSsonS-the chasms
in the THc0Hay, and the terrors of the Mur de
Ii Cote All these wonders are the special
property Of wondrous Mont Blanc and under
these gorgeous circumstances he can afford to
rear his white head with his robes of cIouG and
d,HdemS OF Snow, in so cold and naughty
mIHEcr
Vt least once Il year there is a candidate for
the horrCrS Of the summit, which is the "cvent
Of the season. with the resident tourists. And.
to say truth, an ascension and its preparations
are calculated 10 bestr community like that
o. Chamouui, who bored with the Breyent.
and familiar with every fSSRre of the Mon
travcrt. turn to any new excitement with alac
ritz
The Jun9fran, the Wetterhorn, the Grimsel,
and Il thousand Of peaks and passes that one
gets on familiar terms with in Savoy and Swift
ZerIand, go for nothing, in point of interest and
prestige, when compared with Mont Blanc
From the first anxious glance we get of it on
the Jura, near the Fort de rEcluSe, with the
light blue waters of the RhOne at our feet, to
the grand view from the Florentne bridge az
>a.."nche and, finally, strayiag meath its sha-
doWS in the Chamouni valley, one is kept u a
tigob Of excitement
The diligence, or char, no matter in what
section Of Savoy yOu be travelling, is certain to
be crowded with enthusiastic people of both
sexes, talking Of Mont Blanc some rapturous-
", others doubtingly, few knowingly.
The ladies, too, are always rapturous in re-
gard to Mont Blanc. For many reasons. Some
a'r startled hy its grandcur-othcrS have read
Lord ByTon's familiar description in ChiIde
HHo'd-othcrS think It's top is " so nice and
"Mtc, and occasionally a languid bas LlcU
>g4> that it denies its snowy crest to the foot
falls ot the gentIcr sex. In this respect Mont
Blanc j, wanting in taste. It's icy barriers are
Inaccessible to female feet. What a JOYOUS
task It would be to traverse those snOw-paved
aSenucs if We had ladies as guides, instead of
mob Of ilI-looking Savoyards. How the
hangers would be aSsuaged, and the perils en-
0Fodered, with female voice low and sweet,
20 accompany US on the journey Every ice
POINT IN the sunlight would wear a richer hue. |
Each yawning creyice would be robbed of its
Tears Desoation would become a delight.
But leyond the 1" Cascade of the Pilgrims"
|'h ITS rainbow food of bright water, it is
Almost impossible for ladies to 60 They must
De content to use their lorgncttes on the Bre
'en' to pluck slips of rhododendrons on the
Eo"n shelves of the Montanvert to gaze at
We countess cloud wreathed pinnacleS from the
vale and with pavilion visits to the Flegere,
10 trace the winding waters of the Arvc. The
upper grandeur" of Mont Blanc to them
I'st be sealed hook Its heaVenward mys-
UFes must lie cold ard silent, away from their
Srutny
remember meeting a lady at Ravenna who
.au crossed the st. Bernard on mule, (after
s. sDe fashion of Napoleon lie Grand) who con-
E ~"a'y looked forward TO the epoch when all
-',hENn passes and SUBMITS would he reach /
r,,,[ The gentle means Of comfortable balloons. /
n ''N eve" comes to pass, then ladies Will not
s4eIuaed from enjoying the beauties of un-
~~4me ihacceSsibilities. of which Mont Blanc
'' hHnaiaya are twin tyrants The Cha
p'. 5'',nI and Mont Blanc Incorporated Steam
0"9'h Company" would most certainly be
"'eily. and-woud do a safe, poyRng btsi
iHod5h by no means original in this feeling,
many years | have had a passion for noun
,'N peaks. and Of all others that of Mont
nc 1'c Twice have | visited the Chamouni
'gsy Tor the purpose Of making the ascent,
' vice failed -ingorious record as this may