The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-11-08
Life i'm Switzerland.

mechanic arts is not less decided, and the
hum of findustry Is heard literally in all her
borders. The manufacturers are not crowd
ed into one corner of great city, but occu-
py the leisure hours of those who live in the
country. Especially is this the case with
the weaving of silk. All those beautiful
fabrics, which now equal those of any par,
of the world, are produced in the cottages
scattered over hill and dale. and by those
who perhaps work in the field in summer
and weave silk in the winter, or devote the
leisure hours of every season to this light
and tasteful labor.
First, you must see the weavers, who wears
white linen cap, ornamented with glass
beads on both sides, and tied under the
chm with velvet ribbon. A short, blue
Jacket, with light blue bodice, on which ap-
pears the letter v wrought, or formed with
velvet colored ribbon What the letter sig.
nifes we do not know, and they do not
know themselves. ..-..-..
The house is of two stories, built first OF
timbers, and then wall of coarse bricks or
stones, covered with plaster. On the first
floor is sitting room, two small rooms, and
a kitchen These are finished with panels
painted light green, looking beautifully neat.
| The most conspicuous object is the great
stove of potter's work, veneered and painted
and wrought into three wallI, so as to spread
its genial influence in every apartment be-
low and above. These stoves are every
where at the North, and very comfortable
when thoroughly heated night and day, but
require much wood, and the mild weather of
spring or autumn not very economical, un-
less permitted to remain cold. which is Oft
ten the case
Under the windows are long wooden ben
:hes, and before the table, set around with
wooden chairs. The unfailing chest, with
tin pale and copper wash-basin; book
shelf is suspended over, and on nail at its
side towel and brush. On little table in
the corner is the folio family Bible, and up
on two nails over the door rests the family
gun, polished to brightness. The next ar
ticle is curious relic of the olden times,
and here we are able to state exactly what
marked the times as old. When they use
this term, they mean the age of oatmeal pud
ding made so thick that the spoon would
stand upright in the center. These are the
days their grandmothers still remember, and
the great wooden spoon hangs by string to
the wall, as does also the bread-knife, with
! the initials Of the heads Of the household
thereon, and the date of their marriage. 1t
is curious article on which to preserve the
record of so important an invent; but being
the one they would oftenest have to use, il
is not, on the whole so inappropriate. A
slate, an almanac, a looking-glass and pair
of scales, occupy their wonted posts, and in
accordance with their humble offices, the
cats dish, the cricket, the cradle and stand.
ing STOOL Under the stove are the unoccu-
pied shoes and in the most honorable posi-
tons pictures from the Bible, Swiss history
and the never to be forgotten Black Forest
| clock.
Near the window is the loom. Does il
seem marvellous how one of those beautiful
and delicate tissues of green, or gold or pur-
pie, can come forth from the midst ofsuch a
medley without spot or blemish? We can
only answer, that we wonder all the same
though everything is remarkably neat. The
loom is like any other, except that it is more
light and delicate in its construction. The
reed, through which the parp is drawn, is
fine as gossamer, and!the shuttle for the I'LL
ling might answer for fairy. The wei
goes underneath, and winds on beam like
any other web, of tow or of more plebian
pretensions The threads break, and fin
gers which are not at all fairy-like tie them
together with marvellous celebrity, and We
watch the checks and stripes or figures form
with never ceasing interest and amazement
These are the homes, and the happy
homes, of free and industrious people, whc
may be said to lack nothing that is absolute
ly necessary to comfort and happiness. There
is none of the abject porverty which is seer
in exclusively manufacturing districts. and
none of the luxury attended upon suddenly
acquired and immens fortunes Cottages Q,
the Alps.