Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-03-01

piee for the accommodation Of travel
ers. This is about eight thousand
feet above the sea, and was surprised
to iind several beautiful little lakes
on the very summit of these noun
tains. But what a contrast 10 eli
mate. in few hours, between this
region Of ice and SNOW and he con.
genial plains Of Italy still in view
After an interesting copfab with the
old Monk ] commenced the descent
retrieving every place Of interest
to my satisfaction. Oae Of the most
astonishing points is the Demls
BHdgs-so named, perhaps, from
the awful aud forbi,lding aspect Of
the place. Here is deep gorge ia.
the mountain, giving passage to a
narrow, rapid stream over which n
bridge is thrown at a fearful height
above the water, with precipitous
rocks projecting on all sides. This
spot is peculiarly interesting. being
connected with the events Of the
memorable campaign of l799-as
having been the scene Of action in the
struggles between the French. Aus
TRAN aud Russian armies. Here it
was. long before the construction oil
Eibe present commodious road, thai
these armies man9uyred, advanced.
fought, and retfeated during an in
clement season, conveying troops,
horse and cannon over these noun
tains and through places apparently
utterly inaccessible to the foot of
man. It's difficult to conceive how
such events could ever have occurred
under such circumstances. But it is
not much less surprising to see the
Swiss peasantry gathering their little
parcels Of hay and attending their
nocks ofcatile,sheep and goats on the
lsides Of these mountains. ] saw on
several occasions men and women
engaged 10 this their summer ayoca-
ition. and frequently did | stop to
examine by what route or means
they reached their locality, Cor the
mountains are nearly perpendicular
4-terminating in projecting rocks
above with roaring imp ,tuousl
stream below, and nc signs ofhabi.
tation in view, aud, in fact. no visible
spot for a tent or a Caalet TO pro-
ttect them from inclement weather
Perhaps no people on earth aremore
lefectually Injured to hardships aad
exposure than the Swiss paasantry,
and certainly, none are more indus
,trious.
The distance over this pass is
more than eighty miles, and ! as
sure you | never enjoyed HDel
and scenery more in my life. i
made twenty-five or thirty miles per
day with all ease, and almost no IA.
ltigue, and before I arrived at lake
! Lucerne considered myself a PEI
destlian No. /.
One spot near lake L,tcerne !!
must mention. This is the village
Of Abort. ! fingered about this
place with special interest. The
world is familiar with the history,
exploits and romantic life Of VIII
liam Tell, the Champion Of Swiss
liberty-the Bfutus og switzerland as
be has been styled. Atorf is the
place Of his birth, residence and death.
IL was in the public square OF this
to wn where, it is said, Tell shot the
sbpple from the head Of bis little son
with his unerring cross-bow more than
five houdred years ago. / visited
and stood upon the very SPOT where
lis now fountain surrounded By
In statue Of him and lis son; the
latter holding an apple in his hand
trans6xed by an arros. The Swiss
! nation yenerate his memory, and
monuments and statues are erected
Ito him throughout the country.
| You are 80 doubt familiar with
= -.
the beautiful romance so faithfully
depicting the interesting events o.
ihis lie. Not far from the lake is
ia Chapel called Tells Chapel, erected
on the spot where he shot Gessler.
the tyrant and opPressor Of the
Swiss people; being the frat decisive
blow for Swiss liberty-tbe beginning
Iof the Swiss revolution which ended
her de.iverance from the cruel and
Oppressive rule of Austria. ! passed
Tells Chapel without knowing it..
aud vas SO interested in it's history
that ] walked back two miles TO
sec It, LAFAYETTE.
A SoLlrARY TRAIroR Henry