Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-04-05
LETTER FROM EUROPE
TJo XIV.
Paris. Dec. Is. 1859.

tuu bau al uSHSHtiui ltu0 VO"u tuC
valley of the Rhon0. The Char is a
kind of carriage without top, made
very low and narrow, for travelling
mong the mountains, in narrow
roads. One can easily jump off in
case of danger. The descent from
the Baths is one of the most beau
jilul. mild and picturesque routes in
Switzerland. The road follows the
winding course Of the stream pas
sing through a number Of villages,
and lined on either side by extensive
vineyards and the ruins Of numer-
Gus old castles.
AT an early hour the next morn
ling We started on foot Cor Chamouny
passing over the Col de Balme, a
lofty range of the ALPS, presenting
scenery of great variety and beauty;
TO effect which We Travelled perse-
velingly for eleven hours, climbing
up one side Of the mountain for
the pleasure of descending The 9TH
er, and arrived 1t our place of desti-
nation before night. This is the
far famed vale of ChamOuny, sur-
rounded blythe most grand and lof-
Iiy mountains of nature. This is
the eliminating point Of I'll that is
beautiful and majestic in tie whole
range Of Alpine scenery. The vale
and envrions Of CbamouDy inspire
1.-The purest feelings of awe, grandeur
and sabIimi!y. The town is situated
in the back ground Of a pleasing laud-
scape; directly i'll the front is the
Her de Glaze, or sea of ice. with
glaciers Of immense extent. and the
assembled mountains on all sides,
with old Mount Blanc in the centre,
monarch Of them oil, towering far
above the Hottest peak, aud cloWned
with diadem of untaEnished puri-
Iiy. From this place We made the
most Interesting excursions, and they
will not soon be forgotten. 1t was
decided we should start the day after
Iour arrival, pass over the glaciers at
the foot of Mount blapc-traverse
the sea of ice, and visit spot callc d
the garden the highest point be-
tween the mountains To accom-
this. il vas necessary to start at an
early hour, and travel at rapid
speed across the ice for the space Of
eleven hours. Accordingly we pro-
yided ourselves with experienced
guides and bountiful stock Of re-
Irreshmenls. and started on the sXpe-
dition When we had made about
one-shirG of the distance The clouds
gathered thick sud fast. the wind
became furious, and in short time,
snow storm came upon Us, taking
US in the face; American like, go
ahead was The pnss word. Ga we
went, following close and in The foot
steps of our guides, lest a miss>step
should drop US into a hole Of uuc7r-
tain depth. About 2 oclOck P. II d,
re arrived az the Garden, cold. hun
cry and vet; and, making a table Of
the most eligible rock, proceeded to
make 4 hasty repast. Our dinner,
with the wine provided by our very
thoughtful host, revived, refreshed
aud warmed Us Just rs we bad
flushed The clouds dispersed, the sun
'shoue beautifully, which gave us =
view Of the surrounding mountains,
and Oh! what magnificent scene!
The snow crowned peaks Of noun
Itains over our heads, With seas Of ice
around and below US as far as vision
could extend; all pure and white as
the driven snow. This Garden, as
they call it, is. truly an oasis In the
midst Of desert; it consists Of an
island 10 The midst Of this Mer de
Glacc, and what is very surprising,
is, that it should be covered With
green pasture and flowers--the alti-
tude being eight thousand feet and
nothing but barrenness and desola-
tons around.
We soon commenced The descent,
The snow returned and continued all
day. In a short time all trace of
path or footprints was eifaced, and
our guides even, were often at loss
what course to pursue; and there is
no doubt, If we had been alone, or
had conductors Of less experience,
we should have been lost to our
irienGs and the world forever. il
lid moi realize the danger 70 which
We were exposed, until it wss passed. !
The snow completely blinded Us. and
What Increased the danger and diff.
'ulty is, there are numerous and
Iightful'gorges IN the ice crevices
'yer which We had to crawl on n very