Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-08-02
Letter from Switzerland.

-
one of our citizens, now travelling in Europe,
to his relation in this place:
LrcERNE, SWITZERLAND, July4l.-My
first letter, which | presume you have seen,
wrote On the mighty deep, and mailed at
Southampton; my second, at lively Paris;
and this amidst the grand mountains ut
| Switzerland These stages III our journey
are 50 unlike, as to add additional zest to our
/ endowment of them. France-beautiful, un-
natural France--showy and artificial France
seems the work of mans highest lmaglna-
ton, to add to, and construct upon, Gods
gift. a paradisical monument. There seems
| to be gathered there, from every cline, the
lovely in art, to be re-adorned by sur
roundings. The brillancy of light is made
attractive BY the various forms i'll which it is
presented to our view--howers are made
more lovely in positions in which they are
placed-trces in the manner they are made
10 grow, and streams in windings, jets, and
waterfalls, and earth in mounds and terra
ces. But he,r are the grand, the natural
productions OF God; the tall and mighty
creations of his mind, that cannot be moved
or marred by the puny arm OF man. Noun
! tains whose tops reach far above the clouds,
and upon whose SUBMITS the chamOis feed,
or in glowing Wilderness the SHOWS of winter
reclne in virg in purlty--from whose lofty
heights leaps water III grand and varied
columns from Gods inexhaustible reservoir,
aud supplies the lovely streams that beautity
the valleys beneath and then HE away to
form beautiful lakes. And Such lakes-with
clear bright surfaces rejecting back to lIea
ven, in daguerreotypic view, the high noun
tains and lofty hills, the green woods, and
picturesque buildings that line their borders.
And then Gods brilliant light, breaking the
darkness Of these valleys, that the rocky
barriers would tain enclose, as though envi-
Gus or Jealous that any other eye should rest
upon their Notwithstanding the snowy
veil that covers their bald and rugged heads,
and tearing off the night cap that stern win
ter has placed there, and driving down the
burrows Of their rugged face, in limpid tears,
the regret Of their loss-then the varied
green that covers her valleys in gentle undu-
ations Of thousand shapes, and her little
hills that stand on her mountains side, as
children climbing up 10 Il fathers breast,
hoping one day to be tall and grand as they
are--between whose bases rest glaciers, thou
sands of tons OF ice. that 4 summers heat
fails to dispel, nor the stream that impover-
shes its heart canllot destroy. And the
goats are seen here, too, grazing from the
most dangerous and dizzy peaks, as though
Il srire of grass snached from such points
was the sweetest, from the labor bestowed in
obtaining it. The cattle are grazing In
herds, amidst thckv settled rude buildings,
and often costly villas OF various and pecu-
liar constructors, and the birds are here so
Il, Ga, Itha
sic the sweetest, because rendered without
fear and in such close proximity-and the
very clouds assume II friendly character, and
seem like daily visitors, as they rest tar
down the mountain side, Or skim in iieecy
whitcness the tops of these prlmeyal mon
sters And then, too, is given back, in num-
berIess echoes. the notes of the Alpine horn,
and at close Of day. We have listened to the
sweet music, both vocal and instrumental, OF
the Swiss peasantry. We do not wonder
that they love and cling to home, nor is it
strange that this is Il free country. Its very
surface shows how devoid Of show or form,
kinsly or Courtly propriety. Bnt they are
poor, and ought it to be otherwise? Gods
gifts are scattered, and if nature is so lavish
in all that is grand and sublime she with
holds the gift OF truttulness, except III re-
turn for pcrsrvcring labor. And here II Is
indeed bestowed, ;ls can be seen from thou
sand hills, studded with cottages, and the
land cultivated on the steepest sides, where
nothing but manual labor can receive a re-
turn--the spade and hoe alone can be used,
and even the manure is carried on the back
in large baskets, and three-fourths Of the
labor is bestowed BIZ Women. The winter is
SO long, the summers toll is rendered the
more laborous, as winters supply rests on
the toll Of IA few months. Necessity is the
mother Of mvention;' we therefore see the
genius of this people brought out in the art
OF carving, and constructing, by the rudest
tools, the most natural toys that adorn our
shop windows, ut Il penny each. We saw
here the making Of black lace with pins and
spools, worked entirely by hand, and yet so
rapid. as almost to be Incredible.
We have visited some of the most inter
estinE parts Of this country, and have en-
,joyed, IN every possible way the various
modes of travel. We left Paris to-day week,
and went to Lyons, visited her manutacto
rcS Of silk long-shawls, yevetS, curtain ma
taral and lace: her bourse, bridges, statuary,
Il large church, and her stores--tound silks
very cheap, but did not purchase any, as we
left two Of oar trunks at Paris, and the duty
IT, take them witt: us would make them as
expensive as ut home. Lyons is a very old
city. and many of its towers are yielding to
the tooth Of time. Its streets are narrow,
and its position lofty and difficult to ascend,
except by winding around its avenues. Its
inhabitants are mostly poor weavers, many
living in one building, subslsting on the
meanest food, which WE examined One and
half francs, or 30 cents, is the price for
weaving Il yard, the process Of which Is
: simple, but complete in arrangement. Next
to Geneva which is a pretty place, situated
al the western end Of that Lake. We ut once
discovered We nal left France, by the scene
ry that now presented itself. The water Of
this lake is unlike any have ever seen.
Of pale b!ue and very clear. 1t is damned
at this point which enables steamers to ply
on the lake. The steamers are all black,
small, and very sharp, with sinsularly con-
Structc1 oscillatng engines, that occupy but
little space, run fast, and are well and finely
adapted for viewing the scenery up the lake,
which is surprisingly lovely. Small boats
are here for the accommodation Of visitors
who desire to take row on its surtrce.-
They have small tlags--ours was floating the
han;lsomest of all, and most conspicuous.
| felt like going and entolding myself amidst
its bright stripes and united stars. We