Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-04-23
ADVEETlsISG RATEs.

yertisemente Ynusth he psid for in adyanoas
with whom we spent hours which are now
among our sunneRt memories Of foreign
and The vale abounds in beautiful glaciers
and cascades, many Of which we we're com
PEELED, from lack of time, to leave unseen.
On our way back to Msrtigny we first rode
up the valley almost TO the foot Of the Col de
Balme, and then turned to the left to take the
easier, though longer route by the Tete Nor.
We thus avoided the preciptous and danger
ous ascents which made the other so exciting,
and saw instead grand and gloomy de6le,
whose wonders opened to US new at every
step. Black crags frown at each other across
it, AZ il they we're about to begin titanic
warfare. Monstrous crags overhang the path
way so far that you wonder why they do not
fall upon you and crush you, and cliffs upoa
the other side, look as IL they also were saw
agely wondering why their comrades do not
destroy you "A torrent rushes noisily along
beneath you, and the pathway leads one on a
narrow shelf which seems suspended between
earth and heaven
Frequently on this day, we passed crosses
erected by the roadside to mark the spot where
persons had been overwhelmed by hthunder-
bolts of snow" on which were inscriptions
perpetuatng their names aud memories
Frequently, also we noticed little shrines Of
stone or brick, in which were diminu tive fig
ures Of our Savior and the Virgin Mary and
before which, stone was placed for the con
venience of the devotee. In althe pictures
aud figures great prominence is given TO the
Mother OF f,Jesus, and heather might think
from these, that be was worshiped only be-
cause he was her son. A iavorite representa.
ton Of the two seemed TO be the mother hold.
ing in her arms the dead body Of her Divine
Redeemer, who Is apparently child of twelve
or fourteen. At first these places of prayer
by the roadside were odd sights to u.s. but
when we looked again upon the grandeur
about, us, and remembered the ever-present
danger, we concluded that here, il any where,
ought the soul Of man be ready for praise and
supplcaton. u
Making sharp turn to the right, our path.
way led us along the side of lofty rockion
which, since creation, no ray Of snn-Iight has
ever shone The surrounding peaks are so
high, and so peculiarly placed, that it has
been and will be forever, one of the Z" dark
places of the earth. This is the Tete Noir
which has given name to the pass Just be-
yond it, there is solitary hotel-l-which we
found crowded with English, of foonrss--where
We stopped for an hour to feed the mules, to
indulge ourselves in a lunch of bread and
cheese, and peaches, and grapes, and, while
we consumed a slender Swiss cigar, to fasten
as much as possible Of the scenery upon our
memories.
We were ready to go on long before the
mules were, and taking our Apenstocks we
walked ON in advance. The slaves were pure
ly ornamental as the road was very safe and
easy, and the only use that found for mine
was to transGx a rat which impudently came
out Of log and attempted, with perfect de-
liberation, to cross the road in front Of US
How sueh 3 domestic animal came TO be in
such dreary and uninhabited spot, we could
not imagine, -Ns
At one of the iunHmerable little rills which
come trickling down these mountains, clear
as crystal and colder than spring water, we
stopped to get a drink A party Of three Ia.
dies from Martigny halted at the same time
for the same purpose and hasteRed to offer
them my cup They accepted IT, and the
apokeswoman poured ont a string of
thanks in French, which | acknowledged on
ly with bow. She seemed much inclined
however, to have sociable chat with us, and
at last interrupted her "Really Madame"
| said, we woHld understand you auite as
well if you Eould speak English" "Hyoh I"
said she, what Joke We we're sure YOU are
French. And then we all laughed together
a demure Young damsel with rosy cheeks and
black eyes who rode behind the mother or
aunt who had the advance, particularly en- =
joying her relatives confusion, II is altogeth-
er possible TO mistake the nationality ofFrench.
Germans or Americans, but nobody ever mis-.
takes an Engishman or woman. aJohn
Bull is written in every feature and every
garment from hat to shoes, in characters that
the most careless observer can readiiy read
+ The la lies told ns their guides would not
take them over the Col de Balme, because
they said Mt Blanc was sure TO be covered
with clouds and the view would not pay them
for their pains. As the sun was shining as
bright as if it had been only that morning
created, did not know which to wonder al
most, the audaeious lying Of the lazy guides.
or the simple creduiity Of the ladies'. .1...'
Crossing the torrent we ascended the For
elaz again and thence descended to Martigny
was on foot and taking N practicable ashort
cutA, made my way down far in advance Of
the mules, At turn of the road met a lit
tie girl OF twelve or thirteen summers carry.
ing one Of the eleanest, brightest, latest little
babies ever saw. The little girl turned and
walked down the mountain with me. oieligbtsd
TO hear my English "baby talk, aud the little
one croved and laughed as If il too, thought
It good Joke When we came to their cot.
tage home, the whole family we're sitting Out
in front Of il, aud the little nurse running
ahead, told them ] suppose, how i had been
playing With the baby, and this "touch Of na.
ture' which makes all the world akin. So pre-
possessed them in my favor that when pass