The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-05
ABnUr sNyErHERnANn.

late number Of the LoHdon Socisty says 49,
We justly boast OF the yerdure of England; but
L dOnbt whether it does not yield 10 the yerlurC
of Switzerland. The MAGNITUDE of the picture
also tells upon your imagination. Cabinet gems
are not to be deSpsod, but they fade and shrink
away beside the grandeur of a Raphael cartoon
or Horace Vernct fresco Moreover, In a noun
famous country like this, bad weather is not
always al unmiXed evil it sometimes surprises
you with the most sublime and magnificent
effects. While are complaining Of rain az Frey
burg, we suddenly behold this masterpiece o
landscape composition Oyerarchgd by one COM
plete unhrOken rainbow resting on an inlIv cloud
b. hind; whit all the foreground, the bridges the
leafy heights, the quaint old buildings, and the
fOaminy, blue rushing SaIine arc brought out Dy
sunset of Bengal fires. With the situation OF
Frey burg compare that of Bernc Ii is picked
spot, selected out of thousand localities, wuore
Town OF Importance ghs be built.
IL is neither spacious nor convenient, but it iJ
safe, being an elevated p,OmoutJiT or narrow
tongue OF land, round tie southeG.. and nurth
sldes Of whi,u flows the river Aar, which after
y ards WelOWs the waters Of the SIrine to be
swallowed in turn by thc great engul'er the
Rhine. Berue, therefore lOetCro any bridge was
bult), was accessible only on one side, from be-
hrd. Its strength was consequently great 10
ICsi ist the assaults Of the military appliances
available fOUr or five hundred years ago. Such
sites OF towns are summary Of the spirit which
ma reigned in Switzerland for ugGs past--uf iude-
pendeu ce, nationality, and resistance 20 oppres-
sion. IL breaks ont in every form of ART ana
Ito ature on coins and medals, ia public amuse-
ments, in popular songs It has canUnized the
M moTy OF Wiliam T0il.
II gives us statues Of RbO1Olph Won Erlaeh,
the victorious leader Of the battle of Laupen,
where less than 1000 BCruc,c soldiers routed
10000 enemies; Of Arnold Won WinSel, one Of
tie for father who won the Jewel of indcpend,
ence With thtir blood. il akes shape, and fires
the mind, in modern pic.uresi witness that
stirring gem in the Rath Museum of Geneva,
where the OppressOr'5 agent is come TO selze the
pea. ants oxen, leaving the land untitled.
The twi,s peasant does not dream of fairy
visits and wills o'-the-wisp but he peoples the
mountain gorge with Ossiauic forms, with phan-
toms that stak along clad in mall armed With
ctoss-low, buckicr, aud spear, CNhOrfng their
pOsterity TO maintain the Old adherence Of
foreign bondage. Such an obstinate show of
Independence is more striking from Guiding it
displayed BY nation which, altogether, consists
OF only a handful of men, whom tue army OF
France believe they could swallow at a meal.
We behold here population less than that Of
London, namely under TWO millions and half
defy ing every and all oppressOrs in a way that
almos. makes us smile as Ii we saw j Eck defyiug
the Giant. Jack, however, Is sublime rather than
HCiculOus. II needs must, he viii go out 60 the
struggle (beafdCss or grny-b bearded with equal
ardOr) 70 Try whether the rife will not check the
advance Of intrudiug strangers. Autiplthy 70
French rule is as strong in French Switzerland
lwhere the spoken language and many Of the
special customs are Freuch) as in clutons where
French Is Greek 70 the inhabitants.