Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-08-21
correspondence of the 6asette.
A TRIP TO EUROPE
LETTER NO. IN.

d TFatertuLLS-NOuut
Scenes -GiQcicrs-IHc Ji0lQtiuu, etc.
GENEVA, July IG, 1867.
We have spent about week in Switz-
erland, the only republic in Europe. 1t
resembles America i'll its physical features
as well Us in its form OF government. It's
noble mountains and lakes are the boast
and pride of its people, and so attached to
their native land that, ii is said, when
ever any of them leave its borders they
are subject to particular species of de-
spOndency or hOme-5ickneSS, to which
medical writers have given the name of
nostalgia.
After spending a night at Iucerne,
where we had q splendid view of the lake
of the same name, and were treated to
some fine music by a Swiss band OfthirtY-
five performers, we took a carriage, and
proceeded to Merringen. Here we visited
a tremendous fiSsure in the mountains,
/ through which flows a bold and rapid
stream, and at night saw the Rcichen
bach Falls illuminated with Bengal lights
/ of different hues. The next morning we
/ pushed on to BrienZ, and crossed Lake
/ Brienz to see the Falls of Giesbach, the
most beautiful fall of water we have yet
seen.
! On the afternoon of the I1th we arrived
at Interlaken, and from there proceeded
/ to Sauterbrunn tovewthe Staubbach Falls
! This is a stream of water coming from
( the top of high mountain, the rocky
( sides of which rise perpendicularly for
nine hundred feet. Against these rocks the
stream falls, and is beaten into fine spray
/ resembling dust-hence the name, Staub-
I bach, or "Dust-stream.N Just beyond
/ the falls other smaller streams flow over
/ the rocks, and farther on are the snow
peaks of the Juugfrau and Broadhorn
| mountains.
! AS we passed along this route we were
met at every turn by persons, principally
women and girls, having for sale the fine
wood carvings for which the Swiss are so
celebrated. We frequently saw women,
also, manufacturing silk and linen lace
/ of the most beautiful designs. At one
/ point, between two high ranges of noun
/ tains, stood man with an immense wood
en- horn, ten feet in length. He blew sew
eral blasts upon it, which echoed and re-
echoed along the mountain sides until
they died away on the highest peaks like
the faint notes of a piano. At another
time we met Il swiss boy" who had a
small piece"of iron tube filled with pow
der. For small consideration he touched
match to it, when an explosion like a
thousand pieces of cannon followed, caus-
ing us all to jump several feet into the
air. The mountains on every side reVer-
berated with the echo, reminding one Of
Byron's description of thunderstorm in
the Alps:
rom pea 20 peaE, inc 3o e,%S & aSnS n oud
But every mountain now hath found tongue;
back 10 the Joyous Alps who cali to her aloud'
! We next visited Grindlewald, celebra-
/ ted for its two glaciers. These are great
bodies of ice at the foot of the mountain,
extending some distance up its side and
some distance into the plain. We entered
/ the lower one by means of a passage way
hewn out of the solid ice. Being illumi-
mated with oil lamps, this passage looked
like cave of crystal. AT some distance
ahead we heard the sound of music, and
upon turning curve, came upon a round
room in which were seated two women
singing and playing on some kind of
stringed instruments. We did not re-
main long in this ice cavern, leaving as
soon as our curiosity was satisfied.
We visited nearly all the above places
from lnterlaken, making the Hotel de
/ Victoria our headquarters. This hotel is
kept in the best manner, and is the first
house we have met with since leaving
home that contained a bible in the bed
rooms. From my window | had a grand
view of the mountains, the highest peak
of which was the Jungfrau 1t is l3, GIL
feet above the sea level We obtained a
near view of this mountain monarch on
one of our detours, and, while looking at
the sublime sight, large eagle hovered
majestically over the summit.
/ We reached Geneva two days ago, and
are quartered in full view of the lake and
mountains, with mount Blanc" in the
| defiance. This is a clean, healthy look
ing town, and, thus far, | am much pleased
with it. | must defer further description,
however, til write again.
| Yours, HANS.